Guy Henderson
Is there something in Baltimore’s water supply that makes the unusual, the outrageous and the deliciously charming so commonplace here?
Some theorists point to our multiple institutions of the arts and higher education – combined with a remarkably low cost of living, at least in comparison to other East Coast cities. The theory goes that by the time all those young people have earned their degrees, they’ve come to recognize Baltimore as a welcoming place for artists and others who haven’t made the accumulation of wealth their overriding goal in life. Others point to the influence of John Waters, who once wrote in Shock Value: A Tasteful Book About Bad Taste, “I would never want to live anywhere but Baltimore. You can look far and wide, but you'll never discover a stranger city with such extreme style. It's as if every eccentric in the South decided to move north, ran out of gas in Baltimore, and decided to stay.”
Whatever the reason for Baltimore’s kooky and unusual ways, we’re happy to spread the word about one of the quirkier entries in our local “showcase of the unusual.” Take Fluid Movement, for example. It’s a synchronized swimming troupe that celebrates summers in our city with charm, energy and style. If you’ve never seen one of their over-the-top campy and hugely funny shows, we urge you to visit Patterson Park this weekend (last week’s show took place at Druid Hill) to celebrate the truly strange and memorable. MTA Local Bus lines 7, 10, 13, 23, 30 and 40 will get you close.
