Skip to main content

Introduction: A Kid from South Philly in Baltimore


Hey everyone! My name is Nick and I am currently in my senior year of college, studying Finance at Loyola University of Maryland in Baltimore. I was born and raised in the city of brotherly love, in the heart of South Philadelphia, a part of town known for its Italian roots, passion for sports, and grit. Growing up there meant being surrounded by tight-knit family and friends. In South Philly, everybody knows each other, and the loyalty and respect that the environment comes with has helped shape the man I have become today. 

        Growing up, I was always involved in as many leagues as possible for every sport. My mother and father used to take me from one game to the next, which I am extremely grateful for, given what each game has taught me along with the relationships I’ve formed. Sundays at home meant three things growing up: attending church, heading to my aunt’s house with our family for a Sunday dinner, and football, especially our Eagles! Aside from the other sports I played growing up, I first started playing golf at a very young age due to my father and grandfather’s passion for the game. Nowadays, I consider myself an avid golfer and have found the same passion they both found from the game. A game that I will be playing for the rest of my life, and can also open a lot of doors. Alongside sports, I am also interested in health, fitness, and I love to travel. During the summers I spend a lot of time with family and friends at the Jersey Shore fishing, riding jetskis, going to the beach, playing golf, and all the fun activities we can think of. 

My time in Baltimore is first and foremost being a student. Along with it, I try to get the most out of what the city has to offer. During the week, my schedule is filled with classes, work, and studying. I also am sure to make time for the gym at the FAC and cooking healthy meals. On the weekends, I spend time with friends and sometimes go to places like Fells Point, the Inner Harbor, Federal Hill, and Towson. While all of these places are great, I am not the biggest fan of the food overall. While there are some good spots, I do not think the food is nearly as good as it is in Philly regarding the taste, the variety, the quality, and the quantity of eateries. However, the crabs and any dish including crab in Baltimore is delicious.   

Over time I've come to realize Baltimore and Philadelphia share a few characteristics: strong traditions, diverse neighborhoods, and a type of toughness that most outsiders are not used to. Having lived in Baltimore for the past 3 years, part-time, I can say it has been a great experience, but there is still a lot left that I would like to do and see before I graduate. The city has a lot of fascinating history behind it and I am eager to see more of it. I also really enjoy the social scene in Baltimore and the love the fans have for the Ravens. This blog will hold me accountable and help me step outside of my usual routine to explore more of the city. Throughout this blog, I’ll be taking you along my journey in Charm City as I explore some cool sites and learn more about what makes this city so unique! This will not be just a travel and review guide. I will be giving my honest opinion of everything and being from South Philly, it is hard not to compare the two cities, so I am excited to share the similarities and differences! I will do my best to exemplify my curiosity, energy, and personality throughout these posts. Baltimore still has a lot to show me, and I look forward to sharing my insights with you all! 

More to come! 

Peace! 


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

My First Ravens Game

Two Sundays ago, October 5th, I finally went to my first Ravens game versus the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium. As a lifelong sports fan, this was something I’ve had on my bucket list since coming to Loyola freshman year. My friends from Philly along with my brother were visiting for the weekend to join in on the fun with some Loyola buddies and I.  As a sports lover, there is nothing like waking up on a Sunday morning feeling energized to watch football, whether it's with family, friends or both! Moreover, going to the game to cheer on your favorite team is a feeling like no other. Just this time, I was going to be a fan of the game rather than cheer on one team. Yes, maybe I’d rather see the Ravens win considering I’m at the game and having been living part-time in Baltimore for the past 4 years, but I’m an Eagles fan at heart. And yes, I am true to my team so I did not wear any Ravens attire!  The minute we stepped out of the car, I could feel the buzz and knew ...

Chap's Pit Beef: A Baltimore Staple

  Ever since I committed to Loyola along with watching The Wire with my brother, we always had Chaps Pit Beef on our must-try list for restaurants. While the show made us curious about the city’s neighborhoods and culture, we also did our own research on this pit beef sandwich as it was featured on an episode. Once we realized the popularity behind it along with the restaurant appearing in the show, we knew we had to taste what Baltimore is known for.  A Saturday afternoon in early October, we were lucky to get a sunny and warm day to go eat. The mood was set on the drive there. The excitement that filled us was like two little kids getting ready to enter a candy shop. It was about a 25 minute ride to the place and as soon as we stepped out, there were signs painted onto the outside of the building from the same famous reviews. Some that were listed were Diners Drive-ins and Dives, The Washington Post, Zagat, Food & Wine Best in Maryland , Food Network, The Daily Meal...