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Hometown Girl boasts a wonderful blend of odd, touristy items, including these crab-related gifts. (Sun photo by Kim Hairston / June 28, 2001) |
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"My parents went to Baltimore, and all I got was this lousy T-shirt!"
Sound familiar?
Souvenirs can be so predictable, especially when visiting a city like Crabtown, U.S.A., where we don't have Mickey Mouse or the Statue of Liberty to plaster on every form of merchandise imaginable. If you go to Hawaii, the stores there not only sell Hawaiian shirts, they also sell Hawaiian ties, Hawaiian socks, Hawaiian jackets, even Hawaiian yarmulkes. If you go to L.A., you can buy practically anything that has the Hollywood sign on it, including T-shirts, coffee mugs, bed sheets, dinnerware, bras, panties or baby clothes.
But if you're coming to a town like Baltimore -- a.k.a. Charm City, a.k.a. the City That Reads, a.k.a. "The Greatest City in America," a.k.a. "Bawlmer, hon"-- you really need to leave here with something that more accurately captures the spirit and the essence of the city. Something that you can look at a year from now and say to yourself, "Aw, man. I can practically smell the Old Bay and Natty Boh" (to the uninitiated: that's the city's signature seafood seasoning and favorite ale).
Here are a few shops around town that you can visit (or revisit if you're a local sending a unique trinket to friends in other tourist destinations) that sell a lot more than the usual Orioles jerseys and Harborplace goods. Nothing says Baltimore like a John Waters "Pink Flamingos" poster or a pencil drawing of that favorite Fells Point bar you staggered out of on your last night in the city, and here are the places to get 'em. For the quirkiest, most authentic finds, concentrate on two main areas:
Fells Point
Carmella's
Souvenirs: This art gallery and gift shop has affordable artwork and photos depicting such Baltimore and Maryland landmarks as the Broadway Pier, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the city skyline and the U.S. Naval Academy. The art ranges from unframed pencil drawings to more elaborate (and pricey) framed pieces. The drawings come in all shapes and sizes. So, if you want to take back something large enough to hang over a sofa or a bed, Carmella's has it. Or, if you just want a small, snapshot-sized piece for the powder room or some under-decorated nook of your home, the shop has that, too.
Crabby Dick's
Souvenirs: This restaurant's store has more crab-related merchandise than perhaps any place in the city. There are also a lot of funny T-shirts depicting cartoonish crabs as everything from ballplayers to pirates to the Three Stooges. You'll also find a number of shirts and other paraphernalia that depict Baltimore's beloved beer, National Bohemian, known among the locals as "Natty Boh." Crabby Dick's plasters its name on just about everything, too, from glassware to hats.
Oddest souvenirs: Shirts that depict crabs exclaiming such naughty things as: "Eat Me," "Bite Me," "Pick Me," "Eat It Your Way," and other more suggestive sayings. Most shirts are priced at $17.99, but go up $1 when you get into the XX and XXL sizes.
Flashback Fun Stuff
Souvenirs: This shop specializes in the pop culture of yesteryear. It really touches the heart of the Baltimore entertainment scene with its selection of merchandise relating to John Waters' various movies. Looking to bring back an original "Cry-Baby," "Serial Mom," or "Polyester" poster? This is your place. Prices vary.
Re-gift: This store has a ton of VHS and audio cassette tapes for sale. It's like being in a museum or something.
Pearl O'Dell Giftware
Souvenirs: This classy little shop features a number of unique, Baltimore-themed goodies you can buy for the more serious-minded on your list. Here is the place to browse for miniature Maryland lighthouses ($6.99 and up) and Christmas ornaments with real Maryland sand and seashells ($6.99).
Go-to gift: A "classy" Baltimore shot glass ($4.99) with the city's name or the Maryland state flag printed on it.
Hampden
Cafe Hon
Souvenirs: "Hon" is an affectionate term Baltimoreans use in salutations. Cafe Hon has picked up on this and taken advantage of its standing and location in one of the city's older neighborhoods (strolling down the neighborhood's main drag, "The Avenue," is like walking through a Barry Levinson/"Tin Men" scene) to offer a range of merchandise with the Cafe Hon logo on it.
Sound familiar?
Souvenirs can be so predictable, especially when visiting a city like Crabtown, U.S.A., where we don't have Mickey Mouse or the Statue of Liberty to plaster on every form of merchandise imaginable. If you go to Hawaii, the stores there not only sell Hawaiian shirts, they also sell Hawaiian ties, Hawaiian socks, Hawaiian jackets, even Hawaiian yarmulkes. If you go to L.A., you can buy practically anything that has the Hollywood sign on it, including T-shirts, coffee mugs, bed sheets, dinnerware, bras, panties or baby clothes.
But if you're coming to a town like Baltimore -- a.k.a. Charm City, a.k.a. the City That Reads, a.k.a. "The Greatest City in America," a.k.a. "Bawlmer, hon"-- you really need to leave here with something that more accurately captures the spirit and the essence of the city. Something that you can look at a year from now and say to yourself, "Aw, man. I can practically smell the Old Bay and Natty Boh" (to the uninitiated: that's the city's signature seafood seasoning and favorite ale).
Here are a few shops around town that you can visit (or revisit if you're a local sending a unique trinket to friends in other tourist destinations) that sell a lot more than the usual Orioles jerseys and Harborplace goods. Nothing says Baltimore like a John Waters "Pink Flamingos" poster or a pencil drawing of that favorite Fells Point bar you staggered out of on your last night in the city, and here are the places to get 'em. For the quirkiest, most authentic finds, concentrate on two main areas:
Fells Point
Carmella's
Souvenirs: This art gallery and gift shop has affordable artwork and photos depicting such Baltimore and Maryland landmarks as the Broadway Pier, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the city skyline and the U.S. Naval Academy. The art ranges from unframed pencil drawings to more elaborate (and pricey) framed pieces. The drawings come in all shapes and sizes. So, if you want to take back something large enough to hang over a sofa or a bed, Carmella's has it. Or, if you just want a small, snapshot-sized piece for the powder room or some under-decorated nook of your home, the shop has that, too.
Crabby Dick's
Souvenirs: This restaurant's store has more crab-related merchandise than perhaps any place in the city. There are also a lot of funny T-shirts depicting cartoonish crabs as everything from ballplayers to pirates to the Three Stooges. You'll also find a number of shirts and other paraphernalia that depict Baltimore's beloved beer, National Bohemian, known among the locals as "Natty Boh." Crabby Dick's plasters its name on just about everything, too, from glassware to hats.
Oddest souvenirs: Shirts that depict crabs exclaiming such naughty things as: "Eat Me," "Bite Me," "Pick Me," "Eat It Your Way," and other more suggestive sayings. Most shirts are priced at $17.99, but go up $1 when you get into the XX and XXL sizes.
Flashback Fun Stuff
Souvenirs: This shop specializes in the pop culture of yesteryear. It really touches the heart of the Baltimore entertainment scene with its selection of merchandise relating to John Waters' various movies. Looking to bring back an original "Cry-Baby," "Serial Mom," or "Polyester" poster? This is your place. Prices vary.
Re-gift: This store has a ton of VHS and audio cassette tapes for sale. It's like being in a museum or something.
Pearl O'Dell Giftware
Souvenirs: This classy little shop features a number of unique, Baltimore-themed goodies you can buy for the more serious-minded on your list. Here is the place to browse for miniature Maryland lighthouses ($6.99 and up) and Christmas ornaments with real Maryland sand and seashells ($6.99).
Go-to gift: A "classy" Baltimore shot glass ($4.99) with the city's name or the Maryland state flag printed on it.
Hampden
Cafe Hon
Souvenirs: "Hon" is an affectionate term Baltimoreans use in salutations. Cafe Hon has picked up on this and taken advantage of its standing and location in one of the city's older neighborhoods (strolling down the neighborhood's main drag, "The Avenue," is like walking through a Barry Levinson/"Tin Men" scene) to offer a range of merchandise with the Cafe Hon logo on it.
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