Best of Baltimore
EDITED BY
Janelle Erlichman Diamond
WRITTEN WITH
KERRY FOLAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCHAUN CHAMPION
COMMUNITY BOOKSTORE
Urban Reads Bookstore
Tia Hamilton, a social justice activist, opened Urban Reads Bookstore to be a source of support for the Black community. The Waverly shop on Greenmount, along with its second spot at Lexington Market, specializes in Black authors, nonfiction, urban literature, and prison authors. The State Vs. Us magazine she runs, which shares success stories of returning citizens and writes about those who have been wrongly convicted, led to a racist online harassment campaign against Hamilton this year, but her community has rallied. If anything, she’s become more resolute about the importance of her work and the joy of reading as a form of resistance.
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CUSTOM SHOP
JILL ANDREWS GOWNS
The super-talented, lovely, and unassuming Jill Andrews has quietly created gowns for some of the biggest names, including First Lady Dawn Moore, 60 Minutes correspondent Norah O’Donnell, and countless who’swho of the Baltimore social scene. While most of Andrews’ bread-and-butter comes from her bespoke custom wedding gowns, she has a gift for making women feel beautiful no matter what they are wearing. She loves textiles, and the history of fashion, and her studio in the Castle at Keswick is filled with everything you’d expect at a famous Parisian atelier——tins of bespoke buttons, luxurious fabrics, silk threads, and vintage linen-covered Wolf dress forms.
FABRIC SHOP
DOMESTICITY
Customers love Lauraville’s Domesticity, not just because of the excellent selection of high-end modern, quirky, and whimsical fabrics or tons of classes——including how to use a sewing machine and garment making—— but because owner Christina Brunyate is such a vibe. You can often find her on Instagram @createdomesticity taking viewers along to trade shows, unboxing fabric, or talking about upcoming classes. She’s so smiley, warm, and supportive that suddenly you believe you can quilt.
2009
34TH ANNUAL
Best of Baltimore:
WHO WON IT?
WE WENT FULL EDGAR Allan Poe on the 2009 cover, with a raven and the catch phrase, “WhoWonIt?” (as in “whodunit”). This was the year when a lot of still thriving businesses got nods: Taharka Bros. won “Best Ice Cream,” Dangerously Delicious pies won “Best Pies,” Sassanova won “Best Fancy Shoes,” and Woodberry Kitchen (now Woodberry Tavern) won “Best Hot Spot.” We shot a picture of Oriole centerfielder Adam Jones, holding——what else?——a whipped cream pie and gave him “Best Oriole.” In our Media section we gave nods to the usual suspects——Marianne Banister, Vic Carter, and Tom Tasselmyer, of whom we said, “No one cares about the weather more.” If he didn’t put that on his business card it was a missed opportunity.
FASHION MOMENT
MARYLAND CENTER FOR HISTORY AND CULTURE
This summer’s blockbuster exhibition “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute includes more than 200 items that tell the story of Black dandyism in America. One of the show’s most crucial artifacts comes from Baltimore’s own Maryland Center for History and Culture——livery worn by an unidentified enslaved man most likely in the 1840s. By preserving and contextualizing these garments, MCHC has helped to show how Black culture transformed dandy dressing from a tool of oppression into a tool of self-definition.
MAKER SPOT
THE CHARMERS CLUB
This local community organization, focused on supporting small and micro businesses in Baltimore, is run by two small business owners themselves, Lindsay Street and Rebecca Madariaga, who believe in directly investing in their community. What started in the form of pop-up markets and DIY events turned into a brick-and-mortar last fall on N. Howard Street near Ottobar that sells goods from local makers. Find everything from vintage, handmade, and locally sourced attire to cards, accessories, and home goods in this sun-drenched corner store.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICAH E. WOOD
CREATIVE SPACE
Social Studio
This all-ages creative workspace——dreamt up by Genie Arnot———offers art classes, after-school programs, workshops, art parties, portfolio development, an open studio, and all sorts of community collaborations in a bright, dreamy room in Roland Park. The idea for this came about after years of volunteering at The Children’s Museum of the Arts in New York City and teaching art at the Bryn Mawr School. The tables are usually filled with popsicle sticks, tempera paint, thread and needles, buttons, or watercolors—— depending on the projects. The only rule in this creative atelier is to have fun. Arnot thrives in the creative chaos.
GIFTS THAT CELEBRATE BLACK CULTURE
Reginald F. Lewis Museum
A lot of thought went into the Lewis Museum’s gift shop, which includes sweatshirts, children’s books, tees, and jewelry that celebrate Black culture. The shop is known for its gift bundles, including the Auntie Bundle and Maryland’s Trailblazers Bundle.
MUSEUM TO SHOP LOCAL
Baltimore Museum of Industry
The BMI shop is an ode to the city, with locally made items from SewLab USA, an art and e-commerce initiative for Black youth artists called Baltimore’s Gifted, and BMI volunteer blacksmith Bob Webber.
RETAIL WORKS OF ART
Baltimore Museum of Art
The problem with the BMA gift shop isn’t can you find something to buy, it’s that you want to buy everything. Of course anything related to their exhibits is super popular, but there’s also a great selection of cookbooks, kid items, jewelry, and totes,
SHOPPING FOR A CAUSE
National Aquarium
The National Aquarium’s gift shop acts as an extension of its mission to inspire compassion and care for the ocean planet. That means even the carpet is recycled. Sure, you can find shark and turtle stuffies and books about jellyfish, but there are also lots of eco-conscious gifts, toys, apparel, and treats. Plus a super popular collab with the Made in Baltimore folk.
WACKY WARES
Sideshow
As deliciously unique as the American Visionary Art Museum it resides in, Ted Frankel’s shop is packed with original art, books, knickknacks, toys, jewelry, gag gifts, and a fabulous selection of (some naughty) greeting cards.
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POTTERY
PINKKISS POTTERY
Baltimore has an abundance of wonderful handmade ceramics, but we are especially smitten with Shawna Pincus’ Pinkkiss Pottery. The Maryland Institute College of Art grad creates pieces that are bright and happy-making. Her style involves layering patterns, textures, and hand-drawn images (fruits, florals, bugs, and love letters to Baltimore like crabs, lemon sticks, and ravens) on her artful mugs, bowls, platters, and the like. Pincus is constantly inspired by watercolors, illustrations, and folk pottery. You can usually find her at whatever big festival is going on in Baltimore or teaching at Baltimore Clayworks.
SHOPPING CENTER GLOW-UP
THE VILLAGE OF CROSS KEYS
It’s been a slow roll-out, but when long-time Baltimore boutique Ruth Shaw returned home to Cross Keys, we knew it had reached its full potential. Over the years, the shopping center had lost a little of its luster, but thanks to a bit of a refresh, some brand-new eateries (Cece’s Roland Park, Easy Like Sunday, Always Ice Cream, ZaVino), a familiar anchor (Williams Sonoma), and the addition of some second locations of favorites (Ruxton Mercantile), it’s officially fun to shop here again. And we love the variety, from Pied Piper Kids to Merritt Gallery & Renaissance Fine Arts. Throw in Misty Valley Farms setting up shop in the parking lot three days a week and it’s pretty close to perfect.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY TYRONE SYRANNO WILKENS
BARBERSHOP
The Old Market Barbers
Most of the folks who come through the door of this Remington barbershop——a converted old corner market, as the name suggests——are loyal customers of one of the seven barbers who keep hours here. They come not just for the $30 haircut (cash only!) but the banter, free Natty Bohs and seltzers always cold in the fridge, great background music, and quick service. Longtime barber John Stevens recently became the owner of this locale and has maintained the inclusive environment with his gentle ways, including his ease around the ficklest of customers—— kids. While the shop still does walk-ins (the original model), online booking makes appointments fast and easy.
SOUND BATH
HARMONY WORKS
For those who sound bath on the regular (yes, it’s a verb), the AcuSoundBath on Wednesdays is likely a favorite. The 90-minute class at St. Lukes Church on The Avenue combines community acupuncture (usually a simple five-needle ear acupuncture) with sound (crystal and Tibetan bowls, chimes, gong, voice) for wellness overload (in the best way). Each session opens with a guided meditation, and then participants are invited to relax while the Harmony Works team creates a gentle soundscape for restoration, healing, and transformation. Everything is offered on a sliding scale of $1-111, with a suggested donation of $44. And perhaps most exciting, Harmony Works opened a new Sound Sanctuary in June inside the former Strawbridge Church in Bolton Hill.
SPA EXPERIENCE
THE PEARL SPA
Yes, you can get the usual here——from facials to massages——but the true treasure of this Columbia spa is their healing water therapies. The magic of water in reducing stress, relieving pain, and restoring the body, mind, and soul can be debated, but will you feel more relaxed and Zen than before you arrived? Absolutely. Guests can spend 90 minutes——for a mere $45——going from a Vitamin-C rainforest shower to the aromatherapy steam room to the cold plunge to the therapeutic hot tub. For an extra $10, they’ll even throw in a robe and slippers.
STAYCATION
HOTEL REVIVAL
Sometimes you just need a night (or two) away from the chaos of home, but don’t want to waste time traveling. Enter Hotel Revival, smack dab in the middle of Mount Vernon. The 107-room swanky hotel (don’t miss the iconic wallpaper in the stairwell) has everything you might need——big comfortable rooms (featuring a blend of antiques, midcentury pieces, and contemporary accents), coffee and breakfast on the bottom level at the ’Dashery Cafe (get the breakfast sammie and an iced oat milk latte), and martinis and cheeseboards on the top at the aptly named Topside Rooftop Restaurant (with the absolute best view of the city). At night, the B-Side bar offers cocktails and karaoke suites if your idea of relaxing involves belting out a tune. (Make sure you make a reservation.) Or simply stay in your room, read books, watch movies, and order DoorDash to the lobby. You don’t have to talk to a soul.
WALK IN NATURE
TREEBALTIMORE
We could all use a walk in the woods, and as silly as it sounds, sometimes it’s nice to let other people teach us the best way to do that. TreeBaltimore’s Guided Forest Walk is all about the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which translates to “forest bathing,” or basically nature as a therapist. A certified therapy guide helps walkers focus on sensory engagement to connect with nature. That means concentrating on sights and sounds. (Put down that phone!) Walks are short distance over natural surfaces and gentle terrain and include Cylburn Arboretum and Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park.
2019
44TH ANNUAL
Best of Baltimore:
OUR GUIDE TO THE
BEST OF THE REGION
HOW DID IT TAKE US this long to feature pink flamingos on the cover of Best of Baltimore? We created this snazzy image in honor of our no-brainer “Best Exhibit”—— John Waters’ “Indecent Exposure” at the BMA. At this point, even more of the BOB usual suspects were showing up: Le Comptoir du Vin won for “Best Vegetarian Dish,” Fadensonnen won for its wine program, and Petit Louis Bistro won “Best Neighborhood Classic.” The BSO Pulse concert with Dan Deacon won “Best Concert” (Dan, check your mailbox this year, too!) and we saluted Killer Cat of Hampden, giving him “Best Instagram Account.” RIP, Killer Cat. We think even Brandon Scott would agree——you were the best unofficial mayor ever.
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Explore The Winners
