Baltimore neighborhood spotlight
Canton
Aaron Cirulnick
Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: Features
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Historically, Canton has been an industrial area located on Baltimore's outer harbor in the southeast section of the city.
However, in recent years Canton has undergone a transformation into one of Baltimore's hottest spots to live.
Do not be deceived by the surrounding industrial landscape, the heart of Canton, O'Donnell square, is an amiable nexus of bars, restaurants, shops, and historic row houses.
Canton has a lot to offer when the sun goes down. The bars are packed by 11:30 and in my estimation, they have a distinctly more mature crowd.
That's not to suggest that there were not younger people out and about, they just blended in well.
This also means that the clientele is more prone to relax than to get rowdy as is typical of many college hangouts.
When I asked some of my new Canton friends what they thought of their neighborhood, many replied that Canton is the home to the yuppie scene. Some said this with a condescending tone, but I think there is nothing wrong with being a young urban career minded individual.
A young professional crowd brings a market for exciting nightlife. My evening travels took me to the Portside Tavern, Looney's, and Mahaffey's.
The Portside Tavern is a good place to begin in Canton. The Portside is a dimly lit, nautical-themed bar and grill. Downstairs has a full service bar, while upstairs houses the quieter restaurant. They have the standard tavern fare such as burgers and small pasta dishes. Additionally, the service is good.
Next, I rolled over to Looney's, one of Canton's more popular spots. Looney's features high definition televisions downstairs and a banquet room. The noisier upstairs had a sports bar feel, complete with pool table, karaoke machine, and full service bar. The last spot I ventured to was Mahaffey's.
Mahaffey's was by far the most popular spot in Canton that night. There was a line at the door and once inside the large main room was packed. Mahaffey's is a classic pub.
In a nutshell, the Canton scene is worth checking out, however, it is a drastic contrast to the standard Saturday night college environment. The crowd is more mature and less likely to be out of control. The meeting areas feel much smaller than they are because of the throngs of people who flood to the establishments after work.
I think they were violating fire codes, but I did not investigate the matter. Additionally, the food and drinks are slightly more expensive, but it is worth it for a change from campus.
For those looking for a daytime retreat there is plenty to do as well. The animal lover will enjoy Canton as it is home to a dog park that is always occupied with pooches, runners, and wanderers. Also, the park has a waterfront view for scenic walks with a friend or an individual seeking some solitude.
For the avid angler, there is another park complete with a fishing pier. Unknown to me during my visit, Canton has a marina and public boat launch perfect for a small sailboat. The most inviting aspect of Canton is its community involvement network. The Canton Community Association and the Friends of Patterson Park group both plan events year round for the Baltimore community. They offer sports teams, a clean up Canton day, a skating rink, clean running trails, and an event I eagerly await, the "Howl-o-ween" dog costume competition.
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