Eats and Drinks
Best NonBar Hangout
Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse
800 St. Paul St., (410) 230-0450, www.redemmas.org
There's a lot to celebrate when it comes to Red Emma's. This isn't a town with a lot of collectively run businesses, it's not a town with a lot of independent bookstores, it's not a town with a lot of coffee shops that emphasize organic and fair-trade products. It's not a town with a lot of places offering not just free wireless but also free internet terminals, and it's most definitely not a town with a lot of places to hang out until 10 p.m.--at least not without alcohol and Chernobyl-sized clouds of tobacco being involved. Red Emma's offers all that and more. Whether you're an anarchist, communist, socialist, or otherwise marginalized lefty looking for a safe haven--or even a closet conservative who has a hard time finding a great morning cup of coffee--Red Emma's is exactly what you want it to be. Baltimore could sure use a few dozen more businesses with as much dedication and innovation when it comes to their offerings, their ambiance, and, yes, their politics.
