“Starring My Town”

Baltimore by day and by night

Baltimore , Maryland

Lord Baltimore

Portland Mason Landemann was named for the child actress daughter of British actor James Mason when shewas born in Baltimore , Maryland on November 26th, 1958. She now lives in New York City with her dachshund Loverly and her two Siamese cats, Skye and Shadow. But she asked if Arabella would star her hometown and we are happy to do so.

. Baltimore has been an independent city (without county ties) since 1951. The largest city in Maryland , it was founded in 1729 and named for George Calvert, Lord Baltimore, the first of six Lords Baltimore that governed Maryland for 137 years.

The Baltimore clipper

Francis Scott Key

The excellent harbor was ideal for shipbuilding and the shipping of tobacco and grain. In the early 1800s, the famous Baltimore clippers were built there.

During the War of 1812, the British attacked Fort McHenry . They were defeated after a night-long battle by the fort’s defenders. Seeing the American flag still flying the next morning, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the poem that became our national anthem.

After the fire

Same place 2 years later

The Great Baltimore Fire of February 7 th, 1907 destroyed 1500 buildings in 30 hours. Refusing outside assistance, Mayor Robert MacLane said “I cannot help by feel gratitude…(but) Baltimore will take care of their own”. Sadly, Mayor MacLane took his own life 3 months later. But within 2 years, Baltimore rose from the ashes.

Chemical train derails!

Then, 97 years later, on July 18 th, 2001 Baltimore had another scare….a 60-car train derailment in a tunnel sparked a chemical fire that raged for 6 days. It virtually shut down the entire downtown area until the heat caused a water main to burst dousing the fire but flooding the streets above. Three weeks later, manhole covers flew in the air as residual chemicals left from the fire exploded in the sewers. Finally peace and quiet returned!

Locust Point rowhouses	Charles Village rowhouses with porches
Blue crabs	A "Natty Boh" coaster!

But Baltimore isn’t just historical facts….it is also rowhouses, marble steps, blue crab and Natty Boh! The rowhouses have been a part of the architecture since the 1790s with early examples still standing in Federal Hill and Fells Point. The marble steps came into prominence because to the nearby availability of high quality white marble in nearby Cockeysville . Blue crabs from Chesapeake Bay are the East Coast’s main source of these seafood delicacies and in Baltimore , best served with “Natty Boh” the local beer.

The Hippodrome

The Senator

Theaters abound in the city, but there are two you must see when you tour Baltimore . The Hippodrome was built in 1914 and restored in 2004 by combining 2 adjacent buildings to form the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center. And for film lovers, the Senator, built in 1939 with one large screen, is home to every premiere of a John Waters film which are all set in this locale.

Some films about the city or filmed there on location:

"Syriana" ( 2005) with George Clooney	"Ladder 49" (2004) with Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta
"Random Hearts" 1999 with Harrison Ford	"Avalon" (1990) with Lou Jacobi and Elijah Wood

Ironically, in 2004, drug dealers shocked the city by putting out their own DVD titled “Stop Snitching” which declared citizens who interfered with their sordid business potential victims of violence. The police responded with a video of their own “Keep Talking” and arrested at least 2 of the creators of the original DVD.

Some interesting people besides Portland Landemann were born in Baltimore ….

..some write books…. Authors Edgar Allan Poe and Tom Clancy

some make movies… Producer Barry Levinson and Director John Waters

……and some make movies better by their roles in them…actresses Kathleen Turner and Jada Pinkett-Smith.

Poe	Tom Clancy
Barry Levinson	John Waters
Kathleen Turner	Jada Pinkett-Smith

But before we leave, Portland wants us to show some of her special places..

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also called the Baltimore Basilica, is a National Historical Landmark as the first major religious building ever constructed in the nation. It was begun in 1806 and finished in 1824 under the guidance of America ’s first Catholic bishop, John Carroll.

The Preakness at Pimlico

Pimlico Race Course where the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel in the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, is run the 3 rd Saturday in May two weeks after the Kentucky Derby and three weeks before the Belmont Stakes.

Harborplace

Harborplace is where you go to meet, eat or have fun. Portland Says ‘Don’t miss it or the blue crabs!”

The Great Blacks in Wax Museum

Great Blacks in Wax Museum has all of our black heroes from past and present recreated in lifelike wax. Here is Colin Powell and his wife checking out Colin’s statue!

The M & T Stadium, home to the Baltimore Ravens

And, of course, Portland never misses her favorite football team when she comes to town…the Baltimore Ravens at M & T Stadium. Sorry, New York Giants!