Maybe it’s some psychological attachment to its Star-Spangled history, but Baltimore is not shy about fireworks, I learned last night at the annual Washington Monument lighting. Bombs burst in the air all around the monument, which is the centerpiece of the Mount Vernon neighborhood and an icon of the city.
Each year, the city strings lights from the top of the monument (where Geroge Washington keeps his watch over the city) to its base, making a sort of Christmas-tree shape. Getting in on the action was Baltimore must, I was told. We were down for the pre-lighting events, which for us, included hot wassail. Venders lined monument street with food and drink, and different choirs put on a concert on the main stage. When the monument was eventually lit, fireworks went off for a good five minutes, much to the delight of the cookie-stuffed kids standing in front of me.
There may not be snow on the ground (and there may be highs in the 60s forecasted for Saturday), but this convinced me that the holiday season has begun!