I think DC may have a new contender in “cool factor” and that could very well be “Charm City”, aka Baltimore.  I know that during the past few years, there’s been a ton of development in Baltimore, specifically in areas that dot its beautiful harbor.  I also make frequent trips to experience the happening art and music scene as well as the amazing dining options, given that it’s only a half hour ride from DC on car or train; it’s been totally worth it every time I’ve gone!  What sets Baltimore apart from DC is the fact that, historically, it’s a blue-collar town and with that, you get a more “industrial”, no frills kind of feel as opposed to the fine, classical-era-inspired architecture you see all over DC.  Granted, it’s the capitol and it needs to look dignified.  I get it.  But if you’re looking for a little change of scenery/pace, you must visit B’more.

While there are neighborhoods within Baltimore that contain posh, Victorian era “brownstones”, most of the city is lined with carbon-copy attached row houses…no front porches, no awnings, just up and down brick facade, two-level residences made specifically to accommodate the masses of people who came there for the industrial jobs back in the day.  There are also a ton of warehouses, old, abandoned buildings from late 19th century, wonderful parks, cobble-stoned streets that lead to little hole in the wall neighborhood gems.  Baltimore is less transient than DC due to the same reason:  Blue-collar folks rarely had/have the luxury to move from place to place…as opposed to the Feds and diplomats who come in to DC on short assignments.  In short, Baltimore, with its smoke-stack past is clearly less polished, less refined, but offers so much in terms of an environment that caters to artists and musicians, the young and the .gov-less.

On a recent trip, I visited the local market, much like Capitol Hill’s Eastern Market, but, again, less refined but full of life and grit.  There are a ton of fish stands and from what I can tell, most can be cooked right then and there, to be consumed right then and there.  In Federal Hill, there are cutesy cafe’s, wine bars, trinket and thrift stores and great, multi-cultural cuisine.  In Fells Point, you get the pubs, the gorgeous harbor, beautiful streets with gas lamps juxtaposed with the original, manufacturing warehouses that have now been turned into luxury residences.  There’s also another neighborhood called Harbor East where you get restaurants galore, the harbor views AND Whole Foods!

My favorite place is the Visionary Art Museum, a progressive-minded museum that features amazing art by the totally un-trained but…visionary artists, the pubs in Fells Point, and an Asian restaurant (can’t remember the name but near Peabody Music Conservatory) where the owner is the only one who cooks for you and serves you.  No frills, but delicious!  Oh, and if you’ve watched the Food Network show “Ace of Cakes”, you know that Charm City Cakes is an amazing creative cake laboratory.  Sonar, a music venue is always serving up the hottest music names…more indi but that’s why it’s so good.  In fact, the whole town exudes an “indi” vibe which is why I like to go there to take a break from good ‘ole Washington, DC.

As far as real estate goes, the prices are a lot more favorable than what you get in DC.  You literally get double the space for the same price…or you can pay half of what you’re paying to get the same space.  Don’t be fooled, with Ritz Carlton residences and luxury “lofts” popping up, Baltimore is promising to be the next “it” place for posh living.  See this development for an example:

So, if you’re ever tired of DC, don’t go too far:  Baltimore really does live up to its nickname, Charm City.

A note of thanks to Kate Reichert and Andrew Kohn, who participated with me in the Rebuilding Together project on Saturday April 25th, 2009. The house was located at 524 14th St. NE in DC’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. It was a two level Victorian home with three bedrooms and one full bath. Minnie, the 71 year old owner, was as sweet as can be. Her home had been uncared for since her husband passed away and as a result, it needed to be cleaned up and repaired.

Together with the crew organized by GCAAR, we took charge and cleaned her kitchen, repaired appliances, repaired her utility room, painted exterior window trims, planted flowers in her front yard, cleared out her back yard and bedrooms (which were FULL of unneeded items), repaired her toilet and cleaned the bathroom, installed grab-bars, painted the second floor hallway and bedroom and, overall, created a more functional, clean and organized home for her.

It was truly a wonderful experience to not only bond with other realtors in the area who care about their communities, but also to see how our work together made and will continue to make a positive impact on the owner’s quality of life. Thank you again for your participation. I look forward to the next opportunity to share in this wonderful experience!

The Best of City Living in Columbia Heights! JAW-DROPPINGLY GORGEOUS! Huge 2BR+Den/2BA’s in Columbia Heights ultra-chic building, A FEW STEPS FROM METRO! Truly luxurious, with all modern amenities. **RENTED** $,2850/month Next availability: April 1st, 2010

Happy new year to all! As we welcome 2009, it’s nice to remember the glorious moments of the past year. In real estate terms, this means sharing with you DC’s “A-List” sales for 2008. We’ll review some of the most lavish, awe-inspiring residences located in various DC neighborhoods. So, indulge in voyeurism, let your mouse loose on the photos and allow your mouth to drop as you check out these fine residential specimens!

Mid-Century Beauty in Sligo Park Hills!  One-of-a-kind home in the gorgeous and woodsy setting that’s Sligo Park Hills, Silver Spring. Located in a central location, within minutes to both downtown Silver Spring and Takoma Park, this home has everything you can imagine. Take a look at the photos and fall in love!

**RENTED**

$3,500/month

Next availability is September 1st, 2009

If you’re in Logan Circle during the weekend, you MUST stop by at Irvine Gallery, one of my favorite places to go in DC for cutting-edge art. Check out this link for more information. While you’re there, you should also go to G Fine Art Gallery and see their current exhibit.

Lori Esposito, Belated, 2007, Acrylic on aluminum on panel, 19 X 18 inches

When you’re in Logan, be sure to check out the Tavern. I go to Halo for a different kind of ambiance: Latest electro/house playing, uber-mod decor, and fancy cocktails. HR57 has some crazy jazz ensembles right up the street. Vegas Lounge is for the blues and funk, and when you’re tired of it all, you go to Helix and relax by their bar and order a lovely little palette cleanser and call it the day.

Now, go enjoy some culture for god’s sake!

We’re proud to unveil our premier video-podcast. Episode 1 features Adams Morgan. We’ll take a snapshot of bars, restaurant, businesses, architecture and real estate in Adams Morgan. Take a peek and come visit! Brought to you by Citylights Realty Group.

I told you:  This month is all about AM : )

So, check this out:

I did a nifty little search on the MLS yesterday and as of November 24th, this is what’s active in Adams Morgan:

* 1BR    SALE:  $274,450     RENT:  $2,000
* 2BR    SALE:  $599,900     RENT:  $2,950
* 3BR    SALE:  $719,900     RENT:  $3,400
* 4BR+  SALE:  $1,399,000  RENT:  $4000+

Fascinating, isn’t it?  Average days on market is pushing 30 and the market seems to be slowing down with its absorption of properties at the moment.  This is a cyclical phenomenon but still, everyone in real estate tends to freak out about this being the end of the world as we know it.  It isn’t.  And even if it is, I’m looking forward to meeting Andy Warhol and Beethoven.  As for now, things are steady and we’re preparing for a busy rental season through the end of January with sales picking up around then or closer to the end of February.

After what was a decisive win for Barack Obama, the streets of Adams Morgan were filled with people dancing, chanting the famous slogan “yes we can,” cheers, and banging on pots and pans.  My favorite was the Ethiopian restaurant, Awash, where it seemed everyone was dancing, hugging, and cheering for nearly four hours after the news was announced.

They took to the streets and danced as cars drove by, honking to the rhythm of “yes we can.”  Even the cops were getting hugs from people approaching.  It was truly a sight to see.  This went on until about 3am which I think is unprecedented.  Bars like The Angry Inch were packed with people watching the TV’s as the results came and Obama took stage to make his speech.  This was history in the making and people clearly didn’t take it for granted.  We tried to go to Bukom Cafe to dance to some West African tunes, but they were watching the TV’s intently.  Waiting was a little challenging but I was there in spirit afterwards.

What an unforgettable night!

Okay.  So I’m a bit partial because I live there, but Adams Morgan has so much meat to bite on so I thought I’d “dedicate” the month of December to this lovely little neighborhood.  Aside from the usual bar-hopping scene and pizza-by-the-slice joints on the main drag (18th St.), Adams Morgan has so much more in store for those who want to venture off it’s beaten path.

The annual Adams Morgan Day draws a huge crowd and the weekly farmer’s market is a hit with the locals.  It just seems to me that Adams Morgan, unlike many other neighborhoods in DC, is a microcosm of diversity packed in a 10 square block location and pretty much anything goes.  I feel that a testament to this is the fact that the architectural styles here are so unique and varied.  It really says something about the openness and richness of experience felt here.

So, that’s my two cents on why Adams Morgan is the flava of the month ; )