Proudly Independent Hampden

Well-known as a shopping and dining destination due to its eclectic shops and extensive restaurant options, Hampden - located in central Baltimore and wedged between I-83 and and Johns Hopkins University - has an equally diverse mix of housing types, including these single family, porch-front homes.

These row homes are located two blocks south of The Avenue, Hampden's main shopping street. 

This photograph shows yet another type of housing in Hampden, though I am not sure what the proper terminology is.

The once-ubiquitous Baltimore facade covering, Formstone, still exists in many neighborhoods, including Hampden.  In this picture, Formstone covers the house on the far left, though the owners of neighboring homes have chosen to re-expose the brick.

Ranked among the top hipster neighborhoods in the U.S. by Forbes magazine, Hampden's abundance of independent retailers includes coffee shops, organic salons, a shoe store where you can buy vegan-friendly footwear, a hole-in-the-wall pasta bar, and a bookstore dedicated to nourishing mind, body, and soul.  Check back soon for more posts on specific businesses in Hampden!  

On a recent weekend afternoon, customers browsed through the goods displayed outside at one of Hampden's many vintage shops.