7 E. Hamburg Street
This two-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath rowhouse is so cute in so many ways.  Okay, so maybe we’re suckers for things like wood-burning fireplaces, hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances and great locations.  Sorry, geez.  And so what if we’re infatuated with skylights for allowing in tons and tons of natural light while maintaining privacy.  It’s not like that’s a problem or anything.  And if you’re going to judge us for hosting candlelit soirees in the private courtyard, well, we just won’t invite you anymore.  Priced at $199,900, down from $214,900.

40 E. Wheeling Street
The secrets of this two-bedroom, one-bath rowhouse are all on the inside.  That’s not to say that the outside is bad to look at, not at all, but to walk around on these in-laid floors, through the spacious kitchen, to see the large bathroom (separate shower stall, anyone?), to walk to the back courtyard and feel connected to the rest of the house… well, these are the things you can’t get by just driving by.  And besides, what’s the point of owning a house if you can’t keep a few secrets in it?  Priced at $289,000.

23 Ostend Street
Now we’re not saying that you’re social life will automatically improve if you buy this two-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath rowhouse, but given its proximity to the heart of Federal Hill it’d be hard for it to go down.  You should never fear staying in, however; it’s just far enough from the epicenter of Cross and Hanover that you can spend any number of quiet evenings playing cards in your spacious kitchen, entertaining friends in the private courtyard, or just cozily reading in your (large!) upstairs bedroom.   Priced at $299,000.

If you’d like to know more about any of these houses — or if you have an entirely different house in mind – get in touch with us at Urban Discoveries Living. We’ll help you out with any and all of your real estate needs.

106 Cross Street
We’re fond of this three-story, three-bedroom, three and a half bath Federal Hill rowhouse for a lot of reasons.  The floors are Brazilian cherry, the appliances are all stainless steel, and the bathtubs are all whirlpools.  And it’s a good place for hosting guests as well; the third floor has a large game room, complete with wet bar, and wide-opening door that let the outside air in.   Priced at $359,900, down from $375,000.

106 Warren Avenue
This is the first time (we think!) we’ve ever had a home on the listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Federal Hill Historic District.  Maybe we have before, but those houses didn’t have nifty plaques like this one.  That said we really wouldn’t mind living in this three-bedroom, two and a half bath historic site.  We especially wouldn’t mind the four working fireplaces, the antique pine floors (restored, of course), the patio and deck with skyline views.  The spacious and redesigned kitchen makes us love it a little more.  Priced at $495,000, down from $575,000.

116 Montgomery Street

So we don’t know how many of you are familiar with that Midwestern phenomenon of trailer parks, but this three-bedroom, two and a half bath rowhouse is what’d be known as a double-wide.    Not because it’s particularly vulnerable to tornadoes, but because it’s two rowhouses blended into one.  But no one will mistake you for being trailer trash with a gourmet kitchen (complete with commercial appliances), an oversized courtyard, a den and a library (everyone knows hillbillies don’t read).  There are even four parking spaces in the back, so there will beplenty of room for when your hick cousin Eddie needs a place to park his RV.  Priced at $530,000, down from $575,000.

If you’d like to know more about living in Federal Hill — or anywhere else in Baltimore – get in touch with Brent Roberts and Urban Discoveries Living.  They can help you find what you’re looking for.

Photo by flickr user eversion.

So it’s not likely that your new house, no matter how perfect it is, is going to be perfect in every way. Don’t fret, this is normal; it’s part of making a house into your home.  And what helps you do that most of all – after, you know, family and stuff – is furniture and decoration.  Sure, there’s a new Pottery Barn catalog in your mailbox today, but, c’mon, shop local and shop unique.  Get stuff that you’ll never see on an episode of Friends.

One of our favorite places in town is Red Tree in Hampden (921 W. 36th Street). We always find stuff there we don’t find anywhere else.  And, truth be told, we’re pretentious enough that that’s all we’re ever looking for. (Check out our interview with Red Tree for a closer look at the shop.)

That said, we can still appreciate the comfort sitting on an overstuffed couch and tossing our feet up on a soft leather ottoman.  And for that, there’s no better place than Shofer’s in Federal Hill (930 S. Charles Street).  Shofer’s is one of those family-run furniture stores that’s been around forever and knows the business inside and out.  They’ve got a huge selection; as their website puts it, “Shofer’s shows traditional, contemporary and transitional designs from over 200 manufacturers.”  We’re not sure what “transitional” designs are, but we bet they’re cool.

So when our little projects start taking on a life of their own, when we’re knee-deep in plaster dust, when we’re when we’re standing around thinking about antique lamps, when we’re wondering just how, exactly, the previous owners could have picked such ugly doorknobs, we head out to an architectural salvage store.  They’re treasure chests of stores, chock-full of stuff we never really knew existed.  We’re partial to a few; Housewerks in Federal Hill (1415 Bayard Street), and Second Chance in South Baltimore (1645 Warner Street) are both great places.  Housewerks’ inventory focuses mainly on pre-WWII decorative building features; they’ve currently got a needle shower that we’re drooling over.  Second Chance is not only a great salvage store, they’re also a fully licensed 501(c)(3) corporation; in addition to salvaging old buildings to create less waste, they provide job training in carpentry and craftsmanship to low-income residents in Baltimore.  We dig it; we like our furniture like we like our ice cream: guilt-free.

Where’s your favorite place to buy furniture in Baltimore?  Any secret places to buy a chest-of-drawers you’d like to share?

Federal Hill

1646 Belt Street
This two-bedroom, one bath rowhouse is really quite charming.  Now, we’ve always been a bit of a sucker for bay windows – they just provide that little extra oomph of light and space that so many rooms need – and when that gets paired up with all of the exposed brick… well, we’ve got a tough time not liking these surroundings.  Add a lovely backyard patio, and the fact that it’s also within walking distance to Riverside Park and, suddenly, living in the city doesn’t mean giving up the outdoors.  Priced at $185,900.

621 Harvey Street
Okay, we might be a touch superficial, but once a rowhouse puts on a roof deck, we don’t really care about what’s on the inside.  If that makes us shallow, we’re shallow.  But despite this two-bedroom, two-bath rowhouse’s roof deck, with its awe-inspiring views of the Baltimore skyline and harbor, there’s still plenty to like on the inside.   The original hardwood floors, for instance.  The master suite and walk-in closet.  The finished basement with separate laundry room.  You know, stuff that might make you forget about the roof deck.  Although not for long, we’re sure.  Priced at $224,900.

1640 Patapsco Street
This end-of-the-group two-bedroom, 1.5-bath rowhouse (our favorite position: extra windows = extra light!) is great for a lot of reasons.  Exposed brick, refinished hardwood floors, central A/C, a remodeled kitchen… oh man, we could go on.  Our favorite feature, though, is the elevated back deck accessible through a bedroom.  We can’t imagine a much better way to start our day than by walking out our back porch and enjoying breakfast with a view.  Priced at $290,000.

For more information about these listings or others like them, contact Brent Roberts at Urban Discoveries Living.

Photo by flickr user danielle_blue.

Oh, Baltimore, there is so much we love about you. We love that you’re self-deprecating: Hon Fest, Jon Waters, all those “Greatest City in America” benches. (Oh, wait, that was serious?) We love that you’re unpretentious, unlike those folks down in the federal city to our south. But most of all, we love the food. Blue Moon Café, Golden West, Woodberry Kitchen, Thairish… we could go on and on.   But when it comes to Baltimore cuisine, well, there’s just no way of getting around crabs.  And we’re totally in love with that.

The Sun’s Dining at Large blog recently pointed us in the direction of two-dollar crabs Tuesday night down at Ryleigh’s Oyster in Federal Hill. We’re going to go out on a limb and say that sounds like a pretty good deal. Toss in the same deal on the same night at Riptide by the Bay’s in Fells Point and Tuesday night starts looking like crab night in this town.

The other option is to host your own crab feast… and why wouldn’t you want to do that?  You get to do ridiculous, Chesapeake-only things like buying crabs by the bushel and drinking Natty Boh. There are way too many crab shacks and places to buy crabs in the area to list—we’re partial to LP Steamers, but we haven’t come close to trying them all—so we’re glad that ABC2 News did a good job with their round-up. For the record, a bushel usually contains somewhere between 60 and 70 crabs, enough to feed 10 to 12 people, more if crab isn’t the only thing on the menu. We recommend having the party outside during the daytime; crab picking can be messy business for the inexperienced. The experienced, however, can compete for the title of Miss Baltimore Crabs, a title worth having.

Photo by flickr user C'bou

The season is here for grass stains, paper-bag wine, and canoodling in public. Baltimore’s venerable tradition of outdoor summer movies is back. There are a slew of locations at which to participate in this magical rite, and new, unofficial venues are always popping up. Check out this list, then scour your own neighborhood for the sound of toddlers laughing and the smell of fingers burning on projector bulbs.

1. Village of Cross Keys in Roland Park (5100 Falls Road) got the celluloid spinning first this summer, with Baltimore-themed showings every Saturday at 6:00 p.m., and will continue June 13 with (the more recent) Hairspray.

2. The quad in front of Gilman Hall on the Hopkins Homewood Campus in Charles Village (3400 N. Charles Street) hosts a live music and film series Fridays this summer. Next up on June 12 are the Swingin’ Swamis and a rival showing of Hairspray. Music starts at 7:30 p.m., movie after.

3. Broadway Pier in Fells Point is showing mostly grown-up pictures Wednesdays at 8:45 p.m. starting July 1 with the exception-to-the rule Ice Age.

4. Also starting on July 1, the Center Plaza (217 N. Charles Street) will be the grassy locale of choice for Downtown movie viewers Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Information for this series is a little spottier, due to its relative youth (this is only year two), but last year the movies were raucous, crowd-pleasing action flicks. Caveat freeloader.

5. The American Visionary Arts Museum in Federal Hill (800 Key Highway) has one of the most popular summer film series in Baltimore. Show time is 9:00 p.m. Thursdays – starting July 2 with Raiders of the Lost Ark. The movies in this series tend to be at least a decade or two old, if that’s what you’re looking for. And as a (truly first-rate) perk, the museum will be open and free from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. on show nights.

6. Finally, stop by the intersection of High and Stiles Streets in Little Italy Fridays at 9:00 p.m. starting July 3 to add a dose of Italian (herbs and seasoning if not always language) to your summer movie binge. The first installment will be Moonstruck.

Where do you plan to spread your blanket and squeal at the scary parts this summer?

Locust Point: 1420 Hull Street

We really like this two-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath rowhouse in Locust Point because, well, there’s nothing not to like. There’s checkerboard tile in the kitchen. There’s a back patio with a pergola that makes us wonder what rowhomes in ancient Greece must have looked like. There’s Locust Point, a neighborhood in the best sense, a place where you can live. Throw in the local restaurants and shops – plus the fact that you can take a water taxi to the Inner Harbor – and you’ve got a nice little find. Priced at $165,000.

Did the Ancient Greeks have water taxis?

Federal Hill: 1010 Patapsco Street

For whatever reason, we think of “Hansel & Gretel” when we look at this house. And while it’s not made out of candy, it does seem like an awfully sweet place to live. It has two bedrooms and one bath, a brick back patio and wood floors throughout, and other little touches such as two fireplaces (one wood, one gas), a spiral staircase, and lots of exposed brick – plus a Jacuzzi tub and a recent price reduction (to $225,000 from $275,000).

It's not gingerbread, but we like the exposed brick.

7 Hamburg Street East

Last up is this two-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath rowhouse in Federal Hill. It’s on the end of the row – our favorite position for a rowhouse because of all the extra light it allows in. We’re fans of the hardwood floors in the living room and the carpeted upstairs. The backyard patio is perfect for entertaining friends or clients during the warmer months, and the inside is cozy and warm, with two working fireplaces for the winter. Priced at $239,900.

Hardwood floors, light, and not one but two working fireplaces.

Locust Point
1423 Beason Street, 21230

Could anyone have imagined this dining area in 1892?

Look around in this fully restored 1892 row house, and you’ll find a lot to see: 3 bedrooms, wood floors, built-in bookcases, stainless steel kitchen appliances, whirlpool jets in the bathroom, and on and on. It’s 871 square feet but feels more spacious because of the 9 to 10 foot ceilings and — ta da — a private rooftop deck from which to enjoy the city.

Original listing in mid-March: $349,900. Now: $299,900. Reduction: $50,000.

Federal Hill
1211 Light Street, Unit T-1, 21230

Another dazzling renovation in an old (1900) building, which now has an elevator. It’s an 859 square foot condo with built-ins throughout and wall-to-wall carpeting. And guess what? The very nice furniture conveys.

Original listing: $339,000, dropped to $324,900 at the end of March. Now: $274,900. Reduction: $50,000.

Everything is in place -- let's get cooking.

Yes, you get the bed, too.

South Baltimore
1402 Woodall Street, 21230

If you’re willing to put glamour aside in favor of a roomy (1,158 square feet) row house, with wood floors and a finished basement, a 2-car garage — you know, the basics — this place has a wonderful surprise. The roof deck affords spectacular views of the city and the harbor.

Listed in mid-March: $349,900. Now: $299,900. Reduction: $50,000.

A respectable Woodall Street facade.

The phenomenal view from the roof deck.

For a closer look at these houses (or ones like them), visit Urban Discoveries Living.

Photo by flickr user brighterworlds

Whether you’re eating cucumber sandwiches or Lake Trout in a sack, sometimes you just want to do it in the grass. And while Baltimore may not seem the most sprawlable polis in the loose confederation of city-states, there are still a few pastoral vistas to be found. Here’s our list of dawn-to-duskers:

1. Canton Waterfront Park (3001 Boston Street) boasts perhaps the most reliable solitude of any of the spots in this post. A walkway, some copses, and a meditative view of the Harbor make this a pleasant option for the family or for sliding into second.

2. Druid Hill Park is one of the oldest landscaped parks in the country, (Central Park beat it by less than two years) and it is home to, among other things, America’s largest earthen dammed lake. At any rate, there’s plenty of park to explore, get lost in, or simply enjoy. And don’t forget to make a toast to local hip-hop history.

3. Federal Hill Park (at Warren Avenue and Key Highway) probably offers the best overlook on this list, as well as one of the only opportunities you’ll have to straddle a cannon while eating crab chips and quoting Omar. Bring the kids here while they’re still young enough to believe any made-up version of history you teach them.

4. The Sculpture Gardens at the Baltimore Museum of Art in Charles Village (10 Art Museum Drive) might be cozy, but they’re also the top choice for aesthetically omnivorous diners. Shaded and peaceful despite proximity to Charles Street, the Sculpture Gardens are ideal for impressing snooty visitors from out of town.

Where’s your favorite spot to spread a checkered cloth?

So you might just see us strolling through Federal Hill on the DBFA’s first annual House Tour of Kids’ Spaces on May 9th.  A house tour, if you’ve never been on one before, is a chance to walk through a stranger’s home with your spouse/significant other/date-you-want-to-show-you’re-not-afraid-of commitment-to and whisper things to each other like “They painted the ceiling a nice color,” or “God, what sort of company would make such ugly wallpaper?”  Generally speaking, it’s a pretty good time.  This particular house tour is focusing on kids’ spaces: bedrooms, playrooms, and nurseries.  Tickets are $25 per person ($20 for DBFA members; become a member here) with all proceeds going to support the DBFA.  Normally, we might buck a little about having to fork over some cash, but seeing how this is the DBFA’s foremost fundraiser every year… well, we don’t mind supporting good causes – especially not if we get to harvest some ideas for our own projects at the same time.

The tour runs Saturday, May 9 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.  You can pick up the program and buy tickets the day of at the guest assistance table at Spoons Coffee Cafe (24 E. Cross Street). Free off-street parking is available for house tour guests and volunteers between 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Digital Harbor High School (1100 Covington Street) and Martini Lutheran Church (100 W. Henrietta Street).  There are some rules for the tour – for example, despite it being kids’ spaces tour, children and strollers are not allowed (infants that are carried are) – you can check out a full list here.  Hope to see you there!