As I approach the end of my undergraduate career at Hopkins, I’m looking forward to new adventures and novelty. At the same time, I have also developed quite a firm place in my heart for our school and our city. Like many other students, Baltimore is the first place I have lived in by myself, independent from my family and childhood friends, so it’s safe to say that the city has seen me through a lot of moments of growth.
I wanted to share some recommendations for places that have become some of me and my friends’ favorite spots in the city, in hopes that they will help you explore and better acclimate to your new home.
1. Camden Yards
Before moving to the U.S., I was only tangentially aware of American football, and most of my baseball knowledge was limited to pop-culture references. I knew of their existences but had no idea what the rules were, how the leagues worked or what the cultures of the sports were like.
Thankfully, my home in Baltimore is just 20 minutes away from Camden Yards, the home of the Orioles. As someone who grew up attending sports games — mostly soccer — I was curious to see what the atmosphere at a baseball game was like and how it compared to what I had seen in other parts of the world.
My official verdict: it was kind of incredible. The game in itself is quite fun due to the continuous action, complicated rules and somewhat impossible catches that fielders manage to complete. Nonetheless, the real spectacle is the crowd; for however long the baseball game lasts, fans are constantly singing and chanting, participating in game-day traditions such as the Berks Live Hot Dog Race and just overall having a great time.
It’s also a good option for a solo day out — Camden Yards is such a welcoming place that it is somewhat easy to strike up conversation with someone new at the stadium. Moreover, tickets are more affordable than other sporting venues — I have purchased same-day tickets for less than $20 each. All this to say, even if you’re a baseball novice like I was, do your best to attend a game during your four years at Hopkins.
2. Wyman Park (No, not the building.)
Wyman Park is a little hidden piece of green space tucked away at the south corner of campus, in front of The News-Letter’s Gatehouse. There are two entrances to the park, and they both consist of climbing down a small set of steps into the main bowl. There are little walking paths and benches as well as a healthy expanse of green grass. While that may not sound revolutionary, Wyman Park is probably the best place to take a break and enjoy the sun (during the warmer months at least). It’s also a great place to get some outdoor exercise — take a jog by yourself, throw a frisbee with friends or just go for a walk.
Most importantly, Wyman Park is the place to go if you are a dog person. After 4:30 p.m., the park is often crowded with dogs, as members of the Charles Village community utilize the green space to give their pups some exercise. As someone who greatly misses her dog, I really enjoy watching the dogs — big, small, fluffy — exercise and interact with each other. This goes without saying, but just a quick reminder to ask before you approach.
3. KANOM Cafe
The “cafe discussion” generates a great deal of controversy and debate among me and my friends, but as someone who has been to her fair share of places in Baltimore, I don’t take cafe recommendations lightly. So, believe me when I say that Kanom — a relatively-new place by West 39th St. and Canterbury Road — is worth a visit. They have a large variety of food, serving meal-like toasts, croissants and other baked goods, as well as dessert items such as macarons. Their drink variety is also quite refreshing — I once tried a Yuzu lemonade — and they add new options at different times of the year.
Overall, it’s an interesting place to try when you need a change of scenery for studying, not to mention it allows you to support a family-owned business. Additionally, it is a little further from the center of campus (about a 10-minute walk), so it motivates you to get up and move about. I certainly recommend visiting Kanom, although I should say that there is limited seating, so it’s not really the place for a large group.
Julia Mendes Queiroz is a senior from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, majoring in Economics and International Studies. She is a Sports Editor for The News-Letter.
