We Asked Noteworthy Baltimoreans to Give Us Their Personal Best Of Awards. Here's What They Said:

MY FAVORITE BALTIMORE PASTIME:

“Taking my dog, Maui Blue, for a walk around Fort McHenry.”

MY FAVORITE COFFEE SHOP:

Morning Mugs.

—KYLE BRADISH, ORIOLES PITCHER

MY MOST SPECIAL PLACE IN BALTIMORE:

“Having my daughter at Sinai Hospital will forever top my list. The staff was so kind. We found angels among the NICU nurses. We will never forget them.”

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT:

“Being a morning person, brunch is my favorite meal, so I have to go with the Iron Rooster. Between the bacon and pop tarts, I can’t get enough!”

—LACEE GRIFFITH, 11 NEWS ANCHOR

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO COMMUNE WITH NATURE:

“The Rawlings Conservatory at Druid Hill Park.”

MY FAVORITE STORE:

“This Sporting Life at 1719 Aliceanna.”

—DERRICK ADAMS, ARTIST

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT:

“Woodberry Tavern. Spike has created the best burger in the world. Lisa has some of the best drinks I’ve ever had. So I’m really thankful for Woodberry Tavern. Also, Alma Cocina Latina. They’re my two favorite spots. When I’m home, I always try to get to those spots ASAP.”

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO HANG WITH THE BOYS:

"My favorite spot is Bocek Park in East Baltimore. It’s the basketball court I grew up on. A lot of my friends who are still here, this is where we put a grill out. This is where we run our mouths. This is where we talk about how good we used to be even though we weren’t that good. Like, this is where we have fun."

MY FAVORITE STORE:

"Republic of Greatmen on 25th Street. They are some of the best to come out of the city. They make great clothes, they're great people, they have a great story"

MY FAVORITE BALTIMORE PASTIME:

"Sitting out back with my wife, with Devin Allen, with our kids, our other family members, and eating crabs while having those classic East Baltimore versus West Baltimore debates. Sometimes we get a bushel, sometimes we get a half a bushel, and we just power through them and have a good time talking trash. But at the same time we dream and try to figure out ways to include each other and other artist friends in our dreams."

—D. WATKINS, WRITER, PRODUCER, JAMES BEARD WINNER

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT:

“I’m definitely a creature of habit, so once I find a place that I love, I tend to just go to that place on repeat. Right now, my favorites are both in Station North. I adore the chicken liver pâté and rye crackers at Le Comptoir du Vin (yes, I realize how pretentious that reads, but trust me, that pâté is insanely good). However, the place that feels like home to me will always be Tapas Teatro. It’s SOLID. The food and drink are reliably delicious and it’s always bustling with positive energy.”

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO COMMUNE WITH NATURE:

“We have been lucky enough to call our house on the Stony Run Trail home for the last 13 years. It sits on a former rail bed next to the Stony Run creek. The trail has owls, foxes, chipmunks, deer, frogs, ducks, and majestic blue herons. It has beautiful native plants and tall, leafy trees. We’ve raised our kids on it. Not a day goes by where I take our proximity to it for granted.”

MY FAVORITE STORE:

“Well, my all-time favorite store in Baltimore was Trohv, a magical homegoods store owned by my dear friend Carmen Brock. It unfortunately had to close during the pandemic. So, my replacement is In Watermelon Sugar, an equally magical homegoods store on the Avenue in Hampden. ”

—JESSICA HENKIN, HOST, STOOP STORYTELLING

MY FAVORITE STORE:

“Someone bring Trohv back! I miss them so much! But now my favorite store in the city is Shananigans Toy Shop in Roland Park. With having kids, it’s the store my wife and I have visited most frequently.”

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT:

“Right now I’d have to say Nana! I mean….what?!! Have you had the “doggos” there?”

—HILTON CARTER, PLANT GURU

MY FAVORITE STORE:

“ACE hardware! Excellent customer service and a real neighbor.”

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT:

“I'm a big fan of Gunther & Co. in Southeast Baltimore. I can always count on good food in a great space. And their pastry chef, Jess, is a real pro.”

—JAYNE MILLER, MEDIA LEGEND

MY FAVORITE THING TO DO WITH MY TEENS:

“Having two teenagers at home, we LOVE the Aquarium. It’s such a blast and they truly take such great care of the animals while having so much education for the variety of species that are there.”

MY PERFECT DAY:

“My perfect day of Baltimore greats would start off at Patapsco Flee Market! It’s such a mix of every single thing in the world. Food, vendors, craziness, and great vibes. Then I’d end with a trip to Bingo World [in Brooklyn Park]. It’s such a blast with trying to win but it doesn’t matter if you do because you’re going to laugh the entire time!”

—BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, DRAG FATHER OF BALTIMORE

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT:

“My favorite place to eat is Foraged. They have such a creative menu, which happens to include a cocktail named after a noble podcaster (wink). The seasonal offerings, great staff, and arts district location in Station North make it perfect. For drinks, I love The Bluebird Cocktail Room in Hampden. The atmosphere makes me feel like a writer, and the cocktails are amazing.”

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO SHOP:

“Good Neighbor is probably my favorite. They have an awesome selection of Japanese items, cool merchandise, and great coffee. It’s a fantastic place.”

—ROB LEE, THE TRUTH IN THIS ART PODCAST HOST

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO HIKE:

“I love taking my son to the graffiti trail over by Jones Falls. That’s our favorite place to hang out.”

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO SHOP:

“I love clothes, so the Brightside Boutique. They have really cute local stuff.”

—ROSALYN VERA, COCINA LUCHADORAS OWNER

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT AND DRINK:

“This is a really tough question because I have so many talented friends putting out amazing food and drinks all over the city. La Cuchara, Foraged, Marta, Gunther, Clavel, Ekiben, [now-closed] Duck Duck Goose, Rize & Rest, The Food Market, BLK Swan and Bunny’s—just to name a few.”

—ZACK MILLS, TRUE CHESAPEAKE OYSTER CO. HEAD CHEF

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO COMMUNE WITH NATURE:

Butterbee Farm.

MY FAVORITE STORE:

Bottle of Bread

—CARMEN BROCK, FORMER OWNER, TROHV

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO COMMUNE WITH NATURE:

“Walks around Lake Montebello always help clear my head.”

MY FAVORITE STORE:

“Going to Paper Herald always makes me feel like one day I will have my life together in an aesthetically pleasing way.”

—LISA SNOWDEN, THE BALTIMORE BEAT EDITOR

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT:

The Oregon Grille.

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO SHOP:

Weber’s Farm.

—JASON HISLEY, CAKE BY JASON HISLEY CHEF/OWNER

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT:

“I love Red Pepper Sichuan Bistro in Towson. Also a huge fan of Peter Chang down by Hopkins hospital. My wife and I also really loved Costiera recently. I loved Gnocco and am glad to see Brian Lavin back in Baltimore and making tasty things again.”

MY FAVORITE STORE:

“The Markets at Highlandtown. (Pay no mind to the fact that the owner’s last name and mine are the same!) I also love The Wine Source.”

—JOSH HERSHKOVITZ, HERSH’S CHEF/OWNER

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO COMMUNE WITH NATURE:

“I am a jogger, tennis player, and walker. I love strolling Sherwood Gardens, especially during tulip season and I think Patterson Park is a fantastic outdoor space for community. For tennis, I play regularly at Orchard on Loch Raven Boulevard, and cannot recommend that place enough!”

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO SHOP:

“I love Baltimore’s curated vintage shops and boutiques including Milk & Ice, [now-closed] Hunting Ground, and Bottle of Bread. Personally, I find older clothes to be more interesting and better made than the ‘fast fashion’ of the moment, and I like the environmental impact of not buying new clothes. “These spaces all have an amazing array of vintage options, lots of denim, cute jackets and dresses, but also often smaller items of jewelry, pottery, housewares, skincare, and a variety of items made in Baltimore. I also love ReDeaux, which is a consignment store in Roland Park—they always have great party dresses, shoes, purses, and athleisure.”

MY FAVORITE PLACES TO VIEW ART:

“I am an art nerd, so it is no surprise that my favorite way to spend time in Baltimore is in art museums, galleries, and artist studios. Favorites include the Cone Collection and Contemporary Wing at the BMA, the Walters ancient galleries and jewelry collection, CPM Gallery, MONO Practice, Baltimore Jewelry Center, and Current Space—which now has a bar and great outdoor venue out back.

—CARA OBER, BMOREART EDITOR

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO DRINK:

“I’m gluten-free, which was a bummer for a long time because most gluten free beers are terrible. Then I discovered Checkerspot Brewing, which moved into a gorgeous new South Baltimore home last year and makes all their beers gluten reduced. “They’re one of the few woman-owned breweries in Maryland, and their beers are so good. My personal fav is Backstage Pass, the new WTMD collab. It’s a crisp, refreshing Blonde Ale—my go-to after a day of yard work.”

MY FAVORITE STORE:

“The past 10 years, I’ve become a regular at Pinehurst Wine Shoppe. Sure, the bigger box stores have lower prices, but choice overload is real. I’d rather have less choices if they’re all good ones.“

—SAM SESSA, DIRECTOR OF EVENTS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR BALTIMORE PUBLIC MEDIA

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT:

“Kay’s Place in Remington. A great place for political gossip, and the world’s best Belgian waffles.“

MY FAVORITE STORE:

“The Ivy Bookshop and Greedy Reads. Picking a favorite would simply be wrong.“

—TOM HALL, HOST OF MIDDAY ON WYPR