I’ve been out of Baltimore too long to comment. But I think if you change the name of the diary to “Where to go after the game?” or “Need bar/restaurant recommendations”, you’ll get more traffic. Because the current title doesn’t tell quick viewers what the diary’s about.

Just my 2¢. :)

We need a permanent side story for this request.

If you’re looking for a place to hang before the game with other baseball people, check out Pickles Pub and Sliders just across the street of the west side of the stadium. You can’t miss it; it’s packed on weekends both pre and post game. If you like crowds and cheap beer this is the place to go. Prepared to get heckled a bit if you’re in Braves gear, but we’re pretty nice generally.

Also good pre-game spots that are a little less crowded will be the bars on Pratt Street, specifically the Pratt Street Ale House and The Nest. The Ale House has microbrews if you’re into that.

For after the game, you can always go back to Pickles, but being downtown you’ll be pretty close to Federal Hill which has a busy night scene. Pretty much any of the bars along Cross Street are decent. My favorites are Dog Pub and Ropewalk. Ropewalk is actually on Charles Street a bit south from Cross Street. Mothers on the corner of Charles and Cross is good too. Most of the bars in this neighborhood are your casual 20/early 30 somethings type place. If you’re looking for more of a club atmosphere, I think that’s the scene at Mad River in Fed Hill. I don’t know; I’m too old for that.

If you’re looking for a more upscale night out (and be aware that upscale and Baltimore don’t really meet that often), head to Harbor East. Go down Pratt St, turn right on Presidents and when you see James Joyce and Roy’s you’re in the neighborhood. Perhaps someone else can expound, I don’t spend any time there except to go to the movies.

Another good place to go out after the game is Canton and Fells Point. They’re both on the east side of town and I wouldn’t walk there from the downtown area. Fells is close enough I guess, but I wouldn’t do it at night. Just hop in a cab and tell him you want to go to Canton Square and he’ll drop you off right in the middle of the neighborhood. Lots of places around there. Same for Fells. In Fells I like Max’s. Crowded downstairs with a million beers on tap, but if it gets to be too much there is a chill upstairs also.

One place I would avoid personally is Power Plant Live. Maybe it’s your thing so if you think it might be, check it out as it will be convenient definitely. It’s at Market and Lombard Streets, a collection of bars and restaurants. Be prepared for a lot of crowds, bachelorette parties, and underage drinkers. There is one of the dueling piano bars there and a number of other bars. It’s more the clientele than the bars that I don’t like there. I haven’t been there in a long time but last time I went it was 19 year old girls and 40 year old men while like creepily leer at 19 year old girls.

If you’re worried about safety as a reason to avoid a place, just stay near downtown or fells/canton and you should be fine. If you’re towards the end of the night stay near the bar crowds. You’ll have plenty to do in those areas without having to venture out.

Sorry I mostly only mentioned bars. If you’re looking for a place that is more of a restauranty place, let me know and I’ll write more. Also, check out the comments here for more info: http://www.camdenchat.com/2008/4/18/415418/planning-my-summer-trip#4909484

Every time I go to Baltimore, I always make an excuse to go to Little Italy and visit Vaccaro’s which is my favorite pastry and desert shop of all time. If you’re in the inner harbor, facing Camden Yards, Little Italy is on your right only a little bit past the edge of the inner harbor. Vaccaro’s is on 222 Albemarle Street. The other branch Vaccaro’s just aren’t as good.

be sure to check out lexington market. You can walk from there to pickles for a pregame drink pretty easily.

Other than that, stacey’s post more or less has it covered.

That posted their recommends for me. I’ll be catching the Metro train in Owings Mills this afternoon to head downtown. Perhaps I’ll see a few of you at the ballpark.