Loch Raven - Baltimore, MD

The neighborhood of Loch Raven grew during the post-World War II building boom in Baltimore and combined apartment buildings with single-family row homes adjacent to Mount Pleasant Park and Morgan State University. In 1956, Mount Pleasant Golf Course saw a young Arnold Palmer win only his second pro tour victory.

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, has become Maryland's largest historically black college and educates around 8,000 students per year in a broad spectrum of degree programs. The Morgan State campus also hosts the James E. Lewis Museum of Art, displaying works by students in the Fine Arts program as well as multicultural exhibitions from outside artists.

Loch Raven also enjoys close proximity to the Baltimore Museum of Art, famous for its collections and the Sculpture Garden.

Loch Raven itself occupies only a small area inside Baltimore, bordered by Loch Raven Boulevard to the west and Perring Parkway to the east. Along both these streets, though, a broad spectrum of restaurants, bars and clubs provides every kind of food and entertainment, from diners to fine dining to dancing.

Out of "the little yellow brick house on Harford Road," Big Bad Wolf's House of Barbeque dishes up ribs and brisket with a choice of sauces such as the favorite, Kansas City Spicy. Regulars also recommend the Big Bad Wolf, a sandwich that combines both and adds bacon, calling it the best in Baltimore.

The Hamilton Tavern, with its stamped tin ceiling and exposed brick walls, combines urban and rustic for a great dining experience. The trademark Crosstown Burger features a thick patty topped with horseradish cheese, but don't stop there. Add the fried egg and bacon on top for the full effect.

Head down to Cafe Zen for a unique and creative Asian dining experience in a contemporary setting. Hailed by some locals as one of the best Chinese restaurants in Baltimore, this establishment's egg rolls are a must. Fresh ingredients and authentic cooking techniques assure a good experience. Try the General Tso's Chicken for a spicy dinnertime treat.

Thanks to the convenient location, residents of Loch Raven have plenty of choices when it comes to nightlife. Baltimore's Inner Harbor, Fells Point and Towson are only minutes away.

Head to The Senator Theatre for an old-fashioned movie palace experience. This Art Deco theater opened in 1939 and still sports much of the original decor. The Senator shows first-run movies as well as classics and enjoys fame as a Baltimore original.

The homes in the Loch Raven neighborhood have driveways or parking lots, so many of the residents here use cars as their primary mode of transportation. Situated equidistant from I-83, I-95 and I-695, commuters can reach most destinations around Baltimore fairly quickly. Walking or biking to nearby locations also poses few problems thanks to the wide sidewalks, although cyclists have to share the road since there are no bike lanes.

Cabs cruise this area on a regular basis, and Uber serves this neighborhood as well. Even more common, MTA buses run two important routes through Loch Raven. The #3 route connects Loch Raven to downtown and Baltimore County; the #44 route goes east to the Pulaski Highway industrial area and west to the Social Security Administration complex in Woodlawn.

Public parks sprinkle the city around Loch Raven, providing activities of every kind. Right next door, Mount Pleasant Park has a world-class 18-hole golf course run by the Baltimore Municipal Golf Corporation. The BGMC maintains several courses throughout the city where anyone can golf for a modest fee. Also in the park, Mount Pleasant Ice Arena opens year-round for lessons, hockey and public skating sessions.

To the south, adjoining Morgan State University, Herring Run Park spreads over 375 acres of woodland and trails in the heart of Baltimore. Designed by the Olmsted brothers in the early 1900s, the park contains picnic areas, basketball courts, playgrounds and Herring Run, the stream from which the park gets its name. Wildlife, including deer, fox, herons and egrets, makes its home here, reinforcing the park's status as a tranquil haven in the middle of the city. As in all Baltimore City parks, leashed dogs are permitted.

Westward, Chinquapin Run Park provides playgrounds, ball fields, soccer pitches and basketball courts among the woods and streams where people picnic and walk dogs. Rangers also schedule nature walks and classes here.

Living in Loch Raven costs slightly less than the average in Baltimore City; a one-room residence goes for an average of $815 per month. A ride into downtown on the MTA bus costs $1.60; a beer in a local bar runs about $5. Gas here sells for 2 percent less than the national average.

Shopping centers and malls surround the Loch Raven neighborhood on all sides. Residents have their choice of several grocery stores and the Lexington Market downtown for their food shopping needs. In Belvedere Square Market near the Senator Theatre, shops, restaurants and food vendors serve all your culinary needs.

Collectors Corner stocks the latest comics, books, DVDs and collectibles for the discerning collector. Join the Comics Club, or stop in for movie night when the store screens sci-fi, superhero or action flicks, complete with popcorn and refreshments.

At Plato's Closet in Loch Raven Plaza, you bring in the lightly used clothes you no longer want. While you shop the stock for heavily discounted designer clothes, the buyers at Plato's Closet price your clothes and buy them from you. Get the clothes you want; sell the ones you don't.