Hampden is as easy to love as your grandmother's beehive up do and just as quirky.

The main drag of Hampden is somewhat frozen in 1950s Baltimore -- except today the women boast as many tattoos as the men. Home of the Hon Fest, this small working-class neighborhood is proof-positive that gentrification doesn't have to be pretentious and that, with time, old-timers can learn to live along side MICA graduates who earn a living bussing tables and slinging cups of hot joe.

Today, the four-block stretch of The Avenue -- officially known as 36th Street -- is home to some of the city's most interesting locally owned shops and restaurants.

Hampden is a walking neighborhood that's hopping on a Friday night. From dive bars to the joints that know how to make a good Manhattan, nightlife caters to everyone and every taste.

Hampden