Union Collective represents an exciting new model for local economic development that’s catching on in Baltimore and beyond. Located in a former Sears warehouse building in the trendy Hampden neighborhood, the collective houses a range of independently owned businesses. In fact, a climbing gym, a brewery, a hand-crafted ice cream shop, and a coffee bar with a full espresso menu are a few of its tenants.
The industrial vibe of the converted warehouse provides plenty of eye-catching photo opportunities throughout the complex. Photographers searching for crisp ‘Grammable shots set off by warm pastel backgrounds will not want to miss the amazing murals surrounding the beer garden at Union Craft Brewing.
If you’re searching for an interior space that combines a sophisticated vibe with sheer jaw-dropping aesthetics, then welcome to the George Peabody Library. Known as the city’s “Cathedral of Books,” the library is part of the Sheridan Libraries of Johns Hopkins University, housing more than 300,000 volumes of historic texts dating from the Renaissance to the 19th century.
Beyond attracting bibliophiles and researchers from around the world, the library also hosts some of the city’s premier weddings and dinner events. The enormous skylight at the top of this architectural marvel allows plenty of natural light, giving your Instagram shots a decidedly professional feel. This is genuinely no-filter territory.
The American Visionary Art Museum houses an incredibly eclectic variety of creative works. In fact, self-taught artists who have “listened to the inner voices of the soul” inspire the museum. What matters here, in other words, is more about the act of creating than the final product itself. And what better inspiration for Instagram shots!
Photographers exploring the museum will find installations defined by aesthetics that are “raw” and “intuitive.” So much so, the spaces are likely to surprise viewers. One of our favorite areas is the gorgeous wild garden outside the museum, wherein opportunities abound for photographers to let their creative vision run free. The color combinations and art-specific themes make this one of the most Instagrammable places in Baltimore.
6. Grab a muffin and ‘Gram your newest vinyl purchase at Baby’s On Fire
Atmosphere is everything at Baby’s On Fire, one of Baltimore’s hippest and eclectic cafes. The joint’s as much about delicious coffee and pastries as it is about the vintage vinyl records for sale inside. To top it all off, it’s in a renovated former carriage house in historic Mount Vernon. A pair of Baltimore musicians created Baby’s on Fire and named it after the classic Brian Eno song.
The duo wanted to bring something decidedly different to the city’s coffee shop landscape. The interior of Baby’s on Fire features white walls set off by bright red lighting fixtures and artfully chosen music paraphernalia. When combined with plenty of natural light, the space is a prime spot for Instagram shots that give off an inviting vibe.
