City: Hampden, MD

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (410) 243-1230

Address: 1002 West 36th St.

Description: Almost since its 1992 open, Cafe Hon became the focal point for the Hampden neighborhood. With it’s mix of its “Hon’s Much Better Than Mom’s Meat Loaf” and assortment of handmade pies, this isn’t exactly a Cheers place, but then Cheers is in Boston and we’re in Baltimore. Located in a 100-plus-year-old building that used to house a hardware store, the cafe is decorated in vintage and antique decor, with Formica tables and an antique chest for the liquor. The casual atmosphere is perfect for families and the neighborhood folks who make this a frequent gathering spot. Cafe Hon serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.

City: Hampden, MD

Category: Shopping

Telephone: (410) 878-1266

Address: 830 West 36th St.

Description: Among the great treasures of “The Avenue” in Hampden is this relatively new (2008) pastry shop that uses fresh and local ingredients. According to the owner, Anisha Jagtap, it is a “butter only” shop and they do not use any shortening, margarine, or other butter substitute. Daily sweet specialties may include a local apple and English toffee tart or a lemon chiffon pastry. A fall savory could delight you with a combination of fall squash, bleu cheese, and roasted bacon flatbread. “Today’s” special sandwich might be a three cheese grilled cheese sandwich with or without bacon. Acknowledging today’s fascination with cupcakes, they do bake them, usually by special order only and then at a minimum of a half-dozen. Once in a while they are available in the store. They are open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Special orders may be picked up as early as 8 a.m. any day. Or, talk to them about delivery arrangements. They also sell Taharka Bros. ice cream.

City: Hampden, MD

Category: Shopping

Telephone: (410) 662-4444

Address: 3620 Falls Rd.

Description: Atomic co-owner Benn Ray makes sure this store earns its “Literary Finds for Mutated Minds” reputation, with fiction, nonfiction, comics and graphic novels, stationery, zines, art and design books, action figures, film/TV/video games, music, and so much more. If you can’t find what you want anywhere else, you probably should have shopped here first. The staff can be a little “independent” or “self-absorbed,” so either know what you want or be pleased that they aren’t constantly bothering you with offers of help.

City: Hampden, MD

Category: Shopping

Telephone: (410) 554-0055

Address: 3616 Falls Rd.

Description: Anyone who’s lived in the Baltimore area for a while and who follows the fashion scene has heard of Doubledutch. It’s been praised as the best local boutique, best weekend clothes, best fun shoes, best inexpensive handbags, and an all-around best reason to shop in Baltimore (Baltimore magazine 2006). High praise that was well-earned. The store’s motto is “modern lines & indie designs.” Come here for clothing, accessories, shoes, bags, and cards and gifts. Among the lines are Wooden Ship, Built by Wendy, Grace Hats, Bubble Roome, and Erica Weiner. The store is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

City: Hampden, MD

Category: Shopping

Telephone: (410) 235-7771

Address: 3401 Chestnut Ave.

Description: This is the hardware store of the last century, or the movie It’s a Wonderful Life, if it had a hardware store in it. Whatever screw or bolt or doodad you could possibly want or need will be here and the staff will know where it is so you don’t have to walk the aisles. If you’re going to be doing the fix-it stuff on Sunday, think about what you’ll need before then because the store is closed on Sunday. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

City: Hampden, MD

Category: Shopping

Telephone: (410) 243-2644

Address: 1127 West 36th St.

Description: Donna Calloway’s “Eat Your Vegetables Ice Cream” uses the delectable dessert to help people meet their five-a-day requirement. (Hmm, does this start sounding like the tomato is a fruit/vegetable debate?) The varieties are MuscleUp (spinach ice cream), EagleEye (carrot), BoneyConey (tomato), Sweetie Pie Oh Mi (sweet potato), and they come with vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants. Mix three flavors and you have a salad! They taste more of vanilla than veggies although the color reflects the fact that the entire vegetable is used from seed to peel, and they’re raw so you don’t lose the nutrients that would disappear if they were cooked. Yes, they also carry traditional and gourmet ice cream flavors (including sugar free and fat free), yogurt, soy varieties, fruit smoothies, milk shakes, malts, protein smoothies, and snoballs and sno cones.

City: Hampden, MD

Category: Shopping

Telephone: (410) 235-3442

Address: 832 West 36th St.

Description: When you’re passionate about shoes and chocolates, revel in the combination found at Ma Petite Shoe where extraordinary shoes and indulgent chocolates come together under one roof. Stop by on July 14 for the annual Bastille Day festivities organized by entrepreneur and owner Susannah Siger. You can enjoy French music, and complimentary chocolate and homemade crepes courtesy of Sofi’s Crepes. The store carries shoes for men, women, and children. The store is open Monday through Thursday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday until 8 p.m., and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

City: Hampden, MD

Category: Shopping

Telephone: (410) 235-5554

Address: 711 West 40th St.

Description: This independent theater, a sister to the hallowed Senator, shows a mix of classic and newly released movies on two screens at this refurbished old movie house. Tickets are $6 for matinees (before 6 p.m.) and for seniors, students, and children (all day). Evening tickets are $8. Children younger than age five are not admitted except for the occasional children’s flick. Plenty of free parking is available behind the Rotunda.