Baltimore, Maryland
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When you're craving a memorable meal, remember that Baltimore's cooking is full of flavor - the city even has its own spice, Old Bay Seasoning, a feisty concoction of 16 seasonings sprinkled mostly on shellfish but required by some locals on seemingly everything but ice cream. If you're on the run, just wander through the copious food stalls in the Harborplace pavilions. It may look like a zoo of tourists, but you'd be surprised how many locals graze here. Many of these places offer top-notch local seafood - particularly oysters, clams, and Chesapeake Bay blue crabs. Walk a bit south to Federal Hill, along South Charles or Light streets, and you'll find dozens of appealing eateries, including one of the best little restaurants in the city, the Bicycle Bistro, where you might dine on grilled rack of lamb with a pineapple-poblano-pepper chutney, or porcini-crusted sea scallops.

East of the harbor, there's superb dining in the city's Little Italy (Boccaccio, with such seasonal delights as local clams and mussels in a pernod-tomato broth, is a particular standout), and in nearby Fells Point, talented chef Nancy Longo helms the kitchen at Pierpoint, which is known for such inventive contemporary regional fare as smoked crab cakes, and fried Maryland chicken breast with parmesan grits.

Mount Vernon has dozens of excellent, gay-popular restaurants. At the high end, opulently decorated Ixia scores high marks for its well-chosen wine list and superbly rendered cuisine, including grilled baby octopus with lemon-fennel confit, and lobster-crab mac-and-cheese with a creamy Fontina sauce. Across the street, Sacha's is a great spot for toothsome grazing - the many "small plates" include crisp french fries in a cone with Old Bay-seasoned creme fraiche, and fried green tomatoes topped with lump crab meat. Continue up Charles Street and you'll come to trendy Donna's, a cheerful and modern space where an artsy crowd mingles over light salads, roasted veggie sandwiches, fresh coffee, and fantastic tiramisu. The Helmand has become renowned for its spicy, well-prepared Afghan food (it's owned by the brother of Afghanistan's president, Hamid Kharzai), and Mount Vernon Stable and Saloon is a perfect late-night venue for chicken wings, sandwiches, burgers, ribs, and similarly comforting pub standards. Finally, don't miss City Cafe, an airy and inviting java joint that also serves food and wine.

Make the trip a bit north toward Johns Hopkins to reach Ixia's sister restaurant, the lovably kitschy Paper Moon Diner, which is open 24 hours many nights, making it a perfect post-clubbing choice. Near here in the Hampden neighborhood is the famous Cafe Hon, notable for the massive pink flamingo dangling from the front of the building (not to mention tasty comfort fare like Belgian waffles topped with fresh berries, and famously good meatloaf). There's also great coffee to be sipped nearby at Common Ground coffeehouse, and delicious Mexican food served within the funky confines of Holy Frijoles.
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