My husband and I stayed at Aunt Rebecca's B&B for Preakness weekend. Joe & Becky were warm and friendly, and their home is charming, comfortable, and well- kept. Our king-sized bed was made with soft, fresh white sheets, and we had the best sleep (away from home) in recent memory. The breakfasts were delicious, and the company of the other guests very entertaining and interesting. Joe is very knowledgeable about Baltimore, and gave us excellent directions to the Light Rail and suggestions about other things to do in and around the area. Becky steered us in the direction of a very good Italian restaurant for dinner on Saturday night. A nice touch was signing their guestbook and having our photgraph taken in the parlor, to be included in their album of former guests that is displayed in the front hall. We would definetely stay again, and bring friends and family with us!

This is an account of our experience at Aunt Rebecca's B&B on the evening of February 29, 2008:

We parked as instructed, behind the B&B. Joe, the husband of the duo that runs Aunt Rebecca's, greeted my husband and myself when we entered the house. We admired the entry area, remarking on the cool original details. The house was a nice, big, old row house typical of Baltimore. We were pleased to arrive and looking forward to our stay. Before showing us our room, Joe instructed us to take a seat in the parlor.

We'd been driving for hours from NYC, and had booked two weekend nights to visit our 23 y.o. daughter and hear about her first job and new life in Baltimore.

My husband explained that he'd like to use the bathroom first, so he was directed two flights up, while I remained seated, supervised by Joe. Husband returned and was instructed, again, to sit in the chair indicated, and Joe launched into a 25-minute monologue about our room, the direction of the prevailing winds in the area, the portable heater in our room, when we could take baths (evening only), what beverages were available in the little fridge in back, and to "be sure to replace the beer in the fridge," if we helped ourselves.

We weren't visiting for Joe’s beer, and I was dying to get our luggage to our room and take a quick snooze before dinner. But Joe brooked no interruption. He went on about the neighborhood, describing in minute detail the various establishments on the surrounding streets. Without reference to a map (he didn't have a Baltimore map) this exhaustive information wasn't very helpful. But Joe was clearly a character, and he was tolerated with courteous attention.

Noting we had bikes with us, he went on to suggest where and how to ride and how to look after our parked car and where our daughter could park when she arrived and so forth...I finally interrupted to explain that I was road-weary and we had things to arrange before dinner....could we go to the room?

Joe allowed us upstairs, but buzzed the room’s intercom “to check up” as soon as I got my bag in the door. We organized our belongings, made calls, napped, changed. The room was large, clean and charming, while loaded with doilies, stuffed animals and knickknacks— typical of many B&Bs.

Joe went from being a character, to relentlessly intrusive. When daughter arrived, husband was waiting in the parlor. He let her in and Joe immediately intervened, demanding to know where she parked, then buttonholing her about where she should ride a bike in Baltimore. She didn't own a bike, and he didn't know her neighborhood....Joe was simply blathering (at a pretty girl) and when the spouse tried to get a word in edgewise, Joe said, and I quote: "I'm not talking to you, I'm talking to HER. I'm not finished."

I arrived to greet her, and seeing Joe was determined not to let her go, I suggested we go upstairs for a pit stop before leaving. I knew spouse was coming to the end of his patience.

As we went up, spouse explained that we hadn't seen our daughter since Christmas and that he's appreciate a little space to say hello. Joe suggested that he could find us another place to stay. Husband said that it wasn't necessary, that this place was nice, but we'd like some privacy.

Instead of responding, Joe walked over to the staircase and shouted up that he wanted us "out of his house! Get your stuff and get out!" Spouse insisted that Joe address HIM, not his family who had nothing to do with the conversation, but Joe ignored him, and shouted at us as we were coming down, that he would "call the police!" if he had to. (I wonder what the complaint to the officer would be—that we wouldn't make friends with him?)

Roused by his ruckus, Joe's wife, "Aunt Rebecca," arrived on the scene. She was clearly the brains of the operation. She dismissed her husband, explaining that he "wasn't helping," and as he retreated and argued his case, he said "this guy and his wife—if she IS his wife..." His wife hustled him out.

We were flummoxed and eager to leave. Rebecca repeatedly apologized. She was a very nice person, and clearly embarrassed. We repacked, quietly transfered our stuff outside, repacked the car. We slept at daughter's shared townhouse, and she stayed at her boyfriend's. We all had a great time in Baltimore, and look forward to the next visit.

Rebecca herself was a perfectly reasonable, polite, and patient woman. She was totally apologetic, and my husband assured her it was ok, observing that she had probably experienced this before. She didn't deny it.

Unfortunately her husband is not suited to a position of dealing with the public; he treated his visitors as a captive audience; their role, to interact with HIM.

The room was $135 a night, so the lack of boundaries and the social ineptitude were a surprise. (No payment info was exchanged, we were never charged.)

Stay away, or be forewarned. And if you aren’t traveling alone and Joe suspects you aren’t a married couple, you may not be welcome. Feb. 29.... I'm hoping we don't have this kind of bad luck for another four years.

the experience at aunt rebecca's was exactly what i was looking for. they were super helpful with getting me oriented to the city and the surroundings, and assisting me in figuring out how to get to my appointment the next day. the neighborhood around the b&b is pretty walkable, with lots of coffee shops and restaurants and even an artsy movie theater close by. the rooms were cute, well cared for, and the big clawfoot tub was great. breakfast was yummy, too. they leave tea, coffee, softdrinks, and cookies and candy out all the time, which is a nice treat when you arrive from a long journey, or even just the end of the night. parking is right behind the house easy to access. the owners seem like really sweet people. i'd recommend the place to anyone.

My daughter and I stayed at the B&B for one night, but wished we could have stayed longer. The owners were extremely helpful and very welcoming. We stayed in the garrett (the fourth floor). The floor consisted of two small bedrooms (servants quarters at one time), bath with shower, and a small room with a desk, microwave and refrigerator. Although other guests could have ventured up to the fourth floor and accessed the smaller room, we basically had the floor to ourselves.

Passing by the other rooms on the way to the fourth floor (there is no elevator) we saw a peek of some of the other lovely rooms and baths. Our rooms were equipped with a/c, nice beds and bedding, and tv's. There is also a phone in each room with an intercom system should you need to contact the owners in the house and free local calls. We also had ceiling fans in our rooms.

On the main floor there is a lovely sitting room with an alcove and a beautiful dining room which always had hot tea available. There were complimentary soft drinks in the fridge and cookies set out.

The breakfast in the morning was held at a large, beautifully decorated table where guests sit down at one time. This was a lovely personal touch and we found the company interesting and the food excellent.

The B&B is about four blocks from Penn Station and a little further to the Light Rail System. We needed no car while we were there and found the location to be perfect for our visit to Peabody Institute and the DC area.

The price could not be beat for the service and feeling that you were truly a valued guest in a beautiful home. We will stay here again.