We’ve had our first two months here at the new Mend location in Remington Row. We are luxuriating in some of the surprises and amenities around us. It is certain now that Remington is Baltimore’s best kept secret.

Sarah’s love for Remington: a brief history

Full disclosure, Remington has always had my heart. My husband and I moved into Remington in 2003. We had our first baby and sleepless nights here, and spent many hours on our front porch with now lifetime friends. We lived on Wyman Park Drive across from Wyman Park (a hidden wooded-park that follows the Stony Brook stream designed by the famous Olmsted brothers of Central Park fame).

We lived in Remington for seven sweet years before confronting the public school challenges at the time and moving to the Roland Park school district. Now that I’m back working in the neighborhood I see other families that got creative by making use of charters and the well-renowned Remington based co-op school as the public school finds its way.

Mend’s Expansion to Remington

When the opportunity to move Mend to Remington popped up, it was a no brainer. It’s got my heart, clearly, but it’s also one of Baltimore’s best kept secrets. The “best secrets” part has grown tremendously in the last five years or so.

On month two of Mend’s doors being open here and my being back in Remington, here’s my list of my favorite Remington delights and surprises.

  1. The new Rite Aid on 29th Street has an incredible sparkling water selection. It’s phenomenal really.
  2. The Maryland Avenue Cycle Track is open now. This 2.6 mile protected bike path connects Downtown/Inner Harbor through Mt. Vernon and Station North to Remington (plus once you arrive, the bike racks here are beautiful).
  3. Hopkins is all over the Remington development. Hopkins Community Physicians moved their practices to Remington Row (above us). Their clinic is beautiful. With the Hopkins Homewood Campus’ entrance moving to Remington Avenue, the Hopkins presence is easy to feel especially with their attention to security and easy to access transportation options (the Hopkins shuttle comes right to our door).
  4. The new R.House Food Hall is thrilling. Have you seen the huge clear glass garage doors that open up to that generous deck on warm weather days? Imagine hot arepas or korean bowl in one hand, a cold beer in the other, with the breeze on your skin. The shuffle board table?? Poke bowls?? Three kinds of iced coffee?? Dreamy. And, it’s all dangerously right next door.
  5. The white corner row home under construction (previously a plumbing company) across from our storefront. Guess what? It’s going to be a terrarium bar, small neighborhood nursery, and host of workshops like bouquet making and kids classes (brought to us by B.Willow). Fun, huh?
  6. I think we’ve discovered Baltimore’s best urban picnic spot: the generously sized wood and rock benches in front of Remington Row. With wide pathways and thoughtful landscaping, they have become great meeting places and a not-too-shabby place to get some sun and fresh air. Not to mention great people watching and dog petting opportunities.
  7. In the spirit of new outdoor spaces in Remington, psst, there’s a private outdoor courtyard on the 2nd floor of Remington Row. It’s as if you’ve been transported to another place. Make friends with a Remington Row resident to be able to enjoy the secret garden. We are hoping to offer outdoor acupuncture this spring in the loungers out there. We’ll keep you posted.
  8. While opening another location, admittedly fitness has fallen off. Lucky me that we’re next door to the newly opened Movement Lab. It’s just beautiful inside, and the teachers there are simply lovely and welcoming and it just feels good. Our favorites so far: sunrise yoga and Muay Thai kickboxing. It’s a lovely fitness buffet. I’ll see you there. If I’m not there, please find me at the gluten free bakery (read on)…
  9. Six words: The Gluten Free Pumpkin Pie Cookie. Sweet 27 (a vegan, gluten free bakery) was a Remington pioneer. And they continue to innovate. I’ll say it one more time – The Gluten Free Pumpkin Pie Cookie. Just trust me on this.
  10. I’m surprised how much I’m tickled by the four floors of underground parking below us. This garage makes me want to throw a party. I would even eat off of the floor of this garage. It’s simply a delight in there (and we can validate the party, the parking aspect anyway).
  11. Thanks for sharing part of your estate Parts & Labor. We’ll be seeing you around the fire at the new, beautiful Parts & Labor fire pit. Their happy hour deals are pretty amazing by the way (e.g. $1 pony beers). When it gets too cold for fire pits – come into the warmest, dimmest lit little speak-easy spot in the middle of undiscovered Remington: WC Harlan. It’s all a good surprise.
  12. Best tacos in town at Clavel. Enough said. Just go.
  13. Biscuits and slow cooked things by Blacksauce Kitchen is coming very soon. No longer will you have to bear the treacherous elements at the farmer’s market to get your hands on one of those comfort-biscuit sandwiches. They are opening soon; look for them on 29th street!
  14. Charmingtons continues to satisfy us with damn good coffee. The layout of large, long tables is good for introverts AND meetings AND your satellite office. Thank you Charmington’s for being there for us always.
  15. The makers and woodworkers knew about Remington before anyone else. Remington has attracted some of our favorite woodworkers (e.g., Hadley Woodshop) , metalsmiths (e.g. Majer Metal Works) and other makerspaces. Walk through the neighborhood and you’ll smell sawdust and fire. That’s the smell of something good happening.
  16. The Remington O.G. = The Diz. They serve up a really good pub burger and a huge fire place inside makes you want to stay awhile.
  17. Last but not least, a delightful thing to love about being in Remington: it’s less than a mile from our original main street love, Hampden. It’s the elbow grease and shoestring budgets of hundreds of small business owners in Hampden that, in part, inspired confidence in the Remington development. Hampden is still home to our sister walk-in community clinic, and home to some of our favorite businesses that are too many to name here.

It’s nice to be home here. Can’t wait to have you for a visit! Schedule your One on One visit here. (Walk-in sessions coming to Remington in February.)