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What’s located between Baltimore and D.C., filled with art, and makes for a fantastic weekend getaway? If you’d told me the Maryland Live! Casino & Hotel before the other weekend, I wouldn’t have believed you.
For almost three years, I worked in Hanover right nearby and had no idea what was in my backyard. I knew there was the casino and several prominent restaurants, but I didn’t know that the hotel is privately owned by the Cordish family, or that it houses an exclusive private art collection – including a Warhol. Well, color me intrigued.
After a hectic spring, Reed and I were eager to have a low-key, low-effort staycation. A hotel and spa 15 minutes outside the city seemed just the ticket – and it definitely exceeded expectations. As soon as we stepped into the lobby, we were impressed by the art, interior decor, and attention to detail. From Jennifer Steinkamp’s uplifting digital installation Botanic 3 behind the concierge to the standout friendliness and helpfulness of the staff, we quickly felt relaxed and ready to get the weekend started.
We checked into our room and immediately ordered drinks to toast the weekend. While the in-room alcohol list is a bit limited (no prosecco or champagne) we made do with Heineken, which I pretended was Veuve Clicquot in the wet bar water glasses!
A coffee-table book in our room detailed Suzi and David Cordish’s extensive collection of contemporary art, curated specially for the hotel and designed to engage all the senses. The book tells the story behind each piece, which was a lovely touch that helped us better appreciate each one of the 40+ works that span mediums from video display, to sculpture, photography, and print, as we ventured out exploring the property. In addition to the Warhol and Steinkamp’s exploding flowers, you won’t want to miss Chul-Hyun Ahn’s meditative piece by the elevators, or Sylvie Fleury’s neon YES TO ALL installation where the hotel meets the casino.
After unpacking and savoring our drinks, we were ready for dinner at The Prime Rib on the other side of the casino. Outfitted with dark leather decor and mood lighting, we’d been given a heads up that this classic steakhouse is known for more than steak. I dove into the wine list (there’s the champagne!) and we ordered an heirloom tomato salad, raw oysters, and fried calamari – just to start! The oysters were very fresh and we were impressed by the flavor of the tomatoes considering it was still spring. The calamari was crisp and not too greasy, and came with a zingy sweet and spicy sauce as well as the classic marinara. Reed ordered the crab cake entrée which was meaty and well-seasoned, and I got the scallops which, though it came with a creamy sauce that was a bit overpowering, were cooked to perfection.
We capped off our meal with espressos and then made our way to the Maryland Live! Event Center where we had tickets to the evening’s comedy show. The event center is right around the corner from where the hotel entrance meets the casino (and everything is in the same building so you don’t have to step outside). It was fun to have all the evening’s activities in one location – we didn’t have to go far for anything, which meant I was happy to leave on my four-inch heels all night!
Neither of us are big gamblers, but after the show we made our way to the casino to our hand at the slots. We didn’t really know what we were doing, but we cracked ourselves up trying to understand the way the rules worked (since when do three bears and an orca…?) but $25 later called it quits in favor of another round of drinks and a snack at the David’s lobby bar. We simply enjoyed being out around the hustle and bustle, chatting with the bartender and people-watching, but by midnight we had turned into pumpkins and called it a night.
The next day, we enjoyed a leisurely morning in the room sipping coffee and reading Baltimore Magazine’s Pride issue (Happy Pride Month!) before heading downstairs for brunch at David’s.
After the previous night’s substantial dinner we weren’t exactly starving, but everything on the brunch menu sounded downright tasty. We ordered spicy bloody Marys, oatmeal with fruit and honey, and a yummy tomato frittata with balsamic drizzle that hit the spot.
Full but not too full, next it was time for some TLC! The Live! Spa is independently operated by one of the country’s leading boutique spa management companies, and it definitely shows. The service rivals some of the other luxury spas I’ve been to around the Mid-Atlantic, from the Omni Homestead to The Mohonk.
I thoroughly enjoyed my signature massage and (of course) almost fell asleep under the firm ministrations of my masseuse. Afterwards, Reed and I continued the relaxation with glasses of (more) champagne on the surprisingly zen-like spa patio, where artfully placed bamboo effectively tucked us away from suburbia.
Overall, we had a lovely weekend staycation – it was great to get out of the city and be in the dynamic hubbub of the Live! Casino & Hotel bubble. The Maryland Live! team certainly goes out of their way to make you feel welcome, and the amenities are top-notch. It was exactly the atmosphere we needed for some fun time alone away from our furbaby and the demands of everyday life!
Where would you go for a couples’ staycation? Let me know in the comments?
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If you enjoyed this post, you might like my other posts on stylish destinations The Gansevoort Hotel in New York City, and the Avenue Suites in Washington D.C.
Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed here are my own.
