Peabody celebrates the musical history of Maryland

Climbing down the magnificent staircase embellished with an intricate pattern, I set foot in the masterpiece situated in the heart of Mount Vernon. My eyes spiraled upward to admire the crystal-like glowing emerald skylight. Being part of the Walters Art Museum, 1 West Mount Vernon Place is a work of art on its own. 

Hasan Minhaj brings a new type of late show to Netflix

Netflix released the third season of Marvel’s Daredevil, the second season of Castlevania and the debut of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina this week in a slew of new shows. Among them was an unexpected surprise — Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj.

MICA hosts fourth annual haunted house in a suburban hellscape

I have never been a fan of the haunted house. Something about paying strangers to scream at you in the dark as your body threatens cardiac arrest doesn’t appeal to me. However, I was intrigued by the Maryland Institute College of Art’s (MICA) unique take on the Halloween tradition and was impressed that the production was staged by students alone. After hearing friends testify to its relatively-tame-yet-still-spooky nature, I agreed to check it out. 

Shirkers documents the recovery of a lost film

A shirker is someone who runs away from responsibilities, something I consequently became when I experienced an otherworldly form of escape in Sandi Tan’s mind blowing documentary film, Shirkers. The one hour, 36 minute documentary, labeled a “punk feminist documentary gem” by Vox Media, unfolds into a gripping story of Tan’s journey as she recovers 70 film cans that were taken from her possession.

Barnstormers shine in fall play The Laramie Project

This fall, the Barnstormers are celebrating their 100th anniversary with a production of The Laramie Project, the true story of the 1998 hate-crime murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyo. 

The Wombats show off musical prowess at Rams Head Live!

Goldsmith’s “She Stoops to Conquer” continues to amuse audiences

In 1773, She Stoops to Conquer, a comedy in five acts by Anglo-Irish playwright and novelist Oliver Goldsmith, debuted in London. 

Charm City is a must-watch for all Baltimoreans

The Parkway Theatre is currently screening Charm City, a documentary produced by Marilyn Ness that depicts the streets of Baltimore. She highlights a city that is too often overshadowed by the media’s dominating political discourse about sensitive topics on crime, police brutality, gun violence, poverty and race. 

Trixie Mattel shows off her sparkling talent in D.C.

Kero Kero Bonito plays in College Park

My roommate and I drove over to MilkBoy ArtHouse in College Park, Md. to see Kero Kero Bonito (KKB) perform on Saturday, Oct. 20. Kero Kero Bonito is a U.K. group consisting of singer and rapper Sarah Midori Perry and producers Gus Lobban and Jamie Bulled. The London trio is typically known for their eclectic and upbeat mix of electronic dance beats, pop and rap with Japanese-pop (J-pop) influences.

Brockhampton takes their unique sound on tour

On a fateful Tuesday, Oct. 16 to be exact, I skipped my one class of the day and went to a concert in Washington, D.C. with two of my friends to see Brockhampton, one of our favorite bands, for their I’ll Be There tour. I had been to a Brockhampton concert several months before, so I thought I knew how wild and uncontrollable both the fans and the general admission pit would be.

Halloween disappoints longtime fans of horror

Halloween — and I hate the fact that I’m going to have to specify whether I’m referring to the original, the remake or the holiday every single time — is the 11th movie in this franchise that simply refuses to die, coming back every few years to fill our hearts with dread of how they’re going to mess up the series next. Quite analogous to the actual slashers in this film, now that I think about it.

Documentary shows the dangers of gentrification

Gentrification is the process of turning a neighborhood to a middle-class, affluent living space through renovation. This essentially means that the less affluent community members living in those neighborhoods are displaced due to rising rents and the influx of wealthier people. Most people have no doubt nor second thoughts on such seemingly well-intentioned improvement. 

Remington’s R. House gets into the Halloween spirit

R. House hosted a Halloween-themed vintage market to support the Women’s Advocacy Coalition in Baltimore on Sunday, Oct. 14. The market, located in the garage right next to the bustling Remington food court, is home to many flea market-type events throughout the year. Its wide open space and natural light is an ideal setting for the cute, homemade goodies that vendors often sell there. 

Writing Seminars hosts the inspiring Lorrie Moore

The Writing Seminars department hosted author Lorrie Moore — recipient of The Irish Times International Fiction Prize and the 2005 PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story — for the latest event in the President’s Reading Series on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Moore read excerpts from both her fiction and nonfiction pieces, both of which demonstrate not only her fantastic talent for wordplay, but also her ability to combine both the grim and the bright into captivating and beautiful storytelling. 

Stand-up comedian Bill Burr talks about his career in exclusive interview

I had the pleasure of interviewing the one and only Bill Burr on Friday, Oct. 12. For those who don’t know, Burr is a 50-year-old comedian from Canton, Mass. His brand of comedy is filled with rage and poking fun at various aspects of everyday life. 

The importance of appreciating art’s enduring power and purpose

In detail, write out exactly what happened to you today. I can almost guarantee your summary will be dull. Passionate, powerful experiences in life happen rarely. Luckily for us, humans have created an efficient way to experience excitement and passion: art.

Seth Meyers makes a triumphant return to SNL

Following two rocky first weeks of the season, Seth Meyers’ episode was the early high Saturday Night Live (SNL) needed. The beloved former head writer and cast member brought a familiar energy to the night, looking right at home in Studio 8H. Meyers noted in his opening monologue that he worked on the show for 12 years and couldn’t even leave the building when he departed, taking his next job just down the hall as host of Late Night with Seth Meyers. 

A spotlight on Witness producer Charlie Linton

I’ve covered the past three Witness Theater showcases for The News-Letter, and I’m honestly not sure why. I never feel like I’m doing their astonishingly complex plays justice, yet I keep volunteering to review them.