Its a bit sad to remember this outing while the Subway is shutdown for a month, but this one was a very unique culinary experience, a big part was contributed by my neighbor Amanda who had lived in Uzbekistan for three years. Silk Road was an amazing restaurant with food that I have never had anywhere else.

There has not been an experience quite like it since, partially because we usually do not have a local expert with us. We learned how to eat the food properly, and had a multi-course meal all planned out.

The only reason this one did not end up as best overall is that its technically outside the city limits (barely), and it did not have much of a neighborhood to visit around it. The area has a great Jewish community that spills over into Northwest Baltimore, but we will be saving the Jewish experience for Jonestown.

Either way, Silk Road is worth a visit. Read more about it in the Week 5 entry.

This was almost a toss up between Downtown and Mt. Washington, which are two places that could not be more different. Downtown edged it out because I really just love that section of Charles Street, and there are few things better than sitting between towering buildings, watching a good movie on the grass.

There has always been something very unique about the section of Charles St from Fayette to I-83. It is somehow completely unlike most of the rest of Baltimore, while also being unlike any other area that I can put my finger on. The buildings are tall and close together, which gives it an almost cozy feeling. Yet, it has a very walkable feeling because the vibrant set of storefronts along that stretch, which is unlike most of the rest of the tall buildings in Baltimore.

Can’t put my finger on it.

And then ending the evening with the very suburban activity of watching a film in the park, really just put the cherry on top. I will never look at Downtown the same way again.

Read about that outing in week 14.