Getting a lift to the Alley Aerial Festival on the #11

We read a lot about the problems of cities these days, and Baltimore certainly has more than its fair share. But for all its difficulties, there’s a uniquely rich bounty of cultural treasures in and around – mostly in – Baltimore that give substance to our reputation as “Charm City.”

For starters, consider Artscape, the African American Heritage Festival, the BSO, the crazy-vibrant theatre scene and seemingly thousands of other entertainment options. Look beyond the big venues though, and you’re likely to find an ever-changing variety of the weird and the offbeat.

Take the “Alley Aerial Festival,” for instance, held at Load of Fun in the Station North Arts & Entertainment District a few weeks ago, just off the route #11 Local Bus.

This annual “storytelling through acrobatics” event (this was the third since 2009) is the brainchild of Mara Neimanis, who founded the In-Flight Theatre company after acrobatic stints in San Francisco and Toronto. At one point during the show, she allowed as how she could think of no other city in the nation with an acrobatics festival like Baltimore’s. Sure, there’s Montreal’s Cirque du Soleil, but that truly is a circus, not an intimate evening with remarkable athletes. And besides, that’s Canada’s treasure, not ours.

MTA is proud to connect Baltimore area hipsters with all our little corner of the world has to offer. Of course, not all of our routes can take you to as many cultural riches as the #11 bus. But whether you catch an inexpensive ride using Local Bus, Light Rail or Metro Subway, you’re likely to find that each mode will get you pretty close to one enriching cultural experience or another. We hope you’ll consider taking MTA whenever you’re headed out for fun.

Penn Station Turns 100 as More of Us Turn to Public Transportation

Guy Henderson

            The “Baltimore Pennsylvania Railroad Station” (as it was officially known at its opening in 1911) celebrated 100 years of heritage and style on Wednesday, September 14^th. It was a pleasure to see this magnificent building be the object of so much attention for its enduring grandeur and beauty.

Before it was dedicated in 1911, Baltimore’s central train station had been considered a “poor cousin” of its neighbors in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. The opening of what is now known as Penn Station changed all that, and put it in a league (well, almost) with New York City's Pennsylvania Station, which had opened just one year before.

We scanned a copy (see below) of the official printed program to share a first look at the way things were in the Penn Station area way back when. Note how the station was built on the banks of the Jones Falls River and you might find yourself wishing that tributary didn’t have to be paved over to accommodate cars in later years. Take a look at the beautiful gardens that stretched from the station to Guilford Avenue and you might find yourself wondering what it would have taken to have left those gardens undisturbed for future generations.

            Odd as it may sound, those of us in the public transportation industry like to think of ourselves as environmentalists, in our own way. While cars are great for getting to places we don’t go to, they’re exponentially more expensive both personally and in their cost to our environment.

            That’s why we’re proud to commemorate the magnificent tribute to public transportation that Baltimore’s Penn Station captures. Thanks to all those who appreciate its beauty and spirit, and who work to keep this gem shining.

The Secret Life of an MTA Bus Driver

By Nicholas DiGregorio

               

 “As a child, I always visualized being a bus operator,” Antwan Magnum shared with us one hot day a few weeks ago. A former kindergarten teacher, he has been driving buses for MTA more than 11 years. He’s proud of his ability to deal with the public, but even his years as a teacher don’t always leave him prepared to face everything that comes his way as an operator for MTA.

“It’s a hard job. It takes a lot out of you, since our shifts sometimes start very early in the morning. Then, when people are angry or have problems with other bus operators, I’m the first one they see. I do what I can to help them out. Sometimes that just means greeting them with a smile. I try to maintain that attitude as much as I can.” 

One of him most memorable experiences as an operator occurred during training when he got to meet bus drivers who are still on the job years after he had traveled with them as a student in school. Now that he’s been a member of their ranks for over a decade, he knows just how challenging their job is.

               Antwan’s “secret” life as the owner of a children’s entertainment company for 15 years keeps him going on days when he needs a lift. “On this bus, I’m the guy that gets people where they’re going. I think a lot of my passengers would be surprised to know that so many kids know me as Antilleo the clown.” He has performed in various parts of the United States and in places that include Jamaica, where his parents are from.

                “I would love to be able to teach full time and have that peace of mind, but unfortunately teachers  aren’t as appreciated or paid as well as they should be,” Antwan related. He enjoys his job as a bus operator because it enables him to fulfill his financial role as a single parent to his eight year old son. He has also been helping his siblings since his mother passed away several years ago.

Here at the MTA, we’re proud to work with Antwan. If you happen to see him in your travels on the Local Bus, please let him know that you heard about “his secret life.”