MOUNT VERNON
It ’ s an easy flight from Italy to France , or Baltimore ’ s version of it at least : the historic Mount Vernon neighborhood . Much of the neighborhood was constructed in the French Beaux-Arts tradition popular at the start of the 20th century . Elements of this style — arched windows , sculptural decorations , symmetry and classical structural supports — are evident in The Belvedere , a former hotel that hosted celebrities such as Al Pacino and F . Scott Fitzgerald . And don ’ t miss the Walters Art Museum , Charm City ’ s rival to the Louvre , which houses 36,000 global artifacts in two stunning buildings that are themselves works of art .
JASON VARNEY
Walters Art Museum
STATION NORTH
You don ’ t have to travel to Cannes to enjoy an international film festival . Now in its 25th year , the Maryland Film Festival , taking place May 2-5 , brings filmmakers and audiences together in an inclusive atmosphere to engage in dialogue and build community . The festival is held at the historic SNF Parkway Theatre in the Station North Arts & Entertainment District , which opened in 1915 with a façade inspired by the Italian Renaissance and an interior aesthetic taken from Louis XIV . When the theater underwent renovations in 2016 , the new additions were modeled after London ’ s West End Theater and the Strand Theater in New York , making it a truly global institution in the heart of Baltimore .
CHARLES VILLAGE
In this North Baltimore neighborhood , you ’ ll find Roman-style brick architecture and the colorful Victorian Painted Lady row houses . Nearby Druid Hill Park mirrors London ’ s Hyde Park in its breadth of wildlife , attractions and festivals , and the Baltimore Museum of Art , like the Tate , features an impressive collection of classic art — including the world ’ s largest public collection of Henri Matisse ’ s works .
SNF Parkway Theatre
Sherwood Gardens
GUILFORD / GOVANS
No need to travel all the way to Amsterdam — Sherwood Gardens is famous for its springtime tulip display , which is free to visit . More than 50,000 bulbs are planted annually along with other flowering plants , while shady trees provide shelter from the sun on especially hot summer days .
Just a five-minute drive up the road is Baltimore ’ s very own Walk of Fame , the sidewalk in front of the storied Senator Theatre . The street documents significant Charm City cinematic moments , from fundraisers with Baltimore-born stars such as Jada Pinkett Smith to world premieres of John Waters films . VB
BALTIMORE . ORG 43