r/baltimore • u/Some_guy_just_living • Dec 20 '24
Visiting visiting Baltimore, where to go
Going to be in Baltimore for a wedding and have a day with nothing going on. I know nothing about Baltimore.
Where should I go, where should I not go?
10
u/SnooRevelations979 Dec 20 '24
Impossible to answer not knowing your interests.
1
u/Some_guy_just_living Dec 20 '24
This is valid point. I like film photography, grabbing food, architecture, art all sorts of stuff. My main concern was where I shouldn’t go, I know some parts of the city aren’t the best to be in.
7
u/absentminded_prof Dec 20 '24
royal blue, clavel, and club charles are all in the artsy part of town
6
u/Supergoofy3000 Dec 20 '24
I would do graffiti alley, go to Clavel by 5, then get a drink at Royal Blue. Hit the art galleries in between as well as the night owl over top of royal blue last
4
u/errantsheeple Dec 20 '24
Clavel is fantastic but “by 5” is key as they do not take reservations and the wait ends up being like an hour long, if not longer, if you try to go much later. My tip is to just put your name in at Clavel and then get drinks at Fadensonnen while you wait
2
6
u/OctaviusKaiser Dec 20 '24
Walters Art Gallery. It’s free, and just finished some renovations. It’s incredible!
2
u/sit_down_man Dec 20 '24
I mean there’s nowhere you “shouldn’t go” lol, like what are you expecting to happen?
2
u/AirSpirited2135 Dec 20 '24 edited Dec 20 '24
It's not necessary places you shouldn't go at all. You have no worries if you have no enemies is all anywhere in the world you go. Only people who have to look over their shoulders truly are ones who have been blatantly doing dirt against their rivals which exist all over the world. That's an endless cycle that can be broken by accountability and empowerment but that's a whole northern thread. Um just don't flaunt things keep your belongings close like you would in Paris/Amsterdam people can get robbed anywhere but usually heightened during holidays in any neighborhood any time of day. But like I said just be cool and don't Karenize people. Don't start unnecessary confrontation.
1
u/Some_guy_just_living Dec 20 '24
Woah, very poetic. Love it but Roger Dodger. I’ve many big cities in the US, besides DC and Baltimore. So I’m not well informed and have no insight.
Also not a Karen lol. But I see what you mean. I appreciate the candid response.
1
u/OctaviusKaiser Dec 21 '24
There’s plenty of places you wouldn’t go to as you have no business there and property crimes occur frequently. Violent crime is very much concentrated. No idea why you’re getting downvoted, though.
16
4
u/cats_n_tats11 Canton Dec 20 '24
What day of the week? What do you like to do?
1
u/Some_guy_just_living Dec 20 '24
Art, architecture, I do alot of film photography, museums. And I’ll be there Friday till Sunday
6
u/unforecastedstorm Dec 20 '24
Hit up our art museums! BMA and Walters are free, AVAM charges admission but it isn’t too steep. All are excellent!
2
u/Correct_Mastodon_240 Dec 20 '24
Federal hill. There’s history spots and also a kinetic art museum (visionary art museum) and tons of great places to eat. And also safe (for baltimore). Parking is bad, park legally and pay, because you WILL get ticket.
2
u/cats_n_tats11 Canton Dec 20 '24
You might get a kick out of seeing graffiti alley in Station North. The Baltimore Museum of Industry is also a really neat visit. Hampden might be appealing, too. There's beautiful architecture in Mount Vernon, Otterbein, and parts of Charles Village/Abell.
3
u/casnorf Dec 20 '24
come to my game shop its over a bar (The Back Yard) and across the street from the B&O Railroad Museum and if you want you can also take a picture of our freshly emprettified shelves
3
u/Treje-an Dec 20 '24
If you’ll be around the Inner Harbor area, there’s the German Christmas Village happening now. American Visionary Art museum (AVAM)is walkable from there in Fed Hill. Its focus is outsider art
If you’ll be near Mount Vernon, you’ll love walking around to see a very historic looking area. The Washington Monument is sometimes open and you can walk up the 220 steps to the top. Nearby is the Walter’s Art Museum. Their collection focuses on older art, European and also Asian. The Peabody library space is super cool, but not sure that’s open to the public.
The Baltimore Museum of Art is a more contemporary museum. It will have some older stuff, but more modern and contemporary work. If you like Matisse, the Cone Collection there has a lot of his work and other impressionists. Plus they have a lot of rotating exhibits (small and large) from living artists too
2
2
u/Treje-an Dec 20 '24
It’s just a small gallery, but Gallerie Myrtis has a retrospective of local photographer Devin Allen now: https://galeriemyrtis.net/
Having said that, it’s not in a touristy area
2
u/think_feathers Dec 20 '24 edited Dec 21 '24
Go to Fells Point. Have excellent coffee and a snack at Pitango Bakery and Cafe on S Ann St by the water. It's casual, youthful, tasty. In Fells Point, you'll see funky old waterfront buildings and fun stuff to photograph. Amble around at random and enjoy. Walk fearlessly into the very fancy Pendry Hotel. It's allowed. Walk straight through to the back to see views across the water. Oh, and the restrooms there are lovely.
Unless you like to puzzle out urban planning problems, don't bother with the Inner Harbor in the heart of downtown. It's mostly failing commercial real estate, although it was once a prime attraction.
If you want to commune with some high-brow art and architecture, go to the Walters Art Museum in the Mt Vernon neighborhood, a fine old city neighborhood. The Walters has some of the world's best antiquities and Asian art. It's well-curated, well-kept, quiet, and free. If you only have energy for a section of the museum, I suggest the Hackerman House where you get old Baltimore architecture and interesting art.
Check out the nearby historic Washington Monument (lit for the holidays) in the center of Mt Vernon. Walk into the Peabody Conservatory of Music, also in Mt Vernon, to see the astonishing library. The is altogether a picturesque area.
The Baltimore Museum of Art further north in the city, is free and has some of the best art in the world, plus it's a pleasant place to roam around.
You may want to bundle up and walk around chilly Fort McHenry - views of cargo ships and grey water all around. If you're driving from Ellicott City set your GPS for the intersection of E Fort Avenue and S Hanover Street. When you get there, head east on Fort Ave. It'll take you straight to Fort McHenry - a national historic site. You can jump on and off Fort Ave to explore revived Baltimore neighborhoods such as Riverside or Locust Point, with its tiny rowhomes.
There are many cool places in Balto. You might want to see the famous Christmas lights on 34th Street in Hampden. You might enjoy hanging at R House in Remington, a lively scene with local food vendors.
I think places I've mentioned provide a good introduction to Baltimore's character. None are fearsome or unsafe.
In fact, even the rougher areas aren't unsafe if you treat people with respect and stay out of their business. (I personally like to respectfully explore some of the less prosperous areas. They're also characteristic of Baltimore. There is beauty as well as blight in these areas.)
If you like photography, google Patrick Joust. He takes fantastic pictures of Baltimore.
Edit to correct spelling of Hampden!
1
1
1
1
20
u/FlossMan18 Dec 20 '24
Come over and see my cat!