On September 15 BidiSmoker wrote this about the best show on TV:
I know there isn’t much of a desi angle to the story, but I’d love to write a post for SM on the Wire just because it’s such a great show that everyone should watch and no one does.
and Salil replied:
I TiVo and watch it religiously. It is, in my opinion, the best show on TV. I lived in Baltimore for a year, and they’ve captured the feel of that city to perfection. It’s gritty and raw without being forced or unbelievable, and the stories are really powerful. I kind of wish for a desi angle on it, too.
It is written, ask and ye shall receive! For it turns out that only a few days later the desi angle manifested itself. Allow me to take you through the steps:
1) The best show on television is The Wire.
2) The Wire takes place in Baltimore.
3) Baltimore has two major current cultural exports that share a rough, hyperrealistic griminess. One is The Wire, the other is the bass-heavy sound known as Baltimore club.
4) A major recent convert to Baltimore club is DJ Wesley Pentz aka Diplo.
5) Diplo is the music- (and sometimes more-) mate of Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam AKA M.I.A.
6) M.I.A.’s first reported appearance in the United States since her reported troubles with U.S. immigration took place on September 25 at Baltimore club Taxidermy Lounge, in a surprise set with Diplo before about 20 late-Monday-night revelers. (There she is to the right; photo from the Tazidermy Lounge MySpace page.)
7) M.I.A.’s new track “XR2,” now spreading virally over the internets (thanks Ismat and Nirali!), and its Diplo remix “XR2 Turbo,” are heavily influenced by Baltimore club.
So there you have it; the connection is drawn. Now you macacas can talk freely here about the show — or about the song, which marks something of a new artistic direction for the sista. I think it’s pretty dope.
OK, so the Wire connection is a pretty thin one, but great way to work in a post about M.I.A. That Diplo remix has been much-played on my iPod the last few weeks … good stuff! You’re right that it seems something of a departure from her earlier stuff, but IMO it is still familiar enough for those M.I.A. fans who don’t want her to stray too far.
“Sometimes more”, huh? Did not know that ….
Dude, how many times do we have to go through this?? The best show on television — and one with a legitimate desi connection, rather than one conjured through than an extended game of telephone — is Galactica.
Maybe you’ve been watching a bit too much of one of the other shows better than “The Wire” — but as much as I love him, using the Da Colbert Code to connect “The Wire” to M.I.A. is a bit of a stretch even for me….
😉
So does anyone live in Baltimore? How is the scene out there? Lots of desis? Good urban culture? I may end up in that town next year so I’d love to know.
Here’s an article about The Wire that starts with a quote from Gandhi. How much more of a desi connection do you need?
Battlestar Galactica? It’s a good show, but the best on television? What’s number 2, Dr Who? Stargate? Re-runs of Quantum Leap?
The best show is clearly the Gilmore Girls followed closely behind One Tree Hill..oh did I just write that I was thinking quietly to myself.
The Wire is a great show, but underappreciated nonetheless.
So was the reason behind MIA’s immigration troubles something to do with her support for the Tamil Tigers?
Cool Desi at Hopkins – Joshi Alumkal (Just say “cool boss, ok boss” if you ever run in to him)
Speaking of TV:
Aasif Mandvi was on a new show called “Jericho” last night — pretty good cameo role.
Also, Indira Varma is smoking on a new neurology-oriented medical drama called “3 Pounds.” (And yes, it’s kind of weird that there are now dramas entirely devoted to neurology and neurosurgery)
I used to live there. Not a ton of desis in town (at least outside of a couple of the hospitals, not a lot of the younger crowd), but an absolutely fascinating town. Very engaging urban culture, with none of the “Disneyworld” asspects of an overgentrified New York or Boston. If there is one downside, it is somewhat insular – not necessarily in a racial or homobhobic way – but because the city has been shat on so much, Baltimoreans have a real bunker mentality and are somewhat wary of outsiders. Still, its a charming, vibrant place with tons of history and I loved it there.
Good food, too.
It’s about time B’more got some love!!! Have spent the first 10 years of my life there as well as 3 years for school, I think the city as a whole gets a bad rap. Speaking of the Wire, residents of Baltimore, keep your eyes out because every so often there are “Wire Happy Hours” in Baltimore where the cast from the show actually shows up and bartends/serves, they’re pretty cool. I’m looking forward to hearing the new track.
I just have one more comment re: M.I.A. I’m like her music, but being a metal head in my formative years and having just seen her MySpace page, I definitely give a thumbs down to her rippage of my beloved Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All record cover.
For sea food lovers out there, the crab cakes you get in Baltimore (even in crappy little run down dives) are the best you’ll get anywhere.
I was there for a conference last year and absolutely loved it (I was living in a major midwestern city at the time before moving to the Perineum of America). I had to walk from my hotel to the main library (one hour roundtrip) and met some interesting folks during my trek – the people seemed vibrant and friendly to me. Plus, quite a lot of good seafood (remember, I was living in the midwest). The only thing that I found slightly disturbing was the number of people doing drugs and homeless folks (well, they weren’t being DONE) in the library’s bathrooms.
residency, if you don’t mind me asking?
We might be able to skip some steps in our search for a desi angle, since The Wire had its own little shout-out to Baltimore club a couple weeks ago.
No cable but a generous work mate lent me season 1 and 2 on DVD.
Kingpin Avon Barksdale is played by Wood Harris. Mr. Harris (and his brother) also stars in Common’s Testify. “Testify” uses its most prominent sample from an old Honey Cone song. Hone Cone’s got a song called “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show” which was the (un)official slogan of the George Allen campaign.
Lots of literary history stuff to do, too. Edgar Allen Poe, H.L. Mencken, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Russell Baker, and Anne Tyler (among others) have all made their home there. Lots of cool used/rare bookstores; you have to check out The Book Thing. The Peabody Library and Enoch Pratt Library are must-sees. And the Baltimore Book Festival is held every September.
The Aquarium is top notch, top notch (to quote Judge Smails). ESPN Zone. There’s the grave of Edgar Allan Poe. The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame at Johns Hopkins. Camden Yards. Touristy Inner Harbor, but I liked it when I visited.
Jim Rome helped pile on Baltimore after they reduced his radio show to 2 hours or put him on tape delay several years back. So he ripped on the city unnecessarily for the high rate of syphillis and STDs. Plus there’s the 1 in 7 Baltimorians uses IV drugs statistic that the residents at the University of Maryland bragged about when I interviewed there for residency.
Edgar Allen Poe is buried in the cemetary at Westminster Hall, a former church that is now an assembly hall for the U of MD law school. Every Halloween they open up the catacombs of Westminster and give tours. More must dos: every summer Baltimore hosts ArtScape, the biggest Music and Arts festival in the Mid-Atlantic region. I also recommend the Sowebo Arts Festival. And to anyone who’s into the visual arts, you must make a trip to the Visionary Art Museum, it’s a great space. Lastly, there is what is arguably the crown jewel of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the National Aquarium in Baltimore.
Great one people….. I’ve never seen a more sophisticated show than The Wire, Of all the Desis i know in Florida i’m probably the only guy who watches te ‘The Wire’ religiously, Omar little is one of my favorite characters. Great Shoutout!!
John Waters
Spank Rock. Baltimore Bass. Naeem Han was born in Baltimore. Don’t care for his rapping. Get the Armani XXXchange’s instrumental instead.
Kislings in Baltimore, great buffalo wings!!!!! Fells Point, Federal Hill, inner harbour, there are tons of stuff to do. There are a lot of brown people in Baltimore suburbs, but on a week night, they all come out to play!
Oh man Bmore Bmore Bmore. ballmer or balteeemore in the local dialect. the northernmost southern city. the southernmost northern city. i never lived there but grew up and currently live in the metro area. someone emailed me about it because she is thinking of moving there. i sent a buncha stuff. hmm I don;t hang out a lot here not cuz of bmore but cuz I don’t have a life. the large majority of innfo I know from reading it online. let;s see the public transport is not good especially compared to dc. 1 light rail and 1 subway line w/ no connection. known for crabs. pit beef is also popular here. lacrosse is really big here.
cities across the country are being gentrified. bmore is too and it’s still going. some neighborhoods to look into are federal hill, fells pt, canton, harbor east, mt vernon, bolton hill, otterbein, hampden, mt washington hmm maybe charles village.
i guess fells pt/harbor east, fed hill, canton, mt vernon, and a little downtown for nightlife.
Nancy Pelosi grew up in bmore (little italy). her father and bro were mayors
some bmore celebs (all grew up there I think except 1 member of gnarls): Gnarls Barkley John Waters Pam Shriver Barry Levinson
http://www.citypaper.com/bob/default.asp?issueDate=9/20/2006 (citypaper best of bmore)
oldest Catholic cathedral in the United States designed by architect of Capitol, Benjamin Latrobe. recently restored http://www.examiner.com/a-379443~Ceremony_highlights_historical_significance_of_Baltimore_basilica.html
http://www.urbanitebaltimore.com http://www.baltimoresun.com
star spangled banner written in bmore during war of 1812.
http://www.bcpl.net/~etowner/battle.html
for music there is the soundgarden in fell’s pt which may be the best in the bmore/dc area
http://www.cdjoint.com/index.cfm record and tape trader’s is mainly a baltimore chain where u can buy and sell music, movies, games
http://www.recordandtapetraders.com/
baltimore accent (unique)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimorese
some nice residential hoods: mt washington, roland park(maybe richest major hood in city), guilford, homeland and cedarcroft?
live music: sonar, rams head live, ottobar, talking hear, sidebar, fletcher’s, 8×10
decent amt indians in ellicott cities, i think blue collar in glen burnie. timonium area? bmore is 81 ssq mi of land nyc is 300 something. i bet houston is bigger. u could think of ellicott city etc as being part of bmore is another way of looking at it
i guess the most well known indian grocery store would be patel brothers in catonsville about 15 min to dtown bmore
some major grocery stores: hmm safeway is a big grocery store in canton superfresh is supposed to come to dtown this december i think whole foods in harbor east and mount washington
decent amt of indian restaurants in bmore but all the standard type of cuisine as far as i know. there was a fusion indian but it i guess didn’t do so well. it was called saffron. it’s now modern american i think.
Every year, on Poe’s birthday (January 19) the ”Poe Toaster” lays three roses and a partly full bottle of cognac at the Poe memorial in Westminster Burying Grounds. He/she has been showing up every year since 1949.
And yes, the Visionary Art Museum is very cool. The Baltimore Museum of Art and The Walters Art Gallery (my favorite) also bring a lot of good shows to town (the more traditional art museum stuff).
independent bookstore: atomic books
http://www.atomicbooks.com
corprate bookstore: daedaelus books(sp?) cheap!! http://www.daedalusbooks.com/
mica oldest accredited degree granting art college in US. http://www.mica.edu
http://www.mica.edu
first washington monument:
http://travel2.nytimes.com/top/features/travel/destinations/unitedstates/maryland/baltimore/sight_details.html?vid=1107942618342
towson’s a good urban town just bordering bmore to the north
Mount Vernon cultural district
http://www.mvcd.org/
fells pt
http://www.fellspoint.us/
sriram ever been to reptilian records? might be good for metal.
http://www.reptilianrecords.com/
I fled Baltimore in horror some 30 years ago, (although there were always interesting and beautiful spots such as the Peabody Conservatory one of the greatest music schools in the world.) It has improved since then in some ways. Up towards Johns Hopkins University, and as far south as the Penn Station, beautiful old townhouses which had become slums are being bought and restored–this particularly stunned me. I never thought some of these neighborhoods could come back, they seemed dead to the core. But they are resurrecting, and people willing to spend income on fixing things up are returning to Baltimore. There is hope after all. People who do not come from Baltimore actually do seem to like it. It has drawn a lot of Indian students over the years, especially Johns Hopkins (school and hopsital), and Peabody, but probably not a huge stable desi population. It does still have other kinds of ethnic neighborhoods, such as Italian, Greek, Lithuanian and Polish that are interesting and safe enough for desis to walk through. The Jewish and Irish urban ethnic neighborhoods are long gone but I am told that up to the 1950s, every Saturday people would come out and scrub and bleach the white marble steps leading down from the row houses. Those sparkling white marble steps used to be featured on post cards. There is a China Town (blink and you’ll miss it) with some excellent retaurants. As mentioned, the crab cakes and hard crabs are the best anywhere in the world. There may still be a Chinese joint called Mee Jun Lo, a hole in the wall. Once upon a time a friend of mine saw Johnathan Winters (old big-time comedian) there with some friends from a show. They treated my rather impoverished friends to dinner and said the food was some of the best Chinese in the world. One thing I do recall is that just when I thought Baltimore had absolutely nothing to offer, it came up with some beauties.
Hey I am a believer too, quite the regular at the Sunday service on HBO. Heck I am going (back) to Baltimore on Thanksgiving, sweet sweet second home from my rainy abode here in Redmond.
For a true bawlmer experience – http://www.baltimorehon.com/
John Waters is from here too, haven’t mustered the courage to watch Pink Flamingos.
Baltimorons a great contrast to the gritty hoods of Green Mount and West Baltimo is Roland Park, posh hood lined with million dollar homes and a church of a different persuasion every 30 yards – all within 2 miles of the inner city.
There is actually a direct Desi connection to the Wire, though only a brief one. When Kima and McNulty are tracking the guy buying mobile phones at various convience store in the third season, they stop at store run by punjabis, one of them speaks a clear line of punjabi dialogue and another makes a very Indian joke about making many phone calls, many “ring-dings.”
This has nothing to do with Baltimore but it rocks. The beat sounds a lot like a Devo song.
Ignore the two posts I left my computer and someone was trying to post the link to the Indian Thriller on YouTube.
Bawlmer has its quirky charms and they will entertain you for about a year. It’s a cross between decaying-industrial-town (with a shrinking population in the last 20 years and lots of boarded up houses to testify to that), earnest efforts at tourist-yuppie revival with several outdoor “festivals” that consist of overpriced beer, the same street food and single yuppies on the prowl (cf. Federal Hill), grim inner-city life with the highest car theft rate in America, a few Ann Tyler-esque neighbourhoods right out of the 60s like Hampden, and leafy suburban neighbourhoods with overpriced farmers markets. The food is a saving grace, there’s some good desi grocery stores, a couple of good desi restaurants, a fabulous Afghan restaurant, and the best crabcakes in the world for $7 at Faidley’s in Lexington Market.
isn’t upper park heights mainly jewish? upper fells pt is hispanic. decent carriben population. nigetrians?
russian jews i think.
Didn’t MIA jump the shark about 6 months ago?
I LOWE! Baltimore sounds like it might by my kind of city. I need a certain amount of grittiness and underdog-ness to really enjoy myself.
No way. Neither residency, law school, or MBA. Or yengineering
Anand #28,
did u mean cafe hon for a true baltimore experience?
http://www.cafehon.com/
“upper fells pt is hispanic.” well THAT’s new. No significant hispanic population in balimor 30 years ago. Some Castro-fled Cubans and some Puerto Ricans from New York were about it from that quarter. Aside from Divine sitting pretty in her antique shop, the area bordering Fells Point was also notorious for some early 70s kid porn, “The Boys of Baltimore.” Guess they wanted it to be a little classy, so it was not “boys of balimor.” One of my friends was a mythology buff and always claimed Baltimore was named for Baal, a 4000 year old deity who spread himself pretty thin throughout the area now know as the middle east. I think this namesake still has a sinister hold on Charm City, and Ghostbusters will eventually be called in to deal with the matter. New York can’t begin to compare.
well i think it’s mostly hispanic.
http://www.upperfellspoint.org/
Upper Fells Point Selected as Best Neighborhood in the City Paper
“It’s no Federal Hill or Hampden or Charles Village, this East Baltimore neighborhood. Indeed, it’s nothing like its immediate neighbor to the south, Fells Point, nor is it anything like its adjacent sister Canton. It’s got but one eclectic tavern within its bounds (Henninger’s Tavern, that is), and its main business thoroughfare, Broadway between Eastern Avenue and Lombard Street, lacks the kitschy storefronts and boutique shopping that draw people to other areas of the city. But that’s why we love Upper Fells Point: It’s got a hardscrabble exterior, a booming Latino community, a dash of the old-school Baltimore that’s being edged out in most of the city’s up-and-coming environments. You don’t come here, necessarily, to shop, nor do you come here to hang out (though we must say, it is kind of nice to sit on the park benches along the median strip on Broadway and watch the world go by) and stroll. Chances are, if you’re hanging out here, you live here. Or you want to live here because you don’t need sushi or a gourmet grocery or a strip of trendy bars to make you fall in love with your neighborhood. All you need is what Upper Fells Point has got- -a diverse population, a bunch of good taquerias at which you can get your good, cheap food fix, some mom-and-pop corner stores, and some solid neighbors who keep an eye out for trouble on their streets after dark. That’s what Upper Fells Point is about.”