Lights! Camera! Hipsters!

If you’re anything like the stereotypical Hopkins student, your weekly routine is nothing if not monotonous. You wake to an alarm that you automatically challenge with a snooze and then the battle begins. After playing the how-long-can-I-sleep-until-I-will-be-late-for-class game, you find yourself on the Hopkins conveyer belt, brainlessly scurrying from class to the library to class with some form of food thrown in there if you’re lucky.

You know this routine so well you could walk your morning path with your eyes closed (though I know for a fact that the constant security alert emails do not recommend that). And if you’re anything like me, you’re absolutely bored with this mind numbing routine.

So after a week beginning with papers and nights on D-level, I finally made up my mind to escape. Now, the middle of the Hopkins workweek does not warrant an escape far-reaching in nature; my escape had to be close and convenient yet far enough that, if only for a moment, I did not feel as if I was on campus.

And what better way for some light escapism than the most traditional form of American entertainment: the movie theater. Exhausted of commercial crude humor and ignorant plotlines, I found a perfect combination of thought-provoking yet relaxing, out-of-the-box yet attainable: The Charles Theatre.

After locking down a suitable companion and picking a foreign film to satisfy my need to feel exotic, we found ourselves in a cute brick building full of handle bar mustaches and ironic T-shirts. Disclaimer — I would in no way qualify myself as a hipster and so my radar may be off, but I felt the crowd was a wonderful mix of intellectuals and people who look like they had just come from protesting the one-percent.

The atmosphere alone was warm and inviting with architecture reminiscent of the cliché 1920s movie theater vibe. While the popcorn and soda was far from cheap, the environment of chill moviegoers — with pants intentionally tucked at the end, flaunting thick-rimmed glasses — was such a refreshing change from the cynical Hopkins grind that I felt no guilt about shelling over some cash.

I immediately appreciated the small size of the theater we were assigned; it flaunted a cozy yet regal feel perfect for enjoying any movie. The Argentinian film we selected was sincerely entertaining, and I recommend Wild Tales to any film buff or international enthusiast. Paired with an intimate dining experience at a place such as 13.5% restaurant, one could easily have a romantic wine and movie night with that special someone. Or perhaps grab some killer margaritas at Blue Agave before hitting a funny flick with some friends is more of your style. Either way, this convenient escape makes the perfect hiatus, however brief, from the Hopkins monotony.