Remembering: 1055 Hillen's Pop Culture Bulletin Board

I don't really know of anyone who's a fan of gentrification. Sure, classing up a place might improve property values, but there's something to be said for homegrown ambiance. Of course living in Baltimore gentrification is just a part of everyday life.

Sadly I lost one of my minor joys to gentrification just a couple of months ago.




On my way to work my bus (the #19) passes by Old Town Pizza & Chicken. Next door, at approximately 1055 Hillen is a building that until recently was abandoned. While abandoned buildings usually represent an eyesore, this one was different.

It was different because it's face was covered with promo posters. I mean plastered with them. It was a wide enough space that posters could probably 4x8. It was such a perfect spot that I wished that I had a street team or something to promote.

I enjoyed that sight for a couple of reasons. Firstly, no matter what the posters were, they were improving the appearance. I'll take "bold one-sheets" over "dilapidated" any day of the week.

But I also found it informative. It was a great way to find out about upcoming events. Here's a sampling of some of the things that have passed through my head in the past year and some odd months of riding past 1055 Hillen;

"Oh look, BET has a crappy new reality show." "Wow, Fox really seems to be pushing Glee pretty hard." "Lil' Wayne's got an album coming out? Can't wait to ignore it!" "I don't know if the #19 is really Role Models target demographic." "Why is Uncle Ben paying for street promotion?"

Of course now it's gone. It's clean and refurbished. 1055 Hillen looks like it's brand new. You'd never know that it used to be a pop culture bulletin board.

And it's left a surprising huge gaping void in my routine. And I'm devoid of that visual stimulation and information. It was like my very own magazine, only it was a split second read and I didn't have to pay for it.

Yet another one of the quite joys of city living has come to an end.