Get In On “Kitschy” Baltimore

So far, visitors and travel writers can’t really put their fingers (or words) on what it is about our City that we, as natives, find so …well…funky. And oddball. And unexpected. Even slightly strange. Because we can’t really describe this subtle, Baltimore characteristic, we’ll try to just list some examples:

• Thousands of formstone veneers cover brick row houses. This stucco-like, grey, fake stone was considered stylish in the forties.
• Pink Flamingos adorn many city home landscapes.Baltimoreans still hold an active, furious grudge against the Colts Football team whose owners snuck them away in the night...23 years ago.The Pennsylvania Avenue Cadillac Parade and Royal Theatre Music FestivalNatty Boh, “Oh Boy, What a Beer!”Bee Hive hair is considered our city flower, Hon!The annual Running of the PigsThe annual “Night of 100 Elvises”
• Baltimore Arabbers (pronounced ay-rabbers) who sell produce out of a horse drawn cart.

• Our own language called “Bawlmerese” which has six volumes published on pronounciation.
• Home of Flugtag 2006Home of Ace of CakesIn 1864, we staged the Ladies State Sanitary Fair.The Annual Kinetic Sculpture Land and Sea Race John Waters is our most celebrated, native son who gave usthe movies Pink Flamingos, Hair Spray, Serial Mom, Cecil B. Demented and more.
• The TV shows, The Corner, Homicide and The Wire, have received more press and awards than any other Baltimore productions. We still have their “fake” Police Station in place in Fells Point and people keep knocking.