place or we have adopted them as our own." -- Huguette MayFinding the Charm in Charm City captures a Baltimore that many of us see without really seeing, a city in the midst of change but one whose past still lives in the streets. From the Bel-Loc Diner to the Arbutus Poodle Salon to the now-vacant Pikes Theater, each landmark included in the book has its own story to tell about the city of Baltimore and its people. Here are marble steps and rowhouses, car dealers and corner shops, murals, pubs, and warehouses. Every subject is visible from the street, and May and Smith have arranged the work around fourteen of the city's most inviting corridors, from South Hanover Street and Ritchie Highway to Washington Boulevard and Wilkens Avenue; from Reisterstown, Falls, and York Roads to Eastern Avenue, Harford, and Belair Roads.Using the Polaroid image transfer technique, Huguette May individually printed more than 100 color pictures that splendidly capture the variety of interesting building exteriors, design details, and quirky sights she found around Baltimore. This unusual process (fully explained in the text) creates color images of a special warmth and vitality, each as unique as its subject.Accompanying the photographs, Anthea Smith's descriptions blend wonderful human stories and fascinating historical details. Smith has delved deeply into the city's past to bring us Baltimore personalities such as Albert Knight, who invented Formstone in 1937, and William Anton Octavek, who started the city's folk art tradition of painted screens in 1914, when he painted images of meats and vegetables on the screen doors of his grocery store.Finding the Charm in Charm City shows Baltimore as a city whose singular charms should be celebrated, not forsaken. "They're precious," writes May, "and brighten our lives with grace and beauty and humor, adding luster to modern life, made bleak, as it is, by the stark new buildings and plastic signs of urban renewal." For long-time residents or first-time visitors, Finding the Charm in Charm City gathers and preserves a precious store of grace, beauty, and humor that can only be found in Baltimore.From Finding the Charm in Charm City:"Owners of well-coiffed canines in the Arbutus area south of Wilkins Avenue are likely to recognize this storefront with its orderly gray Formstone, freshly laundered white curtains, and an awning fit for a hotel. Since the poodle popularity of the late 1950s, the Arbutus Poodle Salon has also welcomed terriers, cocker spaniels, and 'the all-American house pet' to come in for a bath and a trim.""A sense of mystery surrounds this sign in a window above East Patterson Street near Charles. It actua...  (less)

and coverage of sights both on and off the beaten path. A chapter on outdoor activities (BC's best hiking and skiing options). Other expanded coverage includes the Okanagan Valley wineries (with a map showing the tasting routes). UNIQUE FEATURES: Author from BC! Insider's advice on everything.; Coverage includes the Yukon and the Canadian Rockies, not just British Columbia.; We give you all the transit options, whether you go by ferry, train, bike or car.; We have more and better maps than anyone, which is great for folks on road trips. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES: The inclusion of the Yukon territory into this guide will enhance readers' enjoyment of this spectacular area.; New-look book: everything is better! Full-color introduction and Highlights section to inspire you; Getting Started and Itineraries chapters to help you plan your trip; Outdoor activities chapter to get you active; Essays on the region's History, Culture, Environment and Food & Drink to get you grounded."  (less)