The Cool List
Baltimore is fast becoming a cultural mecca — take a look at what people around the nation are saying about Charm City.
Baltimore’s arts scene — as well as MICA and its alumni — have been singled out by The Wall Street Journal, PBS, Yelp, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, Southwest: The Magazine, The New York Times, and the travel giant Expedia.
The Wall Street Journal's “Guide to the Best of Baltimore” features the best spots across the city according to five locals—including Baltimore philanthropists and former MICA trustees Eddie C. and C. Sylvia Brown.
MICA's Brown Center, which was built specifically for design and time-based media programs, was named in honor of the Browns.
A view from Fell's Point, one of the city's neighborhoods on the Inner Harbor.
WATCH the episode:
The New York Times has written extensively about Baltimore in recent years, including the story "Why Balitmore Persists as a Cultural Beacon," which names MICA's Joyce J. Scott ’70 (Art Education B.F.A.) as one of the artists fueling the city's DIY arts scene.
Baltimore was also ranked 15 on the Times’ “52 Places to Go.” One of the top U.S. cities on a list that includes locations around the globe, Baltimore was selected for its “packed cultural calendar.” And the paper's “36 Hours in Baltimore” highlights arts organizations with significant MICA ties — including the Creative Alliance in East Baltimore — as well as Station North Arts, home to the College’s Fred Lazarus IV Center.
READ “52 Places to Go” and “36 Hours in Baltimore”
Yelp's data team recently compared ratings, reviews, and cuisine diversity to reveal where its users love to eat as it named Baltimore among the Top 10 Foodie Cities. In its roundup, Yelp said, "Charm City offers an array of dining spots, from casual pubs to award-winning chefs to food halls" as it noted the city's food scene has expanded from "crab cakes and old bay seasoning."
READ more from Yelp about Baltimore as a destination for food lovers
We recently polled students about their favorite places to eat, and their choices — including video reviews — can be found at Baltimore Eats. Our review of Land of Kush can be found just below.
In naming Baltimore one of America’s “Most Artistic Towns,” the travel giant Expedia stated, “With one of the top-rated art schools in the nation, world-renowned museums and galleries, emerging underground scenes, and a packed calendar of events, this harbor city is piquing a lot of interest as one of the top art towns in America.”
Expedia also took note of MICA’s tenets, naming them “an impressive vision for an art-shaped future.”
Named one of the “10 Coolest Cities to Visit” by Forbes, Baltimore was singled out for its “burgeoning arts scene.” In addition, the city was hailed as the home of MICA alumni Amy Sherald ’04 (LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Painting M.F.A.), who recently received worldwide attention when her portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery.
READ Forbes’ “10 Coolest Cities to Visit”
A giant pink flamingo sits among shops and restaurants on “The Avenue” in Baltimore’s Hampden neighborhood.
Smithsonian Magazine's "How Baltimore Quietly Became the East Coast’s Next Cool City," calls out the city's "easygoing hospitality" and includes a tour of MICA alum Whitney Simpkins favorite spots.
