When the weather's nice and you get the urge to branch out further than Homewood and Charles Village, the Inner Harbor offers more than change of scenery. It's no secret that the Harbor is filled with an assortment of restaurants, shops, entertainment and tourist traps, all of which, in conjunction with the spring weather, might even make its visitors forget that it's still Baltimore.
Harborplace Street Performers
Smack in the middle of the Harborplace, there's an open area with pseudo-bleacher seating where different street performers show off their talents to passersby and moderately captive audiences alike. The actual degree of entertainment value varies from day to day, but at the very least, it's worth pausing to see if it's worth sticking around. The quirky variety of performers range from percussionists to magicians to circus-like stuntmen, and technically it's free to watch, though giving a little donation to the performer is just the nice thing to do.
The National Aquarium
The most obvious tourist spot at the Inner Harbor, this is the place to fulfill any dreams of becoming the next Steve Zissou, or at least play a fantastic game of make believe. From octopi to sharks to eels, there are plenty of water-dwelling creatures to observe at the aquarium. Themed exhibits, ranging from "Upland Tropical Rain Forest" to "Maryland: Mountains to the Sea," fill the four levels, plus you can make plans to check out a dolphin show. If you didn't get to attend the school-sponsored event last month, try going on Friday evenings, since discounted student tickets are available for $5.
Barnes and Noble
Since Hopkins and its nearby surroundings currently lack a gigantic chain bookstore, the Barnes and Noble at the Harbor is the place to get a literature fix and, perhaps more importantly for some, a Starbucks fix. The rest of the Inner Harbor's offerings tends to be bustling and somewhat crowded, so the calm atmosphere of the bookstore will be a welcome change of pace.
Shopping
Though Towson Town Center tends to be the location of choice for a nearby comprehensive mall shopping experience, the Gallery at the Harborplace offers a few different stores in its mix. For those craving a J. Crew fix, here's the place to find the mecca of polo shirts, basic denim, and plaid everything. Also, there's a Forever 21, the ideal store for finding clothes that are destined to be fleeting trends at guiltless prices. It's also a good place to stock up on the requisite clubbing clothes - perhaps for a trip later on in the evening to the nearby Powerplant Live. And, although playing with microscopes lost its appeal after General Bio Lab, The Discovery Channel Store in Harborplace is still worth browsing, either for buying younger siblings' gifts or just to relive a nerdy childhood. The Inner Harbor in general is also the ultimate place to find cheesy Baltimore souvenirs, once buying Mom and Dad stuff from the Hopkins store gets played out.
Food
Inner Harbor has its share of chain restaurants that everyone has tried at least once during freshman year, including The Cheesecake Factory, its neighboring California Pizza Kitchen and, for the hormone-laden boys, Hooters. But, there are so many more dining options at the Harbor, especially ones offering seafood fare, that lead to happy taste buds and satisfied stomachs.
Though it is a popular chain restaurant, McCormick and Schmick's is a few steps up from the competition. It's on the pricey side, but well worth the money for the taste of the fresh fish it offers.
At Rusty Scrupper, a moderately priced restaurant, there's surf and turf galore , with a bit of extra emphasis on the surf part. The menu is filled with a variety of fresh fish, shrimp and crab options - or sometimes all three, at least with the Inner Harbor Trio dish. In typical Baltimore tradition, crab meat, in its many forms, comprises some of the restaurant's specialties. In addition to the cuisine, this restaurant also has a nice view of the Harbor itself.
For dessert, try the Fudgery and Vaccaro's Italian Pastries.Located in the Gallery Mall, the Fudgery is a guaranteed sugar rush with its extensive menu of glorious fudge offerings. Employees here sing and entertain customers while they wait for their candy - rumor has it that Sisqo, the diminutive fellow whose "Thong Song" still gets high schoolers on the dance floor at prom, worked and sang here before hitting the big time.
Everyone's favorite place in Little Italy, Vaccaro's Italian Pastries, also has a home in the Gallery Mall. Sure, it may lack the sit-down dessert shop charm of its sister store, but the cannoli sure taste the same. And that's what really matters.
