The world is Eddie Brown’s oyster, but Maine is his pearl

By Stephanie Citron

Baltimore philanthropist, businessman and author Eddie Brown is so soft-spoken and gentlemanly that it might surprise some that he is undaunted about venturing into uncharted waters and new territories.

But the man who is co-owner of the city’s new lavish hotel, The Ivy, hails from a diverse and vastly successful professional background, from starting out as an engineer and Army lieutenant to spending a decade at T. Rowe Price before founding Brown Capital Management in 1983.

He and his wife of more than 50 years, Sylvia, are celebrated as two of Baltimore’s most generous benefactors. Brown, 74, was named Marylander of the Year in 2011 and has received numerous similar awards.

The Ivy Hotel and its lush amenities offer a clue to Brown’s high expectations as an experienced traveler. He and his wife have traveled much of the world, including a whirlwind three-week, five-continent National Geographic tour by private plane, along with excursions with their grandchildren.

We chatted with him about what it’s like to travel the globe and how New England’s cooler weather lures him and his wife to the coast of Maine in summer.

Life in Baltimore seems to be such a constant whirlwind for you and your wife. Where do you go when you need to get away?

We have a second home in Rockport, Maine. [As well as one in Florida].

In which part of Maine is Rockport?

It’s midcoast, about an hour and a half to two hours north of Portland. [The peninsula where they live is] strictly a residential community. Most people have heard of [nearby] Camden, Maine, because it is more touristy, with restaurants, shops. You can go from one to the other quite easily. Literally, it takes us five to 10 minutes to get from our home to downtown Camden.

For how long have you been going there?

We purchased September of 2012. The reason I know that is because they tried to get the closing on Sept. 11. [I told them] I will not close on 9/11; I will close on 10th or the 12th, but I will not do it on Sept. 11.

There are plenty of ocean and mountain retreats closer to home, so what drew you to Maine?

Do the girls come up with you now?

Well, they are both married, and one has our three grandchildren, so they come up when they can.

How often do you go to Maine, and how long do you usually stay?

I’m still working. My wife has the flexibility to just stay and enjoy the place all summer. Our pattern now is that my wife and I normally go up late May, plant the garden — we love vegetable gardening. [Then we] come back around the middle of June. And I go back and forth all summer. The beauty is that I can work remotely … just like I’m at my desk, so I work up there periodically. I try to take a week’s vacation — not working — in July and August.

Do you invite friends to visit?

What kinds of activities do you like to do?

There’s just so much in terms of outdoor activities, from kayaking to biking to just walking. We’re right on the Penobscot Bay, on a peninsula. The Penobscot Bay flows right out into the Atlantic Ocean — they call it the Gulf of Maine. We have 1,200 feet of waterfront. It is a very rocky waterfront … almost like cliffs, so it’s not conducive to swimming. The other reason is that the water temperature is cold. In July and August, I think [it’s] around 55 degrees. … So we like to look at it.

Do you have a boat?

How do visitors get to the islands?

There is a town north of us called Lincolnville that has a ferry that goes to Islesboro. There’s a town south of us called Rockland with a ferry that goes to several islands, including Vinalhaven.

Do you have any favorite go-to restaurants?

Our favorite is in Rockland, maybe 20 minutes away. It’s called Primo. The chef there has received the James Beard Award twice in the last five years — very unusual. Another is in Camden, the Hartstone Inn. The chef there is really great. It’s an inn with 20-some rooms. We didn’t know that the restaurant was not only for its guests until a friend told us about it.

When friends come up and need to find accommodations, where do you suggest they stay?

Well, that’s happened. When we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary we said rather than do one big party, we decided to do several venues [to include friends near their other homes] … and spread it out through the year. [In Maine] it turned out we had 107 people — 25 came from the Baltimore area. We had to put up a tent and all sorts of things we hadn’t planned on. We had to figure out where should we suggest they stay. One was Samoset Resort in Rockport, which has a great hotel, spa and all those amenities, and [is] just 20 minutes from the house. There are numerous bed-and-breakfasts in Camden, and our friends who live there gave us a list of recommendations. Camden Maine Stay Inn was one.

When you go, do you usually drive or fly to get there?

We fly, because if you stop for a meal, it could be an 11- to 12-hour drive.

I’ve heard that you and your wife travel frequently.