Hot House: 233 W. Read Street, Baltimore, 21201 MD

Triangular brick townhouse, circa 1900, with storefront. First-floor shop with trapdoor access to full, unfinished basement with half bath. Second-floor living room/kitchen. Third-floor full bath and bedroom. About 552 sq. ft. aboveground. Separate side entrance to living space. Good condition, all systems up to date. Forced air heat, no central air. Zoned for residential and commercial use, buyer will need commercial loan: $150,000 

What: Mt. Vernon townhouse with a minor, but colorful, place in movie history as the scene in Pink Flamingos where Divine eats poop.  Yes, the white brick wall in the background is actually the side of this house. Oh, and John Waters slept next door while the scene was being filmed. And a statue of Divine may one day grace this corner (neighborhood rumor). But that’s not all.

This house was also the location of a popular Baltimore ’60’s antique shop called Antiquemania, whose kitschy contents were described by its owner as “America at its worst.” The shop and its owner Frank Whitson were memorialized in an old Baltimore Sun article by Jacques Kelly about Read Street, as well as this great photo by Aubrey Bodine.  

If these aren’t enough reasons to buy this place, it’s hardly worth continuing. Still, it would make a great live/work space for an artist or gallery owner. You could live upstairs, and rent out the shop for pop-up art exhibits. Alternately, you could fix it up and rent out the living space as a funky Airbnb.

Where: At the corner of Read and Tyson Streets in West Mt. Vernon. For many people this tiny quarter is one of the most charming parts of town, retaining some of the louche appeal of its 1960’s heyday. It’s in the process of being rediscovered by another generation, with vintage clothing shops, a couple of shady looking bars, and some great new hipster hangouts like the cocktail bar Sugarvale and The Bun Shop, which attract MICA students in droves. Nearby and more mainstream are The City Cafe, the Charles Theatre, and Penn Station. Minutes from all Mt. Vernon cultural attractions.

Why: Awesome yellow paint job.

Why Not: Street parking only (but you may not need a car)

Would Suit: Artist, entrepreneur, tiny house fancier.

NB: Michaelango’s pizza is next door, and it serves a decent slice and is open till 2 a.m.