Record and Tape Traders hits the spot

It is often remarked that there is nothing fun to do or nowhere fun to shop around school. Granted, we may not live in the most lively college town in America, but if you open your eyes to the quaint surroundings known as Charles Village, you'll discover there are some pretty awesome places to check out, only steps from campus.

One of these places is Record & Tape Traders, located in The Homewood, next door to Ruby Tuesdays. When you enter this shop, you're confronted with a very chill, inviting environment. The surprisingly friendly staff will help you with just about anything. Even more, this is a really fun shop!

This store carries CDs/DVDs/VHS for just about any band you can think of, and if they don't have what you want, they'll get it, new or used. The store itself even carries vinyl's and some hard to find CDs. As an independent store, they receive some recordings only released to these kinds of stores (e.g., Weezer's new release, The Lion and the Witch).

One very cool thing about Record & Tape Traders is that they'll let you listen to any CD in the store before you buy it! So, there's no longer the problem of spending a load on CDs and then discovering that they suck.

Also, if you become a club member at the store, not only do you get some good savings, but you can return any CD you've bought within two weeks if you decide you don't like it. The store offers 10 percent student discounts on Mondays and $1 off all new/used CDs/DVDs on Wednesdays.

If you can't find what you need, Yodelin' Pig, a subsidiary of Record & Tape Traders, is there to search all over for your request. On their business card they list, "Rare & Out of Print & Promotional CD's, LP's, 12", 45's, Pic Discs, Cassettes, Videos, T-shirts, Radio Shows, Posters, Rock Toys, Rock Books, and Autographs," as some of the things which they can dig up upon request.

You will be surprised by the wide variety of music tastes featured throughout the store, even local bands and international bands can be found.

In fact, Record & Tape Traders is a huge supporter of the local Baltimore music scene. They feature CDs of some of their employee's bands alongside numerous other Baltimorean bands. Also, they occasionally feature local bands which they believe might make it big in collaboration with the HFS radio station.

You can also sell your old CDs and DVDs at Record & Tape Traders for pretty good prices, depending upon what you are selling. They'll give you 20 percent more for your CDs if you accept store credit in place of cash.

They carry a variety of specialty tobacco products, including specialty supplies such as Ready Clean detoxifier. Be sure to check out the selection of incense in this store--there's a huge selection at really nice prices. Also, Record & Tape Traders is a licensed TicketMaster location.

Record & Tape Traders is an awesome find in Charles Village that you definitely don't want to miss. This store, which has been around Baltimore for 20 years, caters to a number of Hopkins students, and actually employs some of them as well.

Record & Tape Traders is open seven days a week (Mon-Sat 10-9 p.m., Sun 12-6 p.m.) and located just off campus.