I'm sorry for your experience and esp. that of your friend. I've never been to Baltimore, but one of my best friends grew up there, went to grad school at Hopkins and LOVES it. So much for anecdotes. I've lived in 3 major us cities NOLA, NYC (in the 70s, before it was gentrified) and now LA. And everything you say about Baltimore I was warned about of those places with equally hideous tales. I have never had a problem with anyone, even though I take public transportation and walk alone at all hours of the night (well, less so these days!). I confess, that's due to a number of factors: I'm male; I do not frequent bars; pure blind luck; plus (I'm told) I look like I'm a borderline street-person.