Baltimore & The Women's Industrial Exchange & Sock Monkeys

This just in from Johns Hopkins and Baltimore Heritage:

"Because there is no such thing as having too many sock monkeys (and other great hand-crafted items), we are pleased to end the 2007 Behind the Scenes Tours calendar with a holiday visit to The Women’s Industrial Exchange."

Now this is a wonderful thing! And, because I want every word of this post perfect, I quote from JHU:

"Launched shortly after the Civil War by Mrs. G. Harmon Brown, The Women’s Industrial Exchange was founded for the purpose of endeavoring by sympathy and practical aid to encourage and help needy women to help themselves by procuring for them and establishing a sales room for the sale of Women’s Work.

"In 2007, the Exchange is still pursing this mission of helping small entrepreneurs, with over 250 consigners who make hand-crafted products especially for the non-profit organization.  The third oldest women’s exchange in the country, this one in Baltimore is the oldest in its original building.  The building at 333 North Charles was constructed in 1815 and had been used as a boarding house before the Exchange bought it in the late 1880s. The Tea Room, consignment shop, and upstairs apartments all date to this period. 

"The Exchange underwent extensive renovations in 2004 (incidentally, winning a Baltimore Heritage historic preservation award for the work). The renovations maintained the original materials (and charm), while modernizing the apartments and commercial kitchen. The guided tour will include spaces that many have visited, as well as spaces that most have not:  the Abell board room, an apartment upstairs, and the depths of the basement where the legendary tomato aspic and chicken salad were magically concocted.  Please join Kathy Sanders, author of The Business of Charity about the Exchange and a former board member, Sarah Moberg, executive director, and Jenny Hope, president of the board of directors, for a fantastic holiday tour of this cherished Baltimore landmark".

But wait, there's more! The tour concludes with wine and those extraordinary crepes that could only come from Sofi's.

Yep, crepes and Bacon do go together. Be there. Wednesday December 12th. 6 - 7 PM. 333 N Charles Street. RSVP by Email only - Space is limited. Hopkins@baltimoreheritage.org

Questions? Call 410-332-9992