A local’s guide to Baltimore | The Washington Post

People from Baltimore can be cagey about the way outsiders see their city. That’s the kind of thing that happens when you live in close proximity to your more moneyed, fancier cousin, Washington, D.C., or when you’re faced with the real tragedy of crime (or just hounded about the fictional world of “The Wire”).

But this city is much more than that. Baltimore is a place that has always drawn people from all over — look around and you’ll see important contributions from African Americans, Asian Americans, German Americans, Italian Americans and more. The result is culture you won’t find anywhere else that’s seen in our murals, our music and our food. The people here are resilient, always striving to make the community better. We do it with grace, humor and an almost obscene amount of seafood.

BREAKFAST

Dovecote Cafe

When you walk into Dovecote, you’ll be greeted warmly and enthusiastically, and it’ll be genuine. Dovecote, in the Reservoir Hill neighborhood not far from Druid Hill Park and the Maryland Zoo, is run by Aisha Pew; her mother, Gilda Pew; and Cole (who goes only by a first name). Its motto is “CommUNITY First, Cafe Second,” and it shows. They offer quick bites, like quiches and muffins for breakfast and soups and salads for lunch.

BTW: They offer free produce from the urban farm just around the corner to those in need.