22 Things You′ll Never See In Baltimore Again

1. They Paved Hammerjacks And Put Up A Parking Lot

Hair bands are long gone, as is Hammerjacks. Through the 80s and 90s, Hammerjacks was billed as the largest nightclub on the East Coast and THE place to go for the biggest rock band. It was featured in the 1994 John Waters film “Serial Mom” before being torn down to pave out a parking lot.

2. The Old Orioles Playing At Memorial Park

Once upon a time the Orioles ruled the field of Memorial Park and Baltimoreans sold out the stands to see them play. Memorial Park has since been torn down and the Orioles, who now play at Camden Yards, just aren’t what they used to be. But it sure was fun while it lasted.

3. Vince Bagli Give The Run Down

Vince Bagli was much more than just the local sports announcer in Baltimore. Locals got so used to hearing him give the play by play of Orioles games, baseball just hasn’t been the same without him. It’s always a good day when he stops by the stands to say hello, but Baltimoreans will never again get to hear him announce that “it’s outta here!”

4. Cal Ripken Jr. Hit A Homerun

Speaking of outta here, this wouldn’t be a Baltimore classics list without a nod to legendary Hall of Famer, Cal Ripken Jr., known for his homeruns as much as he is his philanthropy. Ripken remains active in the community, but gone are the days when you could watch him in his glory days from the bleachers.

5. The Mysterious Poe Toaster

For 60 years, an anonymous man clad in a wide brimmed hat and white scarf visited the grave of Edgar Allen Poe on the author’s birthday with three white roses and a half-empty bottle of Cognac, making him a beloved but mysterious tradition. I n 2009, the Poe Toaster visited for Poe’s 200th birthday, leaving behind his usual markers but this time with a cryptic note—and hasn’t been since. It appears the tradition is nevermore.

6. A Prevas Brothers Ice Milkshake In Broadway Market

Back in the day when drug stores were on every corner and fountain sodas were a big deal, the Prevas Brothers cornered the Baltimore milkshake market. Setting up a lunch counter in the Broadway Market, Prevas Brothers’ milkshakes were a staple in Baltimore and the duo were a household name. The Baltimore Market still stands but the Prevas Brothers’ milkshakes are, sadly, history.

7. A Commercial Like This For Natty Boh

Even your parents might be hard-pressed to remember this one. Part local history lesson, part old fashioned Natty Boh pride makes for a minute long commercial that is perhaps one of the most Baltimore things to happen to Baltimore. But they just don’t make them like they used to.

8. Natty Boh Proposing To Sally Utz

Scratch that last one. This Smyth’s jewelers billboard of Natty Boh proposing to Sally Utz is the most Baltimore thing to hit Baltimore. But now every Baltimorean’s favorite ad is getting replaced with an electronic billboard, marking the end of an era for commuters passing Penn Station.

9. The Giant Ball Of Napkin Edges At Haussner’s

Perhaps Baltimore’s most famous restaurant, Haussner’s became more of a landmark than a place to eat. From 1926 until 1999, Baltimoreans flocked to Haussner’s for their famous crab cakes and to view the giant ball of string made from the edges of restaurant napkins over the years. Haussner’s closed, unfortunately, but the giant ball of string lives at the Antique Man store in Fells Point.

10. Creepy Monkey Mummies At The American Dime Museum

The giant ball of string from napkin edges was actually relocated to the American Dime Museum for a short time. So, after Haussner’s closed, you could view that along with many other strange and sometimes macabre artifacts. Unfortunately, the American Dime Museum closed down in 2006, taking all of its wonderful oddities with it.

11. Internet Killed The Video Americain Store

Run by passionate self-proclaimed film snobs who turned their video store into an informal film school for anyone willing to learn, Video Americain was the only one of its kind in Baltimore. Even though it was able to outlast Blockbuster, in the end, the Internet really did kill the video store. Video Americain made their final curtain call in March 2014.

12. The Real Colts, In Their Real Home

Has there ever been such a tragic sports fan love affair as when the Colts picked up and ran out on Baltimore in the middle of the night in 1984 without so much as leaving a note? It’s a story that would make even Shakespeare shed a tear. The Ravens have since filled in the city’s football gap, but Baltimoreans still aren’t over the Colts trauma and probably never will be.

13. Mini Bundt Cakes Made Of Heaven At Roland Park Bakery

Anita Ward, owner of the Roland Park Bakery, hooked Baltimore up with cookies, cupcakes, pastries, and adorably mini Bundt cakes for 30 delicious years, always with a smile on her face and a love for the city. Baltimore’s sweet tooth went into mourning when she closed the doors at the end of 2013.

14. Baltimore Beach Volleyball At Rash Field

Get your fun in while you can, kids, because the city announced redevelopment plans for Rash Field which will not include the much beloved volleyball field, that brings thousands of locals and tourists out to play. Rumors say the volleyball court will be moved to Swann Park, but it will most definitely not be at Inner Harbor much longer.

15. Stu Kerr Go From Weatherman To Professor Kool

Stu Kerr was a TV broadcaster in Baltimore from 1952 through the 1980s, but kids will remember him as Bozo the Clown, the zany Professor Kool, the conductor of "Caboose," Mr. Fortune of "Dialing for Dollars" and Commander Stukker of "54 Space Corps.” Kerr passed away in 1994, leaving a void in all our hearts. Moment of silence.

16. Duckpins & Dollars On TV

Baltimore used to have a slew of its own popular local programming. Duckpins & Dollars was a huge hit and every kid coming home from school remembers their mom knowing the “count and the amount.” Other local shows of the era included The Collegians, Pinbusters, and The Buddy Deane Show. Sigh.

17. The High Score At The National Pinball Museum

Baltimore is a wall-to-wall weird city in the best way possible. The National Pinball Museum was another one of those quirky venues that locals shamelessly loved. But for leasing reasons the National Pinball Museum had to close up shop and decided not to reopen, much to the city’s dismay.

18. Deathfest At The Sonar

The metal crowd loved their Sonar, especially when it played host to Baltimore’s annual Deathfest. Bands like Alkaline Trio and GWAR shredded the stage of this small music venue until it was forced to close its doors in 2012. Deathfest lives on in Baltimore, but Sonar has seen its fate.

19. Getting A Turkey At Southway Bowling Alley

Those lanes you spent Friday nights in with teased bangs aren’t there anymore (and hopefully your bangs aren’t teased anymore, either). Every Baltimorean’s favorite bowling alley, Southway, hasn’t been operational since 2000.

20. Those X Bumper Stickers

WGRX started off as Baltimore’s first classic rock station and moved over to modern rock, taking on the name “The X.” With their modern format and popular M&M morning show, it was the best station around – for some, it was the only station. Then suddenly, in a similar Colts fashion, they switched formats one day and turned into the disco-playing Polyester 101, shocking fans around Baltimore. For shame.

21. Glow Parties At Voltage In O’Donnell Heights

Baltimore’s biggest night club packed the young crowd in Baltimore in O’Donnell Heights every weekend, but those days are gone. Goodbye glow parties. Goodbye college night. Voltage has officially packed up the party, announcing that you don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here.

22. Obscure But Awesome Shows At The Gold Bar

In the blink of an eye, the Gold Bar at Station North will be gone before you know it. The venue, which featured underground musical artists and shots of absinthe with names like “Death In The Afternoon,” didn’t get to stay in the city long, but the darker music lovers in the area knew it to be a welcome addition and are sad to see it go.