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...

Enjoying Parks and Green Spaces in Baltimore

This gorgeous spring weather is just perfect for an afternoon in the park, don’t you think? Baltimore has an abundance of wonderful parks and green spaces, both large and small, across the city. Here are a few of my personal favorites:

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Druid Hill Park: I believe Druid Hill is truly the crown jewel of Baltimore’s park system. Its 745 acres are perfect for picnics (my favorite spot is the Latrobe Pavilion), taking in views from the Moorish Tower, biking around the reservoir, playing tennis, meeting animals at the Maryland Zoo, admiring exotic flora at the Rawlings Conservatory, playing disc golf, wandering around the paths and trails (and encountering the cemetery, community garden, and random abandoned buildings), and taking a dip in the pool. I’m also a fan of Safety City, a small model city where kids learn about traffic safety—it looks like such a fun fieldtrip! Druid Hill Park has something for everyone and is certainly worth checking out, if you haven’t already.



Roosevelt Park: My neighborhood park has one of the coolest pools I’ve ever seen, although it’s only open a few weeks a year due to city budget cuts. Renovations have been taking place and the community garden, busy skate park, dog park and kids’ area are all in great shape. The rec center isn’t bad either. I feel lucky to live just a stone’s throw from this expansive, versatile park.

Patterson Park: This giant park is a wonderful asset for the East side neighborhoods surrounding it. The Pagoda is certainly unique—and offers great views from the top. The park hosts a variety of events such as film screenings in the summer, the Great Halloween Lantern Parade in the fall, and ethnic festivals throughout the spring-fall. I’ve heard it’s also a great spot for dog walking. I personally love eating doughnuts from Hoehn’s Bakery in Patterson Park.

Carroll Park: This southwest park is home to the Mount Clare Museum House and is a busy hotspot for rec sports. If you’re a fan of the abandoned-industrial scene, you’ll enjoy the view of Carroll Park from the train ride offered at the B & O Railroad Museum. 

Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park: This huge park on the western border of the city offers plenty of trails for biking and hiking. It is so densely forested that it easy to forget you’re in Baltimore City here. I also enjoy wandering around the time warp that is Dickeyville when I'm in the area.

Mount Vernon Place: Although there isn’t a ton of green space to toss a ball around, I love spending time outdoors in this historic plaza in the heart of the city. I only work about two blocks away, making this the perfect place to eat my lunch al fresco or catch a free concert after work.

Sherwood Gardens: This lovely tulip garden tucked into the affluent Guilford neighborhood makes a beautiful location for a picnic. I’ve seen many families taking photos here as well, especially on occasions like Easter. Although the famed tulips are out in the spring, I’d recommend a visit to Sherwood Gardens any time of year.

Wyman Park Dell, on the southwest end of Hopkins’ Homewood campus, is a popular dog park due to its bowl-like shape. The rest of Wyman Park is surprisingly large and forested considering it’s in between so many populated areas of town.

Round Falls: This isn’t really a park, but this part of the Jones Falls is so serene and striking. It is accessible only via foot—the hill between street and the Falls is very steep—at the Jones Falls Trail where it crosses Falls Road, by 29^th Street (see Water Feature #4 on the Baltimore Green Map). 

Federal Hill: The hill, as many know, offers spectacular views of the Inner Harbor and downtown Baltimore. It’s a great spot to take photos, picnic (specifically, eat snoballs) before or after a trip to AVAM, watch free movies on Thursday nights during the summer, and watch the Fourth of July fireworks.

I would be remiss not to mention the other historic parks such as Herring Run and Clifton Park in Northeast Baltimore, Riverside Park and Latrobe Park in South Baltimore, Cylburn Arboretum, and the countless neighborhood parks that can be found in many communities. Two parks on my to-do list for the summer are the brand-new Pierce’s Park in the Inner Harbor and Robert E. Lee Park, which I’ve only seen from the Light Rail! What are your favorite parks in Baltimore?
If you’re interested in learning more about parks and green spaces in Baltimore, check out:

• Baltimore Green Map
• Baltimore Bike Map
• Friends of Maryland’s Olmsted Parks and Landscapes (full disclosure: I do freelance work for this group)
• Parks and People Foundation
• Friends Groups for almost every park

And don't forget, this Friday, May 18th, is Bike to Work Day!


Robert E. Lee Park and Lake Roland, as viewed from the Light Rail on a snowy day

Afters Cafe: My new favorite dessert shop

Have you ever been to Afters Cafe in Federal Hill? I don't usually make it all the way to Federal Hill (or blog about restaurants twice within a few weeks), but I think you should know about this adorable dessert shop on Charles Street! 

This weekend we went on a double date and stopped first at Hersh's Pizza in the weird semi-industrial part of South Baltimore (where Light Street ends, under the shadow of I-95). The neighborhood strikes me as odd with the combination of newly converted high-end condos, gritty commercial zoning under the highway and old-time working class Baltimore as well...and yet parking was surprisingly difficult to find. Location aside, I'd highly recommend it. The plaid shirt-clad waitstaff serve delicious, simple and nicely proportioned personal pizzas and classy drinks in this relatively new establishment owned by a brother and sister. I particularly liked hip interior, full of reclaimed materials and vintage charm stretching across two floors. Their website and logo are also well-designed, which totally influence my view of a restaurant. When we arrived around 6:30 it was nearly empty but as the evening wore on, there was pretty much a continuous line of young couples and families waiting by the door. It seems like they will offer outdoor seating soon, which would be a nice option. [My apologies for the lack of photos of Hersh's]

The highlight of my evening, however, appealed both to my sweet tooth and my love of Scandinavian design: we topped off our pizza with a trip to Afters Cafe. I had passed Afters on the Circulator many times and was intrigued by its sharp design out front:

Once you walk inside, you're greeted by a cheery all-white interior, bright wood floors and a cleanly displayed dessert case full of macarons and pastries (yum). 

Although I'm sure their espresso and the treats in the case were lovely, I headed straight to the frozen yogurt. They provide this cute sign for guidance on how to enjoy their frozen yogurt:

I believe you could choose from six flavors--today's were original (tart), pomegranate raspberry sorbet, cake batter, vanilla, pistachio and dark chocolate. Each flavor had a guide as well:

The back of the store offers ample seating at these nice, colorfully-tiled tables:

I filled up my cup with vanilla yogurt and went down the topping buffet without a clear theme in mind...I ended up going for mini-marshmallows, broken up Reese's cups, and gummy bears--which was tasty, of course, but a rather strange combination. It is lovely to control what and how much you want by yourself--self-serve is, in my opinion, so much more satisfying!

The prices were pretty reasonable (I ended up paying around $4 for mine) and the atmosphere was perfect for enjoying my little concoction. If you're a fan of self-serve soft-serve (and who isn't?!), you should definitely check out this frozen yogurt hotspot!

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:

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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?