Michelle loves the unique neighborhoods in Baltimore, and how each neighborhood celebrates its residents. Her education brought her here, and the community got her to stay.
Email Michelle: michellesallin[at]hotmail[dot]com How interesting!: Michelle survived a volcanic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1992!
What brought you to Baltimore? I moved to Baltimore in August 2007 to attend graduate school at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. I completed my PhD in Molecular Medicine in September 2013. My education brought me to the city, and my need for a community connected me to the city. I am proud to call Baltimore my home.
What’s your connection to Baltimore? I have lived in four neighborhoods in the city: Ridgely’s Delight: That is where I fell in love with the Orioles, since Camden Yards was my backyard for two years. Fells Prospect: It’s the neighborhood that is found where Patterson Park, Butcher’s Hill, Upper Fells Point, and Canton all meet. You may be familiar with Johnny Rads or Patterson Park Bowling (duck pin—a classic Baltimore sport!) which are in this neighborhood. I lived there for about two years. Patterson Park: I loved renting on the unit block of north Linwood Ave. Linwood Ave is the only road that cuts through Patterson Park. It was there that I joined Friends of Patterson Park, and became a Pagoda docent. The Friends of Patterson Park are a great group, and the park is awesome. Mount Vernon: I got a job in Bethesda, but I was not going to give up my beloved Baltimore, so I commuted on the MARC train for four years. It was a long commute, so I moved closer to Penn Station, to an apartment in Mt. Vernon. Presently: I work at the National Institute on Aging at the Johns Hopkins Bayview campus, and I am a homeowner in my favorite neighborhood in the city, Patterson Park.
What do you like about Baltimore?
I was really into running, and so I became familiar with Baltimore while training for my first half marathon and then my first and only marathon. In my running, I became acquainted with Patterson Park, and through my love of beer acquainted with Fells Point. I rented a house in the unit block of north Linwood Ave; I was bike commuting to the University of Maryland to finish my thesis research, running, going to Bikram yoga in Hampden, and meeting my best friend at the corner of Patterson Park Ave and Eastern Ave to exercise in the morning. On Sundays in April to October, the Pagoda opens (weather permitting) and I would sit and allow people to come and visit the Pagoda. It took me six years to finally walk into the Pagoda—it is the best view of Baltimore!
New Baltimoreans should definitely check out:
I think the most important thing in life is to create a community and help your neighbors. I spend my free time volunteering with a group called B-more Engaged. This group is made up of professionals in their 30s-40s that are interested in volunteering in Baltimore. We do all sorts of activities from creating green spaces, to helping to pack meals at Moveable Feast, to dismantling doors at Second Chance. I believe that to get the most enjoyment out of life you have to invest in the community around you. Also, I highly recommend the Halloween Lantern Parade sponsored by the Creative Alliance; it brings in people from all of over the city and showcases the diversity that exists in the city from the different lanterns to the marching bands.
Connect with Creative Alliance and the Halloween Lantern Parade online: Website | Facebook | Twitter
