Fun Things to Do in Baltimore for All Tastes

If memorable places have their own distinct vibe, Red Emma's is chock full of personality. They are a "radical" (they changed the description from "anarchy") cafe/bookstore/meeting space/coffee roaster. Red Emma's moved from a more residential neighborhood to North Avenue for more room to do what they want to do: their space is open, yet calm and inviting. Need a place to sip a fresh basil iced mocha while blogging about your world? Even more conservative types will find the vegetarian food tasty and at least some of the books sold required reading for thinkers across the political spectrum. Red Emma's is a great come-as-you-really-are place that's open until 11 pm on weekends. They host interesting speakers, as well. Their location offered a place to meet for the peaceful original protestors in the Baltimore Uprising.

Its front door is on an unassuming stretch of Frederick Road . . . almost like a speakeasy. With a minimum purchase of $6 a person (and they do have a few snacks, soft drinks), you can hang out in one of two comfy rooms, chock full of leather recliners. It's BYOB. Some people rent humidor lockers or the glass cabinets to store fancy liqueurs, cigars, whatever they like. Sometimes they have specials where they give away drinks with purchase. There are televisions to watch the game, etc. Upscale cigars being tended to in perfectly climate controlled conditions are for sale. A night with your own booze at Slow Burns costs a lot less than it would to head to an upscale hotel bar – the closest comparable type of destination, luxury-wise – with your group of friends. There is street and lot parking.

This is a brightly lit, no-frills Korean BBQ restaurant in Baltimore's Lower Charles Village-Little Korea neighborhood. Open until 4 am, there's the opportunity for some serious people watching. Your first decision will be informing the hostess whether you want to sit at a table with the "regular" menu or BBQ (for 2 or more). BBQ is the pricier option, but it's a multi-course meal unto itself. Little banchan – appetizers – include kimchi, pickled sprouts, quick-cooked broccoli. A server lights a built-in charcoal grill that they occasionally boost with a hairdryer. Depending on the BBQ bundle you pick, there can be tender beef, pork belly, chicken and other meats. They're served with Romaine lettuce leaves, scallions, sliced raw garlic and bean paste – great for carb watchers! The meal is also accompanied by bowls of fresh soft scrambled eggs and hot, spicy soup with kimchi and tofu.

So many of us work so hard with swing shifts, second jobs, tasks on weekends. For some, late nights and day trips are a thing of the past. Thursdays have long been a going out night in Baltimore: Some of the graduate schools have few Friday morning classes, it's our hump day, etc. Boordy is a well-recognized vineyard in Maryland that makes several styles of wine, including fun fruit flavors. On Thursdays from 3 pm - 7 pm, they welcome people for wine tasting, a farmers market, prepared food stands, local bands. While you feel like you've gone on a bucolic road trip, they're only 30 minutes from downtown Baltimore.

You no longer have an excuse to stay in on Friday nights in the summer. Sounds of Summer at Belvedere Square – the food market and shopping destination in North Baltimore – has a live band playing every Friday night from 6 - pm until the end of August. The bands range from pop to classic rock. No car? No problem: they're on the bus line. No cash? It's free. No babysitter or pet sitter? The event is kid and dog-friendly. Food and local beers are available for sale out in the lot. You can also go inside the market (without Fido, of course) and purchase all kinds of gourmet delights like smoked fish, house-made Italian foods, healthy smoothies and artisan vegan chocolates.

Charm City Roller Girls is made up of four intramural teams and two intermural teams that have played all over the world. They're the best of the best! Roller Derby has changed since the films of the 1950's-1970's: more athletic than shtick/pro-wrestling. Still, the players dream up risque stage names for themselves and their teams. Fun hairdos and lots of ink are the norm. The teams are skater-owned and managed. The food sold at bouts is often made by skaters' loved ones. Their posters are created by local artists and look fabulous framed. Charm City Roller Girls recently lost their skate venue in Canton – which they had really outgrown, anyway – and are playing for now at the Ice Gardens in suburban Laurel.

Pop's Tavern got the second Baltimore County liquor license after the end of Prohibition in 1933 and they're the oldest tavern still running continuously. Its popularity no doubt rose when nearby Bethlehem Steel - now closed - was operating at full blast 24/7. Llive bands still play on Saturday nights to a packed, older crowd. Back in the day, bands such as Danny and the Juniors, as well as The Platters played there. Today, dance bands playing country music, Southern rock and classic rock get people to their feet. This is a place to have casual fun, opposed to being on display.

Baltimore's Pier Six Pavilion is located right in the Inner Harbor, unlike many city's outdoor concert venues which are out of town. It's steps from restaurants, hotels, parking. Nearby hotel guests on their balconies and boaters in the harbor can certainly catch strains of whatever show that's playing. Pier Six does a good job of hosting a wide variety of musical acts, to appeal to a cross-section of concert goers. The season generally includes a solid schedule of classic rock, Southern rock, metal, R & B, country music. The audience can see landmarks of the Inner Harbor from their seats. Beer and snacks are available for purchase.

Upstairs has pool tables, a sofa, a small performance space, a bar and an altogether intimate, relaxed atmosphere. You can actually have a conversation! Downstairs tends to feature local bands, up-and-coming touring bands and bands living their golden years. Because of the configuration – with a comfortable seated balcony and back bar with tables – it makes for intimate viewing of the bands. Some of the bands that have appeared at the newer location include Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Drive-By Truckers, Dinosaur Jr, TV On the Radio, The Breeders, Maroon 5, Supersuckers, Quiet Riot, KRS-ONE, Jonathan Richman, David Cross, Michael Ian Black, At the Drive-in, Atmosphere, The Melvins, Coheed and Cambria, Bouncing Souls and Animal Collective.