Fort Whetstone, the original fort defended Baltimore between 1776 and 1797. It was replaced with Fort McHenry. Fort McHenry was named after James McHenry (1753–1816), a delegate to the Continental Convention. The Fort successfully defended Baltimore against the British during the War of 1812 and during that battle is when Frances Scott Key wrote the… Read More Fort McHenry in Baltimore
A tour of Baltimore bookshops would not be complete without a stop at Red Emma’s. Named after the anarchist from the late 1800’s, Emma Goldman, the bookstore / café / community space has made a major impact on the Baltimore community. They are a worker owned cooperative, where everyone who is part of the collective… Read More Red Emma’s in Baltimore
I love dive bars. The friendly no glamour feel of most of them always makes you feel at home. One my first trip to Baltimore we were looking for some where to eat when someone mentioned Swallow at the Hallow and that it had been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives and that Guy Fieri… Read More Swallow at the Hallow in Baltimore
Is it me or are there four deciding factors that make for a great dining experience? These four must certainly be beer, food, service and atmosphere. To score in my book they must have a great beer selection. The beer selection must be both numerous and of quality, or if that’s lacking at least cold… Read More Max’s Taphouse by Roy Richard
The Hampton district in Baltimore is the place to go for exciting, eclectic, unusual and just weird times. A great little ‘Dive’ bar is the Rocket to Venus. Great food, cool decorations and extremely friendly staff makes a visit here so satisfying. The bar gets its unusual name based on a true story from the… Read More Rocket To Venus by Roy Richard
Baltimore is the home to many unique things and it seems the more I learn about the city the more strange things pop up. It is well known that Edgar Allen Poe spent much of his life in Baltimore, died and is buried there. What I didn’t realize was a bar in Fells Point called… Read More The Horse You Came In On Saloon by Roy Richard
Baltimore is home to one of the most amazing museums I have ever visited, the American Visionary Art Museum. Rebecca Alban Hoffberger, a Baltimore native had a dream in 1987 for a visionary museum that would house and display American Outsider Art. Over six years she raised seven million dollars from various donors and was… Read More American Visionary Art Museum by Roy Richard
Ramblings of an Old Coot 