One of city’s most intriguing neighborhoods is Mount Vernon.  Mt. Vernon is situated in Baltimore City, just outside of the Downtown Inner Harbor area.  Surrounded by restaurants, cafes, bars and museums, Mt. Vernon is great place to be.

Enter 1208 St. Paul Street in Mount Vernon.  Recently listed on the market by Keller Williams Realty Baltimore for $547,500, this home is historic, beautiful, and colossal.

All Photos from MRIS

The home, which spans 2,040 sq ft,  has 8 bedroom, 6+ baths, and 6 fireplaces.  There are apartments in the basement and the fourth floor, and the home is in amazing condition.  The property is also eligible for historic tax credit.

Some amenities at 1208 St. Paul Street include:

• An attached Master bathroom with Ceramic Tile
• Built-in Bookcases
• Crown Molding
• A Curved Staircase
• And Wood Floors

The culture of the coffee house has lost many of its adherents to the fast-paced, corporate cut-and-dry chains of Starbucks and Caribou. But in the Baltimore area, indy coffee shops are striking back. All the Fells Point folks are probably looking a little smug right now, but indy shops are not just for the ‘artsy’ kind. These community-centered cloisters of warm drinks and beautiful art offer a more economically-friendly option for café lovers – and usually, much better coffee.

However, finding these neat spots can sometimes be a hassle compared to the Starbucks on every corner. So for those of you interested in discovering fresh places to spend your coffee dollars – or, even better, new places to spend time reading, writing, or talking – I offer you a survey of the top independent coffee shops in Baltimore:

(in alphabetical order)

Café Latte’da 1704 Aliceanna St - A friendly Fells Point institution, this local hang-out offers an intimate space to share good coffee and fresh pastries made from scratch! With free wi-fi and a homey atmosphere, Café Latte’da is a great place to spend an afternoon. As a bonus, they even offer 2 complimentary computer stations.

Carma’s Café 3120 Saint Paul Street - A Charles Village gathering most famous for its Icelandic yogurt, this warm spot near 32nd street is worth skipping the chains. Coffee is wonderful, and breakfast is also delicious – check out specials on their daily blog. They even offer lots of yummy vegetarian options!

Chocolatea 3811 Canterbury Road – The name alone should set your mouth watering. This incredibly delicious shop isn’t exactly coffee, but its coco-lattes (chocolate drinks infused with milk, spices, and fruit) are absolutely to-die-for. They have a fantastic selection of teas, which upon request will pair with Swiss truffles. Simply amazing.

A Common Ground 819 W. 36th St - This funky café is possessed of perhaps the coolest location: a renovated Hampden row house. Offering all kinds of cozy nooks to curl up in, the coffee is locally roasted and very reasonably priced. A Common Ground may also be the best spot in the area to grab an outstanding bagel - theirs are a definite cut above the rest.

Koffee Therapy 6 E. Franklin St - Voted best coffee shop by CityPaper in 2008, their mission statement states “A great cup of coffee inspires great ideas, creativity, an entrepreneurial spirit, a sense of community, and a time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the good life.” The owners of Koffee Therapy have made it their goal to provide such a space in the culture center of Mt. Vernon. Great coffee, great atmosphere, and awesome quiches.

Red Canoe 4337 Harford Road - If you’re into fuzzy warm feelings and family-friendly spots, Red Canoe is the place for you. Doubling as a delicious coffee shop and a children’s bookstore (featuring daily storytimes!), the neighborhood of Lauraville is lucky to have such a community-focused location. Red Canoe serves Zeke’s Coffee and a large selection of incredible eats, including the best muffins in town.

Van Gough Café 300 S. Ann Street - Nope, that’s not a misspelling. Cute and still somewhat undiscovered, the new kids on the block in trendy Fells Point are on the corner of Ann and Gough in a renovated three-story brick building (the café is located on the first floor). In my opinion, Van Gough wins points for continually supplying some of the coolest artwork. But art isn’t the only thing they’re known for: Van Gough serves up a killer combination of specialty coffees, smoothies, sandwiches, salads, and Goldberg’s bagels. 

BONUS: Local coffee shop Zeke’s Coffee actually supplies the coffee for many shops in the Baltimore area. Offering a huge and unique selection of blends, Zeke’s puts West Coast roasteries to shame with their great organic options. They regularly participate in the Baltimore Farmer’s market, and are located at 3003 Montobello Terrace in Lauraville.
Check out listings for the neighborhoods of Fells Point, Charles Village, Hampden, Mt. Vernon, Lauraville, and more on CondoDomain!

Although the weather outside may be coaxing your thoughts towards your dream retirement in South Florida, take note! The best spot to retire might be right in your own backyard.

As Jamie Smith Hopkins first reported earlier today, Where to Retire magazine has released results for the “eight hippest cities to live in America” from it’s upcoming March/April issue  – and Baltimore has been included.

“Baltimore has a vibrant, revitalized waterfront, museums, world-class medical facilities and everything from historic brownstones to new luxury townhomes,” Hopkins cites magazine editor Mary Lu Abbott as saying.

Furthermore, another requirement for qualification is “unusually good buys in housing.”

Baltimore has often been touted as one of the better urban locations for retirement, but its high ranking in Where to Retire should encourage you further unto its merit.

Within the city of Baltimore, Mt. Vernon has historically been counted among the best neighborhoods for retirement. Known as the lively cultural center of Baltimore, it offers an excellent option for retirees seeking to avoid suburban monotony. A historic location set right in the heart of the city, it offers easy walking access to the beautiful Inner Harbor. Culture gurus will also enjoy the proximity to the symphony hall, opera house, the Peabody Library, and the Walters Art Museum. For an avant-garde taste, Theater Project is also nearby.

But hey – Mr. Vernon clearly isn’t just for those seeking to retire. Mt. Vernon is a great location for young professionals as well – or anyone else desirous of a diverse, cultural urban center near the water.

Contact Simon Warner for information on condominiums in Mt. Vernon, or check out other listings for Baltimore condos!

Still convinced that warmer is better? Well, Fort Worth, TX was also listed as one of the hippest spots to settle down, so you can also check out our Dallas area site for up-to-date information on condo listings down south.