by Suemedha Sood
Can’t stomach another summer day tromping the kids through the Smithsonian or hauling them over hill and dale in the Piedmont? Pack the car and head east to the country’s largest independent city built around a port. Surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore’s charms extend far beyond its famous Inner Harbor and nostalgic ball park. Equal parts blue collar and up-and-coming arts town, Charm City is full of cool restaurants, quirky shops, and even an urban farm.
Plan ahead and you can swing by Woodberry Kitchen in the Hampden section of town for a not-to-be-missed brunch at a restaurant on the cutting edge of the local food movement. Committed to local meat, cheese, oysters, shrimp, and produce, it even sources from the Baltimore school system’s Great Kids Farm. Another farm-to-table champion is Chameleon Café, which grows its own herbs and purchases produce and meat from the Waverly Farmers Market and Downtown Sunday Market — also great destinations for Baltimore newcomers.
There are around 20 markets inside city limits, but check out Real Food Farm; the non-profit has a stand at the Belair-Edison Health Center in northeast Baltimore. Another spot for local groceries is the Baltimore Food Co-op in northwest Baltimore,which recently replaced and expanded on Mill Valley General Store’s local offerings. For local seafood head to the southwestern edge of the city and the hidden gem Nick’s Farm and Crab Market.
For oysters, head to Faidley’s in the 220-year old Lexington Market downtown. If it’s hot, point your car toward Beaver Dam Swimming Club, a former marble quarry just outside the city’s beltway in Cockeysville. Try their famous trapeze rope swing.
Extend the cooling trend with the quintessential Baltimore summer treat: a snowball, made with shaved ice and traditionally topped with marshmallow cream. Try it at Cockeysville’s Snoasis.
The (inner) child now sated, it’s time for the adults. Head northeast to the 66-year old Boordy Vineyards (just 40 minutes from the city) for wine made from 100 percent Maryland grapes and a summer evening concert series. Or drive south to Heavy Seas Brewery if you’re after craft beer. Try the delightfully hoppy Loose Cannon IPA, the summery Belgian-style Red Sky at Night saison, or the thirst-quenching Gold Ale, a World Beer Cup gold medal winner.
Finally, no trip to Baltimore would be complete without shopping for something odd or beautiful at Housewerks. The store, in an old Victorian gas works not far from the harbor, carries an array of antiques and architectural salvage. The building alone is worth the visit.
Heavy Seas Brewery
4615 Hollins Ferry Rd.
Halethorpe, MD 21227
(410) 247-7822
Boordy Vineyards
12820 Long Green Pike
Hydes, MD
(410) 592-5015
Snoasis
E. Padonia Rd. at Park Ave
Cockeysville, MD 21030,
Beaver Dam Swimming Club
10820 Beaver Dam Road
Cockeysville, MD 21030
(410) 785-2323
Woodberry Kitchen
2010 Clipper Park Road
Baltimore, MD 21211
(410) 464-8000
Chameleon Café
4341 Harford Road
Baltimore, MD 21214-3118
(410) 254-2376
Real Food Farm
2701 St. Lo Drive,
Baltimore, MD 21213
Baltimore Food Co-Op/ Mill Valley General Store
2800 Sisson St.
Baltimore, MD 21211,
410-889-6842
Nick’s Farm and Crab Market
3720 Southwestern Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21229,
(410) 525-1022
Faidley’s
203 North Paca Street
Baltimore, MD 21201,
(410) 727-4898
Housewerks
1415 Bayard Street
Baltimore, MD 21230,
(410) 685-8047
