Discover Baltimore During BE

The Washington Post recently published an article about best places in Baltimore to check out, I thought venture seekers might want to explore these top picks that I found are a short walk or ride from the convention center. Discover Maryland’s best:

Pickles Pub
Directly across the street from Oriole Park (home games Thursday and Friday night during the conference), Pickles has a large outdoor area with multiple bars and stands selling foot-long hot dogs and Italian sausages. 520 Washington Blvd., Baltimore. 

Bo Brooks
The restaurant is known for crabs on its dockside deck, but it also has a large tiki bar where orange, cucumber lime and grapefruit jalapeño crushes are crushed, customers play cornhole and the vibe is more Ocean City than Baltimore. 2780 Lighthouse Point, Baltimore. 

L.P. Steamers
Every Baltimorean has a favorite crab house and can tell you why it’s better than all the others. This summer, we’ve been picking crabs at this 20-year-old institution in South Baltimore’s Locust Point neighborhood. Go for the sweet, meaty blue crabs, stay for the hush puppies and homemade sides. 1100 E. Fort Ave., Baltimore. 

Eastern European at Sophia’s Place
Ukrainians, Poles and other Eastern Europeans began arriving in Baltimore in the 19th century and the areas around Fells Point and Patterson Park still have churches and businesses catering to these communities. Sophia’s Place, inside Fells Point’s Broadway Market, is a destination for fried pierogis, borscht and stuffed cabbage, among other Polish treats. Inside Broadway Market, 1641 Aliceanna St., Baltimore. 

Mount Vernon Marketplace
Baltimore is a city of markets (Lexington, Cross Street, Broadway), and the newest one, which opened last October, has a decidedly foodie bent. There are stands specializing in Korean mandu and bibimbap, charcuterie, sorbet, Chesapeake oysters and Ethiopian coffee. Thirsty? One counter sells beer and cider by the glass or in growlers to go. 520 Park Ave., Baltimore.

For cultural buffs:

American Visionary Art Museum
The strange, beautiful and otherworldly combine at this museum, which celebrates outsider and self-taught artists. Don’t miss the collection of kinetic sculptures from the annual race around the Inner Harbor. 800 Key Hwy., Baltimore. $15.95 general admission, $13.95 seniors, $9.95 students and children; age 6 and younger free.

Fort McHenry
The birthplace of our national anthem is full of living history, with soldiers, musicians, artillery and musket demonstrations, and, of course, the raising and lowering of a reproduction of the Star-Spangled Banner. 2400 East Fort Ave., Baltimore. $10 general admission, age 15 and younger free. Admission is good for seven days.
Dan Serra CFP®, CDFA, ADPA, EA
Chevy Chase Trust
Bethesda MD