Baltimore in June and July can be humid and sticky, as it was on my recent visit to family and friends. Seeing my parents was a primary objective of the visit and taking my dad to numerous doctors for tests for a carotid artery. He does not need the surgery. Thank you, Lord.
I saw my sisters, nieces and friends. My niece, Jesse, a struggling artist, showed me her sketches for some new art works. She does a type of impressionism based on family photos from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Close enough that family can enjoy them through recognition, abstract enough that they are universally appealing for composition and color.
Fourth of July was spent with family in daytime. That evening my son and I were invited to a party in Canton. Canton is the old packing and canning industrial section of Baltimore City. Once home to many Polish immigrants, it has now become gentrified. If you are young and single and like to party, this is a place for you.
From the rooftop deck, 40 feet above the street, atop a rennovated townhouse, I had a view of Fort McHenry, the inner harbor, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and many funky Baltimore scenes. As my niece quoted an artist friend, "Baltimore is like your grandmother's attic." You have no idea what is there, but you will find it funky and delightful. A native of the city and resident until age 41, I felt she struck it on the head. Despite its "Wired" reputation, it is a delightful city.
From this deck, which belonged to Joe, a 360 degree panorama displayed the city's funkiness. All about us were other Independence Day Revelers on other decktop roofs. Like the sailors in the ships in the harbor, these other denizens of the decks shared comraderie with us and the many other land-locked poop decks. We hailed and cheered each other and as twilight emerged from what had been a gloomy wet afternoon, fireworks errupted from many in a fantastic display of creativity and craziness. I am glad my host refrained from such dangerous activities.
There was an eeire sense of Gotterdammerung from the glow of the city lights, the childhood smells of gunpowder and sulpher released by the fireworks, the percussive explosions felt and heard as some rocket exploded near-by. Also reminiscent of one of the final scenes in Fight Club where Tyler and his alter ego are struggling over the destruction of TEOTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it).
It was a great and unique evening for me. Plenty of alcohol, tobacco and fireworks, America's favorite vices. Canton is a definite place to see if you visit Baltimore.
