r
As you may know from previous blogs, I've spent much of my adult life on the Eastern Shore. But, I didn't always live in Crumpton. I was a kid in Baltimore. So, not surprisingly, it holds a dear place in my heart.
r
I've blogged about going to Baltimore for special events before—like the Baltimore Hockey Classic or the grand opening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II at the Senator (yes, that was special), but, this weekend, I went to just hang out.
r
And you know what? It was really fun. Relaxing, enjoyable, and, despite my years on the Shore, homey.
r
On Saturday, I headed into North Baltimore to see if I could snoop out any good finds at Value Village. It's a pretty big thrift store on Eastern Avenue. Unfortunately, I didn't find too many goodies. I actually find more on my monthly forays into the thrift stores of Chestertown. Score one for the small town.
r
But, my hopes were not dashed. I soon hopped back into the car, and made my way further into the city. Eventually, I parked it in Fell's Point.
r
There, I made a stop at The Sound Garden. After lingering for a while at the book shelves (I know, it's a record store—l couldn't help it), I moseyed over to the new releases. I soon found myself holding a copy of "The Whole Love" by Wilco in one hand, and Ben Folds' "The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective" in the other. It was a tough choice, but I went with Wilco in the end. I figure I'm more likely to buy "The Best Imitation of Myself" on iTunes.
r
CD tucked into my purse, I headed out the door and over to Broadway Market. I couldn't leave without buying a soft pretzel. $3, and oh so delicious. Warm, big, and chewy, these taste blessedly nothing like those you'll find at the ballpark.
r
I sat for a a while, munching my doughy goodness, on one of the benches on the market square. Behind me, a blues quartet was sounding out some New Orleans-style jams. I'm not sure who they were, but they had my old favorite the upright bass. Plus, one of their singers had a gravely Dr. John-type thing going on.
r
To my left, a street magician was halfheartedly tying balloons into animals, and a couple of guys were walking behind him, carrying a reptile tank. It was full of wood chips and plastic fauna, but I couldn't seem to spot any animals in my peeking. Typical Fell's Point.
r
If you're ever looking to spread your wings into the state of Maryland, I really suggest giving Fell's Point a try. It's got its oddities, but that's half the fun.
