Welcome to our blog world

One thing I have always loved about Hamilton and surrounding neighborhoods is how friendly everyone is. So I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that this friendliness extends to the blogosphere as well. Blogging is such an odd thing, after all. I can be writing to people from all over the globe, or to people across the street (I'm talking to you, Krazy Kat!). The friendliness of our neighborhoods has extended itself to the many emails I've gotten from fellow Hamiltonians. It turns out, we've got some pretty cool people living here.

I've always considered Harford Road Hon as our neighborhood blog, never as "my" blog. (I have one of those elsewhere, if you are interested.) That's why I keep putting out the call for anyone who is interested in contributing here to contact me at pookyshoehorn at gmail dot com, so I can set you up to post the occasional event or photo.

I am thrilled to be able to tell you about the following 2 new blogs that I've learned about this way:

eat harford road
You know how you always pass by certain restaurants on Harford Road and think "Hmmm. I wonder what that place is like?" Well, chrissy is making it her mission to stop at those places and write a review of what she finds. So far, she has stopped by several places I've wondered about (House of Kabob, Pita Pan) and others along the way. Check it out.

Salamander Points Blog
This is a great place to find out about all kinds of events going on in our area, as well as putting forth some great food for thought on ideas such as consumerism, sustainability, and much more (yes, food too -- we are a hungry bunch, aren't we?).

As the tagline says, "Carbon Sexy, Baby!"

Hamilton Tavern open for business!

Okay, so it's not technically in Westfield, but it is on Harford Road, after all. And I hope that supporting this surge of new restaurants and interesting businesses along Harford Road could mean they continue to creep up our way.

They don't have a website up yet, but the reviews from ChowHound sound positive:

"Food was outstanding - some unique items on menu - fried dill pickles - wonderful -
The burger was outstanding cooked perfectly - spend the extra money and add a fried egg and or bacon to it - you will not be disappointed. We had the veggie pita which was so tasty - Though we did not have- we heard great comments about the steamed shrimp and mussels. Be sure and ask about specials - I had the gazpacho and it was truly the finest I have ever had anywhere ! - Also had a peach cobbler special - it was to die for ---- We will be back soon and often!! --"

So far, their hours are:

Friday and Saturday 4:30 pm to 2 am
Sunday 4:30 till... Brunch coming in September!
Monday 4:30 till
Tuesday... CLOSED

Peach cobbler -- to die for? Has anyone else eaten there yet?
Weds and Thurs 4:30 til

The "Heart of Hamilton"

I missed Channel 2's "Dine on a Dime" story, but it seems that Clementine's continues to give Hamilton good press:

Can you feel the Heart of Hamilton. This is the town I use to go get my vaccum cleaner fixed or go to church at St. Dominic’s.

Or get confused as to where the old Hacienda Restaurant was…was it on Harford Road or Bel Air Road. The answer is at the bottom. If you haven’t visited this part of town in a while, it’s starting to grow up like Canton.

Believe me when I say that. It doesn’t take buildings, it takes people to build a community. Right there on Harford Road you now have Chameleon Café, Alabama B-BQ, Brewers Art and Big Bad Wolf’s House of Barbeque, and here’s a new restaurant that won’t blow your house down or destroy your budget.

It is the two week old Clementine’s. Winston Blick and his wife Cristin opened this place, three blocks from their home. Winston, or Winnie use to run the Sobo Café and before that McCaferty’s in Mt. Washington.

This is his first time owning his own place. The place is packed for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is all locals…all your neighbors. You will go inside and within 3 minutes you will know someone you haven’t seen in 15 years.

The prices are very reasonable and you will see many families coming in to dine. Any place that sells Stewarts Root Beer is a place you want to visit. Hacienda was on Bel Air Road.

Darlin' Clementine

It looks like investors have finally caught on to the fact that Hamilton is full of affordable real estate and hungry people. Recently opening in downtown Hamilton is Clementine at 5402 Harford Road, which we know is in the heart of Hamilton, and not in Lauraville as was reported by critic Elizabeth Large in the Baltimore Sun recently. Clementine is open for business, and word is that Christopher Curmudgeon approves. Here's a copy of the menu.

According to the Sun article, there's also a major transformation going on at the Hamilton Tavern, which is owned by one of the partners at Brewer's Art. Elizabeth Large has done me wrong before with her less-than-accurate reviews. Please don't toy with me Lizzie ....

illustration by Steve Felmore