What can you tell me about living in/around Baltimore?

[Old One]

do they still have The Block?

you can also try this site: http://www.ci.baltimore.md.us/services/

Yep. Still there. I remember cruising down there with some HS buddies around 1980 and ogling the wares...happened to drive by again about 6 months ago...still about the same, except the people are older and have fewer teeth !

~ OO

 

[Xath]

I've lived in and around the Baltimore area all of my life. My current permanent residence is in Catonsville, which is about 15 minutes from BWI and 20 from the city proper. Catonsville proper is a bit pricy, but there are plenty of reasonable houses and apartments for rent because of its proximity to UMBC.

Good/Bad Places to Live: Well as far as bad neighborhoods go, Baltimore is unique in that it is not limited to a "Bad" neighborhood. The bad areas are in small patches all around the city and surrounding county, and are entirely avoidable if you know where/how to drive. Places considered to be more trashy in general are Dundalk, Essex, and Woodlawn. It's not that these are necessesarily bad places to live, but it will take you a bit of adjustment to be able to understand anyone. The closer you get to these areas, the heavier the Baltimore accent.

But seeing as how you'll be working out of BWI, I'd reccomend Catonsville, Paradise, or Arbutus. Arbutus is less expensive than Catonsville. Paradise is technically still part of Catonsville, but it's a generally less expensive patch. The nice thing about Catonsville is that it manages to maintain a small town feel even though it's in the middle of everything. It has a good public school system, and a variety of private and religious schools nearby.

I learned to game in the area, and there are quite a few locals. If you move down and around, I'd be happy to introduce you to the locals. FLGS are a bit few and far between now that WotC is gone. Glen Burnie does have the closest, and is only about 15-20min away.

If you have any questions about specifics, I've lived all over the area and would be happy to help you out.

 

[Xath]

And apartments are in the $600-$1000 range, depending on size and amenities.

 

[diaglo]

If you have any questions about specifics, I've lived all over the area and would be happy to help you out.

ditto.

my elderly parents still live in Severn. and two of my sisters also still live in MD.

diaglo "who got to maryland b/c my dad retired from the USAF at Fort Meade" Ooi

 

[jezter6]

I guess I'm lucky enough to not have been here long enough to hear about or see this infamous block. *shudder* Then again, Dundalk is full of toothless........Suddenly I realize why the 'Route 40 corridor' is the way it is...proximity to Dundalk.

Just remember, Wasteland...if you hear the word 'Yo' after every sentence, you're in Baltimore's own version of Canada. You should likely run for your life.

jezter6 "who wants to play some old skool D&D with diaglo if he ever comes to visit his folks, and wonders what the heck Ooi means"

 

[Xath]

I guess I'm lucky enough to not have been here long enough to hear about or see this infamous block. *shudder* Then again, Dundalk is full of toothless........Suddenly I realize why the 'Route 40 corridor' is the way it is...proximity to Dundalk.

It's kind of hard to characterize Route 40. It's just industrial up by my area, and if you head out to Frederick, it's scenic and beautiful. But I'll agree. The closer you get to Dundalk, the wierder things become.

 

[jezter6]

heh, what I really meant was why that bit between 43 and 895 have all them nudie bars...

which reminds me...time to hit the ATM machine!

 

[diaglo]

heh, what I really meant was why that bit between 43 and 895 have all them nudie bars...

which reminds me...time to hit the ATM machine!

they got them in College Park too. or at least they used to... The Star Bar... every single one of the ladies was a college student... or at least that's what they'd tell you.

i used to go to Georgetown to get my beer when i was living in MD. it was 18 in DC and 21 in MD to buy beer and wine. plus DC had real nudie bars. full nudity.

not like you get or got full nudity on your way into Baltimore or Laurel.

but when i'd go into Baltimore i'd hang out at Hammerjacks.

i watched them build Camden Yards. and i used to walk to the games from work.

10 S. Pine Street University of Maryland Medical Center.... i also remember when Cal Ripken Jr. joined the Orioles.

and remember when Mayflower carted the Colts out of town in the middle of the night...

and when Baltimore used to have one of the best Gaming conventions in the world.

and i was in school with Johnny Unitas's niece Kelley.

 

[Wasteland Knight]

Wow! I wanted to say thanks for all the replies...I've been away on business, without email access , for the past week (one of my last responsibilities for my "old job" as I think of it now), so I'm just now reading them. A lot of good information, and I really appreciate all the responses.

I'm currently in the process of negotiating an offer with one particular employer, and it appears the final offer will be mutually acceptable. So the issue of me relocating is rapidly becoming a question of "when" rather than "if". I'll most likely have some questions, so thanks to all who offered answers. I may be taking you up on that very soon

 

[Xath]

Wow! I wanted to say thanks for all the replies...I've been away on business, without email access , for the past week (one of my last responsibilities for my "old job" as I think of it now), so I'm just now reading them. A lot of good information, and I really appreciate all the responses.

I'm currently in the process of negotiating an offer with one particular employer, and it appears the final offer will be mutually acceptable. So the issue of me relocating is rapidly becoming a question of "when" rather than "if". I'll most likely have some questions, so thanks to all who offered answers. I may be taking you up on that very soon

Good luck with the job, and hope to hear from you soon.