Located in the Copycat Building in Baltimore's Station North area, the Soft House is a sanctuary for soft music and comfortable cultural experiences. The Soft House is one of the best places in Baltimore to experience live music, experimental dance, and theater performances.

The Current Gallery is an artist-run gallery and studio space located in downtown Baltimore. Current's a great space for seeing contemporary art from the studios of young Baltimore based artists and likeminded artists from around the world.

Floristree is located on the top floor of the H&H warehouse building. The space has hosted acts ranging from legendary German experimental music duo Cluster to the late Baltimore Club DJ K-Swift.

Normal's is a great records-and-books store just off of Greenmount Avenue on 31st street. They have an inspiring collection of used books, all very affordable. One gets the impression that each book was deliberately chosen, and personally read through by the storekeepers. The curation of books and records feels very intentional and meaningful. Formed in 1990 by a collective of nine people who wanted to work for themselves on a project that they cared about, Normal's is distinguished by its discernment.

At the top of a hill on Cathedral street downtown, we find the central branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore's public library system. Always open to the public, even without a library pass, it is like a great and beautiful sanctuary. Some of my best thinking has taken place in the humanities wing reading room. It is, after all, one of the few places in the city devoted exclusively, and uninhibitedly, to thinking.