SHOES (FOR HIM)
Welcome to the Hess
Shoes superstore, Towson Town Center, 410-281-9734: 1,500
square feet of pure shoe heaven. The men’s salon features timeless classics by Cole
Haan ($150-300) and exotic leather styles by Emanuel Paolo ($150-200). For Mr. GQ,
choose from Belmondo’s European styling with squared-off toes and updated detailing
($150) or Kenneth Cole’s trendier pieces. Meanwhile, twentysomethings will dig
Sketchers’ chunky distressed leathers ($59-80) or those Doc Martens clunkers. Another
perk here is The Running Center, which features such brands as New Balance, Nike, Saucony,
Adidas, and Asics, and has experts on hand to help you select the perfect long-distance
shoe. Okay, so you don’t have to run a marathon, but you can sign up for smaller
local races while you’re there. Go get ’em, tiger! SIDING COMPANY
Is the tin siding that the Danny DeVito look-alike
sold you during the Nixon administration starting to look a little worse for the wear? Or
maybe your manse has hundreds of square feet of peeling paint and you just can’t face
dropping $8,000 for a repainting job that will only last four or five years. If it’s
re-siding time, try Hillard Folus’s Baltimore Aluminum,
6600 York Road, Towson, 410-377-1846. Folus has the experience (30
years), the staff (four crews), the reputation (close to half his business is referrals),
and he stands by his work. He does almost 100 houses a year, mostly in vinyl, and the
materials are guaranteed for life.
SKI SHOPS
It may be hotter than blazes now, but you’re
still thinking about the ski season, aren’t you? We were, too, when we went in search
of the best ski-equipment operation, and our choice won’t surprise many of you
schussers out there: Princeton Sports and Travel,
6239 Falls Road, 410-828-1127. While competitors have come and gone, this
63-year-old family business stays on top with its unbeatable selection, service, and
repair work. You can also rent skis and boots at Princeton, which even has its own travel
agency.
SOUVENIRS
You can get a plush crab in any one of a dozen gift
shops, but for truly original Baltimoreana, there’s only Hometown
Girl, 1000 W. 36th Street, 410-662-4438. This corner shop
adjacent to Hampden’s Cafe Hon offers hip local postcards (including Greg Otto’s
handsome cityscapes), books (including the kicky new city guide Wish You Were Here!),
wind-up toys, clothing, and assorted other mementos. An inspired selection.
SPECIAL OCCASION RESTAURANT
Keep that sangria coming at Tio
Pepe, 10 E. Franklin Street, 410-539-4675.
Baltimore’s longtime favorite blow-the-bonus-check party basement still cranks out
good times aplenty once you cool your heels in the inevitable weekend lines for a while.
Ostensibly Spanish, the cuisine is more rococo Continental—lush sherried cream
sauces, winy tournedos—but it delivers the goods, in spades. Load up on the special
secret mixed appetizer plate, get giddy on Rioja, and make it a night to remember.
You'll be climbing the walls (literally) at REI in Timonium.
SPORTING
GOODS
If you need a tennis racket or a baseball glove, your
options—from discount chains to specialty shops—are endless. But if you’re
serious about spending time in the great outdoors and need outfitting, nothing compares to
REI, 63 W. Aylesbury Road, Timonium,
410-252-5920. A Seattle-based co-op founded more than 60 years ago, REI stocks
thousands of competitively priced products for camping, climbing, paddling, and cycling.
Merchandise on the floor—available year ’round—runs the gamut from fleece
gloves to kayaks to freeze-dried foods. For newbies, information about everything from
bicycle security to backpacking is available on information sheets placed strategically
around the store, and from a knowledgeable staff. There’s also a small climbing wall
and a test trail for trying out climbing gear and hiking boots.
While REI is a chain, locations have made every effort to localize
your shopping experience. The Timonium location, which opened in May, has a book section
that carries local maps and guidebooks for hiking, paddling, and cycling. |