Central Baltimore Downtown Neighborhoods
South Baltimore Downtown Neighborhoods
Southeast Baltimore Downtown Neighborhoods
Southwest Baltimore Downtown Neighborhoods

Central Baltimore Downtown Neighborhoods [back to top]

Mount Vernon
Introduction
Mount Vernon is the cultural center of Baltimore and a wonderful place for family living. The heart of Mount Vernon is the original Washington Monument, erected in 1829, and surrounded by historic homes and four parks, which together form one of the most beautiful squares in America.

Community and local activities
Mount Vernon contains many of Baltimore's most important cultural institutions, including the Baltimore Symphony Opera, Center Stage (Baltimore's main theater), the Walters Art Gallery, the Lyric Opera House, and the Maryland Historical Society. Mount Vernon is also home to Baltimore's Museum of Contemporary Art, as well as two other theaters, the Eubie Blake Jazz Center, the Peabody Conservatory of Music, and the Central Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Mount Vernon also boasts some of Baltimore's best restaurants, including swanky locales, a multitude of ethnic offerings, and casual, family-friendly eateries.

Restaurants and entertainment
Mount Vernon's cultural offerings are a boon to families. The BSO and Lyric offer family-oriented performances throughout the year. The Walters Art Gallery holds weekly family activities as well as a summer camp, and its basement houses a children's space. Enoch Pratt contains a splendid children's library, and it runs numerous children's programs throughout the week. Peabody has a dedicated music preparatory, which offers music and dance classes for children aged two months to 18 years. In addition, Mount Vernon is home to the Antique Toy Museum. The Mount Vernon Children's Park has a water spray park and features summer performances.

Mount Vernon's culinary offerings include some family-friendly options, like Iggie's Pizza, Donna's, Al Pacino Pizza Cafe, and City Cafe. Mount Vernon is also home to some of Baltimore's most famed restaurants, like The Helmand (Afghan cuisine), The Brass Elephant, Sotto Sopra (upscale Italian), Abacrombie Fine Foods (new American), and the Brewer's Art (upscale pub food and house-brewed beer). Finally, the neighborhood has a wealth of ethnic offerings, like Akbar and Mughal Garden (Indian), Thairish and Thai Landing (Thai), Kumari (Nepalese), Tio Pepe (Spanish), Martick's (French), Dukem (Ethiopian), and Minato (Japanese).

Neighborhood schools and childcare
Some of Baltimore's best childcare and education options can be found in Mount Vernon, including the award-winning Downtown Baltimore Childcare Center (enrolling children from 18 months to five years), Grace and St. Peter's School (for children aged three to 11), and the Baltimore School for the Arts, a public high school for adolescents who demonstrate exceptional ability in performing and visual arts.

Useful links
Baltimore School for the Arts
Grace and St. Peter's School
Live in Baltimore (Mount Vernon)
Mount Vernon-Belvedere Association

—Amy Sepinwall

South Baltimore Downtown Neighborhoods [back to top]

Federal Hill
Introduction
Neighbors who live in Federal Hill enjoy the proximity to downtown, the Inner Harbor and stadiums, along with so many other wonderful community amenities entertainment, restaurants, schools, and the beautiful Federal Hill Park. Federal Hill Park is a historical landmark with incomparable views of the harbor and entire city and is a large tourist attraction. With plenty of green area in the park, hundreds of people walk their dogs there, and there is a large fenced-in area with a playground, sandbox, and grassy area where dogs are off-limits, and children can run and play freely. Other green areas in Federal Hill include a number of small "pocket parks"located throughout the area that add to the neighborhood's charm.

Most residents can walk out their front door and reach Camden Yards in less than 15 minutes or the Cross Street Market within 5 minutes. M&T Bank Stadium, the MARC train station, the Science Center, the National Aquarium, the Museum of Industry, and the Downtown Sailing Center are all also reachable in fewer than 15 minutes by foot. And several quaint neighborhood restaurants, churches, and schools are located right on residential blocks throughout the neighborhood.

Community and local activities
There are several family-oriented organizations that fall within the Federal Hill neighborhood. The Light Street Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library has a computer with children's programs and holds a number of monthly events for babies, toddlers, and teens that incorporate reading, music, and socializing. A favorite library event among local parents is Mother Goose on the Loose, an interactive nursery rhyme program with music and movement that takes place on Wednesdays.

School 33 Art Center, located at 1427 Light Street, is an old elementary school converted into studio space, two galleries, and art classrooms. Exhibits rotate throughout the year, and receptions and discussions with the artists are held at the opening of each new exhibit. There are adult and teen programs, as well as children's after-school programs, where art is used as a tool for children to learn about the world around them. There are also organized playgroups through several churches in the neighborhood that meet on a weekly basis.

Restaurants and entertainment
Most of the restaurants in Federal Hill can be found along Cross Street, Light Street, and Charles Street. Family-friendly favorites include Regi's, Sobo Cafe, Spoon's, Trattoria Annamaria, and Mother's Grille, while restaurants like The Bicycle, The Blue Agave, and Ten-O-Six are a little more upscale. When neighbors are really looking to go casual, hanging out at the Cross Street Market or one of the taverns along Cross Street are popular choices. And all-in-all, variety is rampant, from pizza at the Thirsty Dog Pub, sushi at Matsuri or Kiku, Asian food at Thai Arroy, and for the sweet tooth, Beach Bum's Ice Cream or Dangerously Delicious Pies.

For entertainment in the neighborhood during the summer months, many residents enjoy "Flicks from the Hill"offered by the American Visionary Art Museum, or bringing a blanket and picnic basket to Federal Hill Park to view free movies that are screened under AVAM's giant golden hand while sitting under the stars. Other entertainment includes the many festivals and the Main Streets Jazz & Blues event every year. The annual wine tasting that is put on by the Federal Hill South Neighborhood Association is also a local favorite. Many other events are put on by the three neighborhood associations that are located in the Federal Hill area, such as monthly happy hours and new neighbor meet and greets, or the annual Party in the Park for families at Henry Street Park.

Neighbors in Federal Hill also love the shopping. A number of both casual and high-end boutiques are located in the heart of the Federal Hill business district, including several women's and men's clothing stores, a children's toy and clothing store, art and jewelry galleries, antique shops, several curiosity shops, two unique shoe stores, two dog boutiques, and the high-end Shofer's Furniture. Ace Hardware also offers numerous conveniences that local residents love.

Neighborhood schools and childcare
The Federal Hill Preparatory School and Catholic Community School are the two elementary schools in Federal Hill, and some residents are also zoned to attend Thomas Johnson Elementary School in Riverside.

Federal Hill Preparatory School offers a distinctive program to students called the Ingenuity Project. Ingenuity at Federal Hill Preparatory School provides a special opportunity for alert and creative students in grades 1 through 5 to study mathematics and science at an advanced level with an enriched curriculum developed by master teachers.

The Catholic Community School offers curriculum for students through grade 8, including an early childhood program for 3- and 4-year-olds. The school offers small class sizes and a parochial curriculum and is associated with Holy Cross and St. Mary's Star of the Sea Churches.

Preschools in the area include Martini Lutheran and Christ Lutheran, and many families with infants and toddlers have the opportunity for childcare at Tide Point Day Care located on Key Highway on the water.

There is also an award-winning public high school in Federal Hill, Digital Harbor High School. Opened in 2002, the old Southern High School underwent a $50 million renovation provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support high-tech programs. Students, who are required to wear light blue and khaki uniforms, can choose from information support and services, programming, networking, or interactive media and video. To graduate, students must take additional technology and college preparatory credits and have excellent attendance and behavior. The surrounding communities have recently begun a community mentoring partnership program with the school and have started up a community scholarship fund through the Baltimore Community Foundation.

Useful links
American Visionary Art Museum
Blue Agave
Catholic Community School
Digital Harbor High School
Enoch Pratt Free Library Light Street Branch
Federal Hill Main Street
Federal Hill Neighborhood Association
Federal Hill Preparatory School
Federal Hill South Neighborhood Association
Mother's Grille
School 33 Art Center
South Baltimore Improvement Committee

—Kirsten Sandberg

Riverside
Introduction
Riverside is a 1500-home neighborhood situated on the South Baltimore Peninsula between Federal Hill and Locust Point. The neighborhood consists mostly of single-family row houses and offers a tight-knit community with an eclectic mix of young families and long-time residents. The centerpiece of the neighborhood and its namesake is Riverside Park, the neighborhood's backyard. The neighborhood is set close enough to the action in Federal Hill to allow its residents to venture on foot to enjoy its shops and restaurants but far enough away to provide a quiet neighborhood environment the ideal place to raise your urban family.

Community and local activities
Geographically the neighborhood is blessed to be surrounded by water to the north, water and rail yards to the south, water and Locust Point to the east, and Federal Hill to the west. Riverside also has excellent access to I-95, which is convenient to commuting to Washington, DC. The planning department's vision of Key Highway will provide the Riverside community direct access to the waterfront promenade providing a walkable, car-free path to Canton. Future pending redevelopment of urban parcels into mixed-use projects offers exciting new promise of walkable urban amenities to be enjoyed by us for years to come.

Riverside Park is our backyard. It's the place where we play at the wonderful fenced-in playground, swim in the city's Riverside Pool, play softball, soccer, and basketball, or bring your dog for a romp in "wild."The park has an extremely active community support group called Friends of Riverside Park. The park itself is wonderful, but it's even more wonderful thanks to these generous volunteers who plant trees, design and construct signs, raise funds, obtain grants, and clean the park on a regular basis.

Restaurants and entertainment
Neighborhood bars dot our landscape and provide accessible social settings where life really is just like it is portrayed in Cheers, a place where "everyone knows your name."With the recently enacted smoking ban, these bars instantly became child-friendly places we enjoy, further nurturing the social aspect of urban life that we all crave. Prior to the ban, families had been know to gather at local bars on smoke-free nights where all of our children would eat and then play together, while the parents get out of their homes and mingle with each other. Since the smoking ban, our neighborhood is open for fun seven days a week.

On the eastern edge of the neighborhood we have an extremely convenient shopping center with numerous stores, most of which are vital to families. The center has the area's main grocery store, as well as a drug store, veterinarian, take-out Chinese, pizza, Goodwill, car repair, banking, and more. New developments in nearby Locust Point offer other exciting retail options for our neighborhood.

Neighborhood schools and childcare
Riverside children are zoned to either Francis Scott Key Technology Magnet School or Thomas Johnson Elementary School. Thomas Johnson is one of the City's best performing schools in recent years.

Useful links
Baltimore Riverside Neighborhood Association
Francis Scott Key Technology Magnet School
Friends of Riverside Park
Live Baltimore (Riverside)
outside.in Riverside
Thomas Johnson Elementary School

—Jeffrey Ratnow

Southeast Baltimore Downtown Neighborhoods [back to top]

Butchers Hill
Introduction
Butchers Hill is a residential neighborhood in Southeast Baltimore bounded by East Fayette Street to the north, Patterson Park Avenue to the east, East Pratt Street to the south, and South Chapel, North Washington, and North Chester streets to the west. Most of the homes are row houses, although some tend to be larger in width and depth. Butchers Hill is just southeast of Johns Hopkins Hospital and west of Patterson Park. Neighbors enjoy its friendly atmosphere and tree-lined streets.

Community and local activities
Butchers Hill has an active neighborhood association that organizes annual events such as pot luck dinners, street cleanups, flea markets, and a house and garden tour. There is also a book club that meets frequently. The community is quite diverse with many ages and ethnicities represented. An asset to Butchers Hill is that its eastern border is along Patterson Park, so it is easy for neighbors to enjoy activities like concerts, festivals, bird walks, and fishing within walking distance. Frequently there are kid-friendly activities sponsored by the Friends of Patterson Park—such as fishing in the boat lake—and the Patterson Park Audubon Center—such as Tiny Tot Safari. Many people use the park to exercise so it is common to see "boot camp" participants, joggers, bikers, dog walkers, and "stroller striders." Also, the Pagoda in Patterson Park is free and open to the public on Sundays from May to October. Other Patterson Park amenities that are family favorites include the newly renovated outdoor swimming pool open each summer, the indoor ice skating rink open in winter, and two playgrounds. Butchers Hill residents also enjoy the Duncan Street Park, which is a small "pocket park" maintained by area neighbors, and the Castle Street Park, another pocket park.

Restaurants and entertainment
Butchers Hill has restaurants, corner bars, and convenience shops where neighbors gather to catch up. Salt is an upscale bar and restaurant at the corner of East Pratt and South Collington streets. The tables and bar stools fill quickly, so make a reservation or get there early! Life of Reilly is a family-friendly Irish bar and restaurant on East Fairmount Street. Water for Chocolate is a catering service that serves breakfast and sandwich items at its coffee bar each morning on East Lombard Street. There are also many diverse restaurants on Broadway, just west of Butchers Hill, where you can find ethnic food at places such as Arcos. Butchers Hill is also an easy walk to Fell's Point for the many bars and restaurants there.

Neighborhood schools and childcare
Commodore John Rogers Elementary School
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
Hampstead Hill Academy
Patterson Park Public Charter School
Wolfe Street Academy
The Johns Hopkins Child Care and Early Learning Center (Bright Horizons; must be a JH employee)
Vera Shank Child Care Center

Useful links
Butchers Hill Neighborhood Association
Butchers Hill Yahoo! Group
Friends of Patterson Park
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Live Baltimore's page on Butchers Hill

—Karen Tong

Canton
Introduction
Canton, nestled between Baltimore's Patterson Park and picturesque waterfront, has transitioned in the past few years from a bar destination to a haven for young families. More and more parents can be seen strolling the streets —child in one hand, latte in the other.

Community and local activities
The most obvious sign of Canton's rebirth is at the Canton Branch of Enoch Pratt Free Library, where the Mother Goose on the Loose program is held weekly and is often standing-room only. Children and their caregivers participate in singing, reading, dancing, and playing. And the brand-new Southeast Anchor Library, which also hosts a Mother Goose program, is also nearby.

In good weather, there are a number of places to let the little ones run, including the Korean War Memorial at the Canton Water Park and Dypski Park with its wading pool and playground.

For older kids, the Clarence "Du"Burns Arena —named after Baltimore's first African-American mayor —is an indoor/outdoor sports complex with lots of opportunities for tyke soccer programs.

An opportunity for parents to get some exercise is at the Merritt Athletic Club, which offers the Kids Zone child care center so parents can work out while their kids are kept safe and entertained. It also features a parents' night out a few weekends a month, enabling mom and dad to run errands, go to a movie, or even just catch a nap at home. Merritt also offers Itsy Bitsy Yoga and baby wellness classes.

Restaurants and entertainment
For a date with the kids, there are a bunch of family-friendly spots in the Can Company and O'Donnell Square. Birches Restaurant has a monthly baby night that lets parents enjoy dinner in the upstairs dining room without worrying about their kids' noise level. The owners supply the toys and a play yard to keep babies contained. Lots of baby passing goes on, so everyone gets a chance to eat with both hands. Babies also love to press their faces against the glass and gaze at the Italian cookies and cupcakes at Vaccaro's and the new CakeLove.

For a quick baby gift, 2910 on the Square has cards and sweet presents for newborns and bigger kids.

Neighborhood schools and childcare
There are more options than ever when it comes to education, including the excellent Hampstead Hill Academy, a pre-K-to-8 conversion public charter school. Father Kolbe School offers elementary and middle schooling under the guidelines of the Archdiocese of Baltimore Division of Schools. And there are two Montessori schools within a few miles.

Childcare options include Friday's Child in Brewer's Hill and a number of local nannies, many of whom become friendly with each other and create their own playgroups.

Useful links
Canton Community Association
Canton Dog Park
Enoch Pratt Free Library Canton Branch
Enoch Pratt Free Library Southeast Anchor Branch
Father Kolbe School
Hampstead Hill Academy
Live Baltimore (Canton)
Merritt Athletic Club (Canton)
The Can Company

—Janelle Diamond

Fell's Point
Introduction
Fell's Point, while known for its nightlife, is a vibrant community of families, young professionals, empty nesters, artists, writers, and students. Founded in 1730, Fell's Point was a ship building community, a port for numerous immigrants, a site for canning factories, and now increasingly a hot spot for businesses looking for an attractive place for their headquarters.

Community and local activities
Fell's Point families tend to congregate in Thames Street Park on Wolfe and Thames streets, where there is a playground and occasional family-oriented concerts and events. People also meet on the Broadway Square where kids can ride a bike or chase pigeons. Bond Street Wharf has a lawn where parents can grab a beer at DuClaw and kids can run. aMuse is a well-stocked toy shop and a good resource for finding out about local family events.

Despite all the construction and gentrification, Fell's Point still retains its quirky charm. You'll see all kinds —families, office workers, barflies, and people you couldn't categorize if you tried. And where else can you smell bread baking at random times during the day from the H&S Bakery?

Restaurants and entertainment
There's no shortage of restaurants and taverns in Fell's Point. Alexander's Tavern stocks Leap Frog handheld games to keep kids busy, and Kooper's has the ever-popular half-price burgers on Tuesdays. Liquid Earth has a laidback appeal alongside its vegetarian menu, Jimmy's satisfies the breakfast-for-dinner fix, and Pitango elevates the ice cream run with its gelato. Peter's Inn, Henninger's, and Mezze are good destinations when the babysitter is available; Blue Moon can't be beat for breakfast (as seen by the lines out the door); and Pazo still has that "Sex in the City"feel.

Neighborhood schools and childcare
The Baltimore Montessori located on Gough Street takes kids aged two to five. There are two charter schools that are in zone depending on where you live in Fell's Point: Wolfe Street Academy serves students from pre-K through fifth grade, and Hampstead Hill Academy serves students from pre-K through eighth grade. Each school has a lottery for out-of-zone families. Patterson Park Public Charter School is also nearby and operates on a lottery basis.

Useful links
aMuse of Fell's Point
Baltimore Ghost Tours
Fell's Point Residents Association
Fell's Point
Fells Point Development Corp.
Hampstead Hill Academy
Live in Baltimore (Fell's Point)
Patterson Park Public Charter School
Wolfe Street Academy

—Amy Lynwander

Highlandtown
Introduction
If you're in southeast Baltimore and someone directs you to "the Avenue,"they're sending you to Highlandtown!

Community and local activities
Twenty years ago, there were two neighborhoods in southeast Baltimore: Highlandtown and Broadway. So if you hear an old-timer talk about Highlandtown, you might want to get more specific. The Highlandtown that we know and love today is the newest Baltimore City Arts District. The Creative Alliance has taken over the old Patterson Theater and added its own theater, along with galleries and artist studios. Along and off the Avenue, there are cafes, after-work rest stops, and all kinds of stores and services including the brand-new Southeast Anchor Library and some of the best crabs in town at Gaffney's. Bordering Highlandtown on the west is Patterson Park, one of the premier parks in town. There is a new children's playground on quiet Bouldin Street and a soccer field adjacent to one of our elementary schools. And we're lucky to have Abbott Presbyterian Church whose music program is known throughout Southeast Baltimore.

Restaurants and entertainment
Highlandtown has been called home to German, Italian, and Latino immigrants over the years. Hoehn's Bakery is a true gem from the German period, and there are a number of businesses still going strong in this now predominantly Italian and Latino community. Since both cultures are family-centric, businesses tend to be family friendly, like our infamous Matthew's Pizza and Di Pasquale's Gourmet Italian Deli. The neighborhood festivals share this sentiment: the Highlandtown Wine Festival is full of children playing, complete with petting zoo, and the church festivals, bazaars, and carnivals welcome all. Community events are posted weekly in the Baltimore Guide, which calls Highlandtown home.

Neighborhood schools and childcare
We are lucky to have several school options in Highlandtown and nearby. The Abbott Memorial Nursery School serves children aged 3 to 4 years, and there are two Montessori schools close by. Two highly regarded charter schools are a half-mile from Highlandtown, Hampstead Hill Academy and the Patterson Park Public Charter School, in addition to two public elementary schools in Highlandtown proper. There are also several Catholic schools in Highlandtown and vicinity.

Useful links
Abbott Presbyterian Church Center for the Arts
Archdiocese of Baltimore
Baltimore City Arts District
Creative Alliance
Di Pasquale's Gourmet Italian Deli
Enoch Pratt Southeast Anchor Library
Highlandtown Merchants
Highlandtown
Hoehn's Bakery
Matthew's Pizza
Patterson Park Montessori
Patterson Park Public Charter School
Patterson Park
The Baltimore Guide

—Liz Lipinski

Little Italy
Introduction
With its charming old-world feel and convenient location, Little Italy is a wonderful choice for family living. A small neighborhood still populated by many Italians, Little Italy has some lovely traditions, many anchored by St. Leo the Great Catholic church. Children here rapidly acquire adopted Italian grandparents on every corner. The bocce court is a center of the neighborhood, with regular league and pickup games, which kids can watch or participate in. St. Leo's holds two Italian festivals every summer —St. Anthony in June and St. Gabriel in August —that bring visitors, games, live music for dancing in the street, wonderful food, and bocce tournaments. On Friday nights in the summer, a parking lot becomes an outdoor movie theater enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. The many Italian restaurants in the neighborhood bring a lively amount of pedestrian traffic and wonderful dining and carryout options.

Community and local activities
Perhaps the most wonderful thing about Little Italy for families is the number of activities within walking distance. The Inner Harbor and all its attractions is only a short walk. These include the National Aquarium, Port Discovery Children's Museum, the Maryland Science Center, the Flag House, the Baltimore Public Works Museum, and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American Culture.

Restaurants and entertainment
Just to the south of Little Italy is sparkling Harbor East, a new waterfront neighborhood that offers restaurants and shopping, including a Whole Foods Market, Landmark movie theater, and the Maryland Athletic Club, which offers swimming and other children's activities. The Waterfront Promenade, which stretches along Baltimore's waterfront is easily accessible from Little Italy and offers a wonderful, car-free place for strollers, bikes, and scooters.

Of course no visit to Little Italy would be complete without a visit to one of its many famous Italian restaurants. Generally family owned, many have been in business for generations. There are more than a dozen to choose from, ranging from casual to upscale. For terrific pizza and takeout, Isabella's and Il Scalino are a great bet and offer a selection of Italian groceries and wines. And for dessert, Vaccaro's is renowned for its cannolis. Within a few blocks, residents can also easily find Indian, Thai, Mexican, Irish, Lebanese, Afghan, and Japanese cuisine along with classic American fare.

Neighborhood schools and childcare
Little Italy has a small but cohesive group of parents who meet regularly for playgroups, dinners, and other events. Little Italy's zoned school is City Springs Elementary, one of Baltimore's first charter schools operated by the Baltimore Curriculum project. Neighborhood children also attend nearby parochial and charter schools.

Useful links
City Springs Elementary School
Little Italy MD
Little Italy Restaurant Association of Maryland
Live in Baltimore (Little Italy)
Rev. Oreste Pandola Adult Learning Center
The Little Italy Lodge

—Emily Hiller

Patterson Park
Introduction
Patterson Park offers all the necessities and pleasures of a high-quality family life. Beautiful and spacious row houses promise plenty of room for small and growing families, and the very best backyard in the city awaits you when you open your front door.

The treasure that bears the neighborhood's name is a 155-acre park complete with a boat lake swimming in ducks, frogs, vibrant plant life, and game fish; safe and well-kept playgrounds; ball fields for soccer, softball, and football; sidewalks for walking and running; a magnificent pagoda; a majestic marble fountain; several tennis courts; a newly renovated swimming pool; an ice-skating rink; and sprawling green spaces as far as the eye can see. It is no wonder that numerous social, educational, and cultural organizations hold their festivals in Patterson Park, as it is a fantastic venue for entertaining and gathering. Latino Fest and the WYPR Music in the Park Series are just two of the annual events held in the park each summer.

Community and local activities
The neighborhood of Patterson Park is a diverse and rich residential community. Its inhabitants represent the full range of the socioeconomic and cultural texture of American society. Yet Patterson Park is absolutely a Baltimore neighborhood and remains distinctly a Southeast Baltimore neighborhood with a healthy commitment to localism. Individuals and organizations committed to a desirous, stable, and safe community have found their homes in Patterson Park. The Audubon Maryland-DC is housed here, offering monthly bird walks, science programs for toddler and preschool children, and city hiking for the entire community. The mayor's office recently committed to the renovation of a beautiful green facility for the current Virginia Baker Recreation Center, located in the center of the park, which will become the home of the Audubon Program and provide a host of eco-friendly social, recreational, and educational offerings. The Friends of Patterson Park rallies community support for park stewardship. The Creative Alliance is housed in The Patterson Theater and supports community artists and youth art programs. Organizations like the Patterson Park Community Development Corporation and Banner Neighborhoods partner with city agencies, businesses, and other community organizations in order to encourage redevelopment and to promote a healthy community. The Patterson Park Neighborhood Association engages residents in the rewarding dirty work of planting trees along our streets, maintaining clean alleyways, and otherwise promoting safe and clean neighborhoods.

Restaurants and entertainment
Restaurants include the trendy tapas-style restaurant Three, the highly acclaimed American tavern known as Salt, and Morning Edition, a traditional Vermont-style cafe aptly named for its impressive and popular breakfast experience. Furthermore, there are small take-out restaurants offering a variety of Latin American fare that are unparalleled in the city. Should you need to step outside, Patterson Park is a stone's throw or short walk to the water and to the shopping, dining, and bar districts of Canton and Fell's Point, which lie just to the south and west of this residential community.

Neighborhood schools and childcare
Patterson Park is a place for families. Residents of the neighborhood have a solid selection of KÐ8 schools from which to choose —each boasts strong leadership, committed and talented staff, involved families, and supportive local organizations and businesses. At the Patterson Park Public Charter School, the motto is, "The city is our classroom."Housed in the beautiful and historic former St. Elizabeth's School, this KÐ8 school is one of the leaders of the public charter school movement in the city. Its teachers are committed, its families are supportive and highly motivated, and its students learn to be stewards of the park. Driven by the importance of educating the entire child, the school offers varied and frequent hands-on learning in math, reading, and science, complementary art and music programs, and a superior physical education program that includes soccer, ice skating, and yoga. The neighborhood has benefited from a surge of high-quality educational and child care programs for preschool-aged children. The Patterson Park Montessori brings the intimacy and dynamism of the highly reputed Montessori approach to families with preschool-aged children. Starting with the 2008Ð2009 school year, the Patterson Park Montessori will offer a Kindergarten program for children who need an additional year in an intimate setting. Furthermore, there are three excellent public libraries in the area, including the newly constructed Southeast Baltimore Anchor Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library that is becoming a popular indoor gathering place for families with young children, and the Patterson Park branch that lies in the heart of an exciting community development project known as Library Square.

Whether you work from home or near Patterson Park, commute to the suburbs or to DC, or work downtown, Patterson Park is convenient and accessible and makes transportation by foot, car, bus, or rail that much more tolerable. For these reasons and more, it is clear that in Patterson Park families agree: "You'd want to live here."

Useful links
Banner Neighborhoods
Creative Alliance
Enoch Pratt Southeast Anchor Library
Friends of Patterson Park
Patterson Park CDC
Patterson Park Montessori
Patterson Park Neighborhood Association
Patterson Park Public Charter School

—Shanaysha Sauls

Upper Fells Point
Introduction
Upper Fells Point is a charming downtown neighborhood with tree-lined streets, spacious row houses, quaint side streets, friendly neighbors, and a strong sense of community. Located between Lombard Street and Eastern Avenue to the north and south and Washington and Broadway streets to the east and west, Upper Fells Point is just a short jaunt to the wilds of Patterson Park and within easy walking distance of Johns Hopkins and the shopping and dining districts of Fell's Point, Canton, Harbor East, and the Inner Harbor.

Community and local activities
Upper Fells Point has a rich history, beginning with the first Irish immigrants in the 1700s to the vibrant Latino community, professional couples, families, longstanding Baltimore residents, and students that call Upper Fells home today. Walking along South Broadway, you will find a plethora of Latino restaurants and businesses featuring regional and old-world specialties. On Eastern Avenue is the Patterson Bowling Center, which boasts the oldest duckpin bowling venue in the nation.

Upper Fells residents find parks in every direction, including the grassy, shaded Thames Street Park in Fell's Point and the spectacular Patterson Park, with its renovated swimming pool, new playgrounds, ice rink, boat lake, and summer concert series. On Wolfe Street is the newly renovated Wolfe Street Academy playground, which is now open to the public during after-school hours.

The neighborhood also has a very active community association, the Upper Fells Point Improvement Association, which has a strong commitment to education and youth.

Restaurants and entertainment
The courtyard of Arcos restaurant on Broadway is "a little slice of Mexico in Baltimore"and a coveted location for margaritas, chips and salsa, and authentic Mexican cuisine. Henninger's Tavern is another local favorite featuring a full bar with a selection of imported beers and classic Maryland and New American fare. One of the most popular items on the Henninger's menu are the TV dinners, which are served at the bar on a metal tray and cost $10. A fashionable spot for a panini, salad, or quiche is Teavolve, whose Upper Fells location has a wonderful selection of hot and cold teas, tea lattes, and other inventive drinks. Smedley's, on Fleet and Wolfe streets, is a funky little cafŽ and coffee shop featuring homemade soups, sandwiches, desserts and the like, as well as a full selection of coffee and tea served up with free wireless internet.

Upper Fells Point is also in close proximity to two grocery stores —including Whole Foods —the Maryland Science Center, the National Aquarium, and Port Discovery. The newly opened Maryland Athletic Club in Harbor East has a pool for kids of all ages and offers swimming lessons to members and non-members alike.

Neighborhood schools and childcare
Wolfe Street Academy is a small, nurturing elementary public charter school with strong performance for pre-K through fifth grade. The school has a targeted zone, so that students in the neighborhood get admission preference. There are two additional well-respected charter schools in walking distance, Hampstead Hill Academy and Patterson Park Public Charter School. And on Gough Street is Baltimore Montessori, a high-quality preschool program for children ages two through five.

Useful links
Hampstead Hill Academy
Live in Baltimore (Upper Fells Point)
Maryland Athletic Club
Patterson Bowling Center
Patterson Park Public Charter School
Patterson Park
Upper Fells Point Community Association
Wolfe Street Academy

—Molly Saint-James

Southwest Baltimore Downtown Neighborhoods [back to top]

Ridgely's Delight
Introduction
Ridgely's Delight is a delightfully small and family-friendly neighborhood in Southwest Baltimore located right next to Camden Yards and just a few minutes walk from downtown and the Inner Harbor. It is a charming community with a rich history and is both a national and local historic district. The houses are mostly two- and three-story historic row houses, including converted alley homes and larger three-story houses on the main streets. Some have off-street parking and garages.

Accessibility is one of the great qualities of Ridgely's Delight. Families can walk to work in nearby office buildings or to the University of Maryland professional schools. For those who must drive, Ridgely's Delight is just moments from I-95 and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, as well as the McKeldin, or "Baltimore,"Beltway.

Ridgely's Delight is also ideal for those families with a parent or two commuting to Washington, D.C. The Camden Yards MARC train station is just a few minutes walk from anywhere in the neighborhood, with several daily trains to DC. Commuting around this city is easy with two light rail stops nearby, one at Camden Yards and one at the convention center.

Community and local activities
For sports fans, the neighborhood is ideal, as you can walk to all Orioles and Ravens games, avoiding the hassles of parking and crowds. The Orioles games are particularly fun for families with kids of all ages. Multi-game season ticket packages are available and well worth the money when you live so close!

Other family-friendly institutions located within or around Ridgely's Delight include the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards, and the B&O Railway Museum. And just a few blocks to the north is the Hippodrome Theater featuring nationally known Broadway plays year-round.

Another exciting development for families in Ridgely's Delight is the newly renovated Tot Lot, located at the center of the neighborhood at the corner of Penn Street and Melvin Drive, which now has beautiful new equipment in a fenced-in area that is safe and fun for kids up to 13. There is also a dog park located at the south end of the neighborhood, Conway Park, with plenty of space for other outdoor activities including games, parties, and picnics.

Families from Ridgely's and the surrounding communities gather on a weekly basis at the Tot Lot for what we call the "west-side family-friendly happy hour."It's a great opportunity for kids to play in a safe, fun environment and for parents to talk and network and sometimes share in a potluck barbeque. In poor weather, we sometimes opt instead for Quigley's Half-Irish Pub. Newcomers are always welcome.

Restaurants and entertainment
There are a number of commercial businesses in and around Ridgely's Delight. These include a charming mini-mart right in the center of the neighborhood where you can get any number of emergency odds and ends, and several bars and restaurants featuring everything from traditional pub fare to amazing Caribbean cuisine. Historic Pigtown's main street, which includes a host of other businesses, is just one block away.

Ridgely's Delight has an active community association and board of directors, working to improve the safety and overall environment of the neighborhood. The community association hosts neighborhood cleanups several times each year, an annual holiday party, and other fun events during the summer including jazz in the park and the National Night Out picnic. And for the parents, the community association hosts First Friday Happy Hours every month at area bars and restaurants.

Neighborhood schools and childcare
Its close proximity to downtown makes Ridgely's convenient to all downtown schools, including magnet, public, private, and charter schools.

Useful links
Babe Ruth Museum
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum
Baltimore City Public School System
Baltimore Orioles
Live in Baltimore School Stats and Links
Maryland Transit Administration
Ridgely's Delight

—Allison Pendell Jones


 

*DBFA defines "downtown"as all of Baltimore City south of North Avenue, and we welcome entries written by local parents on any neighborhood within these boundaries. You can see a full list of our target neighborhoods here.