"If You Love Baltimore...": Journalist Ron Cassie's Charm City Montage

Today on Midday, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, we’re going to take a break from news about the pandemic, or our recalcitrant president, or the intractable murder rate here in Baltimore City. Instead, we are going to take some time to show Baltimore a little love. It is easy to complain about our town. It takes only a mild dash of cynicism to point out what’s wrong with Baltimore. But as veteran journalist Ron Cassie’s new book demonstrates, it’s also easy to celebrate our town, and the many characters who populate it, and the many places in it where sometimes downright magical stuff happens.Ron Cassie is a senior editor at Baltimore Magazine. These days, when you turn to the final page of BMag, you are treated to a column by Ron called “You Are Here: Life in Baltimore Observed.” His new book is a collection of columns like these, which he began writing in 2008... From the last days at the Bel Loc Diner and Bethlehem Steel, to a High Heel Race at the Baltimore Pride Festival and the Baltimore Marathon, from an oven called “the Duchess” to the Dome, a famed East Side basketball court, Cassie profiles senators and swim teachers, pitchers and preachers, bunnies and bon-vivants, in a collection that creates a vivid portrait of our town, and its engaged and engaging people.We welcome listener calls and comments today. What are your favorite spots in Baltimore? Your favorite memories? Your most memorable experiences? The book is called If You Love Baltimore, It Will Love You Back: 171 Short, But True Stories. Ron Cassie joins us on Zoom...Ron Cassie will be discussing his new book - and providing a brief video tour of his home - at a special "Writers Cribs!" virtual event hosted by the Enoch Pratt Free Library, next Wednesday, December 2, from 7-8pm. For information on registering for this free event, click here.Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.