Take a ride through Baltimore's history!

Readers, have you ever been to the Baltimore Streetcar Museum? Perhaps you've seen it while biking on driving on Falls Road, or seen the crumbling old railroad outbuilding from the Light Rail, and wondered what goes on there? It is definitely worth your time to check it out! It is a really unique museum that would has something for streetcar enthusiasts of all ages! Admission is reasonable at $7 for an afternoon of riding historic streetcars--the very same ones that generations of Baltimoreans rode before you. For $7, you can to chat with adorable old men who take their streetcar-conducting very seriously, stopping at every stop sign:

You are given these beautiful, intricate tokens to board the trolleys:

And then you get a real vintage ticket as a transfer, so they can be sure everyone has paid their fare:

 You are surrounded by amazing vintage advertisements in each car:

You can browse the small museum itself, with detailed dioramas such as this one of a streetcar line I'd find useful today:

And you can talk to the volunteers who operate the museum and have restored these historic vehicles simply because they want to share their passion with future generations: 

All in all, I found the history to be fascinating and the interactive experience was certainly memorable. Considering the average age of the volunteer staff had to be at least 75, I'm not sure what the future of this museum holds. It seems crazy to me that Baltimore, like many cities, once had an extensive network of streetcars--but removed them in favor of auto transport. Such a step backwards! I know there were many factors at play, including the auto industry's financial influence, but it is remarkable to think about what streetcar travel throughout Baltimore used to look like.

By the way, have you heard about the Baltimore Streetcar Campaign (formerly the Charles Street Trolley)? Despite my love of streetcars, I am not quite sure how I feel about adding a trolley line to a route already serviced by busses--but their website and design scheme is really snazzy and it's definitely worth a look! How do you feel about their proposal for a modern-day streetcar system?

Sailabrating the War of 1812

I sincerely hope everyone in the Baltimore area has taken advantage of the historic, monumental commemoration that has engulfed our city for the past few days! If not, go check out the tall ships before they leave tomorrow morning! I am not a connoisseur of tall ships--nor am I a huge fan of the Blue Angels, as their booming sound and uncomfortably close proximity to buildings freaks me out--but I have been totally loving the Star-Spangled Sailabration! The festival has been a genuinely exciting way to kick off the War of 1812 Bicentennial and show off our city to a wide swath of visitors. For someone who truly loves history, being able to share my adopted hometown's rich heritage with so many interested visitors was a dream come true!

One my favorite moments of the festival was attending the Star-Spangled Symphony, my first time hearing the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, (Governor) O'Malley's March, or the U.S. Navy Chorus. I absolutely love that tickets were only $15, opening the doors to the gorgeous Meyerhoff Symphony Hall to new audiences (including me). The Philip Glass premiere was very exciting, but the rousing American tunes that followed truly made my heart swell with patriotism and pride (the huge 15-star, 15-stripe flag draping the back of the stage probably helped too). O'Malley's March was pretty darn cool--the Governor has a gift for songwriting and some serious stage presence (no surprise there). The finale, of course, with red, white & blue confetti was really something to remember!

In addition to the symphony, I loved wandering around the Inner Harbor admiring the tall ships and of course, people-watching too. I have seen so many awesome American flag shirts and sweaters in the past five days (seriously, I love Americana and patriotic kitsch). The festival set-up at Fells Point was a delightful surprise as well. I didn't make it to two of my favorite places in Baltimore--Fort McHenry or the Flag House--this weekend but I am sure they were packed with enthusiastic visitors. 

I can only imagine all of the many, many hours of hard work that went into planning this event of international proportions--kudos to all involved at the War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission and Star-Spangled 200! I can't wait to celebrate the Baltimore of Baltimore in September 2014!

Here are some photos from the weekend. I realize there were many great photo ops but I seemed to have missed all of them! I went a few different days so that explains the change in lighting...

Thrifting in Baltimore: Cheap, Unique and Always an Adventure

I am excited to share some of my favorite thrift and second-hand shops with you today. I realize not everyone is into wearing used clothes (for the record: I absolutely am), but when it comes to furniture and décor for the home, buying used is so much more economical—and unique. I love all things historic and can’t turn down a bargain, so I end up getting almost all of my furniture, clothes, and other home goods in thrift stores (or by helping friends move out and receiving their left-behind stuff). You’ll notice through my photos that both Tim & I love vintage Americana, maps and flags—luckily for us, there’s a lot of this stuff to be found at thrift stores!

My advice when thrifting is to take your time. It’s a real adventure to pick through random assortments of all kinds of stuff—you never know what you might find! I prefer to go on rainy days when I have nowhere to be. Here are a few of my favorite places to shop second-hand. There are many, many more out there but these are my usual haunts. Some of these places don’t have websites, so here’s a map to help you find them:

View Auni's Favorite Thrift & Antique Stores in a larger map

Thrift stores

Value Village on York Road (Govans): Although almost all of these shops are hit-or-miss, I pretty much always find a gem at this Value Village. I have found a lot of professional clothes here, as well as some awesome cowboy boots, this USA Olympics sheet set (who is excited for the Olympics this year?!), and this creepy little figurine. The store is not extremely large, so it’s easy to stumble upon the good stuff. My favorite find from this store is this cartographic-themed dish set (now our “fancy” dishes)—we had these out at a party and some friends of ours told us they had donated the set to Value Village! Oh, Smalltimore.

Village Thrift on North Avenue: I can imagine this is a favorite shopping destination for MICA students considering its proximity to campus. Both the clientele and the inventory vary widely. They have a sizeable home goods department that covers the entire front and back of the store. When I was there last week I found this Brownie camera from the ‘50s (unfortunately, the film isn’t made anymore so I can’t really use it) for $7; we also got a set of six bicentennial glasses (hard to photograph) there. Check out the Village Thrift on Sundays or Mondays when everything is ½ price!

 

Village Economy (Essex): I consider this to be the granddaddy of all thrift stores. This place is a sure bet because it is HUGE, although Essex is quite far from the city and nearly impossible to get to without a car. They stock pretty much anything you could ever imagine here. I recall their kitchen section was quite well-supplied, and I’ve found some cool ladies’ clothes there as well. I’ve heard this is a good spot for costumes and crazy get-ups that you’ll only wear once…

Brooklyn Park Thrift Store: The reputation of this store, located just over the line in Anne Arundel County, had built up pretty high expectations in my head and I was a bit disappointed when I finally went. Like the Essex store, the large size means that there is a considerable selection from which to choose. This is supposedly one of the area’s best, so it’s definitely worth a visit for the second-hand connoisseur. 

GBMC Nearly New Sale: The sprawling hospital complex in Towson hosts a volunteer-run rummage sale each fall and spring. The selection and prices totally depend on which day you go (earlier = more selection, higher prices; later = more picked over but insanely cheap prices), so be sure to weigh your priorities when determining when to go. In addition to tons of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, they sell games, athletic equipment, dishes, stationery, electronics, artwork, holiday decorations and other random stuff. We have gotten a lot of use out of this USA Trivia game that I bought for $1!

Value Village on Eastern Avenue (Highlandtown): This surprisingly large store on Eastern Avenue could provide hours of entertainment, browsing their aisles upon aisles of clothes. We ended up getting a handsome little side table there for a reasonable price—it’s cheap enough that if I decide to paint it some bright color, I won’t feel bad if it turns out horribly.

Goodwill on Greenmount (Waverly): I’m not in love with this small-ish Goodwill store, but I have donated tons of stuff here when moving and know people that have found interesting things here. Plus, it’s close to the Baltimore Book Thing and Pete’s Grille!

Goodwill in Fells Point: Like the Waverly location, this store is too small to find a whole lot of interesting items. However, it’s always worth popping in for a visit when strolling the neighborhood.

Salvation Army on Joppa Road (Towson): I haven’t been here in a while, but this was a popular destination when I went to Goucher. Their selection is quite large and I believe their furniture is usually of high quality.

Antique stores

Second Chance: This nonprofit salvages usable materials and provides green-collar job training for “those with employment obstacles”. They sell the reclaimed building supplies and furnishings in their 200,000 square foot retail space, making it a financially viable operation. They truly provide a second chance both for the salvaged furniture and home wares as well as the employees in their workplace development program. I have yet to visit the new consolidated warehouse just off Russell Street, but I would encourage anyone looking for high-quality, previously owned furniture to visit Second Chance. Second Chance does not sell at thrift store prices but there is a wide range of options. We got this Singer sewing machine-turned-butcher block for $100 and I love it!

HouseWerks at Bayard Station: This is another seriously amazing place to visit—an architectural salvage yard housed in an historic railroad station. I would say they cater to the rusted-industrial-chic designer’s aesthetic. Plan to spend a few hours poking around the iron gates, school desks, giant box of plastic letters, and 100+ pieces of a religious mosaic in the yard. I didn’t see any marked prices, but I have a feeling most of these curated objects are quite pricey. I would suggest going to feast your eyes and imagination, not to buy anything specific.

 David’s on the Avenue (Hampden): I have been in here a number of times without finding anything of interest at all, but the last time I went I saw an amazing mint green ‘60s kitchen cabinet, lots of well-priced living room furniture in great condition and tons of vintage maps and flags. I bought 12 maps at $.50 each and popped a few in embroidery hoops for very cheap, fast homemade wall art. We are planning to get a real couch (the cheapo IKEA futon we got off Craigslist two years ago just isn’t cutting it anymore) in the near future and David’s is going to be one of the first places we look.

Vanessa’s Vintage Treasures (Federal Hill): Vanessa herself greeted me in this little storefront in the shadow of Cross Street Market. She made conversation as I browsed her mountains of vintage costume jewelry, plates, textiles, and stationery—and offered me a nice discount for buying a number of items together. The shop might appeal to a more feminine crowd, but I would recommend it to anyone looking for some nostalgia in Federal Hill.

Avenue Antiques (Hampden): It’s possible I like this place so much simply because I live near it, but I almost always find something interesting at Avenue Antiques. They have three entire floors stocked by various antique dealers with wares ranging from pianos to ‘80s dresses to needlework to campaign memorabilia. I have bought some used but not antique items here (including a purse and a skirt) and always enjoy perusing their vintage postcard collection. Hampden is a treasure trove for antique seekers, with Millbrook Antiques (tons of postcards and paper goods), the Turnover Shop (furniture), Hampden Junque (kitschy memorabilia), Sturgis Antiques (variety), and some other more upscale furniture shops along the Avenue. Of course, Woodward’s Auction House used to be located right next to Avenue Antiques but has recently moved to East Baltimore. ­­­

DeBois Textile Co.: I don’t really understand what all they sell at DeBois Textile Co., but I went after seeing their ad in City Paper for years and was slightly confused. The front room of their Pigtown warehouse has upscale (and expensive) vintage clothes and wholesale textiles. The rest of the 65,000 square foot space contains giant cardboard boxes of loosely categorized used (not vintage) clothes and a loading/unloading/work zone. I left empty-handed but perhaps you will find something exciting in this curious establishment.

A final note: my dear friend Krystal—a Baltimore native—runs a really unique online home décor shop called Esther & Harper and blogs about it too. If you are looking for some vintage inspiration for your day, check out Krystal’s interesting collection!

New (to me) restaurants in Baltimore

I’m the first to admit that I not what you’d call a “foodie.” I don’t enjoy cooking and therefore dine out a fair amount (although I try to keep to a limited budget). Of course Baltimore has many, many, many restaurants I’ve never been to, but here’s a sampling of some dining establishments that I’ve discovered recently—complementing my old stand-bys (The Dizz, Sip & Bite, Common Ground) nicely.

Annoula’s Sobo Café: This sunny Federal Hill café isn’t particularly inviting from the outside—I walked right past it en route to Cross Street Market many times—but I was totally impressed with the quality of its food, the cheery atmosphere and the reasonable prices. I went for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed the rich homemade mac and cheese, which was only $6! The service was prompt and friendly. They make their own breads in house and also offer lunch options to go. I would most definitely recommend the Sobo Café for a weekday lunch, Sunday brunch or a date night.

Red Canoe and Zeke’s: These two standout coffeeshops are pretty much the only reason I trek all the way up Harford Road to Lauraville (I’m sure it’s a lovely neighborhood, but it’s way outside the Jones Falls corridor, where I spend most of my time). Red Canoe is a combination bookstore and café with a very family-friendly vibe. They have quite a few seating options—including a spacious backyard—and the entire space is so comfortable, it feels like someone’s living room. I think Red Canoe is the perfect spot for a rainy Sunday afternoon—you can grab a light lunch and a big cup of coffee while reading. Zeke’s storefront, just a few blocks north on Harford Road, is a very cool space with large windows, a remarkable tin ceiling and very simple décor. They have amazing pastries for sale in addition to coffee (to drink now or later). I was also delighted to learn they sell giant burlap coffee bags for $1-2!

Mem Sahib: If you’re looking for a great lunchtime deal near downtown, look no further than Mem Sahib in Lexington Market. I don’t quite understand how this classy, formal establishment has stayed in business for seven years, as the neighborhood can be (or can appear to be) somewhat unsavory after dark. However, it is a perfect choice for a lunchtime office outing with its colorful, expansive, ornate interior and all-you-can-eat lunch buffet for $10. I sincerely hope they are able to attract a steady lunch crowd and stay in business.

Please excuse my cell-phone camera photo of Mem Sahib's bright orange interior.

Zach & Jack Food: Tucked into the basement of the Women’s Industrial Exchange (in the space formerly occupied by Sofi’s Crepes), this petite lunch counter is worth a visit. Jack and Zach stick to a very limited menu of all local, organic ingredients—they list their vendors on a chalkboard for all to see. I enjoyed a homemade sweet potato-based veggie patty on a Kaiser roll with a side of (homemade) chips. Although the menu was limited they did offer many gourmet toppings to choose from, and snacks to go as well.

Mount Washington Pizza and Subs: This carry-out spot in the village of Mount Washington is in serious need of a designer, or at least a fresh coat of paint, but once you get past its stark, fluorescent-lit interior you will be impressed with their delicious Indian dishes. We ordered naan, shahi paneer (which comes with rice) and samosas as a light dinner but were surprised to pick up enough food to feed two for dinner with plenty leftover—and the whole meal was just $16. It looks like they have an extensive menu of other types of food (hence the “Pizza and Subs” in their name), but I plan on trying another Indian dish if I go there again.

Roland Park Bakery and Deli: This bakery is dangerous for my sweet tooth as their pastries and desserts are always tempting, but they also have breakfast sandwiches and lunch items. In general, there are few frills—all coffee is served in those white Styrofoam cups with birds on them—but this results in very reasonable prices. I often buy four pastries for less than $5. The owner and staff are always friendly, greeting regulars by name and asking everyone how they’re doing. This cheery neighborhood spot was located in the shopping plaza in Roland Park for twenty years, but relocated last year to Chestnut Avenue in Hampden. I love the sunny interior with exposed brick, and having any business there at all is lovely since this building was vacant for so long.

Next on my agenda are Liquid Earth in Fells Point, Hersch’s Pizza in South Baltimore, and the Land of Kush in Mid-town.

I’m very excited for the bevy of other eateries that are coming to Baltimore in the coming months. The ever-popular Woodberry Kitchen is rumored to be opening two new ventures—a coffeeshop in Union Mill (the awesome mixed-use development in a former mill on Union Avenue, next to the Woodberry Light Rail stop) and "Half Acre," a bistro on Falls Road. Read story here. Hampden is also welcoming Food Market on the Avenue (started by the former chef of City Café) and a second Milk & Honey Café in the former Chesapeake Restaurant space at Charles and Lanvale; story here. I’m also looking forward to the Friday afternoon Charles Street Farmer’s Market starting up again in May. Although there were just a few vendors there last year, I’m sure it will be stronger this spring. My friends Katie and Marie have started a seriously delicious snack company, Kinderhook Snacks, and I’m ready to stock up on their homemade Cheez-Its! And speaking of restaurants opening, did you hear there is now a Panera on Baltimore Street and a Chipotle in Mount Vernon?

Best Baltimore-area day trips

Lifelong East Coast residents may take it for granted that we can easily travel to a different state and back in a day, but the proximity of so many interesting sites, cities and states on the East Coast still fascinates me. I love the fact that just an hour away from Baltimore you can experience a totally different pace of life—Maryland truly lives up to its moniker of “America in Miniature.” In the past year I’ve tried to take advantage of Baltimore’s location—straddling the North and South, Atlantic coast and Appalachian foothills—by going on many day trips. Of course, there are plenty of adventures to be had further away (i.e. New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, the far western parts of Maryland, lower Eastern Shore, etc.) but today I’ll share some of my favorite destinations within a two-hour drive of Baltimore. Just a warning—if you’re not into history and historic sites, these might not interest you…


Civil War sites
The Civil War Sesquicentennial, which will continue into 2015, is a great time to explore the hallowed battlefields in our midst. Antietam, which lies just south of Hagerstown, is remembered as the bloodiest one-day battle in American history. Significant markers of Lee’s Maryland campaign are still striking to see today, including Dunker Church, the Cornfield, and the Burnside Bridge. I’d recommend capping off your visit to Antietam with ice cream from Nutter’s in the well-preserved town of Sharpsburg, just minutes from the battlefield. This September will be an exciting time in the area, with the “Maryland, My Maryland” commemoration of the Battles of South Mountain and Antietam—complete with reenactments, concerts, lectures and a festival. If you haven’t been to Frederick, stop by the National Museum of Civil War Medicine to complement what you learn at the battlefield—or keep in mind that Frederick is just a wonderful place to visit anytime (walkable downtown, lots of great restaurants, beautiful canal, well-preserved architecture)!  Gettysburg, the bloodiest battle in the entire Civil War, is worth the trip across the Mason-Dixon Line (it’s just a few minutes north of Emmitsburg in Frederick County). A few shots from a trip to Antietam in August:

Downtown Sharpsburg

 If you’re really up for a day packed full of Civil War battlefield tours, head south to the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park in Virginia, referred to as “the bloodiest landscape in North America” on its National Park Service website. There are four battlefields within fifteen miles of each other: The Wilderness, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania Court House. By the end of the day it may seem exhausting and repetitive, but the significance of each is really extraordinary. I would highly recommend taking a ranger-guided tour at Chancellorsville to learn how Stonewall Jackson was wounded, and trips to both the Union and Confederate cemeteries in the area. Our time at Fredericksburg Battlefield was greatly enhanced by using the Civil War Trust’s awesome (and free!) Battle App, which provided multimedia such as video and audio to help illuminate the events that transpired there in December 1862. The town of Fredericksburg is a pleasure to walk around and I would whole-heartedly recommend Sammy T’s restaurant on Caroline Street for a quick bite. Photos from our trip to Fredericksburg in November:

Fredericksburg Battlefield

 Confederate trenches at Spotsylvania Court House

 Chancellorsville

 Wilderness Battlefield

Bloody Angle at Spotsylvania Court House

Spotsylvania Confederate Cemetery

Eastern Shore 
There are countless sleepy small towns to explore on the Delmarva peninsula, but my personal favorite is Chestertown. This central Eastern Shore (Kent County) town is amazingly well-preserved and has a definite colonial feel to it. I’m sure it’s lovely year-round, but I would totally recommend going to the Chestertown Tea Party Festival on Memorial Day weekend. Even if you’re not a big fan of colonial reenactments, the Tea Party Festival is a lot of fun for visitors of all ages—especially at the end of the day, when everyone watches the “colonists” dump “tea” into the Chester River with great fervor. A few May 2011 festival photos:

Other memorable festivals on the Eastern Shore are the annual Tuckahoe Steam and Gas Show, held at the Talbot County Fairgrounds outside Easton each July, and the Chesapeake Folk Festival at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in gorgeous St. Michael’s at the end of July. I was almost completely unaware of what was going on at the Tuckahoe Show—vintage steam tractors are not my area of expertise—but loved the opportunity to soak up this authentic Eastern Shore tradition…and to try Maryland beaten biscuits for the first time!

If you have a little extra time for your day trip, get to the Shore via the Bay Bridge but drive back through Cecil County (route 213 and then 95). There are some lovely, historic small towns sprinkled throughout Cecil County, including North East, Elkton and Port Deposit. One fun fact about Elkton is that it was a very popular place for couples to elope until a 1938 law instituted a 48-hour waiting period before marriage.

I love the Live Bait vending machine in North East.

Other Destinations 
If you don’t have the time or energy to make it all the way to the Shore or western Maryland, you can always have a good time in our own backyard. I thought of Howard County as strictly suburban until I went to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival at the county fairgrounds last May. I don’t knit or own sheep, but I had a delightful time learning about shearing, spinning, and shepherding. There were also really unique and well-priced antique vendors and delicious snack options, which sure make me happy. Of course, Ellicott City is another quintessential historic Maryland town that is sure to please if you enjoy antique shopping, railroad history, and/or fine dining.

These bags are all full of wool!

Annapolis, the state capital, is just an hour south of Baltimore but its nautical, preppy, old-money vibe makes it feel light-years away. It took me four years of living in Maryland to finally make it there, but I think a trip to the State House is something every Marylander should do at least once. Finally, I love the Harford County town of Havre de Grace immensely. It will always hold a special place in my heart as the place where Tim proposed, but even before that I loved strolling its tidy main streets and admiring its beautiful Victorian homes. Its natural setting at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay makes for a striking view, which you can enjoy by walking along the waterfront to the Concord Point Lighthouse. The Havre de Grace Decoy Museum surprised me with its high-quality exhibits and the Maritime Museum is also worth a visit. I totally adored the Candlelight House Tour in December, sponsored by the Lock House Museum. Havre de Grace is also an important War of 1812 site, with plenty of bicentennial happenings coming up in the next two years—check them out here.

 I love the Victorian houses along Union Avenue in Havre de Grace!

 Concord Point Lighthouse

 My day trips lined up for 2012 include Historic St. Mary’s City in Southern Maryland; New Market (antiques), Brunswick (railroad museum) and Harper’s Ferry (Civil War site); and the Halloween Mummer’s parade in Hagerstown in October. Please let me know if you have any recommendations for other local trips!