A friend of mine is moving to Baltimore. While I don’t recommend this course of action, (I really did not enjoy the city when I lived there), I did find a few fun (and generally cheap - I was a grad student) things to do while I was there.
Here, in no particular order, is my Ten Best of Baltimore list:
1. The Book Thing. Free books. Seriously.
2. Trinacria Macaroni Works. 406 N Paca St. This place has outstanding sandwiches (my favorite is the mozzarella, tomato, and basil on foccacia), as well as stuff to take home - homemade bread, pasta, sauce, and cannoli filling, tons of imported Italian goodies, olives, oh and did I mention $4 bottle of wine? Yummy.
3. Vaccaro’s. In the heart of Little Italy, Vaccaro’s is my favorite dessert spot. Ever. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but mine has to be the Vesuvius - described on their menu as “A chocolate brownie cake layered with caremel, fluffy cheesecake, chocolate mousse, served with two plain cream puffs, hot fudge, wet nuts, and whipped topping” Oh, and don’t missed out on their Colosseos - huge belgian waffles topped with homemade gelato. It’s all-you-can-eat dessert & coffee on Monday nights, but bring a crowd, because they won’t cut back on their enormous portion sizes, so you’ll want to pass everything around the table.
4. Little Italy. While Vaccaro’s deserves its own mention, the neighborhood of Little Italy is a really nice place to spend an evening. On most evenings, grab a gelato and head down to the bocce court to watch some serious competition. Or, in the summer, take in the outdoor movie series every Friday night at the intersection of High and Stiles. Baltimore’s neighborhoods all have really distinct feels, something that most southern cities just don’t have, and Little Italy is one of my favorites.
5. Fell’s Point. Fell’s Point itself is a fun place to walk around - I definitely prefer it to the Inner Harbor area - and if I could have afforded it I would have really enjoyed living there. While I sometimes went there just to grab a burrito at Burritos En Fuego and sit by the water, I preferred going just a little further north on Broadway and taking my pick of South or Central American cuisine. They don’t speak a lot of English, and you might be the only gringo in the place, but the food is great and generally reasonably priced.
6. The Water Taxi. http://www.thewatertaxi.com/ Parking at the Inner Harbor in lousy, not to mention expensive. But here’s a fun way to get there from Fells Point or Canton. Check out the new route: http://www.thewatertaxi.com/2009routes.html
7. Sound Garden. An independent record store - you can find some really great rare CDs there.
8. Northern Central Rail Trail. A 40 mile biking/jogging trail from Hunt Valley, MD to York, PA. The first few miles are heavily used by walkers, joggers, and strollers, but after that, it’s a great path to run or ride - you feel miles away from the city. I typically biked to the state line, stopped at a little store to grab a quick bite, and headed back. Also, bring a bag and some change - locals along the trail will often leave out fresh produce to purchase along the route.
9. The National Aquarium. Yes, it’s expensive ($25). Yes, it’s worth it. Of course, keep in mind that there are few things I love more than spending a day at the aquarium (why doesn’t Austin have one?), and this one does not disappoint.
10. Camden Yards. This is a great ballpark. Every seat is good, and the atmosphere is really fun.
11. Crabs. Ok, I know this is number 11, but really, I can’t not mention these. Honestly, I really miss the steamed, Old Bay covered treat, especially at an all-you-can-eat or $1 per crab place. (Otherwise, it quickly gets expensive - about $60 a dozen for the big ones.) My favorite crab place is actually in Annapolis - I’ll write a bit later on things to do when you want to get out of Baltimore.
12. Pisces. I know I said I’d stop at ten and stay inexpensive. This is neither, but well worth a mention. Located at the top of the Hyatt in the Inner Harbor, they put on the best brunch I’ve ever seem from 10am-2pm every Sunday. Complete with all-you-care-to-drink champagne and mimosas, the brunch includes raw oysters, shrimp cocktail, sushi, crab claws, a variety of smoked fish, exotic fruits and cheeses, an assortment of breads and pastries, salads, and scrumptious desserts. You can also select an item from a seasonal menu, including such offerings as crab benedict, pancakes, omelets, and lobster. At $39 per person (with 18% gratuity added in), it’s definitely a special occasion place (definitely make a reservation), but oh so worth it.