A great place to visit while in town, the Hampden neighborhood has a small-town atmosphere, streets lined with historic rowhouses, a lively center, and lots to do.
A great place to visit while in town, the Hampden neighborhood has a small-town atmosphere, streets lined with historic rowhouses, a lively center, and lots to do. Known as "the Avenue," Hampden's Main Street and nerve center features scores of boutiques from funky to elegant, a nice choice of eclectic restaurants, and several fun artisan galleries. The area's popularity with artists and bohemians is reflected in the wonderful array of cultural delights. Literary types can peruse the stacks at Atomic Books for hours, while music aficionados will lose themselves at The True Vine.
The performing arts put in a good showing with the Morton Street Dance Center, the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival, and the Mobtown Players. The most popular event in Hampden is the quirky HonFest. Named for the term of endearment widely used by Baltimoreans, the wacky festival features a parade of citizens dressed in beehive hairdos, spandex, and leopard print, a "bawlmerese" contest dedicated to the area's unique accent, and the crowning of Miss Hon.
