Though deciding what to
eat may be the primary
dilemma facing our
hungry populace, I beg
that we do not forget the equally important question of where to eat. Granted, most food writers devote an ample bit of text to restaurant suggestions, but I ask that we approach this problem more generally with regard to the great impact atmosphere can make on a meal.
People eat everywhere -- cars, street corners, parks and any number of places that aren't their homes or a restaurant. Some may say that this is sign of a decadent society too obsessed with convenience or too burdened by stress and obligation to properly enjoy their eating experience, but I see it as an opportunity to reinvent meals when the flavors remain the same.
With that in mind, I'd like to make a few reflections on physical locations at which to eat.
A "Greatest City in America" bench -- These benches are visible specters of Baltimore's greatness and are found around campus along major roads like Charles Street and University Parkway. Fewer places in the immediate vicinity of the university allow for such an encompassing view of the city's energy. Baltimore is packed with peculiar characters to cherish or mock and eating on one of these benches brings you closer to them. Pretend to be a real Baltimorean for a few minutes.
The metal bridge over the creek in Wyman Park -- Right over the stone wall on the western side of San Martin Drive is the heavily wooded area of Wyman Park. If you follow one of the dirt paths down the hill, you will arrive at a metal bridge over a small creek.
Though one is limited to eating things standing up or, alternately, toughing it camping-style, the atmosphere is surprisingly serene and a departure from the urban buzz of the city. After hard rains, the creek swells into a turgid stream and the whole affair actually seems like nature. Best of all, few people seem to loiter about this area, so you can pretend that it's a secret escape -- you might even be able to build a fort.
Homewood -- Campus itself provides numerous locations. The fountain located on the small quad adjacent to the Hopkins Club and the Greenhouse makes for a generally secluded and attractive position for contemplation, rational meditation and everything else involved in being a whimsical college student.
A note to the roguish ne'er-do-well -- there are a few places where a resourceful trespasser may gain access to "secret" parts of campus. I will not mention any particular exploits I am privy to in the interest of protecting the exclusivity and continued availability of these locations, but they do exist and make for brilliant venues for lunch, dinner or anything that can be consumed outdoors. Take something noteworthy though, because when you're on a rooftop or in a secret tunnel, you're a criminal! Stick it to the man in a way that only eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on a roof can.
Sometimes a particular place can make the difference between a boring lunch and a memorable experience.
