Anirban Basu, chairman and CEO of the Sage Policy Group Inc., takes us on a tour of some of his favorite places in Maryland

Favorite weekend getaway

Deep Creek Lake

Where: Garrett County

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What: State park with camping, boating and outdoor activities

Info: 301-387-5563

“Arguably, the nicest people in Maryland are from Western Maryland. During summers, my daughters swim and we go boating. During winters, we love sledding and skiing and hot chocolate.”

Best place to watch a ballgame

Camden Yards

Where: 333 W. Camden St., Baltimore

Info: 888-848-2473

“If I had only 10 minutes left on this planet, I would want to be with my loved ones at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.”

Favorite drive

Bellona Avenue near Ruxton

Where: Baltimore County, 1 mile north of the city line

“I love to take my six-speed, bright-blue Miata on Bellona Avenue as it twists and turns around Ruxton. Unfortunately, all too often, there’s a lumbering Mercedes in the way.”

Best power-lunch spot

Baltimore’s Center Club

Where: 100 Light St., Baltimore

What: Private, members-only club on the 15th and 16th floors of the Legg Mason Tower

“I’ve seen people provide other responses, but frankly, they’re wrong. The Center Club remains the best place in place to get deals done ... elegantly.”

Favorite ‘hidden gem’ in Baltimore

Ambassador Dining Room

Where: 3811 Canterbury Road, Baltimore

What: British Empire-style Indian cuisine in the dining room of a 1930s-era apartment house

Info: 410-366-1484

“This is my favorite Indian restaurant in Baltimore, neatly tucked away in a residential building north of Johns Hopkins University.”

Best after-work drink spot

Ixia

Where: 518 N. Charles St., Mount Vernon, Baltimore

Info: 410-727-1800

“Upscale and in the city’s most glorious area, this place has tremendous martinis.”

Favorite nonprofits

Living Classrooms Foundation, Kennedy Krieger and Port Discovery

“This is a city so rich in productive nonprofits, I would say that there is a 20-way tie for first. If I had to pick firsts among equals, it would be the Living Classrooms Foundation, Kennedy Krieger and Port Discovery because of the wonderful services they each supply to young people, among others.”

Best place to take someone from out of town

Fells Point

“There is no neighborhood in America like Fells Point, and it is one of our finest.”

Baltimorean I most want to get a meeting with

Sheila Dixon, Mayor of Baltimore

“I have some ideas about cutting Baltimore’s property taxes that I’d like to share with her.”