Mark Brock-Cancellieri

Mark Brock-Cancellieri grew up on Long Island and went to graduate school for a while in New Orleans. It was his wife, who grew up in Western Maryland, and a band that brought him to Baltimore in the summer of 2005.

"We wanted to be closer to her family. And having grown up in New York and lived briefly in Boston, I wanted to live in an East Coast city without the exorbitant costs of New York City or Washington, D.C. Also, I came to play in a band," Mark explains.

Loveville

"I love living so close to the city, but in a suburban-ish neighborhood where I have a big yard that I use for much home gardening," he says.

Mark also enjoys walking the trails of Herring Run Park with his wife. The nature treks give the couple an opportunity to immerses themselves deep in the woods even though they're still just minutes from their home and downtown.

"Just walking around the neighborhood and sometimes chatting with neighbors," are another bonus to living in Lauraville, according to Mark.

It's a local thing

Although he says he doesn't do much shopping, when he does, "it's usually all at Target- which is conveniently located just north of Lauraville in Towson."

For entertainment,  Mark says he's "a big fan of the Hamilton Arts Collective in downtown Hamilton on Harford Road -- lots of great shows there." Adding, however, that "I wish some of the local bars would offer more live music."

"The best fancy dinner is easily Chameleon Caf�, but it is very fancy so we only go there about once a year. I might actually prefer Clementine, especially now that it has been expanded with a bar and more seating. But my favorite place to eat is The Hamilton Tavern. It can get really busy and crowded on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, but the food and service are fantastic and friendly, and the burgers can't be beat," Mark says.

He also enjoys Los Amigos, right across from the Hamilton Tavern, which offers surprisingly affordable and authentic tacos, margaritas, and enchiladas. And then there's "Zeke's Coffee and the incredible muffins as The Red Canoe coffee shop and children's bookstore. Oh and The Big Bad Wolf BBQ is awesome too- I wish they were open on Sunday. It's great living so close to such impressive meals."

Best in Bmore

Lauraville's "beautiful homes and yards within walking distance of parks and greenspaces, bars and restaurants, and all inside Baltimore City" are what give the neighborhood it's unique appeal.

For anyone considering a move to Baltimore, Mark says that "Lauraville is a dynamic neighborhood of growing significance. The more people that move here now the more people will help steers its future towards a small but vibrant, sustainable, village-like neighborhood within the city limits."