Medfield - Baltimore, MD Area Guide

Medfield officially became annexed by Baltimore in two halves: the southern half in 1888 and the northern in 1918. Medfield's development accelerated from around 1920 through the 1960s, and many of the first residents were long-time residents of Hampden who desired newer houses. During the 1950s period of suburban flight and urban decay in Baltimore, Medfield remained a desirable and safer neighborhood for middle-class families. Neighborhood investment and a housing market boom in the 2000s attracted a growing number of young professionals to Medfield.

Head downtown or look locally near Medfield for the many museums in the area, such as the family-friendly Amaranthine Museum in adjacent Woodberry, with the artwork of the late Les Harris presented in an exploratory labyrinthine exhibit. Yearly neighborhood events include a free Annual Christmas Parade, established for over four decades and passing through Medfield and Hampden with festive floats, motorcycles, marching units and Santa.

Restaurants in the Medfield area consist of highly-rated, trendy locations serving many styles of food, mostly in neighborhoods surrounding Medfield.

The adjacent village of Woodberry houses the hugely popular Woodberry Kitchen, so well-loved that reservations are recommended if not required. The restaurant prides itself on exclusively cooking with ingredients from local food sources, farms and producers, made possible by years of close relationships. Throwbacks to the spacious two-story restaurant's history create a rustic interior aesthetic. Patrons most commonly dine here for brunch and dinner. Order a flatbread such as the P&L chorizo or a winter vegetable pot pie filled with butternut squash, turnips, carrots and more. A vast selection of drinks join the entrées, and seasonal specials cycle throughout the year.

Yama Sushi Bar on West 41st Street satisfies any sushi craving with some of the best the local area has to give. The restaurant's unassuming exterior gives way to a clean, dimly-lit and intimate inside. Yama Sushi Bar features affordable prices, particularly for lunch specials and for the basic rolls. Extensive sushi and sashimi combos line the menu, while customers also purchase traditional entrées such as steak teriyaki. The friendly owners greet each diner, and have even been known to throw in a free sushi roll.

By night, travel to local bars and pubs in the area to hang out, drink and participate in additional activities. Strong drinks and big shots are a staple at Frazier's on the Avenue, where you'll find a chill younger crowd, clean facilities, classic bar foods and pool tables. Journey further south onto North Howard Street to get to Ottobar, an indie-rock club spotlighting local bands and hosting parties with DJs and dancing.

Community roads and highways in Medfield enable residents to get around the region with ease. The main highway serving residents, Interstate 83, hugs the western portion of the neighborhood and leads south into Downtown Baltimore. West Cold Spring Lane, Falls Road and West 41st Street are three of the more important local roads for travel within the neighborhood. Park your car using the ample free parking in residential areas and streets, with just a few paid parking zones. Though you won't find any bike lanes in Medfield, you can safely bike and walk through residential streets and on sidewalks.

For taxi services in the area, call up companies such as Arrow Cab or use the Uber app to contact a local driver. Strong public transportation options include the Cold Spring Station of the Baltimore Light Rail, within walking distance. Multiple local bus routes take residents to surrounding neighborhoods and to places of employment in Downtown Baltimore. The Blue Jay Shuttle of Johns Hopkins University provides service to students in the neighborhood.

Drop by the parks around Medfield for some outdoor recreation and relaxation. Medfield only has one main park of its own, the Medfield Heights Park which provides children with baseball fields, basketball courts and green space. Within walking distance from Medfield, you'll find more extensive options in Hampden and other locations.

While strolling into Hampden, check out Roosevelt Park, resting along the Jones Falls stream and ambitiously filled with tons of amenities. Take your kids to the playground or play sports with them at the numerous courts and fields. After working up a sweat, cool off at the large on-site pool, with a safe wading space for younger children. The park even has an 11,000-square-foot paved skate park, and you can unwind and get off your feet at the picnic area.

Head west from Medfield into the nearby Cylburn Arboretum on Greenspring Avenue to decompress amid a massive natural setting of over 207 acres. View over 20 themed gardens scattered throughout this free park, and walk the 3 miles of wooded trails. As an added bonus, the Arboretum welcomes leashed dogs. A unique, self-guided cell phone tour provides further information on this historic park, and throughout the year you can attend lectures, workshops, tours and other events held by Cylburn experts.

The cost of living in Medfield sits only a touch higher than that of the greater city of Baltimore, due in part to slightly more expensive housing. Residents can find affordable one-bedroom apartments at a price of around $892 a month for rent.

Public transportation in the area comes in at economical prices, with local MTA buses and trains costing $1.60 and express buses costing $2. Gas prices have a 1 percent lower cost than national averages, while the neighborhood bars pour out beers for about $5 each.

Because of Medfield's residential nature, people head towards the stores in Hampden, Roland Park and other adjacent neighborhoods to get their shopping done. Clothing stores move front and center, with tons of boutiques and specialty shops for all purposes.

Sixteen Tons on West 36th Street serves as a sort of hub for men's fashion and accessories in the region, standing out as a local treasure and selling vintage-styled clothing with a modern flair. Choose from jeans, shirts, jackets, hats and sunglasses. Accessories include flasks, shaving products and even books. Sixteen Tons encourages you to upgrade your classiness without breaking the bank and makes an ideal stop for hip, young professional men.

The boutiques in Hampden have females covered too, as the Vogue Revisited clothing and consignment store gets you great deals on brand-name women's fashion, jewelry, handbags, shoes and more. You won't have to overspend to obtain something you want, and the store updates fashions to line up with the changing seasons. Maybe you can even consign some of your own gently used or never-worn items.

For a specialty shop of a different nature, the Atomic Books bookstore caters towards those seeking alternative, underground and indie reads. You won't find such an eclectic set of books, comics, manga and magazines anywhere else, and you can also purchase gifts and other hobby shop items here. Atomic Books is a must-visit for those in the area, with its slightly off-beat vibe meshing in well with other stores in the community.

Get your groceries at the large chain supermarket Giant Food on West 41st Street, just outside of Medfield. The closest farmers market resides on 36th Street in Hampden; the Hampden Farmers Market runs from May through November and features vendors from local farms selling fresh produce, meats, dairy and baked goods.