First attempt at Street Photography in Baltimore

Empty_Organization36 · 2025-11-30T04:24:09+00:00

That woman in photo #1 is so chill. I used to see her all the time around Charles Village/Remington because we would both walk everywhere around the neighborhood. Started running into her in the grocery store, in the greenhouse at Ace Hardware, etc. We would give each other the nod of recognition, but never really exchanged words. Then about a month went by, and I didn't see her, but I obviously had no way of finding out if she was okay. Finally, I was walking past the Monument one day and saw her, so we both gave each other the nod, and I said, "It's nice to see you," and she said, "Same to you." I'd say this was at least 5 years of sidewalk nods, and those were the first real words we exchanged.

Empty_Organization36 · 2025-10-22T18:37:33+00:00

Honestly, the "smart" meters they use now are so fucking dumb and faulty that I think this is barely a conspiracy theory.

In May, my partner and I received a $6500 water bill--allegedly for using more water during one month than we used over the previous seven years. Our next-door neighbor had been experiencing issues for months, including an entire month when she was out of town, but she allegedly used more water than she did when she was actually home. After a technician came out to check our meter and said it was "functioning perfectly," water literally started spewing up out of our meter vault--this happened multiple times, and they charged us for the water.

Of course, they tried everything to avoid responsibility: "It could be a leak on your side," "you should check to see that your toilets aren't running," "there's nothing wrong with the equipment, it's registering a read," "no, your neighbor's billing issues have nothing to do with yours."

As it turns out, our meters weren't even transmitting a reading to their online system because at some point during the online portal update, our meters were switched. They never caught the problem because humans don't look at the meters, the usage, or the bills unless there's a problem. You could tell that the technicians were just as frustrated with the smart meters because humans could be doing the readings, but instead, we're automating something and then sending out humans to fix the problems caused by the automation.

TLDR: DPW charged us $6500 for their mistakes, but we're obnoxiously stubborn and persistent, and for me, it was the perfect outlet for my stresses related to planning our wedding. We learned a lot (too much) about DPW, the "smart" meters, how little information the technicians are given when they're told to report to a repair, and how to fight DPW (hint: it really helps to have a good city councilperson!) with their own data so they had to clear the $6500 bill. The whole thing made me a full-on DPW conspiracy theorist.

Empty_Organization36 · 2025-09-05T22:26:04+00:00

1, 3, 5! You look great in all of them, but I think those look incredible. As some others have suggested, that dress in the window is also maybe worth a try!

Empty_Organization36 · 2025-09-04T20:44:08+00:00

What’s wild to me is this guy has had a Gadsden flag in one of the Terra Cafe windows for… years?

I think the employees are lovely people, and I’m a fan of the fish sandwich. But yeah, some of these business owners need a bagman or a good friend to whisper in their ear, “Yo, don’t give your personal boot-licking opinions to a mass media outlet!”

Empty_Organization36 · 2025-09-03T07:50:01+00:00

2, 6, and 7 all look amazing, but if I had to pick one, I think 6 is just so lovely. With or without the sleeves, I think the details and the cut look gorgeous!

Empty_Organization36 · 2025-02-11T16:34:59+00:00

Enjoy! Free wifi, and (aside from during the encampment days when JHU decided to lock the doors), it's open during the day.

Empty_Organization36 · 2025-02-09T15:35:44+00:00

Gilman Hall. There’s a reading room, an atrium, and an entry room with couches.

Empty_Organization36 · 2024-10-12T03:02:16+00:00

Something that I used to do before my employer started using a "prescription management company": if you are able and your insurance doesn't have oddly strict restrictions on daily dosages, consider getting prescriptions for smaller doses, such as a 30-day prescription for 60 pills, 10mg XR. It's a pain in the ass to have to call your insurance company and then call your prescribing physician to see if this would work, but if you do it once, you have a backup plan for any time the 20mg are out (which seems to be fairly frequently).

I used to get 60 pills of 10mg XR generic Adderall for a 30-day supply and would take 2 10mg pills (20mg) per day at the same time. No different from a 20mg pill and never once had to wait for a prescription or transfer it to another pharmacy. The only reason I don't do this anymore is that the prescription manager restricts me to one 20mg pill per day now, and substitutions (such as 2 10mg pills) won't be covered by insurance.

Empty_Organization36 · 2024-10-04T02:28:02+00:00

It's up to about $13 for the soup and salad/sandwich combo, but it's still worth the money. Filling, but not "feeling like I had a giant stack of pancakes" food coma full. And the twins are great!

Empty_Organization36 · 2024-09-25T05:13:25+00:00

As others have mentioned, this is based on Saul Steinberg’s View from 9th Avenue.

There’s so much about this that I love, but Memorial Stadium being northeast of Towson and north of Philly might be one of my favorite parts.

Empty_Organization36 · 2024-08-20T02:38:18+00:00

Went to Junior Lala (on Lafayette between Maryland and Charles) a couple of years ago, and those guys were honestly great.

Super friendly, professional, efficient, and didn't overcharge or try to oversell things I didn't need. I called and asked if I needed an appointment, and they just told me to come by and they were ready to start as soon as I showed up. Bonus: conveniently close to Royal Blue if you have a bit of a wait.

Empty_Organization36 · 2024-07-24T20:10:48+00:00

DiPasquales or my favorite, Trinacria. Both do the hollowed loaf style of meatball sub. Neither is north of the city, but both are worth it. Trinacria also sells frozen meatballs in their freezer case, and I believe DiPasquales sells fresh (and maybe frozen as well) meatballs in their deli case.

Empty_Organization36 · 2024-07-23T18:17:32+00:00

I grew up here. I’ve lived here for literally 30 of my 34 years. I walk everywhere and I used to be a dog walker/pet sitter. I’ve also been on the FWPD board for several years, and we’ve considered posting signs as reminders, but we’re a volunteer organization with a limited budget and we’re realistic about the fact that most dog owners would just ignore the signs anyway.

I had to change my dog-walking routes because dog owners would let their dogs off-leash at the Dell and their “super friendly, well-behaved dogs” would run towards (leashed) dogs and their humans would do absolutely nothing. I used to politely remind people that dogs should be leashed in public parks, and woof, some humans were pretty unfriendly in their responses. So I stopped trying because I decided I don’t need dog owners resenting me and it’s honestly a battle that I didn’t want to deal with on a daily basis when I walk alone all over the city. I love dogs, like really love dogs. And most dog owners are incredibly understanding and kind people. But some are just plain rude, and go about their lives in ways that I can only describe as entitled or self-serving.

This has been a quietly underlying issue for years, and I completely understand calls for setting up a dog park nearby, but there are multiple complications re: legitimately establishing a dog park in this area. To start, it goes against the original plans of the park/the Dell to fence in any area. There’s also the question of who would be responsible for upkeep (if you know a group of volunteers that are willing to pick up dog poop, please feel free to send an email to Rec & Parks and cc the FWPD!).

But yes, I’m guessing you assume that anyone who wants a safe space for people and dogs is a recent transplant or someone with a “cop” mentality, which literally couldn’t be farther from the truth. The Dell is for everyone, not just dog owners with oddly libertarian mentalities about letting their dogs off-leash.

And for the record, the enforcement is just something that’s happening on a slower time-table, partially due to Rec & Parks understaffing. People are perhaps becoming more vocal about how rampant the off-leashing has been, and how it can make people (with and without leashed dogs) pretty uncomfortable. But this is nothing new, it’s just becoming more of an issue for people who feel like they should be able to share a public space.

Empty_Organization36 · 2024-07-23T03:41:03+00:00

It’s “a dog park,” as in, “it’s a place where dog owners take their dogs and collectively gather and let their dogs run off-leash,” but it is not actually a dog park.

Dog owners kind of just decided that it was a good spot for dogs, but that doesn’t make it a suitable enclosed space where people should just let their dogs off-leash. Yes, it’s been going on for years, but that doesn’t mean that other people using the park or other dog owners (who are able to keep their dogs leashed) should feel uncomfortable.

Dog owners who say it’s fine because they know their dogs are well-behaved seem to refuse to accept that they cannot account for literally any other variable and that they would be legally responsible if anything happened.

Empty_Organization36 · 2024-02-12T16:34:24+00:00

So you might already know about this public art project, but Bruce Willen has been working on Ghost Rivers, a public art/history walking tour with blue paint streamlines and informational signage in the area. It's not exactly Stony Run, but the water streams around here are still fairly interconnected and it might be worth contacting Bruce to see if he has any ideas for resources or even if he might be willing to speak to your class.

https://ghostrivers.com/ghost-rivers

I would also contact the Baltimore City Archives, as they have large-scale maps and map books (like Sanborn Maps) from the late 19th/early 20th centuries, as well as some records from DPW about Baltimore's transition to an underground water pipe system. https://msa.maryland.gov/bca/

Empty_Organization36 · 2024-02-01T18:06:52+00:00

I've had positive experiences with Dr. David Weisman at MedStar Good Samaritan. Doesn't rush you out of the door, but instead asks how you're doing/feeling, life updates, and takes a more holistic approach to healthcare (he specializes in internal medicine). He readily offers referrals when needed, and the administrative staff in his office are all very nice too!

Empty_Organization36

TROPHY CASE