Baltimore/West Baltimore

Google "West Baltimore," and the bulk of the hits that show up for several pages of search results are regarding crime. This is how the world sees West Baltimore, and, while yes, there is an awful amount of violent crime here, this is not fair and not even close to the whole picture of real-life in an urban area rich with culture and history. While African-American history in Baltimore begins in East Baltimore, it moved to the west at the turn of the twentieth century and stayed there. To put it in symbolic terms, Frederick Douglass was raised in East Baltimore, Thurgood Marshall in West Baltimore. African-American culture found its heart along Pennsylvania and North Avenues, earning its place as one of the East Coast's "Black Broadways," on the music and entertainment circuit between D.C., Philadelphia, and Harlem in New York.
Neighborhood identities are strong throughout Baltimore, and West Baltimore has a profoundly large number of distinct neighborhoods. Good luck getting to know them all, but it's possible to go over a number of the most interesting ones for visitors:
Union Square/Hollins Market, affectionately known as Sowebo (Southwest Baltimore), may well house the most beautiful of the many tree lined streets of West Baltimore rowhouses. Maybe this is because of the buildings and fountain around the square and the covered market itself, or even more likely it's because this is a wealthier area and the lovely architecture has seen better upkeep. Either way, Union Square really does rival Bolton Hill and Fell's Point for the title of Baltimore's "most beautiful neighborhood." This fact has not been lost on Hollywood, which filmed the 1997 adaptation of Washington Square (based on the Henry James Novel) at Union Square itself. This neighborhood was the home of the revered H. L. Mencken, the Sage of Baltimore, whose acerbic but hilarious wit was unmatched and unstoppable in his times. His extensive writings are memorialized on the fountain in the middle of Union Square, but he remains best known for his coverage of the Scopes Monkey Trial (he himself came up with that name) and his inclusion in the play Inherit the Wind. This community is tight-knit, well organized, and very involved with keeping it a great place to live. The Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend is of course the best time to visit, when Sowebohemian Arts Festival is in full force.
Pennsylvania Avenue, consisting of the modern day neighborhoods of Sandtown, Upton, Druid Heights, and Penn North, was the epicenter of the city's African-American culture from the turn of the twentieth century up until the doomsday of the 1968 riots. This corridor predates both Harlem and even D.C.'s U Street as a real center of black wealth and culture. The wild popularity of the area—a product of interest in the local arts and shopping, plus the difficulties for black Baltimoreans to find housing in the white neighborhoods throughout the city—led to overcrowding and a slow exodus of the black middle and upper class. The riots of 1968 sealed the neighborhoods fate, and it never recovered. Today there are several remaining monuments and new memorials to what once was, including the Arch Social Club, the Monument to the Royal Theatre, the Avenue Market, the Billie Holiday Statue (a local, along with Cab Calloway), and more. While the reality is more complex block-to-block, it is nonetheless safe to call this a very rough section of Baltimore (particularly Sandtown) and certainly not one to be walking around off the main streets. The city Visitor Center offers weekly tours, and this can be a great way to really learn about the so-called "Outer Harbor"—away from the sheen and wealth of the Inner Harbor.
Reservoir Hill trails only Union Square in terms of architectural beauty, with a real wealth of tall Victorian rowhouses, especially in the Mount Royal Historic District in the southeast section of the neighborhood (by North Ave and the Jones Falls Expy) and the Madison Historic District along Madison Ave. The larger neighborhood, though, is a real patchwork of beautiful blocks next to dilapidated blocks full of boarded up buildings, vacant lots, and the general West Baltimore plague of the drug trade (particularly on the central portion of North Ave at the Madison Park Housing Projects). Just north of the neighborhood is beautiful Druid Hill Park, with its reservoir, the Maryland Zoo, and Botanical Gardens.
Edmonson covers a large swath of mostly residential areas to the south and near east of Gwynns Falls Park. The area to the park's southwest is a nice area, with a few small restaurants/cafes of note.
Pimlico is the neighborhood surrounding the famous Pimlico Racetrack. Despite its proximity to this major attraction, the neighborhood is quite impoverished, and has little else to offer visitors.

While yes, the subway goes to a few places, you really should not plan to visit West Baltimore without a car. It's the only practical way of moving around this side of the city, and it's anyway a lot safer than wandering around on foot, waiting for buses, etc. Edmonson Ave (US-40) and Liberty Heights Ave (MD-26) are the main east-west roads leading out of the city towards Baltimore County and I-70. But North Ave, Reistertown Rd, Baltimore St, Lombard St, and Pratt St are also helpful for getting around. Windsor Mill Rd and Franklintown Rd will also take you to I-70, but these are the slow scenic routes through the woods.
Coming from downtown to the Maryland Zoo or to the racetrack at Pimlico is quickest via McCulloh (MD-129), which will turn into Park Heights Ave.

• Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum

  phone: +1 410 752-2490
  address: 901 W Pratt St
  Located in a beautiful historic railroad roundhouse is a large collection of locomotives and railcars dating back to the very earliest railroads of America. Train rides are sometimes available. Very kid friendly.

• Druid Hill Park

• Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum

  address: 203 Amity St
  An early home of the American author of mystery and the macabre. Located on Amity Street in a rough neighborhood, surrounded by public housing.

• The Maryland Zoo

  phone: +1 410 366-LION
  address: Druid Hill Park
  Large zoo set in a classic victorian-era park. If you want to go on a weekend, purchase tickets in advance over the web to get the weekday rate; if purchasing tickets at the gate, you can save a buck by finding a Maryland Zoo flyer at the visitor's center that has a $1 off coupon.

• Preakness Stakes

  phone: +1 410 542-9400
  address: 5201 Park Heights
  The second of the U.S. Triple Crown series of thoroughbred racing, is one of the single biggest horse racing events in the United States. The crowds are pretty huge, but the numbers are not driven by the family-friendly stands in the outfield, but rather the insane orgy of drunkenness in the infield. If you want a wild experience to remember and have virtually no compunctions of any sort, the infield is the place to be. The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, held the afternoon before, while not as popular as the Preakness, is an important race held for 2-year-old fillies.

• Gwynns Falls TrailAn enormous bike trail through Gwynns Falls Park from the edge of the city straight into the Inner Harbor. This is truly "underground Baltimore" at its best. If the creek is at high water Gwynns Falls is the best whitewater run in the city. Put in at the dam in Dickeyville.

Festivals

• StoneSoul Music & Food FestivalThis festival is held every August in Druid Hill Park to celebrate African-American heritage. It usually appeals to youth but has vendors, clothing and other items for sale that can be purchased by all ages. There is also a concert, usually by a younger hip-hop artist. Past performers have included J Holiday, Tiffany Evans and Mario.

This is not the shopping center side of the city. There are but two types of worthwhile shops around—sneaker shops in Mondawmin Mall for the true sneakerhead, and off-the-beaten-path thrift stores (hipsters have definitely not picked these ones dry).

• Downtown Locker Room

  phone: +1 410 225-9400
  address: 2301 Liberty Heights Ave
  This is the place for your limited and rare Jordan's, Nike's, etc. Big selection and unusually low prices.

• Collins Ave Thrift

  phone: +1 410 242-8111
  address: 211 Collins Ave
  This is a big thrift store, surprisingly organized to a T by some manager who must be obsessive compulsive. The result, however, is a great thrift shop that is easy to browse, and earned a nod from the City Paper as being the city's best.

• Shoe City Sports

  phone: +1 410 523-5511
  address: 2401 Liberty Heights Ave
  While the selection here is not quite up to par with DTLR above, it's in the same mall, so sneakerheads should certainly stop by on the same stop.

• Village Economy Thrift

  address: 790 North Ave
  Another big thrift store hidden behind a building on North Ave, with deals and odd finds befitting a grand old city fallen on hard times. Proximity to Bolton Hill does mean that the MICA students have found the place, however. Su-M half off virtually everything.

• Security Square Mall

  address: 6901 Security Boulevard
  In the far-western neighborhood of Woodlawn that straddles the Beltway.

There are some really tasty hole-in-the-walls scattered throughout West Baltimore, and you'll find some of the city's best soul food and the best Lake Trout. The two things to know, though, are that you'll need cash, not credit, and virtually all places are carryout only—of the following, only Kimmy's and Immeasurable Chicken & Waffles have dine-in service.

• Ashburton Soul Shack Carry Out

  phone: +1 410 624-1430
  address: 1517 Braddish Ave
  Chicken box, lake trout, seaofood platters, crab cakes, breakfasts, sweet potato pie, bread pudding, minced BBQ sandwiches—this is a very tasty option, albeit carryout only.

• Bay Island Seafood Carryout

  phone: +1 410 566-0200
  address: 1903 W Pratt St
  This is another one of those real gems in West Baltimore, with some incredible seafood, boiled, broiled or fried. As is generally the case in this part of town, though, it is carryout only. If you've seen David Simon's The Corner, you might recognize the Sea Pride Crab House across the street (this is a really crabby intersection). DeAndre attempted to work an honest job here, but ultimately had to quit due to crab allergies!

• Fred's Carryout

  phone: +1 410 664-5135
  address: 4708 Gwynn Oak Ave
  Fred serves up some really fine chicken box, with all chicken made-to-order, ensuring the crucial layer of grease between the chicken proper and the skin fried hard. With all due respect to the NYFC around the corner, this is the place to go. Run by Koreans, naturally.

• Chuckie's Fried Chicken

  phone: +1 410 837-1884
  address: 26 S Arlington Ave
  Many of the city's top food critics have made the rounds here, and found that Chuckie's does indeed serve the city's best fried chicken. Family owned and operated in Hollins Market for some 60 years. Chicken here is going to be served fresh, so you generally will have to wait a bit after ordering. There is no seating, no counter space, but it smells so good, you probably will have clean bones before making it out the door of the market. They famously sell their own batter, so you can take their show on the road!

• Immeasurable Chicken and Waffle

  phone: +1 410 483-8707
  address: 1700 W Pratt St
  Chicken and waffles raises its savory sweet head in West Batlimore! Started by a gospel trio, the service is friendly and the ambiance relaxed and casual. Expect a good wait for the chicken, as it is (properly) fried to order. Surprisingly, they have a club upstairs with live DJs!

• Kimmy's Soul Food

  phone: +1 410 566-4400
  address: 4426 Edmonson Ave
  This much loved Soul Food buffet prices by the pound, and has especially good breakfast and vegetable dishes. Don't let the Korean ownership put you off the scent—Koreans seem to be the main purveyors of soul food in this city, and they've mastered the craft.

• The Lake Trout

  phone: +1 410 947-3223
  address: 4652 Edmonson Ave
  Edmonson Village is a long trek from the center of Baltimore, but you'll find some excellent Lake Trout here, unknown to people like Anthony Bourdain or the various hipsters you might run into at The Roost. Distance has "saved" it from fame, despite its write-up in the City Paper as having the city's best trout.

• Silvermoon 1 Carryout

  phone: +1 410 547-2638
  address: 764 W Baltimore St
  This is a very easy one to reach—you can even just walk across MLK from the university. Huge portions of cheap food (that university crowd is being kept in mind)—look for the subs/cheesesteaks in particular. It's best to call ahead with your order.

• Sunny's Chick 'n' Trout

  phone: +1 410 528-1339
  address: 1141 W Baltimore St
  West Baltimore really is the side of the city to be on for your chicken box and lake trout, and it's hard to do better than Sunny's.

• Supreme Oasis Bakery & Deli

  phone: +1 410 466-7212
  address: 3223 Garrison Blvd
  The inside is lovely, in contrast with the fairly scary surroundings! A halal menu with high quality homemade baked goods (bean pies, naturally, show up), good fish sandwiches, and tasty soul food sides. Carryout only.

• World Wide Wings

  phone: +1 410 578-0400
  address: 3020 Liberty Heights Ave
  Pizza too, but the wings are the reason to come. Lots of flavors and lots of flavor. While they do deliver, they tend to mess that up—best to pick up in person. Halal!

Bars

• Caton Castle

  phone: +1 410 566-7086
  address: 20 S Caton Ave
  This is one of Baltimore's best, if not the best, jazz clubs, and you will not find a single other tourist given the out-of-the-way location! Kick it with the locals, hang out in the lounge, and listen to some great local players. You won't go hungry either, with large servings of traditional American/Southern food.

• Five Mile House

  phone: +1 410 578-8831
  address: 5302 Reisterstown Rd
  If you are looking for more of an old school African American lounge, this is the biggest in the city. During slower times just the 1st floor is open, but weekends they open the 2nd floor up where a younger crowd tends to hang out. Food is available in addition to drink options. A can't miss if you want to see men wear leisure suits and women all dressed up.

• Loop Lounge & Grill

  phone: +1 410
  address: 4238 Frederick Ave
  A friendly little hard-to-find sports bar in a nice area right by Mt St Joseph College.

Coffeeshops

• Gerry's Goods

  phone: +1 443 759-4253
  address: 1500 Presstman St
  A very rare establishment in Sandtown, where you can get some fine coffee and food off the limited breakfast (pastries) and lunch (soups) menu, and have a seat at their tables. This section of Sandtown is in better shape than surrounding areas, having benefited from a major urban renewal project in the 90s. The owners see the enterprise as more than a place to have a coffee—former neighborhood drug dealers, they are hoping that a much loved and legitimate business/community gathering spot might inspire change for the better in Sandtown.

With good reason, West Baltimore is not a popular overnight section of the city. Much of the area is fairly unsafe after dark, and it is far from the center, requiring a car.

• Wilson House B&B

  phone: +1 410 383-6267
  address: 2100 Mt Royal Terrace
  Here's an exception to the above advice—Wilson House has an unorthodox location northwest of Bolton Hill, but it's a beautiful Queen-Anne mansion in a beautiful section of the Reservoir Hill neighborhood, and it's easy to park on street. The decorations, books, etc. that adorn the house are from all over the world, providing a small museum's worth of intriguing wandering around. The North Ave light rail stop is a block away, making this—surprisingly!—a convenient place to stay even for the downtown and Inner Harbor attractions. It's also probably the nicest and most convenient option for anyone visiting MICA.

West Baltimore, as should be evident from any quick perusal of this guide, is home to very serious problems with violence often relating to the drug trade (which should not be a problem for visitors), but stranger robbery and assault are very much a reality when walking rougher neighborhoods on foot.