Just a personal note about “Charm City” in our beloved Baltimore, MD. When first arriving here in 2003…I didn’t get it. What charm? Someone surely must be joking?
From my perspective, I left the well planned mega-neighborhoods around Dallas, Texas to land at BWI where I drove up highways 295 & 95 to meet my new employer. My first drive through Baltimore smelled of tar and the sights were dreary. My evening dinner drive didn’t improve much as it had me traveling down 95 and crossing Eastern to go to a quaint but not overly charming restaurant in Federal Hill. So ‘charming’ was probably the last adjective I would have used for Baltimore.
In retrospect, the ‘Charm’ of the Baltimore has crept up on me over the years. Unlike vacation spots where you expect great landscapes and views (yes, Maryland has many and Baltimore a few), the real charm in Baltimore is truly the many people I’ve met here over the years. When I say people, I don’t just mean the many good friends and co-workers I see often, but also the many anonymous people that help the city function and the new people we meet every day in our lives.
There are very few working cities around the world where I’ve actually taken notice of the friendly and professional service we continually see around Baltimore. Whether it’s the coffee gal at the airport, our local merchants and restaurateurs, the staff that maintains our facilities or the amazing doctors and hospital staff locally, it’s the people of Baltimore that are truly Charming and what makes Baltimore unique.
Feel free to leave us a comment about a business that you think really shows the Baltimore Charm.
- David P
