Residents are by and large understatedly intellectual, bohemian and liberal-leaning, which is evident in the focus on small businesses and creative and outdoor pursuits. If a cozy town of simple comforts and eclectic tastes sounds like a good time, a day-trip to Mount Washington might be just what you need.
Mount Washington's initial concept was to cater to the leisurely desires of Baltimore's upper crust when they desired a getaway from the city. Keeping with this theme, recreational athletics such as swimming, golf, rugby, ice skating, cricket and lacrosse characterized the pastimes popular among the Mount Washington crowd, and still do.
Aside from outdoor leisure, Mount Washington's appeal is in its offbeat collection of boutiques, salons and restaurants, which are mostly concentrated in what is called the Village. Thrift stores and artsy boutiques sell their one-of-a-kind crafty wares at reasonable prices. Keeping with the artistic thread, the Baltimore Clayworks is a popular destination for all ages that want to learn ceramic-making.
The Mount Washington Mill is a refurbished textile mill that now houses several specialty shops (and a Starbucks, too). The centerpiece of the Mill is Whole Foods, an organically-minded grocery store whose prices are reasonable for the quality and variety of foods available.
Speaking of food, you can't forget about dining out in Mount Washington. International cuisine hailing from Italy, France, Japan and the Mediterranean make it difficult to choose where to eat, and the seafood and Americana (not to mention the beer) at the Mount Washington Tavern make this decision a potentially impossible one.
With such variance concentrated in this single tiny neighborhood, it is unfortunate that it is frequently ignored for the mass appeal of adjacent areas. The secret is knowing where to look. It's unlikely that Mount Washington is going to change anytime soon, so its well-kept charm is sure to keep surprising as more and more people stumble across it.
Location: North Baltimore City, just inside the city line
Boundaries: Baltimore City/County line to the north, Northern Parkway to the South, the Jones Falls to the east and Pimlico Road to the west.
Schools: Mount Washington Elementary School, Shrine of the Sacred Heart School
Highlights/Landmarks: Baltimore Clayworks, Kelly Avenue Bridge, Mount Washington Mill, Mount Washington Tavern, Mount Washington Village, Northwest Family Sports Center
Trivia: Lacrosse has been one of Mount Washington's favorite pastimes, and the Mount Washington team became the champions in 1906 after defeating their rivals, the Crescents, from Long Island.
Since its inception, Mount Washington has placed great importance on community. It circulated its own newspaper, the Advocate, in the later 1800s and established its own community hall, the Casino (no gambling involved), in 1884.
Mount Washington enjoys its own Light Rail stop, a luxury that many other neighborhoods around the city and county do not have.