Around Town: Jewish Museum of Maryland

Hi everyone, I hope you are staying warm. Before we were hit with all this snow I had a chance to visit the JEWISH MUSEUM OF MARYLAND. It was a wonderful experience filled with rich learning. You can learn lots of interesting facts about Baltimore's Jewish immigrants and subsequent community that you might not already know. I encourage everyone to go and visit.

I wanted to share some pictures with you of the B'NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE. It's a part of the museum's tour and absolutely beautiful to look at.

Around Town: Charlotte Elliot

In the market for a striking antique African mask or some vintage Asian artwork? If so, you should go treasure hunting at Hampden's CHARLOTTE ELLIOT. They have tons of global antiques, out of print books, and vintage clothing & jewelry. If you want to add an extra layer of sophistication to your decor they'll definitely have a piece for you. I feel like a real grown-up whenever I shop there :-) Here are some of their current offerings.

Around Town: Antique Exchange

 A while back when I first started blogging I did a post about ANTIQUE EXCHANGE. I wanted to update things because since that time I've gotten a better camera, and the store's merchandise has significantly changed. The store is located in Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood at 3545 Chestnut Avenue. They're one of my go to sources for accessories (after scouring the clearance section at Homegoods and local thrift stores of course). They typically carry decent priced vintage/antique occasional tables,  storage pieces, and art. The owner also stocks a large selection of stunning textiles, though they can be somewhat pricey. There's a little sale section tucked away on the second floor in the back where you can frequently find discounts up to 50 percent off. Have a look around.

 

 

Around Town: Joan Eve (Ellicott City)

About a half an hour outside of Baltimore is the city of Ellicott City, MD. Until recently I had never been to Ellicott before, but had heard it was a great destination for antiquing. One day with a little free time on my hands I decided to head down and see what the city had to offer. Lining the quaint streets of their downtown historic district were several antique shops with lots of window eye candy. I stopped in a few stores all of which did not disappoint. Here's a look around one of my favorites JOAN EVE.

They had a nice selection of vintage purses as well as lovely costume jewelry.

 I saw several pieces of drinkware I wouldn't mind owning.

More cool purses :-)

They had a very impressive inventory of lighting.

If you're really into antiques/secondhand shops it's definitely worth the drive, as Ellicott has a densely populated offering of stores. You're sure to find something you fancy, just be sure to go early in the day so you have sufficient time to comb through all their selection.

Around Town: Wee-Sale

Ever heard of WEE-SALE? They're a group that sponsors seasonal pop-up children's consignment sales. The sales are open to the general public for three days straight, and there's currently one being hosted in Greenbelt.  They offer baby clothes, baby gear, toys, books, and shoes. I was curious about the event, so I decided to stop by. All-in-all it was a pretty good experience. I picked up several outfits that were reasonably priced (a total of $44). I didn't get any baby gear, as a lot it was a bit tattered.

They are hosting events in Annapolis and Charles County in May that I may pop into. The sale in Greenbelt lasts through the weekend and on Sunday all merchandise is 50% off.  It's a great place to get cute cheap clothes. The hubs and I have agreed to buy only used baby clothes, with the exception of onesies. So far, it's saving us a small fortune.

Around Town: Uncle Wiggley's

When you're starving and absolutely positively don't have it in you to cook, don't turn to fast food. Instead head on up the street to Uncle Wiggley's. This gem of a deli is located in Towson on York Road not too far from Lake Walker. They have hands down the best deli sandwiches in the B'more area, and I'm from Detroit, deli capital of the world, so my opinion counts for a lot.

They also have a large assortment of ice creams, many of which come from B'more's own Taharka Brothers (sidenote: If you don't yet know about the deliciousness of Taharka ice cream, go get some right NOW).

My favorite sandwich on the menu is the Rueben. It is mmm mmmm goooooood.

When you go in you'll notice it's super cozy with a strong community vibe. They even display artwork from local children.

Here's that yummy Reuben, complete with Baltimore's adopted potato chip....all for the lowly sum of $6. Well worth it!

P.S. They are currently hiring, if you know anyone looking for a job.

Around Town: The Lily Pad

We just found out our friend Robert is expecting a baby boy this spring. Unfortunately, he and his wife live all the way in Seattle so we probably won't be seeing them soon. Since we can't see them in person I thought it'd be nice to send them a special baby present. Just up the street from the house on York Road in Towson is a lovely kids consignment store called The Lily Pad. I've driven by a gazillion times but never dropped in. I figured now would be a good opportunity to see what they offer. When I went in the store was filled with a well curated collection of moderately priced goodies, including clothing, strollers, toys, shoes, teething rings....you name it.

 

 If used clothing isn't your thing (though I personally highly recommend it especially for baby clothes) they also have a few new clothing items with the original tags still one them. Like this little number I ended up getting for Robert and his wife. The outfit was a whopping $8!

Which left room in the budget for these gorgeous pink overalls, that I think I'll give to one of my little cousins when she turns one. I plan to take them back to The Lily Pad in a few months and have them monogrammed for her. 

"I believe that thrift is essential to well ordered living." ~John D. Rockefeller

Around Town: Swallow at the Hollow

One of the great things about living in Lake Walker is that the city's BEST burger joint is just down the street (this place is actually tied with another burger place for the top spot, I'll tell you about the other place later). It's called Swallow at the Hollow, located at York and Northern Parkway. Though it's in a very unassuming modest building, the food is delicious. I highly recommend the burgers and cheesesteak. The staff are always so nice, and the place is filled with regulars. It's like our own little Cheers. A great place to visit if you want to watch a game, grab a beer, or have a hearty meal. Please stop by when you have a chance, you won't regret it. They have daily food specials, so call ahead to find out what's half off.

Around Town: The House Downtown

Today I made a stop into The House Downtown. It's a snazzy design store located down the street from Lake Walker in Belvedere Square. They sell beautiful sofas, light fixtures, beds, bedding, and accesories. They also have great smelling candles. Their merchandise is high-end and therefore a little pricey, but right now they're having a BIG SAMPLE SALE! So if you're in the market for any big ticket items, you may want to stop by. You can snag a good deal as they are trying to empty out their current stock to make way for new items.