SĒN Baltimore Magazine - Nightlife, Local Music, Events and Podcasts

"[T]he vibe is positive, unpretentious, and upbeat, and, the patrons say, a nice break from the typical (“boring and insular” someone said) Baltimore bar scene."

After adjusting your eyes to the dimness upon entering Red Maple nightclub, you see retro, gas-lit fireplaces on your left and illuminating faces of crowds seated on backless cushioned seats. The large room narrows when you walk up the stairs, along the bar and past candlelit tables as you make your way to the dance floor and courtyard at the back of the club. Everyone seems to congregate next to the bar and the narrow path between the larger spaces, which can make things very crowded. But no one seems to mind – the vibe is positive, unpretentious, and upbeat, and, the patrons say, a nice break from the typical (“boring and insular” someone said) Baltimore bar scene.
The diverse clientele of young professionals, graduate students, and just-approaching-middle agers dressed in slinky tops, jeans and blazers. Everyone looked like they were having a good time. A University of Maryland dental student danced solo wearing tight, black pants and boots. “The dance music is good here,” she said “and (the patrons are) more sophisticated – it’s not a teeny bopper scene.” A GQ type guy who now lives in Baltimore mentioned that Red Maple “had a DC vibe” that was similar to the clubs in Adams Morgan he used to frequent. An African-American girl had an interesting comment - “My friends and I like it here because it’s not so hip-hop. People think that blacks want to go only to the hip-hop bars, but we don’t. We liked the mixed culture of this place, along with the industrial music. It’s really laid back and relaxed here.”
The courtyard was a viable escape from the crowd – visible through a glass exterior wall, the exposed brick walls, some landscaping, seats and a side bar made an agreeable place for conversation, as well as a place to grab a cigarette.   Vintage documentary films in black and white displayed on the back wall made an unusual backdrop.

Catchy electronic dance music, relaxed but sophisticated crowd, and places to have conversations make Red Maple a welcome addition to the Mt. Vernon club scene.