Searching for ways to say this, I've settled on an imperfect analogy: looks. But I mean this to be extrapolated beyond appearance and presentation...I agree with Waters, I think Baltimore is real, and appreciates real above all else. Not much tolerance for pretension here.

In LA you need boobs, and after that, money. In Baltimore, all you need is style. Luckily, style--which is an external presentation of internal substance, a visible signal that the person under it all is original and valuable--works whether you've got the tits or not.

For whatever reason, Baltimore is one of those cities that appreciates style far more than conventional appearance. We don't go for the put on here; for us, the part is you, and if you have the courage and mettle to just be yourself, you'll be well received. It really is a friendly, charming city in that way.

I can't speak on the Black community in Baltimore, but I get the feeling that this is true for both Baltimores.