Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
December 5, 2025 December 5, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

Leisure

Leisure is the section where we highlight the intriguing, exciting and all-around fun events and activities happening in Baltimore over the weekend.

COURTESY OF LAURA WADSTEN Wadsten discusses all things plant care with a local authority on the subject.

A beginner's plant parent guide

By LAURA WADSTEN | November 30, 2022

We’ve all seen photos on Pinterest and Instagram and are probably guilty of the trend ourselves. Houseplants, both living and faux, have taken over our window sills and social media feeds — and for good reason. Studies suggest indoor plants can have positive effects on mental health and productivity. Plus the vibes are undeniably good. Who wouldn’t want to live in a jungle or at least bring a little life to a dark, generic dorm room?

COURTESY OF VICKY ZHU For Zhu, food has become a vital way to remain connected to her home since moving to the U.S.

Transforming instant noodles for a taste of home

By VICKY ZHU | November 19, 2022

Growing up, I was spoiled by my grandma’s homemade Chinese cuisine, a concoction of traditional Chinese ingredients and her own ingenious tweaks. I am convinced that her magic cuisines have satiated the microbiome of my stomach so much that I will forever crave for and associate that savory with family and happiness.

JOHN D'CRUZ / GRAPHICS EDITOR If you're sticking around for the weekend before Thanksgiving, our Leisure Editor has some great events for you to kick off your break!

Events this weekend (Nov. 18 – 20)

By LEISURE EDITOR | November 17, 2022

Happy Thanksgiving break, Blue Jays! You’re so close to finishing your semester! I hope you have some exciting plans for the break, but if you’re sticking around for this weekend, I’ve got some great events for you.

COURTESY OF GRETA MARAS Maras and Park offer a comprehensive look at some of the most notable KBBQ offerings in the Baltimore area.

The great KBBQ conquest: Which spot is best?

By GRETA MARAS and CHRIS H. PARK | November 16, 2022

Korean Barbecue (KBBQ) emerged as a popular dining option in the past decade, especially in cities with high concentrations of Korean Americans and Korean immigrants. Restaurants provide raw meat — typically sliced thin — for you to cook yourself on a grill inserted in the table. 

COURTESY OF MOLLY GAHAGEN AND MICHELLE LIMPE Gahagen and Limpe were enchanted by their experience at “I Want Your Midnights: A Taylor Swift Dance Party,” which celebrated the pop queen's many musical marvels.

Meet us at midnight at the Taylor Swift Dance Party

By MICHELLE LIMPE and MOLLY GAHAGEN | November 11, 2022

If you haven’t been living in a labyrinth, you probably know that Taylor Swift recently announced her Eras Tour, with fans eagerly anticipating her return to the stage after four new albums and two re-recorded studio albums. Our love of Swift is nothing new, as both of us are longtime fans. While we, along with every other fan, are vying for the chance to live out our wildest dreams, we know that tour tickets will likely be untouchable. 

JOHN D'CRUZ / GRAPHICS EDITOR The holiday season is starting to roll in, so get festive with these awesome events this weekend!

Events this weekend (Nov. 11 – 13)

By LEISURE EDITOR | November 10, 2022

While it certainly hasn’t felt like it lately, fall in Baltimore is ramping up as we quickly approach the holiday season! Check out these exciting events before you leave for Thanksgiving break.

COURTESY OF GRETA MARAS Our Leisure Editor explains some of the recent new initiatives she's undertaking to bolster the Leisure section.

Connect with the Leisure section in new ways

By LEISURE EDITOR | November 8, 2022

In my time as the Leisure Editor, I have had so much fun continuously discovering Baltimore through the eyes of my writers and my own new experiences. I relish the opportunity to celebrate Baltimore in any way that I can because it is such a wonderful city. 

JOHN D'CRUZ / GRAPHICS EDITOR Take advantage of the continually warm weather with this weekend's awesome events!

Events this weekend (Nov. 4 – 6)

By LEISURE EDITOR | November 3, 2022

Can you believe it’s November already, Blue Jays? Congrats on getting over halfway through the semester! I hope you had an excellent Halloween, and I hope you’re ready to spend these last few weeks of fall having lots of fun at these events!

COURTESY OF EMI GONZALEZ Gonzalez reviews her favorite pieces from the National Gallery of Art and the National Portrait Gallery, two of the many renowned art museums in Washington, D.C.

Marvel at the jewels of D.C.'s finest art galleries

By EMI GONZALEZ | October 29, 2022

Over fall break, my friends and I took a quick two-day trip to Washington, D.C. While I’ve seen many aspects of D.C., I had never before been to the two museums that I thought were worth the blisters my Doc Martens gave me on the walk over: the National Gallery of Art and the National Portrait Gallery. 

COURTESY OF GRETA MARAS Maras outlines three ways to take your average instant mac and cheese to the next level.

College classics: Remix your mac and cheese

By GRETA MARAS | October 28, 2022

I’d be lost without mac and cheese. Back in my old Wolman days when I had nothing but a microwave, an electric burner and a dream, mac and cheese was often the only midnight snack that could ever truly satiate me.

COURTESY OF JOHN D'CRUZ, GRAPHICS EDITOR Get into the Halloween spirit with these spooky events from our Leisure Editor!

Events this weekend (Oct. 28 – 31)

By LEISURE EDITOR | October 27, 2022

Happy Halloween, Blue Jays! I hope you’ve got some great costumes planned. I know being back in school after Fall Break can be spooky, but if you check out these awesome events, you can still revel in the Halloween festivities! 

COURTESY OF EMMA ANDERSSON Andersson recommends Shenandoah National Park for breathtaking views and its comforting country feel.

Shenandoah National Park is the perfect quick getaway

By EMMA ANDERSSON | October 25, 2022

Itching to explore a new place or longing for some time in nature? Venture no farther than Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Here, you’ll encounter picturesque landscapes, trails boasting panoramic views and quaint country towns that will surely charm you.

COURTESY OF TOMMY SONG Song recounts his exciting day at the Baltimore Running Festival alongside his Running Club teammates.

Dig deep and explore the city at the Baltimore Running Festival

By MINGYUAN SONG | October 24, 2022

Who would voluntarily wake up at 6 a.m. to run in 40-degree weather? Well, at least 11,000 people in Baltimore. Saturday, Oct. 15, was the 21st annual Baltimore Running Festival, which included the 5K, the 10K, the Half Marathon, the Marathon and the BaltiMORON-a-Thon, which is a 5K and a half marathon back-to-back.

COURTESY OF JOHN D’CRUZ, GRAPHICS EDITOR To help you enjoy your extra days of break, our Leisure Editor has compiled some great markets, concerts and day trip ideas.

Events this weekend (Oct. 21 – 23)

By LEISURE EDITOR | October 20, 2022

Happy fall break, Blue Jays! You’re officially halfway done with the semester, and you have earned some well-deserved time to relax. I’ve compiled some really fun events for those of you who are staying in town, so get out and enjoy this free time!

COURTESY OF JOHN D'CRUZ, GRAPHICS EDITOR Go enjoy many of the fall festivities that Baltimore has to offer this weekend!

Events this weekend (Oct. 14 — 16)

By LEISURE EDITOR | October 13, 2022

Baltimore in the fall is absolutely unparalleled. As we begin to see the leaves change and the sun backs off, I strongly urge you to relish this beautiful season and take on the city with these events!

COURTESY OF KAYLA RABEY Rabey reviews her food from the Mexican On The Run and Quinn's Ice food trucks, including the delectable carnitas pork tacos.

Hoptoberfest's showstopping food trucks hit the mark

By KAYLA RABEY | October 12, 2022

With heavy rains, cold mornings and overcast skies, fall season has officially begun! Along with these weather changes came the start of Hoptoberfest at Hopkins. The first event of the celebration, the Hoptoberfest Kickoff, involved food trucks, blow-up activities and t-shirts at the Recreation (Rec) Center. 

COURTESY OF ASHWATHA SURESH Suresh offers tips on how to have the best concert experience possible through preparation and planning.

How to navigate concerts in and around Baltimore

By ASHWATHA SURESH | October 11, 2022

I went to my first concert in Baltimore a couple weeks ago. The experience was life-changing, magical, surreal — everything from the music, the beat and the vibes made it an important memory in my college life. But as magical as the concert was, navigating through a concert was a reality that required a lot of effort and planning.

COURTESY OF GRETA MARAS Maras reviews Souvlaki, a Greek restaurant in Hampden that professes the beauty of Greek food with ease.

Satiate your soul at Souvlaki

By GRETA MARAS | October 9, 2022

If you’re looking for a way to scratch an itch for this kind of cuisine, you will win on price, location and taste if you opt for Souvlaki. Souvlaki is a small restaurant on 36th Street (colloquially known as the Avenue) in Hampden. Besides its Hampden store, Souvlaki also has locations in Dupont Circle in Washington D.C. and is about to open a new branch in Miami, Florida.

JOHN D'CRUZ / GRAPHICS EDITOR Our Leisure Editor is back for your weekly dose of awesome Baltimore events! Check out the upcoming festivities.

Events this weekend (Oct. 7 – 9)

By LEISURE EDITOR | October 6, 2022

I don’t know about you, Blue Jays, but I am more ready than ever to be out and about given all of the rain we’ve just endured. Check out the super fun events in the city as we ring in October!

COURTESY OF KAYLA RABEY Rabey walks through her recipe for cheesy chive biscuits, a family favorite that brings her joy while she's away.

College classics: cheesy chive biscuits

By KAYLA RABEY | October 2, 2022

Many of us even have special dishes and food from home that bring us memories and comfort. Here, I am going to share with you a simple recipe that reminds me of home, freshly-baked homemade foods and mornings spent rushing to high school. These easy-to-make cheesy chive biscuits are great for a quick morning breakfast, on-the-go snack or lunch food! Paired with gravy and mashed potatoes, these can also become a wonderful side dish to any dinner.

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