Where to start? Brooklyn . July 7
Running the city means running the entire city and Brooklyn was certainly in the news. On July 1, 28 people were shot at a Brooklyn Day party at the Brooklyn Homes public housing project. 2 people were killed and this South Baltimore community was tattered.
I chose Brooklyn because I don’t know it. I’ve driven around it. And Brooklyn is not just about Brooklyn Homes. There are modest homes of every type in Brooklyn.
But Brooklyn residents are angry. (I almost found myself in the middle of a prayer circle.) These residents feel separated from the rest of the city. They have every right to feel that way. Even the sidewalk that connects the community to the city, or Harbor Hospital, cuts out. You have to walk on a highway to walk downtown.
Why wouldn’t you feel like you don’t belong?
But getting back to running, Brooklyn taught me that this project is going to be damn hard, and confusing. The last thing you want to do is run (jog) a road twice, so high school basic geometry skills are critical as you study your map. And running something the size of Brooklyn is not a one-day project. You’re looking at 4 days, minimum.
JULY NEIGHBORHOOD ITINERARY
Photograph proof available upon forced demand.
I had it all figured out. July 9
It seemed like the perfect plan. I would park my car near the Mondawmin Mall, run the 5+ miles up Reisterstown Road to the county line, and then run over to the elevated RR Plaza subway stop and return to my car. Perfect! (Are you saying to yourself, “Baltimore has a subway?” You aren’t alone.)
One of my favorite sites along the troubled corridor is Mack’s C’est Bon, a former jazz club turned hangout. A great name and a great sign. This is part of the old Baltimore charm we’ve heard about.
Everything lined up perfectly but it was July, that included heat and storm clouds. My run (jog) was complete so it was off to the train station for the trip back to the car.
I read the Baltimore Sun and I watch local TV, and the 6:30 national news. I heard there was a fire about four days prior at a subway garage. But a subway webpage said, on schedule.
Wrong. The doors were locked, with a closed sign. (It complemented the broken windows and exposed rebar.) With only a credit card in hand, I had no cash for the shuttle. Sorry. A call to home was warranted for a rescue. Luckily I have that luxury.
How can a subway line be down for 6 days in a major city? Baltimore, do better.
Random photos of a hot July Baltimore.
Is this really the world’s smallest residential street? Welcome to Ohio Avenue, Carrollton Ridge.
You may have driven by Ohio Avenue and not really noticed anything. It’s just another building off Monroe Street in West Baltimore. But at 25 feet, Ohio Avenue is often cited as the World’s Smallest Residential Street. I’ve yet to see the Guinness proof but I heard it exists.
If you get the opportunity to live in the one residence on Ohio Avenue, you will reside in an area called Carrollton Ridge. It’s a hard area with pockets of tight residents. It’s1/3 vacant and the number of burned structures makes you wonder if there is something lurking in Carrollton Ridge.
Carrollton Ridge is home to a number of squatters and narrow streets. I chose early mornings for my CR runs. More people respond to a “good morning” in Carrollton Ridge than you’d expect.
Be careful! It’s hot out!
I get a chuckle when random people say, “Be careful, it’s hot out!” I know they mean well but, rest assured, I know it’s hot. My shirts know it’s hot. After all, it’s almost August. But according to my notes, September is worse.
Michael Runs Baltimore 