1. Admiral Fell Inn
City: Fell’s Point, MD
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (410) 522-7377, (866) 583-4162
Address: 888 South Broadway
Description: In the heart of historic Fell’s Point at the foot of Broadway is the historic (natch) Admiral Fell Inn. Eighty rooms are spread through eight buildings, some of which date from the 1770s. Specialty rooms may have a canopy bed, a hot tub, or a balcony. The corner suite rooms have a king bed and a separate sitting room. There is even a bi-level suite with a sitting room downstairs and bed and hot tub upstairs. Wireless Internet access is available in all public areas and each guest room. The room price includes a light continental breakfast. You may request exercise equipment be brought to your room, or you can enjoy the MAC Wellness health club that has a 25-yard, four-lane lap pool, four salt-water pools, and exercise classes. Valet parking is $29 per day. The hotel is pet friendly with a $90 value travel kit for $49 per stay (not per day).
2. Captain Don’S Fishing Charter
City: Fell’s Point, MD
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (410) 342-2004
Address: 1001 Fell St.
Description: The 46-foot Lady Luck has room for six passengers and leaves for the Chesapeake Bay from Fell’s Point. Fishing tackle and licenses are provided, but bring your own food and beverages. The boat goes on a variety of trips, from eight-hour rock fishing expeditions for $450 to two-hour Inner Harbor cruises for $220. Less-serious fishermen might like the three-hour fishing trip for $250. In the fall the boat goes out on hunting expeditions for sea ducks or Canada geese.
3. Peter’S Inn
City: Fell’s Point, MD
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (410) 675-7313
Address: 504 South Ann St.
Description: Owners Karin and Bud Tiffany run this small restaurant on the first floor of a row house, just a few blocks north of the hustle and bustle of Fell’s Point. The place was known as a biker bar for many years (when Peter Denzer owned it). Now more a fine restaurant than a biker hangout, you’ll find lawyers, doctors, actors, and “regular” people. Karin changes the menu weekly (except the salad, garlic bread, and steaks, which are a constant) based on what’s fresh in the markets and keeps the offerings simple but exceptional. Peter’s is open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner only. Other important things to note: Peter’s does not take reservations. You can park on the street or at meters.
4. Ze Mean Bean Cafe
City: Fell’s Point, MD
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (410) 675-5999
Address: 1739 Fleet St.
Description: Whether you’re out for a great first date, an eclectic menu, or award-winning borscht, Ze Mean Bean Cafe will fulfill your wish. This eatery with an East European atmosphere started with a specialty in coffee and desserts and has transformed into a totally satisfying dining experience. Ze Mean Bean, which opened in 1995, has perked its way directly into this century with a Web site that even lets you go through the nearly 100 wines in their list. There’s even an Elk Run (Maryland) Gewürztraminer that they describe (under interesting whites) as “A sweet Gewurzt with aromas of lichee nuts.” The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. with brunch served from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Live entertainment ranges from Latin folk to jazz to jazz with a Latin flair, and goes off into Russian traditionals and classic rock. Reservations are recommended. If you’re interested in providing entertainment, send a CD demo and bio to Jim at the cafe. A three-course prix fixe dinner is offered every Tuesday for $19.95 per person or $29.95 with specially paired wines.
5. Bop—Brick Oven Pizza
City: Fell’s Point, MD
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (410) 563-1600
Address: 800 South Broadway
Description: Somewhere after the best crab cake discussion comes the best pizza talk. Do you like thick or thin crust, sweet or tart tomato sauce, and pizzas with slices of cheese or shredded? Valid preferences. BOP has a lot of fans who swear this pizza is the best, at least in Baltimore. You can watch as your pizza bakes in their traditional wood-fired brick oven that is kept burning 24 hours, and uses oak and maple that brings the oven to a temperature between 7500 and 9000. The tastes and fragrances created by the heat of the wood fire produce a pizza that is vastly different to those cooked in a standard oven. You can build your own slice or whole pie with 52 toppings. Of course, you may just fall in love with the baked ziti pizza and never try another flavor or combination of flavors. Yes, there are sandwiches and salads on the menu. On their Web site are comments from George Carlin, Melissa Etheridge, Luciano Pavaratti, and Kevin Bacon.BOP is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until midnight and until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
6. Bertha’S Restaurant & Bar
City: Fell’s Point, MD
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (410) 327-5795
Address: 734 South Broadway
Description: If you followed the TV series Homicide: Life on the Street, you’ll remember that Detective John Munch (Richard Belzer) bought a Fell’s Point Bar and then he couldn’t—or shouldn’t—give up his day job. On a much more successful note, Tony and Laura Norris, musicians and music instructors from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., teamed up with a friend in 1972 to buy a decrepit bar in Fell’s Point. A visit to a junk show uncovered a stained glass window dedicated to Bertha E. Bartholomew. They did give up their day jobs although they have returned to their first love as members of the Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra. He’s a guitarist and she plays the mandolin. Grab a stool, booth, table, or nook and enjoy the eclectic antiques- and tchotchke-filled room and the mussels. Live musical entertainment is available on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and the first Wednesday of the month. Scheduled performers and the bartender on duty will provide the entertainment. The crab soup is tomato based. Feel free to stop by the Bertha’s shop and receive your free Eat Bertha’s Mussels bumper sticker, a sticker that they say has been seen on all seven continents.Bertha’s is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until 11 p.m. The bar is open Monday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
7. Ding How
City: Fell’s Point, MD
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (410) 327-8888
Address: 631 South Broadway
Description: Fell’s Point and Chinese food really don’t seem like a likely match, but Ding How is apt to change your mind. At this restaurant in a historic part of Baltimore, you can find the usual Chinese favorites, lots of almost crispy vegetables, and local seafood specialties, including lobster, soft-shell crabs, and calamari. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. You can park on the streets of Fell’s Point pretty easily. Dress is casual. Oh, they deliver.
8. Sound Garden
City: Fell’s Point, MD
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (410) 563-9011
Address: 1616 Thames St.
Description: Come here to buy and sell new and used CDs, DVDs, vinyl (LPs, new only), Blue-Rays, and video games. You can buy new DJ equipment, and listen to your newest performing sensation. The Garden opened in 1993 and is now said to be the largest music store in the area. They have a huge collection of cheap used CDs and DVDs. If you can’t find what you want, they’ll search and special order for you. Sign up for their e-mails and you’re registered to win $100 shopping spree at the Garden. When you want to sell your music, movies, and games, stop by between noon and 9:30 p.m., daily. They pay 20 percent more for store credit than for cash. Sound Garden is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight. They have another store in Syracuse, New York.
9. Su Casa
City: Fell’s Point, MD
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (410) 522-7010
Address: 901 South Bond St.
Description: Furnishing homes since 1999, Su Casa seems to be the one place to go when you have an unusual shape or size space to fill, whether you need a great sofa in a settee setting, or mixed materials dining room furniture. They also carry rugs, lamps, and accessories. Local deliveries, done by appointment, are free. Other deliveries have been made up and down the East Coast and west to wherever. Sign up for their mailing list so you know when they’re having a warehouse sale. Pick up a queen bed for $400 instead of $850. A new dining room table could go for $250. Some of the items are discontinued merchandise and others are slightly imperfect current merchandise. Su Casa is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. A second Su Casa is located at 8307 Main St., Ellicott City (410-465-4100) and another Su Casa venture, PAD—Baltimore is located at 1500 Thames St., Fell’s Point (410-563-4723).