A day in Baltimore

A view of the Inner Harbor from the bow of the Cisne BrancoI had a doctor’s appointment thursday; nothing serious just an initial check-in with my new permanent physician. Normally, I’m not a big fan of going to the doctor, but the new docs are just two blocks from Baltimore’s Lexington Market.

Lexington Market is a cornucopia of food stalls – most selling prepared food, but many with fresh meats, produce, and of course seafood. I’m terribly partial to Berger’s Bakery, not for their (justifiably) well-known cookies, but for their version of a cream-filled sandwich cookies – which are an acceptable facimile of the one’s I used to get from Danny’s Bakery as a boy. But the real attraction of any visit to Lexington Market is Faidley’s Seafood, and their world-famous crabcakes.

I ordered one of their lump crabcakes and a bowl of cream of crab soup. Now normally, I’m a big fan of tarter sauce, but Faidley’s Crabcakes are so tender and creamy inside, that no adornment is necessary. Faidley’s is one of the best this land has to offer; trust me I know, I’m a marylander born and bred, and I’ve had my fair share of crabcakes. I’ve I don’t know where you’re from dear reader, but once in your lifetime treat yourself to a Maryland crabcake made by one of the greats, it’s an experience not to be missed.

After lunch I walked down to the Inner Harbor to catch some pictures for the photoblog. The Volvo Ocean Race is in town, and I wanted a chance to check out the boats up close, as well as tour the tall ships visiting as part of the celebration. The Ocean 70’s were mostly docked, but the Extreme 40 catamarans were out practicing for races held in the harbor. If I didn’t know better, I would have sworn those boats had motors: amazing accerelation, wicked speed, and man did it look like a blast out there. I’m looking forward to catching one of the in-port races later this week.

I finished out the day by heading over to Jef and Becky’s for dinner. Becky had to dash off to her studio, but I had a lovely dinner with Jef and his dad at Paper Moon.