Welcome to Baltimore (Charm City)!

This year AAPL celebrates its 50th anniversary in Baltimore. Don’t be surprised to hear Baltimore referred to as Charm City. Baltimore native and B movie director John Waters once suggested that the best tag line for Baltimore would be “Baltimore, the last bohemia.” Although it may not be as populous as its nearest northern neighbor (Philadelphia) or as popular as its nearest southern neighbor (Washington D.C.), Baltimore has a charm all of its own. It is a melting pot of different cultures with distinct neighborhoods, a rich history, a gorgeous waterfront view, and, of course, blue crabs (discussed later).

Baltimore, established in 1729, is Maryland’s largest city. It was originally a tobacco trading post in the 18th century, but has grown to a robust metropolitan center of about 650,000 people. The city is located at the head of the Patapsco River, which is a tributary of Chesapeake Bay (the nation’s largest estuary). Due to its water access, shipping has long played a major role in the city’s economic prosperity. In 2018, the Port of Baltimore handled roughly 43 million tons of cargo (worth around $59 billion), making it the nation’s 11th busiest. However, Baltimore’s major businesses are institutions of higher education and medicine. Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Hospital, the University of Maryland’s graduate schools and the University of Maryland Medical System are by far the city’s largest employers, accounting collectively for more than 60,000 jobs. Others notable companies include Under Armour™ and T. Rowe Price™.

Baltimore takes tremendous pride in its history. If you are a historian of the War of 1812, you might want to take a trip over to Fort McHenry and see the spot where U.S. forces held off a British bombardment, inspiring Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.” There is a possibility that park officials may allow you to assist in unfolding one of the giant flags that fly over the fort. One of the best ways to get there from Inner Harbor East is on the Charm City Circulator which is free. Other tourist attractions include the Inner Harbor and neighboring waterfront (with numerous restaurants and gift shops), the Maryland Science Center, the National Aquarium, and the original Washington Monument. Nearby city neighborhoods of Fells Point and Mount Vernon have wonderful restaurants and earn high marks for areas to walk.

There are numerous ways to get around Baltimore. The Charm City Circulator is a privately funded, public transit shuttle bus service giving riders connection to historic sites, parking, and businesses throughout downtown Baltimore for free (https://www.charmcitycirculator.com/). There’s also the Harbor Connector (http://www.charmcitycirculator.com/content/harbor-connector), which is the water taxi version of the Charm City Circulator that you can ride free as well. There are regular MTA buses (https://www.mta.maryland.gov), a subway, light rail, MARC commuter trains and ridesharing services like Lyft™ and Uber™ in addition to regular taxis.

Writing about Baltimore restaurants could be its own article. Here are some of my favorite places to dine within walking distance of the Marriott Hotel: Azumi at 725 Aliceanna St. (www.azumirestaurant.com/baltimore) Great Japanese in the Four Seasons Hotel. Pricey? Yes, but who

wants cheap sushi? Bar Vasquez (https://barvasquez.com) at 1425 Aliceanna. Argentine steak house with live music in the evenings. Charleston (https://charlestonrestaurant.com) at 1000 Lancaster St. Many regard this as the city’s finest with low-country Carolina cooking by Chef Cindy Wolf, one of this city’s culinary treasures. Did I mention it’s not cheap? The wine selection alone is amazing (Tell Tony I sent you). Wait, wait, I can do moderate, too. Try Cinghiale (https://cgeno.com), Northern Italian cuisine at 822 Lancaster. Or perhaps Greek seafood at Ouzo Bay (http://www.ouzobay.com) at 1000 Lancaster St. And you might try Tagliata, an Italian chophouse (http://www.tagliatarestaurant.com). I personally find it a little loud but the food is excellent. There are many others a short drive away in Fells Point, Canton, downtown, Federal Hill and Woodberry. In fact, if you’re looking for a little peace and quiet, a 5-mile drive to my friend Spike Gjerde’s restaurant Woodberry Kitchen might be just what the doctor ordered. Spike is a James Beard Award winner and specializes in farm-to-table fresh ingredients. (https://www.woodberrykitchen.com)

Chesapeake blue crabs are Baltimore’s most iconic dish. Blue crabs are usually associated with summer. As H.L. Mencken once observed, “There is a saying in Baltimore that crabs may be prepared in fifty ways and that all of them are good.” Many restaurants offer crab cakes; however, to get the real Baltimore experience, you need to eat them right out of the steamer. The crabs are covered with Old Bay seasoning (or something similar) and are accompanied by a mallet and paring knife to help you extract the precious meat. Although this is a challenging way to eat a meal, it is worth the effort. Here are three places for steamed crabs that are a reasonable distance from the Inner Harbor (but these placed are not walking distance):

a) Nick’s Fish House, 2600 Insulator Drive (https://nicksfishhouse.com/). It’s on the other side of the Inner Harbor in Port Covington (which is world headquarters of Under Armour™) but it’s worth the drive for this waterfront gem. You can sit on the deck and watch the boats go by while cracking crabs.

b) LP Steamers (https://www.locustpointsteamers.com/) at 1100 East Fort Avenue in Locust Point is a small corner restaurant. Although there isn’t a waterfront view, you get a view of Baltimore. Many locals believe this restaurant steams the best crabs in the city

c) Thames Street Oyster House (http://www.thamesstreetoysterhouse.com/) at 1728 Thames Street in Fells Point. It is bigger than LP Steamers and less of a tourist attraction compared to Nick’s. In addition, there are plenty of bars nearby if you’re in the mood for entertainment before or after your meal.

Here are some web sites that might prove useful for your planning: Baltimore Visitors Center https://baltimore.org/article/baltimore-visitor-center and Visit Baltimore https://baltimore.org/ Enjoy this great city as we celebrate AAPL’s 50th anniversary. Regards, Christiane Tellefsen, M.D.

P.S. Are you familiar with duck pin bowling? It is like bowling in that there is a standard bowling alley. However, the pins and ball are quite small. However, the fun is exponential (and yes, there are libations available). Check out Mustang Alley’s, 1300 Bank Street, Second floor. You will not be disappointed! (https://www.mustangalleys.com)