A Philadelphian Praises Baltimore (Mount Vernon: houses, neighborhoods, theater)

[Clark Park]

Greetings to Charm City from the City Of Brotherly Love!

I just got back from Baltimore after showing a friend around your fine city who had never been there before. He was impressed ... and charmed by Charm City.

Driving down to Baltimore from Philly is easy, takes me about 2 and a quarter hours ... 95 miles from my house to Mount Vernon Place. I figured out a way to go and return without paying even a penny in tolls.

Some of the things we did were visit the American Visionary Art Museum which was a lot of fun (my friend is an artist), also visited the Walters Gallery. I've been to the Baltimore Museum of Art on other trips but we skipped it this time.

Drove around some of the older historic neighborhoods like Fells Point, Little Italy, Federal Hill, etc. Walked around Mount Vernon. Pointed out the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards, etc.

Lunch at Attman's Deli on Lombard St. What a great place! Oy, I'm kvelling! Dinner at an upscale place on Charles Street. Expertly mixed cocktails on Read Street.

The city has some great architecture. The people seem friendly (so unlike Philly!) There is a general weirdness about Baltimore that I cannot put my finger on ... but I am convinced that John Waters and Divine could not have come from any other place but Baltimore.

I think Baltimore is unique. It has it's own special vibe. In some ways it is very similar to Philly ... a city of neighborhoods and rowhouses. I would like to think Baltimore and Philly are almost sister cities, except that Baltimore is more Southern than Philly and therefore the people are friendlier (as I mentioned before) and more polite.

[Infinite_heights77]

"I think Baltimore is unique. It has it's own special vibe. In some ways it is very similar to Philly ... a city of neighborhoods and rowhouses. I would like to think Baltimore and Philly are almost sister cities, except that Baltimore is more Southern than Philly and therefore the people are friendlier (as I mentioned before) and more polite."

*As a Baltimorean with Philadelphia roots, I say Philadelphia is a better city and holds its own. That whole Southern thing intrigues me, because most people affiliate the term with ignorance, backwardness, slowness, provincial and etc. If they are both sister cities, Baltimore is that slowass, mentally challenged sister that you feel sorry for, but don't want anything bad to happen to them because she already does harm to herself.

What special vibe are you talking about??

[Infinite_heights77]

People talk about Baltimore being so friendly.. Where do they get this stuff from?? Baltimore is not a friendly town in my humble opinion.

[sobo16]

Baltimore can be seen either way. In terms of customer service, being in a crowded place, or having pedestrians step out in front of your vehicle outside of a crosswalk, Baltimore can seem harsh, chaotic, and unfriendly.

But if you're in a bar or other place of business, it's very likely that a fellow patron will strike up a conversation with you. In that way, the city can seem very friendly.

[Mahatma X]

Originally Posted by Infinite_heights77

People talk about Baltimore being so friendly.. Where do they get this stuff from?? Baltimore is not a friendly town in my humble opinion.

Compared to D.C. it is. Ditto for NYC and Philly and Boston. Outta all the BosWash cities, Baltimore is the friendliest.

[Clark Park]

Originally Posted by Infinite_heights77

*As a Baltimorean with Philadelphia roots, I say Philadelphia is a better city and holds its own. That whole Southern thing intrigues me, because most people affiliate the term with ignorance, backwardness, slowness, provincial and etc. If they are both sister cities, Baltimore is that slowass, mentally challenged sister that you feel sorry for, but don't want anything bad to happen to them because she already does harm to herself.

What special vibe are you talking about??

One thing that is apparent is that Philly is a much bigger city than Baltimore. It has taller buildings, more hustle and bustle, more crowded streets in it's center. More shops and restaurants and theaters. It spreads out even further than Baltimore. Sorta like comparing Cleveland to Chicago.

It's hard for me to describe Baltimore's special vibe. It seems to be odd of mix city/country, north/south, rich/poor, liberal/bigot, etc. My impression is that Baltimoreans are less inhibited than folks in other large cities - they dress and act as they please, you see a lot of eccentric folks there. Its as if a lot of folks from the country invaded the city and decided to act like city slickers - or their version of city slickers ... but this is not a put-down: there really is something charming about it. People wearing off beat clothes and out of date hair styles. As I said before, I think only Baltimore could have produced a John Waters and a Divine and their crew.

[Mahatma X]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

One thing that is apparent is that Philly is a much bigger city than Baltimore. It has taller buildings, more hustle and bustle, more crowded streets in it's center. More shops and restaurants and theaters. It spreads out even further than Baltimore. Sorta like comparing Cleveland to Chicago.

It's hard for me to describe Baltimore's special vibe. It seems to be odd of mix city/country, north/south, rich/poor, liberal/bigot, etc. My impression is that Baltimoreans are less inhibited than folks in other large cities - they dress and act as they please, you see a lot of eccentric folks there. Its as if a lot of folks from the country invaded the city and decided to act like city slickers - or their version of city slickers ... but this is not a put-down: there really is something charming about it. People wearing off beat clothes and out of date hair styles. As I said before, I think only Baltimore could have produced a John Waters and a Divine and their crew.

You just described Baltimore in a nutshell. Rep +2

[KodeBlue]

So, someone from Philly praises the city, and Baltimoreans bash that person's positive opinion of their OWN city? Is that what we do now?

[Nerf Herder]

I'd be suspicious too, if a guy from Philly comes to DC and raves about DC, I'd be quite leery about it myself, people from Philly just don't come to DC and give good reviews, it's not in their nature, maybe other cities, but not DC

[Tinawina]

Originally Posted by KodeBlue

So, someone from Philly praises the city, and Baltimoreans bash that person's positive opinion of their OWN city? Is that what we do now?

I know, right! I swear it's a town of Eyeores. Some of y'all constantly complain about everything. This city needs a therapist. LOL!

I've always found it pretty friendly around here too. People even chat me up in the checkout line at the supermarket. Definitely has its unapologetic quirk factor as well.