At some point, you will realize that dining out does not mean eating at Wolman instead of Terrace. As the shimmer fades, instead of complaining about how boring this area is, take action and use this condensed guide for a few ideas of great places to explore in Baltimore.
TRADITIONAL
For some good ol' fashioned fun, try one of the following spots:
Towson Town Center (825 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson)
Hop on the Colltown Shuttle and give your credit card a good beating. Filled with all the typical mall fare and a few extras, almost any material needed can be found here.
Iguana Cantina (124 Market Place)
Chart-topping hip hop, collar-popping frat guys and spit-swapping couples--oh my! Iguana Cantina feels a bit like a convention of Greek Life at Baltimore colleges, so if that's your thing, this is the place to go on a Thursday night. Even if it's not, this dance club is worth a visit, just to enjoy the roomy venue, gyrate to Usher's greatest hits and meet some non-Jays.
Little Italy, in general
Several blocks of restaurants serving up gnocchi, lasagna and tiramisu is, in a word, fantastic. It's tough to play favorites--your best bet is just to pick a different one for each friend's birthday and every family visit.
Also consider
AMC Theaters Towson Commons 8, Brick Oven Pizza (BOP), Oriole Park at Camden Yards and Pete's Grille.
OFFBEAT
Charm City has its fair share of quirky offerings--these are just a few to jumpstart your adventures about town:
Ottobar, Sonar, and The Talking Head (2549 N. Howard Street; 407 East Saratoga Street; 203 East Davis Street)
This triad of indie venues offers everything your Converse-clad, chain smoking heart desires. Each has pretty much a different show every day of the week, covering a wide spectrum of genres and ranging from local offerings to acts like The Decemberists (Sonar, October 1) or Cat Power (Ottobar, October 13). Each of these venues cator to drinks and dancing.
Hampden, in general (along the 700 to 1000 blocks of W. 36th Street)
A quick walk from campus, Hampden's 36th Street (better known as The Avenue) is several blocks of bliss for fans of vintage clothes, old-time knickknacks and hard-to-find music and books. Included in the mix of quirky shops are Atomic Books, vintage store Galvanize, and boutiques Oh! Said Rose and Cloud 9. In addition, for what many of its customers consider the perfect fusion, there's Ma Petite Shoe, which sells footwear and chocolates.
Also consider
Waverly Farmer's Market, American Visionary Arts Museum, The Charles Theater, The Funk Box, Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse and Reptilian Records.
CHEAP CHIC
When you'd like to have an extravagant outing, but that twenty in your wallet is really lonely, get all fancied up and sashay about these places.
Red Maple (930 N. Charles Street)
If you think the minimalist sign outside of this place is impressive, just wait until you get inside. An Asian-inspired tapas restaurant by day and a bar/club/lounge at night, Red Maple is quite sophisticated, from its exotic theme nights to its well-dressed clientele. And, if you skimp on food and drinks, you can experience the posh atmosphere for a very affordable cover charge.
BSO College Nights (1212 Cathedral Street)
Once in a blue moon, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra hosts a College Night which, for a mere ten dollars, gets you an evening of musical entertainment and a post-concert party complete with prizes, free snacks and discounted drinks. The Meyerhoff Symphony Hall feels oh-so-elegant and you can't deny the talent of their musicians.
Also consider
Baltimore Museum of Art, Pazzo, art exhibits at the Maryland Institute College of Art and XS (fusion restaurant).
DATE NIGHT
Quit, ahem, "watching movies" in your dorm room together, and impress the object of your affection/lust at one of these locales.
The Inner Harbor, in general
There's something about the Inner Harbor that has an adorably romantic feel, thanks to the way the suspiciously polluted water sparkles at dusk (at least it's not glowing yet). Watch the sharks at the National Aquarium, stop to enjoy the street performers and dine at one of the Harbor's many restaurants. Just remember, for the sake of your budding romance, don't attempt to eat at the Cheesecake Factory. No amount of love can withstand a three hour wait.
The Walters Art Museum (600 N. Charles St.)
Ah, yes, the classic museum date. The BMA is great, but stepping a foot off campus doesn't feel special and date-like. So take the JHMI shuttle all the way to The Walters, located in the Mount Vernon area (get off at the Peabody stop) and impress the object of your affection with your vast knowledge of its collections. Or just hold hands and look at the pretty pictures.
Also consider
The Helmand (an Afghani restaurant), Vaccaro's, The Melting Pot and The Senator Theater.
