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How'd we get on the topic of Baltimore anyway?
We almost moved there back in like '94 or so, completely renovated townhouse on Federal Hill with a water view and 3 houses down from the park, about 2 minutes to 95, I think it was $119K they were asking and it had been sitting. New appliances, new roof, new windows, refinished hardwood floors throughout. Wife finally nixed it because of the commute. That place would be worth some money today. I kinda regret that one.
You're better off in the country. Downtowns are for kids.
20 years ago I was a kid, sorta.
i went out to DC and stayed in the mayflower hotel back in 1999. I was out there doing some network work for some lobbyists for the company i worked for then. (BHP Biliton). They pretty much told me the area is a shithole and don't venture anywhere. Maybe it's changed now. But the people i talked to out there pretty much said crime's bad and 24 year old white dudes just cant be walking around. Was the area I was in pretty bad? They made it sound like i wouldnt be going home, lol. Of course i ventured, but i was a little sketched on entering any bars. I ended up just hanging out at my hotel bar for the night.
Crack. Someone feel free to correct me but that area wasn't any worse than most of DC.
Seems I have to work on my tone. The lesson was for DC newbs. You sounded like one complaining about the 4 quadrants, which are listed on every street sign in DC. Guess I was wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by concretejungle
The music scene in Baltimore is better now than it ever was. Rams Head Live has more than made up for the closing of Hammerjacks and is in a more vibrant (now) area too. There is also the Pier 6 Pavilion right next to the Aquarium in the Inner Harbor which has some good larger shows during the summer. The loss of Max's on Broadway hurt more, IMHO. Nothing wrong with the music scene in Murdermore, a town I really like but not as much as where I live.Quote:
Originally Posted by skiballs
That's hilarious. The only sketchy thing ever anywhere near the Mayflower was the 14th & K Park (Franklin Square) where the hookers were. That got cleaned up in the early 90's so wouldn't have been an issue at all when you were there. I used to DJ in the bars at 19th & M until ~'98 (2 blocks from the Mayflower) and that area is fucking fun. Good titty bar there too (Camelot Club.) Dupont Circle is just up Connecticut and that area has been nice since I moved to DC in '77. The closest crack area was between Logan Circle and NJ Ave. (Shaw) but that was gone by then too. Sounds like the people who were "advising" you were the type who spend all their time in the "safe" suburbs and think the city turns into Grand Theft Auto after the 630 rush ends.Quote:
Originally Posted by cramer
The Mayflower is in the heart of downtown DC, you could have taped $100 bills to every square inch of your body and blindfolded yourself and been fine.
I don't know. I'm guessing he would be taken down by fifty lobbyists, like crows on garbage.Quote:
Originally Posted by iceman
Well the lobbyists are an issue, no doubt.
Yeah, that's why I posted that they removed the hookers, not the whores.
They probably confused it with the Westin a couple blocks away where Mayor's go to smoke crack with hookers (course the bitch set him up)Quote:
Originally Posted by cramer
Let this be a warning to the OP. If you live in DC to long you can become a condescending knowitall from NW :biggrin:. The development of the inner harbor, over the past 20 years, makes DC's development look like there was a crackhead in charge.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tippster
Know-it-all?
Why thank you!
You will at least concede that the Inner Harbor today is a better place to hang out than where Hammerjacks was back in the day, no? They don't build football stadiums on prime property, brother.
Pretty much everything I'm about to say has probably been expressed in some way already (I only read the first 2 pages) but I will say it anyway.
I went to school here and have worked here for 2 years. Disclaimer: I'm moving to SF in 3 months.
DC has its ups and downs but mostly its downs.
Weather:
While I'm sure there are places with worse weather, of locations in the US that have the potential for good weather DC's is probably the worst. The winter is disgusting. It never really gets cold enough to snow substantially so it just kind of rains the entire winter and then freezes. The summer is excessively humid and thunderstorms usually ruin any day that has the potential to be nice.
Women:
The women here are over-educated and generally mediocre. A woman in DC who is "hot" would probably not get a passing glance in NY, Chicago, SF, insert other major city here. Because they went to decent schools they feel like they deserve attention and are bitchy because that's not how the world works. That being said, if you want to hook up with women it is not difficult assuming you can string a sentence together and are mildly attractive.
Outdoor Recreation:
None. Yes you can go hike Great Falls or kayak on the Potomac but compared to other areas of the country the selection of outdoor activities is abysmal.
All that being said, I've had some amazing times here and met some of my best friends. The city is what you make it obviously. My priorities changed when I camer here but that's not necessarily bad.
I don't know if you have other options for grad school, but American is a pretty mediocre school to be moving across the country to attend.
For undergrad no doubt - it's where the rich kids who couldn't get into GW or Georgetown go... and also popular with the Arabs who couldn't get into the Ivies. Used to be called Kashoggi U for a reason. Its School of Public Affairs is quite good, however (ranked 12th in the Nation and tied w/GW... Georgetown is 23rd.)Quote:
Originally Posted by cmeriptahoe
The Hammerjacks comment was tongue in cheek. I think Baltimore has done a much better job of providing access to all manner of entertainment than DC has. We have family memberships to the science center (the kids learn stuff while I check out the milfs) and the aquarium. Everything in DC is kind of spread out and hard to get to.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tippster
Spring and fall here are long, generally mild, and usually really nice. Nice days in the spring and fall here it's as nice as anywhere. Summer and Winter, yeah, not good.Quote:
Originally Posted by cmeriptahoe
Compared to Bozeman, sure. Compared to Tulsa, St. Louis, Houston, whut? The Cheasapeake is an hour away. It's incredible.An hour the other way you're in the Blue Ridge. It ain't the Rockies but it sure as fuck isn't West Texas.Quote:
Outdoor Recreation:
None. Yes you can go hike Great Falls or kayak on the Potomac but compared to other areas of the country the selection of outdoor activities is abysmal.
Snarky much? Wait, now I get your whole post.Quote:
I don't know if you have other options for grad school, but American is a pretty mediocre school to be moving across the country to attend.
An hour at 2am. During normal hours figure 2-3, it can take you an hour to exit the beltway.Quote:
Originally Posted by iceman
Hugh sucks at driving.
(seriously, if it takes you 3 hours to get to Annapolis from downtown DC, you need help.)
I disagree, of course it's my personal deficiencyQuote:
Originally Posted by iceman
3 was aimed at the Blue Ridge and yeah, that's probably a bit hyperbolic, but hey, if you are allowed downside hyperbole, I'm allowed upside.
LOL, FML...Stupid ass 50 year old ladies had me terrified. Like i said i ventured out and saw the titty bar. With all that said, had probably the best time ive ever had in a bar. A magician came into the bar and it was off the hook. Had us laughing our ass off all night and at the end of the night, he gave dude a prize. His watch back that he had snagged a couple hours earlier off his wrist, lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by iceman
I just spent a few days in DC, and, man, when it's hot, which is frequent there, the girls walking around in shorts thing is awesome. My neck hurts from trying to take it all in. Thousands of gorgeous girls.
I've lived a good chunk of my adult life in DC and have enjoyed the women, but the awe they inspire in people who move here from the mountains make me glad I'm married before I manage to move out to a better geographic location.
On the outdoor activities side of things...get into golf, sailing, or being an obnoxious roadie. In any event, you'll need to work on your wardrobe. As long as you like going out, you'll be fine there for two years, but if you enjoy quality mountain sports, you'll need to get out of there. Just moving to NJ from MD is a massive improvement.
if you moved from the mountains... there aren't many women in the mountains or so they say. you know, you don't have a girlfriend, you just have your turn.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusBrody
why benny is in awe, who the fuck knows. he likes them upwardly mobile condo bitches I guess.
There was this girl in blue polka dotted short shorts strolling along that almost got me into a nasty accident. I can still see that ass move.
so you'd have a heart attack in LA.
OMG a hot woman, quick to the internetz to tell my imaginary friends about it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Benny Profane
Your life is pretty sad.