Sam Hulbert

Sam Hulbert, at 23, has lived in Downtown Baltimore his entire life. And, though twenty years ago there weren't many other families in the neighborhood with children his age to play with, and the absence of a yard and grass to play in led to some jealousy of his friends at school who did, Sam says he eventually grew to love Downtown.

"In the end, I've gotten so used to living downtown that I'm actually uncomfortable whenever I go out to the county or the suburbs. It's too quiet and spread out," he says.

That said, Sam says he plans on living Downtown for the foreseeable future, due in no small part to the neighborhoods "close proximity to anything you could possibly need."

"Everything is in walking or bussing distance. And unlike my friends who live in the suburbs, I've come into contact with and am therefore more comfortable around all different sorts of people, rather than simply the specific income bracket that lives in their cul-de-sac," he adds.

Easy Entertainment

Going to a local pub and having a pint and being able to walk to whichever grocery store are just two things that keep Sam jazzed about Downtown.

"My favorite thing to do downtown is probably walk down to the Inner Harbor on a nice cool day, stopping at Mick O'Shea's for a beer on the way," he says.

He also gives Brewer's Art a thumbs up for a frosty brew, but says he'd "avoid the food" there and Mick O'Shea's.

Whether it's a casual eatery or a white linen dining experience, the Charles Street corridor from Saratoga Street up has a little bit of everything.

"For food, you could just stay on Charles Street, north of the Washington Monument, for French, Afghani, Indian, and Japanese."

Big D Living

The best thing about living Downtown, Sam says, is "never having to cut your grass."

While he admits that living Downtown "can be uncomfortable at times; it's totally different from living in the suburbs, but it's not a 'bad' different."

A life-long resident, he says people should come down and get a taste of city life.

"I'd recommend it to people who don't want to live in a bubble, or have their kids grow up in a bubble. Yes, bubbles can be safe, but at some point, you have to let them out, and when that happens, are they going to be able to handle the world?"