Heap Heap Hooray!

I have been working in Baltimore for the past month or so, and should be here through mid-January. Great town, reminds me a lot of Detroit (the good and the bad), and the weather has been terrific in December.

As an addict of "The Wire" I found and went to this place the first week that I was here. Incredible. I also watched "Diner" a couple of times my first week here, something that I do about once every two months anyways.

One thing that is crystal clear to me at this point: Baltimoreans LOVE their Ravens. Big time. And why not? Memories of the Super Bowl win are still fresh, they have had a few very lean years, and now they are on fire with a better and more likable QB. Apparently though, the true star of the team - using game jersey sightings as the sole indicator - is Todd Heap. I would put his number 86 at a 5:1 ratio in the general population around town. I had no idea that he was so popular outside of Fantasy Football Leagues. He is never in the papers for doing anything off the field, and seems to go about taking care of his business. Perhaps that's the appeal. The Bunny Colvin of Raven football?

This brings me to the ultimate indicator of Heap Mania (Heapheads? Heaps Peeps?): last night I went to go see The Ex and DJ Rupture at a place called Ottobar. Very heavy hipster/indie rock scene, which is pretty much what I was expecting. (Broad generalization: dudes in Baltimore [who would go to a show like this] look like either this guy or Max Perlich [circa "Drugstore Cowboy"].)

There was a dude there (Paul Bunyan model) in a Todd Heap jersey! AWESOME! Standing next to a girl who very unironically climbed right out of this picture.

Huzzah Baltimore, I am all for it. Celebrate diversity, embrace your football team (you lucky bastards) and old timey women's hats and flapper fashions, and please start your rock shows earlier on Monday nights. Please.

Side note: I parked my car in the "secure lot" directly next to the venue. The lot attendant got out of her car and walked over to me just as a very inconspicuous looking youngster walked by us. The attendant gave me a weird "quiet" sign, which was very confusing. Once we were alone, she explained to me that she doesn't like to talk while anyone but a customer is around because if "they knew that she was collecting money, she'd get robbed every night. That's why the sign just says 'Park Here' and not 'Parking $5.'" Wild. It seemed like a fine neighborhood, but I'll take her word for it.