In case you were living in the physical world this weekend, we’re here to report that “Pokémon Go” became a thing everywhere, including Baltimore.
The augmented reality game that utilizes smartphone technology to make Pokémon appear in your vicinity is poised to lift Nintendo. Reports of bugs in the software and abuse by criminals threatened to put a damper on the hype, but there’s no question it’s a summer craze. As fellow reporter Tyler Woods put it, “You can’t take down this white whale, journos.”
Here’s how “Pokémon Go” wove into Baltimore over the last few days.

Many reports of Zubats:

Baltimore seems to be populated entirely by zubats. TIL I live in Mt. Moon #PokemonGO

— Hanover Matz (@HanoverM) July 11, 2016

Baltimore is lousy with Zubats #PokemonGO

— ✨Bwk✨ (@TheRealBwk) July 11, 2016

It melded with other weekend activities, like the Orioles games:

https://twitter.com/BFellowsPokemon/status/752339517332336640

Even the mayor got involved:

The @HealthyHarbor Initiative is doing our part to foster these Magikarp to their fullest. pic.twitter.com/toF1WGhI6C

— Stephanie (SRB) (@MayorSRB) July 10, 2016

Local businesses couldn’t ignore it:

Oscar found a wild Nidoran here at Ejji 😂 #PokemonGO #Baltimore pic.twitter.com/pVBbz4JJfj

— EJJI (@ejjieats) July 11, 2016

We found a Rattata @Pokemon lurking around our sign! Have you caught them all? #PokemonGO pic.twitter.com/6xYup4cKW9

— Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Baltimore (@CBRB_Baltimore) July 11, 2016

Well-laid escape plans were abandoned:

Fire alarm goes off at @mindgrub and rather than go to the meeting spot this whole crowd starts playing #PokemonGo pic.twitter.com/f6jeHnYT9t

— Brian Thompson (@rvtraveller26) July 11, 2016

Make fun if you want, but it brought everyone together:

Pokemon Go really bringing the world together man, I saw dudes on the corner in Baltimore city by mondawmin catching Pokemon chilling lol

— Deej (@Simply_Deej) July 11, 2016

Pokémon Go: bringing the Baltimore community together from baltimore