For sale signs can be seen all over the streets of Baltimore as homeowners struggle to sell their houses. Photo by Autumn Rose.
Real Estate sales went up in Baltimore last month, but many people trying to sell their homes are still frustrated.
>>Click here to watch a video and hear a story about the challenging real estate market sellers are currently facing.
FAQ |Map |Nightlife |Suitcase School |Renn Fest |Collegetown |Christmas
What is this page about?
This page was created as a project for my MCOM 258 class at Towson University. For this class we had to create a blog focusing on one “beat.” I chose to focus on things for Towson University students to do in Towson and Baltimore. This page is a culmination of the reporting I have done for my beat throughout the semester.
Why is Baltimore called “Charm City?”
Baltimore was given the nickname “Charm City” in the 1970s when the Baltimore Promotion Council launched a campaign to better the city’s image.
How far away is Baltimore from Towson?
Baltimore is only about 15 minutes away from Towson, 30 minutes at the most if there is a lot of traffic.
How can I get to Baltimore from Towson?
It is very easy to reach Baltimore by car via I-83.
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The only downside to driving into Baltimore is that you have to pay for parking. Parking spots on the road are very hard to come across and parking in a garage can set you back at least $15 for only a couple of hours. If you’re a college student at any of the Baltimore area colleges the best way to get to Baltimore is by using the Baltimore Collegetown Shuttle. You can also take the Light Rail into Baltimore.
How can I find out about things to do in Towson?
The best way to find out about things to do around campus in Towson is to look in The Towerlight, Towson’s student-run newspaper. You can also check out the Campus Activities Board website to find upcoming events on campus. Most events on campus are free or cost under $10.
If you’re looking for things to do off campus check out American Towns and Topix.
How can I find out about things to do in Baltimore?
The Baltimore Collegetown Shuttle’s website is a great resource for student-friendly activities around Baltimore. You can look in the Baltimore Sun, American Towns and Topix for entertainment and events around the city.
FAQ |Map |Nightlife |Suitcase School |Renn Fest |Collegetown |Christmas
Sophomore Pam Manstof wakes up early on the weekends, catches the on-campus shuttle from the University Village to Cook Library and studies biology and anatomy for the first few hours of her day.
There are only 3 other students on the bus with her in the morning. She walks by only a few people on her way from the bus stop to the library. She stops by the Starbucks in the library and gets her usual grande Peppermint White Mocha before migrating to the deserted fourth floor and sitting in her favorite spot.
Manstof is practically alone on a campus that belongs to over 21,000 undergraduate and graduate students, the second-largest public university in Maryland, according to the University website.
It’s not winter break, it’s not summertime and no one ordered any type of evacuation. It’s just the weekend at Towson University, a notorious “suitcase school,” a college where most the students leave for the weekend.
“Campus is so crowded and thriving with students during the week. On a weekday it’s hard to find a good spot in the library, or a table to eat in the Susquehanna.” Manstof said. “But on the weekends it’s a whole different story.”
Junior Jake Testo, a transfer student new to Towson this year, says he has gone home half of the weekends that he has been here.
Towson University Junior Jake Testo packs a bag to go home for the weekend. Towson has the repuation of being a "suitcase school." Photo by Autumn Rose.
“My girlfriend goes to Virginia Tech, so I go visit her a lot. And home is only a 45 minute drive away, so it’s easy to just go home for the weekend.” Testo said. “When I first got here I really struggled to find things to do here during the weekend.”
But Towson’s reputation as a “suitcase school” isn’t keeping Manstof or Testo from branching out and finding things to do in the area. Manstof and other Towson students are trying to change the way people think about Towson.
“There really is a lot to do around Towson. I love going window shopping at places like Ten Car Pile Up on York Road and eating at local restaurants like Pasta Mista.” Manstof said. “And Baltimore is so close by. Recently I’ve been going down to the Inner Harbor a lot and shopping at Urban Outfitters, my favorite store.”
Testo is also trying to branch out off campus. He doesn’t go to many on-campus events because he says he never sees or hears about anything fun going on, but he does try to get out in Towson, despite that fact that he’s not 21 yet.
“All the people that do stay here on weekends are 21 and they go out to bars every night,” Testo said. “I’m not 21, so I can’t go out, but I’ve been trying to meet people in other ways. A couple months ago I started going to Krav Maga [the self-defense system of the Israeli Defense Forces] classes in Owings Mills and I’ve met a lot of cool people there.”
Testo also plans on venturing into Baltimore more next semester, now that he’s more comfortable in Towson.
Manstof believes that as Towson continues to grow its reputation as a “suitcase school” will start to diminish and she is going to try her best to make that happen.
