1. Everybody in Baltimore is called "hon"
To the tourists coming to Charm City from out
of town: no, that stranger on the street didn’t just develop a pet name for
you in a very short amount of time. Everybody calls everybody "hon" here. It's also a way of life and specific hairstyle, but that's a story for another day.
2. There is an art to picking crabs
We Baltimoreans can pick crabs before we can walk. We believe there is a proper way to do so, and will be sure to tell you so if you ever get the pleasure of sitting down for some Maryland blue crabs with us.
3. Old Bay tastes good on everything
Speaking of crabs, we also believe that there is only one spice you need in your kitchen cabinet: Old Bay. Put it on crabs, chips, French fries, popcorn, soup, grilled chicken, fried chicken, mac and cheese, WHATEVER! You put Old Bay on it, we’ll eat it.
4. Natty Boh
Born and raised in Baltimore, Natty Boh is so beloved that we made a giant light-up sign and stuck it in our Inner Harbor for everyone to see. Out-of-towners may call it crappy beer, but natives call it Charm City patriotism.
5. Baltimore shines on the small screen AND the big screen
This city’s potential was realized by so many producers that many famous TV shows and movies were filmed on our streets, in our homes, and on our water. To name just a few: House of Cards, Sleepless in Seattle (yup, not actually inSeattle), Hairspray, He’s Just Not that Into You, Step Up, The Wire, Tuck Everlasting. Nothing brings us Baltimoreans happier than seeing others appreciate our city just as much as we do.
6. Yes, we do know all of the lyrics to the Hairspray soundtrack
Speaking of the big screen, Tracy Turnblad’s sheer glee and pride in her voice while she dances through the streets singing “Good Morning Baltimore” to anyone who will listen, is the same pride most of us have in our city. No we don’t dance and sing through the streets, but we love it just as much.
7. Babe Ruth was born and raised in Baltimore, and so was his baseball career
He may have worn a Red Sox and Yankees uniform, but you can thank Baltimore for first teaching Babe Ruth how to hit a baseball. Ruth went to school at what is now Cardinal Gibbons High School (then, St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys), where his talent was discovered. In fact, it was the Orioles players who coined his name Babe Ruth, when they referred to him as “Jack’s newest babe.” Jack Dunn was the owner of the Orioles baseball team at that time.
8. The 12 O'Clock Boys know their bike is vertical in the air, they like it like that
If you’ve driven anywhere in the city for even a short period of time, you’ve most likely encountered the 12 O’clock boys. They're a dirt bike gang that pops wheelies and weaves their bikes at insane speeds through the middle of traffic, all the while avoiding the police. The name “12 O’clock boys” comes from the fact that they amazingly manage to get their bikes completely vertical, which looks like it’s 12PM on a standard clock.
9. A snowball isn’t just what you throw at your neighborhood friends in the winter
You call it shaved ice or a snow cone, we call it a snowball. On top of that, we believe they’re appropriate for all types of weather and all year round. Snowball stands like Snoasis (a personal favorite), can be found on almost every street corner.
10. We're simply more patriotic than you
Home to Fort McHenry, the site where Francis Scott Key famously first recited and wrote the Star Spangled Banner, Baltimoreans feel a special sense of patriotism for our country. Don’t even try to find a spot at the Fort to sit and watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July, because you and every other resident of the city will be there.
11. They probably played lacrosse in high school, and they’re probably very good
Lacrosse became the official team sport of the state of Maryland in 2004, and for good reason. People in Maryland, not just Baltimore, live and breathe this sport, and I’m not exaggerating. Most kids are handed a lacrosse stick when they’re three-years-old, and from that moment on their winters, springs, and summers are dedicated to nothing else. They don’t just play on one team either... There’s school teams, rec teams, club teams, and personal trainers too. But hey, the blood, sweat, and tears is probably worth it in the end considering Maryland is undeniably a lacrosse powerhouse.
12. We love our flag and we'll be sure to let you know
Maryland has hands down the best state flag in the entire country. (Rhode Islanders: don’t even try and argue. You win a close second place though). The Maryland state flag is plastered all over anything and everything. Clothes, billboard signs, graduation caps, uniforms, license plates, driver’s licenses, lacrosse sticks (see, it’s everywhere), household decorations, and so much more. Nothing is safe from the red, gold, and black. We’re proud, what can we say?
13. Mentioning the Colts is a sin
Yes, we still have abandonment issues over the Colts leaving Baltimore and starting a new team in Indianapolis. We don’t want to talk about it, let’s just leave it at that.
14. The Baltimore Ravens were named after a famous poem
Fun fact: Baltimore’s claim to football fame is named after a fine, 19th century piece of literature. Here’s the story of how this came to be. Once upon a time, Baltimore was home to the previously mentioned pro-football team, the Colts. Then years later the team tanked, the owner relocated the team to Indianapolis, and it seemed to be the end of pro-football for Baltimore. That is until the Cleveland Browns announced their move to Baltimore, and suddenly all we needed was a new name to be up and running again. The question of the name was put to the fans (33,000 fans to be exact). Looking to “Baltimore-esque” things for inspiration, the fans voted between the Marauders (because we’ve got plenty of boats), the Americans (because we’ve got plenty of patriotic citizens), and the Ravens (after Edgar Allan Poe’s famous poem, The Raven). 21,000+ people voted to name the team "The Ravens" and now fans don their purple and join our three mascots Edgar, Allan, and Poe, and head over to M&T Bank Stadium to cheer our team to victory (except for this year…).
15. The National Anthem is “O” so important to us
If you do happen to find yourself at a sporting event in Baltimore (big league, minor league, or rec league), don't be alarmed when you hear a giant outburst from the crowd during the National Anthem. The line “O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave,” will most likely sound more like “OOOOOOOOOOO (!!!!) say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave.” This isn’t a love for our favorite vowel. This is a love for the orange birds. Go O’s.
16. Miracle on 34th Street isn't just a movie
During Christmas time, Baltimoreans flock to the city of Hampden to check out the lights. But these aren’t your average Christmas lights. In fact, the residents of 34th street are required to sign a contract before moving onto the street, promising that they’ll go all out with their Christmas decorations. And all out they sure go.
17. One does not just eat ONE Berger cookie
Yes berger, not burger. I promise these cookies are better than your mom’s homemade chocolate chip ones, and I believe they’re something that everyone should experience. But be careful, because once you start eating them you won’t be able to stop.
They're. Just. So. Good.
18. Being south of the Mason-Dixon Line doesn’t mean we’re southern
People from the North call us Southerners, and people from the South call us Northerners. We call ourselves “America in miniature,” because we’ve got a little bit of everything.
19. "Smalltimore" is real
I cannot stress this one enough. You truly cannot go anywhere in Baltimore without seeing someone you know, are related to (closely or distant), or someone who knows someone you know. In fact, you probably can’t travel anywhere outside of Baltimore without meeting someone you know, are related to, or knows somebody you know. This may sound strange to outsiders, but why would we want to live anywhere else?
