The Baltimore School for the Arts’ neighborhood community is one of a strong following. The students that attend are very involved with any events and places surrounding the school.
The BSA building is smack dab in the middle of Mount Vernon, only a block away from the Mount Vernon Place Park and Baltimore’s Washington Monument.
With that, there isn’t much wiggle room for the school. It’s a tight street with a limited amount of parking, and a sidewalk that can only fit so many students.
After school, people tend to file out of the building, but instead of going directly home, you can find most students hanging around the Mount Vernon area.
There are public areas, like the aforementioned park, but the neighborhood also gives plenty of options for food stops and restaurants for students to chill and get some out of school talking time with their fellow scholars.
While there are plenty of options, the closest places are the ones that tend to get the most attention.
Never on Sunday’s, Dooby’s, Cafe Fili, Piazza 27, and The Bun Shop are very popular options that get a lot of buzz. They have built a reputation over years of BSA classes, giving the shops business and giving students memories.
Never on Sundays, for example, has been open for over sixteen years, and despite the name, is open every day of the week.
An employee from Never’s, named Henry, confirmed that they normally get a lot of business when BSA gets out of school for the day. He has been working there for more than four years while also helping manage the business.
“Different crowds seem to cycle in through the years,” he said, “Even people who have already graduated come back.”
Just like the current community going every day for school, the alumni of the community are also fond of revisiting their old group hangout spots, and with a place like Never’s, revisiting the spot after years is common.
One reason Never’s has been open so long is because it has found its people in Mount Vernon. In the summer, the kids are out and everyone is traveling.
Business is slower according to Henry. He states, “There are more people going out of the country, and more stuff to do downtown.” And while it might be harder work sometimes, Henry says he enjoys the school crowd.
For students of BSA, these spots can seem like an extension of their high school experiences, but what can sometimes be forgotten is that these are real businesses that feel the impact of students too.
Right after school, business can get a sudden bump instantly. It’s like a Happy Hour but for hungry art school kids instead.
Sure, you can just go to get a soda or a coffee, but kids will often pick up pizza, pastries, appetizers: most of the time something to ease their hunger, but not a full meal.
Still, at 4:00 p.m., they all come at once. A worker at Dooby’s, Iza Isabel Sinclair, said, “It can be a little stressful, but overall, it’s my job, so we try to prepare for it because we know that there will be a rush.”
The student customers benefit the shops and boost business. As Sinclair says, “Just means more tips.”
Something important to remember is for students to stay in touch with their community, because if you never look, you’ll never find it.
When students go out with their friends after school and see that same worker they always see at their favorite venue to grab a bite, they are involved with the business, even though the business has nothing to do with the school.
And in a way these locals are a part of the school, even if the staff have never set foot there. So next time you head out after class, work, school, or your house to grab some grub, remember to tip your waiter well: it can go a long way to keeping a connection alive.
To contact this writer, email Muse Newspaper at musebsa@bsfa.org.
Featured photo by C.T. Pham for the BSA Muse.
