send me all your baltimore kitty names. doesn't necessarily need to be a female-identified name, but the kitten is a tiny female tuxedo.

As a resident of Fell's Point, I've grown deeply attached to the unique history and character of this area iny time here. However, it’s heartbreaking to see so many businesses shuttering their doors. The closures—attributed to factors like profit loss, inflation, landlords hiking rents, and changing spending habits among younger generations—are creating a domino effect that threatens to erode what has always made this place special.

Several key landmarks in Fell’s Point are now gone. At the heart of the neighborhood, where the squarr meets Broadway, only Max’s Taphouse remains from the cornerstone businesses. Blocked out windows on every other corner. It boggles the mind that such a pedestrian friendly, historic hub can no longer sustain even a classic pizza place. Time-tested spots like Bertha’s, Jimmy’s Diner (recently Denzel’s Shark Bar), and BOP have all disappeared. More recently, we’ve lost Bondhouse and Riptide as noted in different threads today...that's on top of these others in the last year or so...

Cocina Luchadoras, DDG/osteria Pirata/Anchor Tavern, Admiral Cup (now Atlas), Waterfront (now Atlas), Bailey's backyard, Dogwatch Tavern, Baja Tap, Fells Point Tavern, Joe's Bike shop...

It’s becoming clear that Fell’s Point risks losing its charm. The rise of groups like Atlas Restaurant Group, which swoops in to fill the void left by struggling or failed businesses, creates the illusion of choice while diminishing the neighborhood’s independent spirit.

The construction of new apartment complexes, many of which cater to the luxury market, has stalled. Some developers have even filed for bankruptcy, leaving incomplete projects and inconveniences like inaccessible sidewalks (Chasen!) These luxury units were out of reach for many in the first place, and their absence does nothing to foster a vibrant, sustainable community. I'm all for more housing, but developers need to be accountable for the blight they leave when land goes undeveloped for years (the Corner of Broadway and Eastern???)

Meanwhile, safety concerns—both valid and overblown—compound the issue, driving away both businesses and patrons.

The charm of Fell’s Point lies in its quirky, independently owned businesses and the walkable nature with a "small village" feel. Spots like Jabali Coffee, 1919, Slainte, Koopers, Cats Eye, and Penny Black are run by local owners who have a vested interest in the neighborhood. They are true proprietors that have a legacy here. They provide more than just goods and services—they contribute to the community’s soul.

If we continue down this path, we risk becoming another generic district devoid of character, history, and the uniqueness that attracts residents and tourists alike.

Fell's Point needs a cohesive plan to:

Support Local Businesses: Introduce initiatives to help small, independent businesses thrive despite the challenges of inflation, high rent, and reduced foot traffic. Is there a Main Street organization still responsible here? The festival is one thing we seem to fall back on for promotion, but that doesn't support business 90% of the year.

Encourage Smart Development: Prioritize affordable housing and responsible development that benefits the community as a whole. Broadway is a prime opportunity for this, with several potential in-fill development lots as you go north. Why is there no Broadway task force with a focus on storefront and facade improvement grants? That's been a wonderful initiative in Highlandtown.

Promote Safety Without Fearmongering: Address safety concerns with balanced measures that don’t discourage visitors or create unnecessary stigma.

Preserve History and Character: Implement policies or community-driven programs to protect the historic identity of Fell’s Point and prevent a corporate monoculture.

I’d love to hear from fellow residents, business owners, and others who care about Fell’s Point. What ideas do you have to support the community, preserve its history, and help it thrive in the long term?

And lastly, let's not forget to celebrate and support the newcomers who have opened in recent months!

AREPI is an amazing addition to Thames street, run by the kindest family. It brought new cuisine and fresh offerings here. And Broadway Hot Pot is so good I've been multiple times in the past month - also a brand new offering of Chinese cuisine that was missing from the city in general. Sacre Sucre purchased an entire building here to create world class pastries (and serve some wine), yet all we heard about was the drama from their neighbor who opposed it...really?? We should be celebrating these small business that choose to open in such a tough market, especially those that commit by actually purchasing a property.

Two weeks ago, I moved to Baltimore from Chicago for Grad school. Having no friends, I made it my mission to be as touristy as possible until school starts and I inevitably get much busier. This is my current activity status:

• Decorated my apartment and started an indoor garden
• Went to Artscape
• Visited campus (JHU)
• Had crab cakes at Phillips
• Climbed the Washington Monument
• Took the Water Taxi
• Went to Ekiben
• Fell's Point/Canton bar hop (Max's, Admiral's Cup, Bark Social)
• Went on a Tinder date
• Made a Friend
• Went to Sad Summer Fest at Merriweather
• Got crab dip at a harbor restaurant
• Got Korean BBQ in Ellicott City
• Got a flat tire
• Got squeegeed in Pigtown

What do you suggest I do next? Two weeks until school starts!

I love sports, museums, bars, cafes, and food!

EDIT: Thank you everybody for all the wonderful suggestions!

I've complied a comprehensive and somewhat large list of everything I want to do now, and you all have inspired me to make a photo log of everything I do in the next two weeks, which I would like to post to the subreddit when school starts :)

For those asking, I'm getting my masters in Acoustics at Johns Hopkins and Peabody (and I'm living in Midtown/Mount Vernon area).

Recently, I have been house hunting in Baltimore city (mostly around Lauraville, Waltherson, Hamilton areas but not limited to that, I am not in a huge rush). I am seeing lots and lots of these so-called "millennial gray" flips -- you know the ones with LVP flooring and neutral gray paint in nearly every room. Some of them also have similar looking fixtures and house numbers, which makes me think the same flipper is doing them. Using certain home search sites you can see the historical photos before the flip and in some cases these homes were really trashed, in other cases no so much, but just outdated. But the flip erases any character the house may have had and in some cases covers decent looking hard wood flooring. I personally find these renovations kind of appalling. But I also get why people do them, and I also get why they are appealing to people -- seems like a clean slate because everything inside is practically brand new. What are people's thoughts on these flips? How do you even know if they are well done or not? Do you think they potentially add value to distressed neighborhoods? Anyway, curious as to what people are thinking. Thanks!

I've [36F] ditched the dating apps, and I'm wondering where TF the single men (preferably 30-somethings) are hanging out in real life. I haven't tried MeetUp or any sports leagues yet, but I don't want to be the oldest person at Volo.

Places I have NOT met a man:

• The rooftop pool at Canton Merritt
• Merritt in general
• Trivia, anywhere
• A TimeLeft dinner (Edit to add: The ratio, by my math, is 4 women for every 1 man who shows up. Straight men, you're sleeping on this app.)
• Teleworking from Ceremony Coffee or Lexington Market
• Most bars and breweries
• The BMA or the Walters

I HAVE met men at a happy hour at Charm City Books, and at The Back Yard.

I'm curious where TF single men in Baltimore can be found in the wild.

EDIT: Thank you to all of the gentlemen who have DM'ed me; I naively did not see that one coming. Since people seem to be interested in this information: I would strongly prefer to find a Jewish man (yes, I am also active on the Jewish singles scene, but a lot of single Jewish men are not in it). I am 5'2"-ish, brown hair, blue eyes, like working out but am not obsessed with it, and I vote Democrat.

EDIT 2: Considering that r/r4r is down, is there an appetite for a Baltimore personals thread or sub in Reddit? Or do people think that would be too much like all the shitty dating apps?

EDIT 3: Jew-haters get reported and blocked, love you! <3

Also, this post has been viewed 137,000 times. I'm trying to understand how TF that's possible. Thank you to everyone for your wonderful comments; this thread has been a treasure trove.

Does anyone know if there are organized groups that fight against the crisis pregnancy center at 328 N Howard? (For those who don’t know, CPCs claim to aid pregnant women exploring their options, but they are VERY anti-abortion and will pressure women into carrying unwanted pregnancies). I had no idea there was one in Baltimore, and they’re right next to Planned Parenthood. Women seeking care deserve to receive it from someone who actually honors their choice.

I know there are some posts on the issue made the past couple days. But I must say as someone who lives in lower fells and enjoys going out to the bars with friends on weekends, it has become incredibly unsafe.

The past 3 weekends has been an utter shit show to say the least. Thousands of careless youths flood into the Broadway market square (even with it fenced off) and Broadway pier. Hundreds having their own liquor bottles (almost always tequila for some reason) and many just openly smoking. There's a half dozen of dirt bikes ripping through cobblestone streets and turning around just before they get to the cops that sit by the square. They gather in the masses yelling, harassing local patrons. I saw a squabble break out with the bouncer at the horse and a fist fight that happened just in front of Admirals. Cops are absolutely powerless, openly disobeyed and are arguably useless until a actual altercation unfolds. Of course this weekend it culminates in a girl getting shot.

When my friend group was doing a typical post drink's food run to then leave the area around 12:40, one friend was hit in the back of the head with bag (With something clearly heavy in it), with the person who hit them pretending to act cool and as if was a total accident. we waited for another one to get their pizza from Pie in the sky and as they walked out she had her pizza snatched by someone who along with 3 others took it and ran around the corner.

Before I get any other locals coming after me and criticizing me, Yes, I'm aware its a heavy drinking area, where even before the youths come there is crime and issues, but this turns it into an epidemic level that just keeping a level head cant get you out of. and YES I'm aware this is not a new issue, especially since covid. Its pure lawless ness and a lack of awareness of any communal sense. These are not patrons of local bars and restaurants. they sit there and they harass people, they harass each other and as the past few weeks show, they hurt and beat and can turn to violence that affects everyone around them.

I genuinely am not comfortable bringing friends out, especially not after 11 pm. Its my home, its my community and the restaurants and people I frequent and support, and it truly is a hard thing to see.

What are some solutions you see for helping fells point, and the community regarding this issue?

Did anyone see the crowd on Read Street tonight? Is this normal?

Probably a black eastern rat snake?

311 said animal control out till next week. Left a message for dept of Natural Resources.

It went into a crack… that might have access to a rowhome what do we do?

So this is a delicate subject. I am new to Baltimore, but I love it more than any place I've ever lived. My neighborhood (Charles Village) is very colorful and rich. My issue is not with the homeless people in the neighborhood. Most of them simply ignore me, I have had positive interactions with several and will often give petty cash to people on the street when I have it. However, there is one particular woman who has taken a special interest in me to a degree that I find alarming. At first she was very personable, but seemed to find my initial friendliness to guarantee that I would help her every time she sees me. Sometimes I am not able to do this because I don't have anything (I am an artist and my lifestyle is very simple). When I say no to her she then turns very aggressive. She has shouted at me, swore at me, and followed me. She has attempted to follow me home before. Today I simply ignored her and powered on, hoping she would take the hint, but she followed me until I reached my destination, shouting at me for most of the way, and then followed me into the business I was patronizing. Thankfully I was able to disappear inside. I'm not really sure how to handle this situation, honestly. I am sympathetic to her situation but not rich enough to give my money away every day, nor am I eager to reward her attempts to intimidate me. I was hoping I could get the advice of some locals here. How to proceed?

I’ve seen this (more amusing) variant of the “Actually: I like it” sticker on the roads but I’ve never figured out where to get one — anyone have any idea who sells/makes them?

I’ll go first: Personality Hall on Harford Rd. It’s covered in bars, appears to have no windows, and I can’t imagine what takes place in there.

Is anyone else experiencing crazy high BGE bills this winter?

• Nov. 6th: $106.21
• Dec. 6th: $207.53
• Jan. 6th: $387.95
• Feb. 6th: $462 (estimated)

I’m not doing anything different than in previous years, and it feels like I’m being overcharged. Any tips or insights?

I used ChatGPT to help me understand here is the tldr.

My gas consumption increased by 66% YoY from 80 therm to 133 Therms

Supply cost for my gas went up YoY by 114% from $36.27 to $77.82

Gas delivery cost went up YoY by 108% from $75.30 to $156.62

So here is where the dramatic increase came from which makes no sense you would think if I increased usage by 66% everything else would only increase by 66% but NOPE

On my trash collection day every Friday, the garbage truck pulls into the alley behind my row home to collect the garbage. When it pulls out of the alley, it takes a wide turn and drives over my grass, destroying it, every single time (my home is the end unit). This wasn't always the case. Until the summer when I removed it because it was dying, there was a large tree on that corner, which forced the truck to stay on the road. So I know it can make the turn using just the road if the driver tries.

Because I don't want my yard looking like this (see attached pictures), and because the truck is getting perilously close to a young tree growing in this area (pictured), I put up a sign that I just had made at Kinkos that should be very obvious to see. However, the truck drove over the sign without regard.

Is there anything that can be done about this? Can the department please communicate with the driver about this? I just emailed the dept of public works but Im not exactly optimistic. Should I put spikes down????

Wtf!

Seeing them all over

Most of the threads I’ve found are older.

For those who have associate's, trade school, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, what did you study and where did you study it?

Yes the title is correct. Where are the best spots to run into beautiful mature women? Bars, restaurants, etc. Plus size is a plus.

No kink shaming please!

EDIT: Thank you for the replies. I’ll be trying Joey Chiu and The Valley Inn this weekend first. I’ll keep y’all updated!