From Baltimore, Now in London

I wanted to if there was anyone else from Baltimore in London. Some odd thoughts about the whole thing:

Every time I'm on a crowded bus, I keep expecting (wishing?) to hear someone holler, "Move back, move back." Or that instead of pushing the button to stop, someone will shout, "Back door!"

The other day I went to see someone in her "bad" neighborhood. It looked really nice - it was so clean!

I get unreasonably angry about pickpockets and bag snatchers, and feel this bizarre sense of pride that in Baltimore we have proper muggers. 

I keep referring to "living in the city," and then I remember that means a totally different thing.

I get unreasonably angry about pickpockets and bag snatchers, and feel this bizarre sense of pride that in Baltimore we have proper muggers.  

Fantastic!  

I'm originally from Baltimore an am now in London -- both sides of my family are from there.  I only lived there as a little kid, because we moved to the philly burbs, but visited a lot.  A LOT.  

Philly counts! I've only visited there a couple of times, but really liked it. Whereabouts in Baltimore are you familiar with? I have lived in Bolton Hill, Charles Village, Remington, and Highlandtown. I think I like the east side of town the best, because what you see is what you get over there... and it was perfectly acceptable to wear pajamas to the grocery store.

My grandparents lived in northeast Baltimore -- Belair Edison, of course said "Blair!" Its pretty rough around there these days, but growing up, I didn't register that until a college friend and i went to stay with my grandmother.  I'm pretty sure she thought i was seriously lost.  I had a bunch of relatives in Highlandtown!

My aunt just sent me a care package of Wockenfuss chocolate!

The other day I went to see someone in her "bad" neighborhood. It looked really nice - it was so clean!

I get unreasonably angry about pickpockets and bag snatchers, and feel this bizarre sense of pride that in Baltimore we have proper muggers. 

HAHAHA! I am from Philly, so I 100% identify with this!

Oh and if you hear someone on the tube shouting "move back! Move to the center!" that would probably be me with my embarrassed looking DH- come say hi

I get unreasonably angry about pickpockets and bag snatchers, and feel this bizarre sense of pride that in Baltimore we have proper muggers. 

I love this comment!  I agree about the whole "proper muggers" thing.  I grew up not far from Camden, on the Jersey side of Philly.  Camden has consistently been on the list of the US's Most Dangerous cities.  During my Junior and Senior years of High school, it made its home at the #1 spot on that list.

Hooray(?) for having "proper" muggers, murderers, rapists...etc.

Ophinky, my parents live in Belair Edison until about 35 years ago, and my great Aunt was there until she died about ten years ago, so I know all about it. In the ways of Smalltimore, I bet if we compared notes and names long enough, there would be a connection!

What I wouldn't give for some Wockenfus, so Rhebs, or even a Mary Sue Tripple Chocolate Easter egg!

Danielle, if I hear you shouting on the train, you'll know you've found me when I start weeping my thanks to you!

PickledSakura, isn't it funny how we're all secretly proud of how rough and dirty our towns are? Bmore's number of murders has fallen dramatically, though we did have years as number one.

Assuming your S/O isn't from the states, how did he/she react to visiting these kinds of places? I lived in a middling bad neighborhood, and it took my husband a while to get used to it, and I think it would take a miracle to convince him to move to Baltimore.

My MIL, who is wonderful, was very skeptical when we were making plans to have a reception in Baltimore. We had a long talk about where the hotel was, what blocks to stick to, how far she and her sister could go one their own, and all those practical kinds of things. Her first question off the plane in BWI was something like, "you have more murders today?"

Assuming your S/O isn't from the states, how did he/she react to visiting these kinds of places? I lived in a middling bad neighborhood, and it took my husband a while to get used to it, and I think it would take a miracle to convince him to move to Baltimore.

Haha. I was living in North Philadelphia- Kensington (or as I liked to call it to my friends 'really more East Kensington/Fishtown) which is where they filmed that Louie Theroux documentary Law & Disorder in PhiladelphiaLaw And Disorder In Philadelphia-Louis Theroux P 1] [url= And Disorder In Philadelphia-Louis Theroux P 1[/url]. (Louie Theroux had to wear a flack jacket because of the amount of murders in the area)

So DH coming from living his whole life in a upper middle class, 99% white town- to a neighborhood that was all working class and about split at 50% black and white was a real eye opener for him.

One day he got locked out of my apartment and was sitting outside waiting for me to come with the keys and was approached by a pregnant lady trying to sell him drugs. He just could not get over the shock of it. I told him he should be more supportive to working mothers 

My in-laws wanted to go to NYC and Philly for a holiday to meet my parents. They think London is too dangerous and (ahem) diverse for them-  I convinced them to go on a nice Florida beach holiday instead.

Don't know if I could ever convince DH to move to my old hood, but he is warming to the idea of one of the nicer areas of Philly.

Assuming your S/O isn't from the states, how did he/she react to visiting these kinds of places? I lived in a middling bad neighborhood, and it took my husband a while to get used to it, and I think it would take a miracle to convince him to move to Baltimore.

(Un)fortunately, I had moved from NJ to NC by the time I met DB, so he has spent more time in the south than good ole' dirty jersey.  For some reason though, when we were in Philly, he really didn't like it.  He said everyone was so angry and too aggressive. Meh

Ophinky, my parents live in Belair Edison until about 35 years ago, and my great Aunt was there until she died about ten years ago, so I know all about it. In the ways of Smalltimore, I bet if we compared notes and names long enough, there would be a connection!

What I wouldn't give for some Wockenfus, so Rhebs, or even a Mary Sue Tripple Chocolate Easter egg!

AHHHH!  Rhebs easter eggs are the best!  My aunt sends us one every year.  Ive been rationing my Wockenfuss molasses paddles.  We've got King syrup in the closet here, too.  Of course it's not a Baltimore thing anymore, but my dad always talks about my grandmother being friends with the owners' kids. 

I was fantasizing about Woodlea Bakery on Belair Road the other day.  I'd kill for one of their marshmallow donuts.  Or in a nod to my Philly burb childhood, I'd also love some TastyKakes!

My parents moved from the old neighborhood about the same time yours did -- they moved out to Harford County in the 70s and then on to the Philly burbs.  My grandmother died about 10 years ago, but she lived in the neighborhood until the end.  Every time I take the bus up Finchley Road here in London, I crack up at the Lyndale Avenue bus stop -- that's where my grandfather lived!

Smalltimore! My great aunt Louise and her husband Ed lived on Lyndale their whole lives, and they raised my dad so that's where he grew up. I have a dollar that says one of mine knew one of yours! Oh, I wish I could remember Louise's house number!

Do you know where your folks went to school? My dad went to Polly and my mom went to Eastern. 

Holy crap.    That's a safe bet! My parents went to Poly and Eastern, too.  Both class of 1960. 

My mom's parents were in the 3500 block of Cliftmont and my dad's parents were in the 3800 block of Lyndale. 

 

ZOMG! I called my folks - I'll send you a PM!

I have a dollar that says one of mine knew one of yours!

So, did you get the dollar??

Welcome to the board!