I recently saw a cartoon that said, "Baltimore, the Jewel of the Mid-Atlantic" and then in smaller print, "except for Washington, D.C." I laughed, but then realized that the cartoon was actually making a semi-profound statement: most outsiders look down on Baltimore. More surprisingly, even the people who reside in Baltimore do not have enough pride in their city.
Like many other students at this school, I have had my fair share of sketchy Baltimore experiences, ranging from catcalls from creepy homeless men to discovering a knife and a syringe on different Charles Village street corners on the same day. I get frustrated at the amount of trash I see, and I sometimes wonder why parts of the city always smell a little bit funny.
But, despite these less-than-pleasant encounters, the longer I have been here, the more that I enjoy and appreciate the city. I have no problem admitting it: I like it here.
I do have a problem, however, with how quickly Hopkins students dismiss the idea of having fun here. It is not fair to label Baltimore as the bastard child of other East Coast cities. Baltimore is a city quite different from Washington, New York or Philadelphia. It may have scary crime rates, but to characterize Baltimore based on its weaknesses does a disservice both to the people living here and the city itself. It is sort of like looking at the glass half-empty: You miss the good part.
We all know that Hopkins and the Charles Village neighborhood can get old fast. But, once people start to venture to other areas, there really are things to do.
Since last summer, when I started my quest to discover Baltimore, I have seen several museum exhibits, ate great ethnic cuisine, gone to the theater, been to concerts, watched many independent films and met some very interesting personalities.
What I enjoy doing in Baltimore may not be the same for everyone. Regardless, Baltimore does not deserve the constant barrage of criticism it gets from the Hopkins student population. There is more to the city than bad parts.
Finding something to do takes no longer than spending a little time on Google or picking up a copy of several free Baltimore magazines and newspapers, located all over Charles Village. Additionally, many Web sites such as the Baltimore Fun Guide, Baltimore Collegetown and the Baltimore Theater Alliance have already done much of the work. Though these Web sites are far from a complete list, they are at least a start.
Baltimore also has its fair share of eccentricities too. I recommend skipping the American Dental Museum unless you are really fascinated by teeth and skipping Grill Art in Hampden unless you really like soggy and cold enchiladas.
Still, you don't know until you try. Please, I implore you, go off campus at least once a month. Realize that there is a lot more to college than hanging out in people's dorms or apartments or fraternity houses.
Another great thing about Baltimore is how easy it is to get around. It's a cheap city; fork over the money for a cab and go somewhere. Also, the city buses are not nearly as bad as people make them out to be. Though I probably wouldn't feel comfortable taking them late at night by myself, they do get you where you need to go for only $1.60 a ride.
Though I wish that parts of the city were prettier, that there was a convenient subway system and that I could feel safer walking at night, I still think that the pros far outweigh the cons. Moreover, my love affair with the city has only inspired me to want to do something about the things that give Baltimore its undeserved bad reputation. Complaining doesn't change anything. Neither does assuming Baltimore isn't fun because other people tell you so.
The cartoon was half-right: Baltimore is a jewel of the mid-Atlantic. It may not be as clean or quite as exciting as Washington, but it nonetheless deserves recognition for its amount of cultural offerings and other activities. It is just a matter if people are willing to put in some effort to discover them.
--Carey Polis is a junior Writing Seminars major from Bethesda, Md.