What place or space speaks to you? Why are you speaking for it? We are gathering favorites from readers and would like to hear from you. Email webmaster@charmcitypublishing.com with your favorite place or space in the Baltimore region. Please choose a favorite that is not your home or place of business. We will post selected entries after reviewing them first in an effort to remove foul language, commercial messages, irrelevancies and unfair attacks. Thank you for your patience. Bill and Sarah "My favorite place..when I know that I am in Baltimore and find that mental Zen...In front of the Baltimore Museum of Art. In any weather the facade, rain, snow, sun..the Facade is a constant in the timeline of our city." Marty Bass "Put me in front of the Belvedere Hotel, because Wallis Warfield Simpson went to tea parties there when she was growing up in Baltimore. And after she married the King of England, who gave up his throne for her, in a scandalous match that nearly brought the British Empire to its knees, Wallis returned to Baltimore as the Duchess of Windsor, and brought the former King to Baltimore and they stayed at the Belvedere. In the lobby is a photograph of the Duke and Duchess. " Zippy Larson RN, BA, CTA "My favorite space in Baltimore? It’s hard to pick just one. Since I got to know Baltimore pretty well during the 25+ years that I was researching the life and works of my “main man,” Ephraim Francis Baldwin, I have become fond of many of his works. Some have already been chosen by others in the book: the B&O Passenger Car Shops, Merchant’s National Bank. I am partial to the Fidelity Building, Baldwin & Pennington’s Maryland Club, the UR&E Power House, and the Mount Royal B&O Station. But many places I liked no longer exist and were only relatively recently lost: like the Waverly Elementary School on 34th Street. I also should add that I favor some works of Bruce Price and Frank Davis, who designed wonderful buildings still standing, like the Chase Street houses, Albion Hotel, Pine Street Police Station, a little Catonsville School, or the Armory. I also like the Peabody (both of my daughters played in many piano recital competitions there over the years). But when forced to pick a favorite space that has real meaning, I choose to call attention to an artifact: what remains of Baldwin's Safe Deposit & Trust Co. Bank building, formerly at 13 South Street. This venerable building was a milestone in Baldwin’s career; he won its design competition in 1875 and it established his professional reputation. He and Josias Pennington made additions to it in 1902 and--after its remarkable survival in the Great Fire of 1904--another in 1908. Unfortunately, this grand old eclectic structure succumbed to the pressures of modern-day renewal and development in the area and it was demolished in 1986. Portions of the main entrance facade were dismantled and saved and reassembled in the early 1990s and now are on display a few yards away, like dinosaur bones in an outdoor museum, or a mounted game trophy on a wall--in mute testimony of its century-long place of importance in Baltimore’s business and financial district." R.I.P. Carlos P. Avery Gaithersburg, MD "I think my favorite place has to be the Bromo Seltzer Clock. Not many people get to go inside and experience the inner workings of the clock, but when you are the proud daughter of Mr. Rowland Fontz you have many perks. My dad called that clock his baby. When his only grandchild was 15yrs old he spent many days over his summer vacation helping his grandfather fix the clock. The joy and pride I get when I am in the city and get to see that clock is over whelming. My dad passed in January, 2009 and this book is the most wonderful memento that I have. He was so proud when he saw that he made the cover. I would like to get another book for his grandson who is currently serving in Afghanistan with the US Army. Thank you for this special book of all the wonderful places that Baltimore has to offer. Sincerely," Diane (Fontz) Shoe "To say that the Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church is visually striking would be an understatement, but it is also true. My favorite view of it is on the side where you can see those three deep-red doors. I suppose that would be the front of the church. On first view, it's hard to know where it begins--or opens--because it takes up a good bit of the block on Charles Street before you find the obvious place to enter. I love the sight of this church because it is an anchor--the way landmarks should be. And I love it because it was for me, briefly, emblematic of hope. I'd agreed to meet a friend, who I hoped would turn into more, on the Saturday of the 2000 Mt. Vernon Book Fair. We'd arranged that whoever arrived first would meet on the steps of the church, in front of the center door, and wait for the other. I got there first. When I saw him ambling toward me, sporting a brown fedora, my heart gave this silly little lurch, and I waved with such concentrated effort, such restraint, so as not to betray what I was thinking or feeling. I never pass that church without thinking about that day and wondering how many women must have waited on those steps for one thing or another, and whether those hopes were ever fulfilled." Salimah Perkins   “I was delighted to see Edmondson Village included [in the book]. I have many happy memories from my times there, especially at the Enoch Free Library branch. My favorite building [though] is the Main Building of the Maryland Institute College of Art. It's a spectacular building and has been in my life it seems forever. I started Saturday school there in the early 50's and then went on to get my degree from there. Wonderful memories! Keep up the good work. It's so good to see people who love Baltimore.” Susan Yonkers