Baltimore - Tell me about it

[Fyrfytr]

I'm sure you've seen my Richmond thread, but I wanted to get opinions about Baltimore as well. I hope it's ok that these are two seperate threads, as it'll be easier for me to interact with people about the two different cities. If not, please let me know.

I'm looking into options for purchasing a home, more than likely early next spring. The D.C. area is incredibly expensive, and w/ my work schedule, I have the luxury of living pretty much anywhere that I want, as long as I'm willing to make the drive 7 days a month.

I'm not the biggest fan of living in the hell of suburbia and strip malls, and would prefer more of a 'downtown' environment where I can walk to bars, restaurants, nightlife, etc. That being said, a nice suburban neighborhood relatively convenient to the 'city' would be just fine. Think, Arlington County's relative proximity & convenience to D.C., and it's own Clarendon, Ballston area. I love those areas, I just can't afford Arlington outside of tiny condos.

Notice: I don't need to live in in an antiseptic neighborhood, but I don't want to worry about being robbed & having my car & house broken into on a nightly basis. I want to live in a nicer area, not 'the 'hood'.

So, Baltimore is one of my options, and I know little about it. What can you tell me? Any thoughts are appreciated.

Thank you.

[Mike]

you don't want to live in baltimore. there are a few nice nightlife spots, but nothing like the arlington/dc/gton area offer. if i were you i'd suck it up and just live in a small place around here. ballston is perfect.

dirty, run-down... two best adjective to describe the place.

[Feersty]

My buddy lives in a row house 5 miles from downtown, it is not bad inside has a rooftop balcony but parking sucks and the roads are some of the worst I have driven on. MDOT is a failure.

[Fyrfytr]

A guy I work w/ lives in Federal Hill. We went out one night, and it took me 20 minutes to find parking in his neighborhood.

[white_2kgt]

[i]Notice: I don't need to live in in an antiseptic neighborhood, but I don't want to worry about being robbed & having my car & house broken into on a nightly basis. I want to live in a nicer area, not 'the 'hood'.

So, Baltimore is one of my options, and I know little about it. What can you tell me? Any thoughts are appreciated.

So, you don't want to worry about being robbed and having your shit stolen? Well then, Baltimore is NOT one of your options. The suburbs are ok, Catonsville, etc, but inside the city, not a chance in hell I'd venture my way in there, let alone LIVE there.

On of my buddies had his car break down late at night in Baltimore, instead of calling a tow truck he called a cab and went home for sleep. He got up the next day to go get his car and it was stripped sitting on blocks on the side of the road, everything was taken. Fuck balitmore!

[Fyrfytr]

I fully realize that there are some very much LESS than desireable areas, but I'm sure that the entire city isn't like that.

Where did that occurr?

[Mike]

I'm sure that the entire city isn't like that.

i wouldn't be so sure... i have yet to be to a nice place that is more than a couple blocks from something i'd consider ghetto.

[Evan]

nightlife is pretty good in bmore. Powerplant, felles point, and the harbor will keep you busy for a long time.
There are some yuppie areas that are pretty nice. Canton, Fed Hill, and some others. Parking and traffic is always a motherfucker. Good/bad areas are not sectioned off like in DC (ie NW/ SE)

overall, Im not a big fan of bmore, but it could be worse.

[Fyrfytr]

Thanks for the input.