Leisure is the section where we highlight the intriguing, exciting and all-around fun events and activities happening in Baltimore over the weekend.
While Hopkins students know and love the Remington eateries that are most proximate to us, like R. House and Papermoon Diner, I want to introduce you to a lesser known but equally wonderful spot that might serve you well this Valentine’s Day weekend.
Walking into The Helmand is an experience in and of itself: The restaurant is dimly lit, and a cozy aura immediately wraps itself around you and your companions. This year, the restaurant is celebrating a wonderful 33 years of premier Afghan cuisine in Baltimore. The restaurant was named after the auspicious Helmand River, which delivers nourishment to the dry terrain of Afghanistan.
No meal — including the other recommendations in the three-part Valentine’s Day series in The News-Letter — can hold a candle to the United States Department of Agriculture Prime cuts of beef from The Prime Rib. This is one serious meal. Live music? Check. Tuxedo-donned waiters with cheeky steak jokes? Of course.
Happy Valentine’s weekend! Whether you’ve got a date or plan to spend it with your pals, there are still plenty of great shopping spots and intriguing performances in Baltimore this weekend to keep you entertained.
The weather unfortunately hasn’t let up on us yet, but don’t let the cold stop you from having some fun this weekend! Check out these events to see what’s happening in art, food and festivities this weekend in Baltimore.
Tucked away among the row of restaurants in Mount Vernon, Allora is a relatively new bistro which opened in September 2021 that exudes the perfect balance of exquisite Roman charm and comfort. In Italian, “Allora” acts as a filler word, similar to the “likes” and “ums” of English, but it can also be used to draw attention to a particular thing such as a new restaurant.
Have you gotten a chance to try some new food since returning to campus for the semester? If you were looking for a telltale sign to venture off campus or order some delicious new food for delivery, the events happening in Baltimore this week should have no trouble convincing you to do so!
The Hopkins Ice Rink opened to the public on Jan. 14, offering some old fashioned wintertime fun to those willing to brave the outdoor temperatures. In hopes of chilling out after a busy first week of classes, I tested out the skating scene with friends.
If I had it my way, the Christmas season would never overlap with final exams, but there is one advantage to having the busiest time of the year with the most wonderful time of the year: stress-baking. Whether as a study break or a post-exam celebration, the sound of my hand mixer beating butter into creamy peaks is always a cathartic experience.
It sounds cliche, but walking into Alma Cocina Latina is like taking a breath of fresh air. The restaurant is in the center of Station North and very easy to get to — within Blue Jay Shuttle distance and next to the Charles St. and North Ave. JHMI stop.
As I get older, I find myself searching for more productive and wholesome yet educational activities to do with friends to pass the time. While going off campus and visiting new sites is also a fun and new experience, it can really eat up a lot of time and money that many college students can’t afford to sacrifice. So, what’s there to do on a Friday night that’s economical, fun, low effort and easily accessible for everybody?
We’ve made it to the final stretch before break! While next week might be spent in Brody getting ahead on assignments before Thanksgiving, take some time this weekend to explore Baltimore and enjoy the beautiful fall weather with friends.
The weather is getting colder, and the semester is getting harder. It’s time to take care of your mental health and step out of the Hopkins bubble this weekend, even if just briefly. Take advantage of this weekend’s events before it gets too cold outside!
Lately, as the air grows chillier, I’ve been immensely enjoying the fall weather during my brief trips to campus for either my weekly COVID-19 test or one in-person class; I love watching the trees’ hues gradually shift from shades of green to warm tones of browns, yellows and oranges.
Congratulations on completing the first midterm season of the fall semester! Now that Halloween is around the corner, it’s time to embrace this Halloweekend. Get out there and enjoy the spooky fall vibes with your (vaccinated) friends — and, of course, be safe.
Every October, I commit myself to watching as many horror movies as I can. I check out suspicious DVDs from the library and scour streaming platforms for hidden gems. I’ve even bought a VHS tape off of eBay to secure a particularly tricky find — anything to get into the Halloween spirit.
To celebrate this year’s Halloween season, I attended the “Buried Alive: Haunted Walk-Through Attraction” as part of the Hoptoberfest festivities.
There’s nothing wrong with having a sweet tooth... at least, that’s what I like to say.
A lot of people have gardens back home, whether it be an elaborate collection of herbs in your backyard or a single, impossible-to-kill cactus sitting on a windowsill. For me, I had to leave a full balcony of succulents behind when I came to Hopkins. Sure, they were slightly overgrown, a little bit unruly and full of spiders, but they were mine, and I had watched all of them grow from seedlings.
After eating the same grilled chicken and rice for over a week, I knew it was time for a change of pace. So, in spite of two impending midterms, I dragged my roommate and a couple of friends into the AMR III Building B basement to make Gigi Hadid’s famous spicy penne alla vodka recipe (minus the vodka).
