Carney - Baltimore, MD

The neighborhood of Carney owes its name to the Irish immigrant John Carney, who in the late 1800s opened a general store at the intersection of what is now Harford Road and East Joppa Road. By the 1930s, developers had moved the Carney store, which also served as the family home, a few blocks to the east, where it later became a real estate office. Nevertheless, Carney stuck as the namesake for the neighborhood and several institutions, including Carney Library and Carney Elementary School.

Along with neighboring Parkville and most suburbs across the United States, Carney experienced significant growth after World War II, when urban dwellers began moving to suburban communities in greater numbers. Though the Carney home no longer stands, community members have easy access by car to several cultural institutions, including The Fire Museum of Maryland, which features family-friendly exhibits of antique fire engines and fire history.

Carney provides a wealth of dining options, from casual take-out joints to more formal sit-down restaurants. Stick to Harford Road, the neighborhood’s main thoroughfare, to find the best food. Harford Road also has a laid-back nightlife scene, with several no-frills bars and lounges suitable for a casual night out on the town.

A community favorite, Pho Thanh Cong specializes in classic Vietnamese dishes served in a casual but elegant dining space. Located in the Carney Village Shopping Center on Harford Road, the restaurant woos diners with savory dishes such as pho, a rice noodle soup served with toppings like lime, cilantro and jalapenos. The summer rolls also impress, with a translucent rice-paper wrapping revealing the bounty of shrimp, pork and vegetables within. Make sure to dip them in the provided sauces, hot pepper and rich peanut, for the ultimate bite.

For everyday eating on the go or delivered to your home, check out Maria’s of Carney on Ridgely Avenue just south of East Joppa Road. A long-time staple in the neighborhood, Maria’s serves up pizza pies of all types, along with a wide range of Italian and American favorites, from seafood to burgers. Regulars rave about the pizza with meat sauce, an irresistible treat for carnivores, and often find it hard to leave without also ordering the cheese steak sub, piled high with premium beef and served with fries. As if you needed another reason to visit, Maria’s runs a buy-one-get-one-free pizza special, all day every day.

For an evening of fun after dinner, grab a few friends and head to Sully’s Comedy Cellar on Harford Road near 2nd Avenue. One part bar, one part comedy club, Sully’s attracts stand-up comics with some of the best pedigrees around. Past acts have also performed on Comedy Central, HBO and "Last Comic Standing." Order a beer and the 5-ounce jumbo crab cake to accompany the laughs. Sully’s also hosts special events, including a regular Thursday-night poker league.

Geographically, Carney is well positioned for travel into downtown Baltimore and the greater metropolitan area. The Maryland Transit Administration offers the best public transportation option: an extensive and affordable bus service. Bus Route 19 runs directly to and from Carney and downtown Baltimore along Harford Road, from 4-1:30 a.m. daily.

Private car remains the most popular mode of transportation for Carney residents, and car owners can make a trip to the Baltimore city center in as little as 25 minutes. For commuters headed to other destinations, the Baltimore Beltway along the southern edge of the neighborhood provides an easy access point. Car services exist that offer rides to destinations across the metro area, and residents can quickly reserve an Uber with their smartphones.

Though many homes in Carney include backyards or other outdoor spaces, several public parks in the area offer additional options for enjoying the great outdoors. Krause Memorial Park along Old Harford Road contains picnic areas, pavilions and trails that attract families and joggers all throughout the year. With large patches of mature trees, the park provides ample opportunity to soak in the sun or enjoy the shade.

At the far northeastern corner of the neighborhood, a small portion of Gunpowder Falls State Park draws hikers and those looking to escape the suburban environment of Carney. The entire park comprises six separate areas covering more than 18,000 acres and featuring wetlands, fishing and a swimming beach. Bike Maryland’s annual Tour du Port, held in September, includes a 50-mile challenge that runs through Carney and parts of Gunpowder Falls, including the park’s Central Area near the Loch Raven Reservoir.

The overall cost of living in Carney trends slightly above the national average and slightly below the Maryland average. Renters face average monthly rates of nearly $845 for a one-bedroom residence.

Due to the neighborhood’s suburban and coastal location, everyday items like groceries sell for slightly above the national average. Expect to pay around $3 for a beer at the local pub and more than $20 for a car service to downtown Baltimore. Gas prices are about 7 percent higher than the national average.

Carney and neighboring Parkville have plenty of shopping destinations, and daily errands do not require a trip farther afield. Small businesses thrive here, though larger chains, such as Walgreens and The Home Depot, dominate some markets. Shoppers can find most stores along Harford Road and a bit farther west on East Joppa Road.

For handcrafts and sewing supplies, Sassy Sewer on Harford Road, just south of the Baltimore Beltway, is hard to beat. Sewers find everything they need, from needles to thread, at the store or online, but the business focuses more than anything else on education. Classes for beginners, advanced sewers and everyone in between attract creatives from all over the area. Customers give high marks for the alteration services as well. You can trust the experts at Sassy Sewers to uphold the integrity of even your most precious family heirlooms.

A few minutes to the west on Satyr Hill Road, Juliet’s Bridal Boutique helps brides-to-be make their wedding-day dreams come true. With award-winning consultation services that begin the minute a customer sets foot in the store, Juliet’s guides clients through every step of the process, from choosing the perfect dress to making necessary alterations before the big day. Though the owners hope, for your sake, you don’t become a lifelong regular, they welcome you back as many times as it takes to find the gown for you.

Looking for groceries and other staples? Carney has large chains, such as Safeway, as well as smaller independent stores, such as the Asian market A-Mart. Food lovers looking for something fresh from the farm should take East Joppa Road to nearby Towson, where the Towson Farmers’ Market operates on Thursdays between June and November.