(Reader Leslie Clowers took the days-of-the-week approach to telling us, not the State of the Union, but the State of her Baltimore block, which happens to be 1400 Boyle Street. There’s still time to send us your submission — you’ll get a bag of Zeke’s coffee if we choose yours to re-print over the next week or two. All photos accompanying this piece, by the way, were shot by Noelle Wigginton, a student at the Maryland College Institute of Art.)

Monday

 About every other rowhouse has a canine resident, and on the morning walk we see broken glass scattered on Harvey Ave., where a car was broken into the night before, but none of us were awakened by it. Most of us have beloved parking pads and this is likely some unfortunate schmuck from the block over. No one is really worried about it.

Tuesday

Neighbor Don hangs out his extensive jam collection to dry. . .  he’s got Miller Light ones and ones with dogs riding surfboards. They are colorful and hang proudly along the length of his parking pad, punctuated by one pair of underwear.

Wednesday

Us and the neighbors on the end of the block are from the Midwest and we run into each other outside. We discuss the other neighbors on the block and admit that sometimes we have trouble understanding the accents of ones that have lived here forever. There are at least five that have lived here since the 60’s. Everyone else seems to be working 20-30 year-olds who have lived here for at least a year.

Thursday

Incessant banging from the house being renovated across the street. They are adding a rooftop deck and we are surprised. This is the first active construction we have witnessed in a year. The house next to it has old chipped baby blue painted Formstone.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday

The block is loud with idiots yelling outside the two bars at the end. The tiny street is choked with cars from people eating or drinking on Fort (we don’t have permits or parking restrictions.) The constant whine from the fire station (Engine Co 26, Truck Co 6) is sometimes overwhelming . . . and makes for a hard-fought night of sleep, with the addition of police/medic helicopters.

Peace is elusive, but can be found: up on the roof, looking out over the harbor lights, drink in hand.

— To see more of photographer Noelle Wigginton’s work check out her website. Here’s a gallery with more of her shots of this block.