Kim Hardcastle

Kim Hardcastle can't imagine living anywhere else in Baltimore except Belvedere Square. The Southern Maryland native has lived in Baltimore for 10 years.

"I started out in Bolton Hill. It was nice, but you had to drive to get to everything. There weren't any restaurants or shops within walking distance," she says.

Several years later, as a new bride, she and her husband Yellot Fitzhugh Hardcastle bought a home in the Stone Mill area adjacent to Hampden. "I really enjoyed my home, but again, nothing was in walking distance."

It wasn't until after the birth of her first son, Quinn, that Kim and her husband bought a home in Belvedere Square.

"We really liked the neighborhood and the house. It's a good school district and its also close to my husband's job. There are plenty of restaurants close enough to walk to and we also have a few Starbucks and other national chains nearby. It's been three years now and we love the neighborhood just as much today as when we moved in," she says.

What's not to like

The Belvedere Square concerts on Fridays in the summers are a nice activity for the whole family. The Beleverdere Square Market is also nice and a good place to go for a quick lunch.

"Our neighborhood is family friendly with neighborhood events throughout the year. We can walk with the boys and our dog. It's really laid-back and I know my neighbors," Kim adds.

When its time for a little shopping, Kim heads first to the Belvedere Market and then always makes time for a stop at Deadalus Books.
 
"We like to eat at Ryan's Daughter, Zen West, and Egyptian Pizza," she says.  

It's Belvedere Square's family friendly atmosphere and its proximity to downtown without the hurly burly of center city life that make it the perfect place for Kim and her family.