Asia North 2026 – Asian American Pacific Islanders Heritage Month

Asia North 2026 – Station North Arts – towson.edu/asianorth

AAPI – May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Why May? “May is celebrated as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869, which was largely built by Chinese immigrants. It recognizes the contributions of AAPI communities to US history and culture.” NPR more about AAPI – AANHPI

May 1, 2026 – Opening Exhibition – Shoes at the Door

Super performance by B’more Taiko

One reason I attended this opening was that I happened across my name and work mentioned during another Station North Arts walk, which was a pleasant surprise considering my work was at the Mount Royal Tavern. Also, spoke briefly with someone during Out of Order 2026, she said that it would be nice to see Station North Asia May Opening, I said OK! Plus, Station North Arts really does a nice job staying front and center using FB and Instagram. If you want to see the entire program, albeit, a little late use this link to Towson University it will give days, times and places of all events during May and future events. The main staging area for the opening was at the SNF Parkway Theatre which has also hosted the Maryland Film Festival.

Photo from 2016 at the start of renovations to the Parkway Theatre – Rick Santiago

Venues

SNF Parkway Theatre, 5 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21201 βœ”
Currency Studio, 18 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21218 πŸ˜’
Gallery CA, 440 E. Oliver St, Baltimore, MD 21202 πŸ˜’
Motor House, 120 W. North Ave, 21201 πŸ˜’
1718 N. Charles Street Garage, Baltimore, MD 21201 πŸ˜’
Impact Hub, 10 E. North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21201 πŸ˜’
Club Car, 12 W. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201 πŸ˜’
Mobtown Ballroom, 30 W. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201 πŸ˜’
Baltimore Improv Group, 1727 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201 πŸ˜’

βœ” Attended πŸ˜’ Missed – As you can see I didn’t make to very many places during the opening of Asia North 2026. However, I did get a chance to see all of the scheduled performances at the Parkway Theatre stage, culminating with B’more Taiko drum performance. But sorely disappointed at my decision to skip the After Party at the Club Car, which is really the one I wanted to check out. Next time!!!

Mom's Frig by Anna Divinagarcia
Mom’s Ref by Anna Divinagarcia – This sums it all up for me, 100% spot on!

After going through my photos of this event, I think I’m going to need to take another visit. A pitiful few images are worth posting. I’ll add more after my visit sometime before end of May!!! Here are a handful, my apologies

Can’t really comment on much since I missed 85% of the program. I will say for Asia North 2026, the beers that were available were from Peabody Heights Brewery (which I love) but c’mon, I saw my dad come home with a cases of San Miguel Beer (Filipino pale lager first brewed in 1890 in Manila), I have personally consumed Chang, Kirin, Sapporo, Singha, Hite as well as other Asian beers, maybe try’m next time?

Rick Santiago on Instagram and Feel free to message me at 443-390-6599

All the Beers I’ve Loved; Over 80 and Counting

Art Underground Studio in Hampden. Somebody stole this sometime during free beer night…

Organizing and re-organizing all my photos, slowly realized I managed to photograph and try over 80 beers, countless wines and favorite liquors. Almost all the beers are from Micro Brewers, Craft Brewers or Independent Brewers. I found out I wasn’t a big fan of hoppy IPA’s but yet there were IPA’s I did like. Discovered and fell hard for Stouts, Bocks and Hefeweizen beers. A good many of the beers have changed over the years, some breweries are no longer around and some have been bought up by major Breweries. Here’s an excellent link for more info and differences in Brewery Types and my main go to for most of this Wonderful Beer – Wine – Drink is the Wine Source in Hampden.

Along the way, I learned there are two types of beers, Ales and Lagers. Beer is primarily categorized based on fermentation: Ales (top-fermenting, warmer, faster) and Lagers (bottom-fermenting, colder, slower). About Lagers Vs Ales

  • Lager – dominate mainstream beer e.g. Peabody Heights Brewery Old Oriole Park
  • IPA India Pale Ale – strong hop aroma, citrus, pine, tropical fruit, bold bitterness e.g. Union Craft Steady Eddie
  • Pilsner – a lager, bright, crisp, refreshing e.g. Corona Extra
  • Stout – an ale, dark, thick, deep, and intense e.g. Guinness Draught Stout
  • Bock – a lager but dark e.g. Shiner Bock
  • Hefeweizen – an ale, unfiltered beer known for its hazy/cloudy appearance

Local Baltimore Breweries I’ve tried

Some drinks I’ve tried but not pictured includes Fosters, Singha, Michelob Ultra, Yuengling as well as plenty of wines. I actually helped on a engineering project for Clipper City Beer way way way back and it was the first time I noticed the distinct “aroma” of a brewery, plus got tipped a few cases of beer! A short description and brewery info captioned. Also included a few wines and whiskey’s In no particular order, enjoy the photos, 2 pages…

Feel free to message Rick Santiago at 443-390-6599

A little bit of this and a little bit of that… makes a good drink…

If you must know, here are my Favorites!

  • Peabody Heights – Old Oriole Park
  • Bass Ale and Guinness Stout for Black and Tan’s
  • Malbec and Merlot Wines
  • Deanston slight nod over Tequila slight nod over Vodka