Your Guide to Finding the Best Deals on Apartments in Baltimore

If you've decided to move to Baltimore (or even if you're just thinking about it), let me be the first to welcome to you this exciting city with lots to do! I first moved to Baltimore when was a sophomore in college, and I was on an extremely limited budget. I had never looked for an apartment before, so I tried the obvious websites like Apartments.com and Rent.com. Unfortunately, all that came up were apartments and condos that were part of managed buildings, and these were way out of my price range.

I moved to a Baltimore suburb with my older brother while continuing my apartment search, and made a few friends that lived in the city, where I ultimately wanted to live as well. Once I knew them well enough, I started asking them their rent and I was astonished. One friend is paying $270 for a small, but adequate studio with kitchen and bath next to the beautiful Baltimore Inner Harbor. Another friend has a huge two-bedroom apartment with antique hardwood floors in trendy Mount Vernon and she was paying $525 a month. Why couldn't I find deals like these?

The problem was that I was looking in the wrong places. Apartment buildings are nice and often have amenities like fitness centers and laundry facilities, but you will pay a hefty premium for those. Most of the professionally managed apartment buildings I looked at were asking a minimum of $800 to $1200 a month in rent.

The secret to living cheaply in Baltimore is to find an apartment that is owned by a private landlord or a small business owner. In many of the most exclusive parts of Baltimore, the shops, bars, and boutiques were built with an apartment or two on the second and third floors for the owner and the family to live in. Many of these businesses are now run by corporations, or the owners do not wish to live in the city, and they are willing to rent out these apartments for bargain basement prices because they are a great way to add a little something to their bottom line.

Many of these landlords don't want to go to the hassle or expense of maintaining a leasing office or showing the apartments to tenants. Most of the friends I know who had gotten amazing deals on their rent knew someone that had lived in the space prior to them and had simply transferred the lease over, usually on the same exact terms.

So basically, it boils down to word-of-mouth. You won't find these great deals on apartments if you look in the newspaper or search traditional online rental websites. But, with a little bit of "detective work," you too can land an apartment with absurdly affordable rent in the heart of Baltimore...here's how:

If you know someone who lives in Baltimore, ask them if they know of any apartments that are available for rent. This seems obvious, but many people forget this step. This simple question can lead to some of the most amazing deals on rent that you'll find.

Use social networking websites like Craig's List and MySpace. One friend I know who is paying $310 for a two-bedroom apartment with a balcony and a great view in Charles Village found his apartment by browsing profiles on MySpace. I see apartments in the $300 to $600 range all the time on Craig's list. These might not be the first places you'd think to look, but often these venues are where you'll find the best bargains.

Look for ads in smaller newspapers that wouldn't be considered "mainstream," like Baltimore Gay Life, OutLoud!, and the Baltimore Jewish Times. Advertising in a big city newspaper like the Baltimore Sun can be prohibitively expensive for some people, and other owners like to advertise to communities to which they feel they belong. By searching for less-known media outlets in Baltimore, you may be able to find a great rental property in an exclusive neighborhood for a price that's easy on the pocketbook.

If you're really strapped for cash, other options to consider might be on of the many government-assisted housing communities available in Baltimore, or to share a space with a roommate or two. With Johns Hopkins University, University of Baltimore, MICA, and other major universities all in the heart of the city, you'll often find people looking to split their living expenses with someone else. While it may not be ideal, it may be just the solution for a few months or a year while you look for something else.

With a little bit of research, and a willingness to look "off the beaten path," you can find affordable housing pretty much anywhere you want in Baltimore. It may take a little time, but some patience and perseverance will definitely pay off in the long run.

Top 3 Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants in Baltimore, Maryland

About two years ago, I decided to adopt a vegan diet and, never being one to cook much for myself, I set out to find restaurants that served decent vegan food in Baltimore, Maryland. Although I have found that a lot of the restaurants in the city don't have much to offer in terms of vegetable-based dishes, here is my list of my favorite three vegetarian/vegan restaurants in Baltimore:

The Yabba Pot, 771 Washington Blvd., Baltimore - The Yabba Pot is Baltimore's only completely vegan restaurant and is home to some of the best vegan "soul food" that you'll ever have. From traditional offerings like vegan mac-and-cheese and mock meat citrus ribs to more contemporary offerings like seaweed salad, The Yabba Pot has something for everyone's tastes. Quaint tables with artwork and an eclectic mix of music add to the decidedly "hippie" atmosphere of the restaurant, but if you're vegetarian or vegan and you end up in Baltimore, you need to check this place out.

One World Café, 100 West University Parkway, Baltimore - Voted best vegetarian restaurant by Baltimore's City Paper, this café is frequented by college students and professors alike. One World offers a complete espresso bar, liquor bar, and full breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. They offer both vegetarian and vegan options, and all of this information is conveniently located on the menu to help diners make informed decision. Some of my favorite items at this restaurant are the PB&J sandwich, the vegan chili, and the 'Not-Dog' vegan hot dog. The staff is always friendly and they are open late, especially on the weekends.

City Café, 1001 Cathedral Street, Baltimore - Conveniently located in the heart of Baltimore's trendy Mount Vernon neighborhood, City Café offers world-class coffee- and alcohol-based beverages, in addition to some of the best food you'll find in the city. While not focused solely on the vegetarian crowd like the first two restaurants on the list, City Café has many vegetarian and vegan options, like their delectable vegetarian nachos or their rich mushroom ravioli. Have a great dinner at City Café, then take in an off-Broadway show at one of the many nearby theaters and you'll have a night you and your date won't soon forget

While you won't find as many vegetarian restaurants in Baltimore as you will in other cities, you'll find that this list will provide a good starting point for your search for delicious vegetable cuisine. As always, any restaurant you go to should be able to make at least one or two things that are vegan, so if you find yourself stuck someplace where there's not much to eat, remember there's always salad or a baked potato.

Restaurant Review: Cibo Bar & Grille (near Baltimore, Maryland)

Located just north of Baltimore, in the bustling suburban community of Owings Mills, Maryland is a surprisingly trendy and upscale dining destination called Cibo (pronounced CHEE-bow) Bar & Grille. Last week, a friend and I decided to celebrate the receipt of our tax refund checks by going out for a night on the town, and we chose to dine at Cibo. From the moment we got there, we knew that we had found someplace out of the ordinary.

The inside of the restaurant could be described as moderately upscale. The design of the restaurant is definitely sleek and contemporary, with lots of black walls, tables, countertops and funky shaped furniture. The staff seem to blend into the overall modern theme of the restaurant in hip, all-black uniforms. Of course everything was pristinely clean, as I'm sure their clientele would expect nothing less. Cibo has tables, booths, and a full-service bar. We decided to sit at the bar for our evening out.

Immediately upon sitting down, the hunky, dark-haired bartender came over and introduced himself. We intended to drink for a while, and the friendly bartender had no problem suggesting just the perfect drink, time and time again. They had one of the most well-stocked bars I've ever seen, and with every mixed drink I had my choice of a variety of liquors available at various price points. The drinks were moderately priced, with most cocktails between $7 and $10 and beers around $5. The other patrons all seemed friendly and everyone was having a good time.

After a few drinks, we decided to order some food. The bartender was able to offer some excellent suggestions, and pointed me in the direction of some of the various vegan options on the menu. Not being very adventurous, we decided to stick to the basics...I ordered a Mediterranean Vegetable Pizza (minus the cheese) and my companion had the Chicken Parmesan.

We were impressed when our entrees arrived piping hot just 10 or 15 minutes after we had ordered. The waitress who brought our food out was very polite and made sure we had all the silverware and condiments we needed. The food was pretty good. I enjoyed my pizza...you could tell that the vegetables were very fresh and sauce was a fantastic blend of sweet and savory flavors. Being vegan, I can't speak much about the chicken, however my friend said that she liked it very much and it was some of the best Italian food she had enjoyed for a while.

The bill was a little expensive, but not outrageous. Our dinners were in the $15-$22 range, and our total bill, which included a total of two entrees and six drinks was $102. The service was great so we left a good tip, and we would definitely consider going back in the near future.

If you're looking for someplace trendy and hip to hang out in the Baltimore suburbs, Cibo Bar and Grille might be your place. I hear they get quite the "happy hour" crowd, and if you're looking for a place to kick back and have a few drinks with some friends or colleagues, this might be just the place you've been looking for.

The Best Summer Jobs for Students in Baltimore

With a population of almost 2.7 million and numerous colleges and universities, many high school and college students will be looking for a job this summer in the Baltimore area. Luckily, there are lots of summer job opportunities for students in Baltimore and the surrounding areas, and some are actually quite fun. Here's a look at some of the best summer jobs for high school and college students in the Baltimore area.

Lions, tigers, bears, and sharks, all in the heart of Baltimore. Maryland is home to the world renowned Baltimore Zoo as well as the The National Aquarium in Baltimore. These tourist attractions get extremely busy during the summer and are often looking for part time help. I know someone who gets to feed the dolphins at the aquarium, and the zoo is often looking for students interested in animal care.

Beat the heat at the mall. Baltimore is home to many trendy, conveniently located shopping malls, like the Harborplace/Gallery complex at the Inner Harbor, Towson Town Center, and the more suburban Mall in Columbia. There are also many smaller shopping malls in between. The mall is a great place for teenagers with little to no work experience to find a good "starter" job.

Hit the beach or ride the rides. Not far away from Baltimore are Ocean City, MD and the Eastern Shore, and these beach areas are always in need of summer workers. Also in Maryland is the Six Flags Amusement park, who hires upwards of 2,000 part- and full-time workers during the summer months. If it's too far to drive, think about staying with a friend or family member who might live a little closer. You can hang out at the beach or ride a roller coaster in your downtime, and might have a summer you'll never forget.

Think snowballs...in the summer! Many locals will tell you that their favorite part of summer is getting a "snowball", a shaved ice concoction that is uniquely Maryland. Most snowball stands are only open during the summer, and are in need of help most hours of the day. Many people leave tips when they buy a snowball and I know some people who have made great money selling these summer time treats.

The fact that many of the above mentioned locations are easily accessible by Baltimore public transit is also a bonus for many young people. One of the keys to landing a great summer job is to start looking early, so start making contacts and submitting applications as soon as you know you'll need summer employment in order to have the best chances. Don't wait until you hear from one place to apply for another job....submit applications at many different places and wait until you get an offer you like. There's no harm in telling an employer you're no longer interested if more than one place contacts you. With a little time and effort, you can find a fun way to put a little cash in your pocket this summer in Baltimore.