Baltimoreans (yuppies and college kids, natives and newbies) know our city is different from anyplace else. What makes us so damn special? Well, we ranked our favorite Baltimore originals — and by “original,” we mean things associated with the city. You’ll disagree with some of our choices, but we used your input (for the record, HBO’s “The Wire” was barely mentioned) and our experience to make the list — flaws and all:

1. Crabs
2. Cal Ripken Jr.
3. Natty Boh
4. Preakness
5. Hons
6. Inner Harbor
7. Domino sugar factory
8. Old Bay
9. Berger cookies
10. Johnny Unitas
11. Duckpin bowling
12. Ray Lewis

see the rest of the top 25 by

13. Johns Hopkins Univ.
14. Fort McHenry
15. Raven/Oriole pride
16. Michael Phelps
17. Lacrosse
18. Lexington Market
19. Lake trout
20. Snowballs
21. Baltimore dialect … Wooder, warsh, zink, etc.
22. HL Mencken
23. American. Visionary Art Museum
24. Charm City nickname
25. John Waters

A little more about some of our faves:

1. Blue crabs/
crab cakes
We’re touchy when it comes to crabs, in any form. You know that feeling when you read a menu that says “Maryland-style” crab cakes? Yeah, we get that, too.

•••• If you haven’t squirted someone in the face with crab juice before, you haven’t really experienced Baltimore. Alisia Chapman, b

3. Natty Boh
This marketing monster knows Baltimore and Baltimore knows Boh — there are shirts that say so. Originally brewed in Baltimore, National Bohemian beer came to market in 1885. Once Prohibition ended, Natty Boh came back with a vengeance, with the mascot we see branded around the city. Boh’s tag line, “From the land of Pleasant Living,” is a direct reflection of Baltimore life (at least one side of it). Boh is a legend. Even if it isn’t brewed here anymore.

•••• You go to any party in Baltimore and there’s going to be at least a six-pack of Natty Boh. It’s cheap, it’s good.
Sara Walters, 19 White Marsh

•••• It’s a big deal! We [Sliders Bar] have a new T-shirt that says ‘Boh’s before ho’s.’ We buy like 80 cases of T-shirts every couple of weeks. People ask what is your local beer and I give them a Natty Boh.”
Rachel Sheubrooks, 26 Baltimore

•••• It’s Baltimore’s beer. You hear that Baltimore accent and it’s downtown for Natty Boh and bologna.
Crystal Campbell, 28 Middle River

•••• Baltimore is a beer-drinking town. Natty Boh is more city. We got the Natty Boh Tower — I can see it from 95. How can you not see it?
Kristen Fick, 19 Baltimore

9. Berger cookies
The confectionary craze dates back to 1835, when George and Henry Berger came to America from Germany. Henry was a baker in East Baltimore; George was a metal worker in West Baltimore. Henry’s children carried on the Berger bakery tradition, and eventually the popularity spread in other areas of the city. Sure, people around the world can buy the cookies online, but that’s just not the same.

•••• It’s been around forever, I grew up on them. Dontay Griffin, 32 Baltimore

12. Ray Lewis
The Ravens’ first-round draft pick (26th) was the first linebacker since 1971 to be named the Super Bowl MVP (2001). Suffice it to say he’s panned out. He’s even got a restaurant in Canton: Ray Lewis’ Full Moon Bar-B-Cue. Ray-Ray has made a name for himself that transcends football and Baltimore, but he’s all ours.

•••• He’s controversial, sort of like Baltimore. … I think he lives off that controversy a little bit. Baltimore sometimes finds their hardcore people and he’s taken on this whole persona which people, have really picked up on.
Crystal Campbell, 28 MIDDLE RIVER

•••• He’s become the voice of the Ravens and a voice for Baltimore.
Sara Walters, 19 WHITE MARSH

•••• That dance — that crazy dance he does is definitely unique!
Dontay Griffin, 32 BALTIMORE

By Molly Lauryssens, special to b, b staff

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