Of course, a story about COVID-19 tops our list of 2020 most-read stories, according to Google Analytics. The coronavirus pandemic overwhelmed our consciousness in 2020 and it seemed there was little else to talk or think about. Our interests followed suit with stories about the fallout of the pandemic, such as store and restaurant closings and hot real estate properties for sale, also topping the list.
Anything about John Waters is always popular with our readers and this year the Prince of Puke was in the news a lot (he even said to our freelance reporter, Ed Gunts, “I’m overexposed!”). We published stories on Waters’ boyhood home hitting on the market, his modeling gig for Yves Saint Laurent, his promise to give his artwork to the BMA, and more, but his list of top movies of 2020 and his line of face masks made our most-read list.
Check out the complete list of stories below. We’ll re-run some of them over the next few days.
Five Baltimore ZIP codes have nearly half of the city’s confirmed COVID-19 cases Published July 10, 2020. Story by Marcus Dieterle. This story about ZIP codes 21224, 21215, 21206, 21229 and 21218 recording the highest concentration of coronavirus cases in Baltimore City understandably caught readers’ attention.
Hot House: A Fells Point house’s simple facade belies luxury amenities Published June 30, 2020. Story by Meg Fielding. After about three months into the pandemic, the real estate market was on fire with very little inventory and high demand. This renovated row house — a pool on Bond Street in Fells!? — caught our imagination as we fantasized about lockdown in more sublime surroundings.
John Waters’s list of 11 best movies of 2020 Published on November 30, 2020. Story by Ed Gunts. Needs no explanation!
John Waters unveils his own line of face masks and other merchandise. Published on June 2, 2020. Story by Ed Gunts. John Waters released this summer a line of face masks printed with an image of the bottom half of his face and sold at Hampden’s Atomics Books. According to the Atomics Books owner, the store was deluged with orders for the masks.
Guilford home of the late Richard Macksey, legendary Hopkins prof, features impressive library Published on July 14, 2020. Story by Meg Fielding. When the home of Richard “Dick” Macksey, the brilliant, warm, funny, beloved Hopkins professor who died in 2019 (read his obit here), hit the market this year, our Hot House feature on his glorious, book-filled home (he had the largest private library in Maryland) fascinated readers.
Fells Point ‘Palace on Dallas’ hits market for the first time Published on September 9, 2020. Story by Ed Gunts. This story about the quirky set of row houses owned by John Waters’ creative director Vince Peranio and his wife Dolores Deluxe going on the market for the first time in decades pulled back the curtain on a local treasure.
Hampden home goods store Trohv is closing Published on July 21, 2020. Story by Marcus Dieterle. The closing of home goods store Trohv, a Hampden favorite, caught our readers by surprise and demonstrated that even those retailers thought to have a good, stable business were not immune to the economic fallout of the pandemic.
As defunding police gains traction in U.S., Baltimore City Council to begin budget hearings next week Published on June 5, 2020. Story by Marcus Dieterle. As the Baltimore City Council prepared to begin budget hearings, city council members acknowledged community members’ calls for cuts to the Baltimore Police Department’s budget. At the time of the story, demonstrators had been peacefully protesting police brutality and racial injustice for seven straight days in response to the death of Minneapolis man George Floyd.
The Little Town That Could: 9 1/2 Hours in Mount Airy Published on September 1, 2020. Story by Karen and David Nitkin. This story was just the second in a series we started this year called 9 and 1/2 Hours, intended to offer suggestions for local day trips. The story covers a morning activity (biking, in this case), sightseeing, eateries and more.
City Cafe has closed permanently due to the COVID-19 pandemic Published on May 12, 2020. Story by Ed Gunts. City Cafe, the popular Mt. Vernon restaurant in business for over 25 years, announced its closing during a shutdown of dine-in service at all Maryland restaurants called for by Gov. Larry Hogan as a way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “This isn’t the ending we hoped for,” owners Gino Cardinale and Bruce Bodie wrote announcing the closing on social media. Their other restaurant, Tarks Grill & Bar at Green Spring Station in Lutherville-Timonium, remains open.
