Ann Marie Brokmeier

A Boston, Mass. native, Anne Marie Brokmeier gave up her Towson digs to move to Hampden. According to Anne Marie, the neighborhood is "laid-back, has a great atmosphere. And free street parking."

A resident for just three months, Anne Marie describes living in Hampden as calm on a daily basis. "One side of my street is quiet, older retirees. The other side is full of fun art kids and young professionals. However, when there is a festival (and trust me, Hampden is the king of festivals), it can be exciting!" she says.

What makes Hampden unique among Baltimore neighborhoods, according to Anne Marie, is that "Hampden is an odd blend of kitsch, hipster and street scenes. It is everything compacted into a small area. It has something for everyone."

Always something to do

"I love to eat and Hampden has some fun and tasty places to try. I also love to visit Atomic Books and just recently started checking out other shops around the area. I am a runner and there is quite a large outside area that I am able to exercise in. Let's not forget to mention the Bikram Yoga in Hampden also," Anne Marie says.

When she's looking for a little retail therapy, Anne Marie says she heads for Atomic Books as her favorite source for random amusement and awesome reads. "I recently started looking into Squidfire, which is a little shop that sells fun screen printed items. Sugar is one of the best erotic shops in the Baltimore Metro area. There are also tons of antique shops along the Avenue."  

For entertainment, it's all about Golden West Caf� and el Rancho Grande both of which frequently have concerts. "Caf� Hon also hosts karaoke. I am sure there is so much more that I haven't explored yet!" she says.

Eating out is a snap in Hampden. "Hampden has a lot of casual dining restaurants and dives and they are fabulous. Everyone should experience Caf� Hon because it is the face of Hampden. I personally love Golden West Caf� for breakfast/brunch, Miss Shirleys for lunch or an early dinner and Rocket to Venus for dessert (they serve Dangerously Delicious Pies!)" Anne Marie explains.

Baltimore's Best

The best part, about living in Hampden according to Anne Marie, is that Hampden has so much to offer for everyone, from restaurants to a wine bar to endearingly-named junk stores, an erotic store, First Fridays, a cute coffee shop and a record store. Not to mention beehives and "hons" galore.

If people ask why they should move to or visit Hampden, Anne Marie says, "Hampden is one of the neighborhoods that is sometimes forgotten about because it is too small or too far north. That is such a shame because there is so much to explore. Whether you are new to the area or you are an experienced Baltimorean, you can find something that you will love to do and will keep bringing you back to Hampden."