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Baltimore magazine
December, 2002

Features

<p>OK, not really. But in the new world we live in—where federal agents make arrests of terrorism suspects in Baltimore’s neighborhoods—the northern snakehead fish, a creepy-looking, slimy beast from the Far East, was welcome comic relief. Lethal tornadoes, the death of Johnny Unitas, heat waves, drought, banking scandals, the Catholic church’s revelations . . . even supersurgeon Dr. Ben Carson got cancer! It was enough to make us hide under our desks.</p> <p>That’s why we love the Frankenfish. These resilient, carnivorous fish were a bogeyman we could handle (and, eventually, even slay). Conquering the killer fish was one of the good things that 2002 also brought: a championship for the University of Maryland men’s basketball team (led by Charm City’s Juan Dixon), a wild gubernatorial election, a boom in city living, a near-miss as a potential Olympic host city—heck, even the hard-luck, adolescent Orioles gave us a few moments there.</p> <p>So here’s the year that was—Frankenfish and all.</p>
<p class="Default">Our Annual Roundup of the Area’s Sizzling Singles</p> <p class="Default">&nbsp;</p> <p class="CM1"><strong>REJOICE!&nbsp;</strong>The&nbsp;world&nbsp;is&nbsp;safe&nbsp;for&nbsp;cat&shy;callers,&nbsp;whistlers,&nbsp;and&nbsp;oglers&nbsp;again.&nbsp;At&nbsp;least,&nbsp;according&nbsp;to&nbsp;45 of&nbsp;the region’s&nbsp;most&nbsp;eligible&nbsp;singles,&nbsp;that&nbsp;is.&nbsp;This&nbsp;year,&nbsp;among&nbsp;other&nbsp;personality&shy;revealing&nbsp;questions,&nbsp;we&nbsp;asked&nbsp;our&nbsp;Hot Singles:&nbsp;“How do&nbsp;you&nbsp;react&nbsp;when&nbsp;a&nbsp;member&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;opposite&nbsp;sex&nbsp;shouts,&nbsp;‘Hey,&nbsp;nice&nbsp;bod!’” And&nbsp;what&nbsp;do&nbsp;you think&nbsp;their&nbsp;response&nbsp;was?&nbsp;Outrage?&nbsp;Umbrage?&nbsp;A strategically&nbsp;raised&nbsp;middle&nbsp;digit?&nbsp;Hardly.&nbsp;Most&nbsp;of&nbsp;our&nbsp;eligi bles&nbsp;were&nbsp;flattered,&nbsp;amused,&nbsp;or&nbsp;mildly&nbsp;embarrassed—and&nbsp;that&nbsp;goes&nbsp;for&nbsp;both&nbsp;male&nbsp;and female.&nbsp;</p> <p class="CM20">Hey, speaking of mildly embarrassed . . . we decided to put eight of the bravest Hot Singles on the spot asking them to participate in the magazine’s first ever Dating Game. The 1970s style splendor (replete with velvet lounge jackets, giant daisies, and double entendre laden questions) appears on page&nbsp;<strong>85.</strong></p>
<p class="Default" align="center"><strong>JUST&nbsp;BECAUSE&nbsp;WE&nbsp;CAN,&nbsp;WE&nbsp;STAGE&nbsp;OUR&nbsp;OWN&nbsp;VERSION&nbsp;OF&nbsp;THE&nbsp;POPULAR&nbsp;’70s GAME&nbsp;SHOW&nbsp;</strong></p>
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