Lexington Market Struggles (Baltimore, Towson: sales, how much, motels)

[picardlx]

They sell drugs right outside the police substation near the market.

[designer_genes]

But, at least there are elephants once a year.

[Urban Peasant]

About that area, on my upcoming trip to Baltimore (which I am so determined to make because I really want to ride the last Metro system in the Northeast I have not ridden and visit Geppi's Entertainment Museum), is it safe to at least walk back and forth between the heavy rail Metro and the light rail? Can I do it alone or should I really convince a few of my DC friends to tag along for the trip?

I took a look at Google Maps and sure enough the area around the Lexington Market looks sketchy but I am not entirely put off by that having seen similar places in Boston such as Dudley Square or Mattapan Square. It kind of looks like Fulton Street, Brooklyn or Downtown Newark (Newark is the scariest major city I've been to so far but I've been there no less than four times). Is that part of Baltimore really that bad or is it just like any other poorer part of anyone's downtown?

[james777]

Originally Posted by Urban Peasant

Is that part of Baltimore really that bad or is it just like any other poorer part of anyone's downtown?

Both. It is the poorer part of Baltimore's downtown, but what makes it so bad is that there are so few police, and those police on patrol do not crack down and enforce the law like they do in other cities.

When you visit Baltimore, do not jaywalk. You WILL get a ticket in Baltimore for jaywalking. Remember, drug dealing and aggressive panhandling is ok, jaywalking is out. (And the fools in city hall wonder why they can't keep businesses, residents, and tourists in this city. Go figure.)

[mpheels]

Originally Posted by james777

When you visit Baltimore, do not jaywalk. You WILL get a ticket in Baltimore for jaywalking. Remember, drug dealing and aggressive panhandling is ok, jaywalking is out. (And the fools in city hall wonder why they can't keep businesses, residents, and tourists in this city. Go figure.)

Wait, what? I jaywalk all. the. time. Sometimes right in front of the police. Haven't had a ticket, and haven't seen them ticket anyone else. I was under the impression that they really didn't care as long as your didn't obstruct vehicular traffic.

[designer_genes]

Originally Posted by mpheels

Wait, what? I jaywalk all. the. time. Sometimes right in front of the police. Haven't had a ticket, and haven't seen them ticket anyone else. I was under the impression that they really didn't care as long as your didn't obstruct vehicular traffic.

Seconded. Not only do I jaywalk all the time (I make sure there are no cars coming though), pedestrians constantly walk right in front of my car without a care in the world and take their sweet time crossing the road. I have never witnessed anyone getting a jaywalking ticket.

[Tinawina]

Originally Posted by Urban Peasant

About that area, on my upcoming trip to Baltimore (which I am so determined to make because I really want to ride the last Metro system in the Northeast I have not ridden and visit Geppi's Entertainment Museum), is it safe to at least walk back and forth between the heavy rail Metro and the light rail? Can I do it alone or should I really convince a few of my DC friends to tag along for the trip?

I took a look at Google Maps and sure enough the area around the Lexington Market looks sketchy but I am not entirely put off by that having seen similar places in Boston such as Dudley Square or Mattapan Square. It kind of looks like Fulton Street, Brooklyn or Downtown Newark (Newark is the scariest major city I've been to so far but I've been there no less than four times). Is that part of Baltimore really that bad or is it just like any other poorer part of anyone's downtown?

You won't get robbed there especially if you go in daylight. But someone will try to sell you drugs if you make eye contact and you will likely see a junkie or two outside.

It is exactly like Fulton Street (or Flatbush Avenue or Pitkin Avene) in Brooklyn, but they actually let people stand in front of stores selling dope and the crackheads lay around sleeping. Well here it's more likely to be heroin addicts, but you get the idea. Heh.

If you don't walk around looking scared you'll be fine.

[are you kidinme?]

Originally Posted by Zombie woof

Baltimore fetishizes poverty and finds junkies and winos "charming."
I see little hope for Lexington Market.

Wish I had said that. Good succinct post.

[Urban Peasant]

Originally Posted by Tinawina

You won't get robbed there especially if you go in daylight. But someone will try to sell you drugs if you make eye contact and you will likely see a junkie or two outside.

It is exactly like Fulton Street (or Flatbush Avenue or Pitkin Avene) in Brooklyn, but they actually let people stand in front of stores selling dope and the crackheads lay around sleeping. Well here it's more likely to be heroin addicts, but you get the idea. Heh.

If you don't walk around looking scared you'll be fine.

That sounds a lot better. I didn't feel scared or threatened at all when I happened upon Fulton Street two years ago even though I was one of the few non-Blacks on the street. The place was so lively and bustling that it actually felt kind of welcoming. It's what Boston's Dudley Square in the Roxbury neighborhood strives to be but hasn't quite gotten there yet. Well, I hope I get the same feeling when I visit Baltimore. I'd like to stop by at Lexington Market to at least grab lunch but I might not have the time to unfortunately with everything else I plan to do in a day. My primary purpose of going in that vicinity is to ride both metro rail lines, the heavy rail and the light rail after visiting Geppi's Museum. Too bad the last MARC train heading back to DC on a Sunday leaves at 5:30pm or else I would plan to stay longer in Baltimore.

Thanks anyway for the insight Tinawina!

[Urban Peasant]

Originally Posted by james777

Both. It is the poorer part of Baltimore's downtown, but what makes it so bad is that there are so few police, and those police on patrol do not crack down and enforce the law like they do in other cities.

When you visit Baltimore, do not jaywalk. You WILL get a ticket in Baltimore for jaywalking. Remember, drug dealing and aggressive panhandling is ok, jaywalking is out. (And the fools in city hall wonder why they can't keep businesses, residents, and tourists in this city. Go figure.)

I'll keep that in mind. I actually seldom jaywalk in Boston anymore even though it's no big deal up here. It's not a safe thing to do anyways and it's usually young impatient teenagers that I see doing it up here.