Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
September 20, 2020

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 CHRIS H. PARK Andrés has opened a new taco stall in Levering Kitchens at Hopkins.

Butterfly Tacos y Tortas is a welcome dining addition

By FRANK GUERRIERO | February 6, 2020

José Andrés has plenty to be proud of. The Spanish-born chef’s restaurant empire, ThinkFoodGroup, includes 31 concepts, which span from the group’s home base in Washington, D.C., across the country to Los Angeles and way down to the Bahamas. Those spots — with offerings ranging from the haute plates at D.C.’s Minibar to open-fire paellas at New York’s Mercado Little Spain — have garnered a pair of Michelin stars and heaps of critical praise for the celebrated culinary entrepreneur.

MIOSOTISJADE / CC BY-SA 4.0 Long opening hours means Chipotle is great for those seeking late night grub.

The top five places to get food in Charles Village

By JESSE WU | February 6, 2020

I think most of us have a pretty good idea of the places where you can obtain provisions from near campus. Call them what you will: restaurants, food places, institutions, gastronomical adventure zones, eating rooms, nourishment chambers, nomz. These dining establishments are a key part of the student experience here, and ranking them is a job not to be taken lightly.

ProjectManhattan/CC-SA 3.0 Dim sum is one of the things Gupta misses most when he’s back on campus in Baltimore.

Celebrating Lunar New Year with dim sum at Chopstix

By KUNAL GUPTA | January 30, 2020

As some of you may know, this past weekend marked the beginning of the Lunar New Year. To celebrate this auspicious occasion, a few friends and I sought out Chinese food that we would normally be unable to find in the city. We settled on taking an Uber to Chopstix Gourmet, a dim sum restaurant in Rosedale.

COURTESY OF KATIE TAM Miracle on 34th Street is a tradition that helps usher in the festivities of the holiday season.

Miracle on 34th Street lights up Hampden nights

By KATIE TAM | December 5, 2019

As I’m sure many of you can relate, I wasn’t as productive as I should have been over Thanksgiving break. This past Saturday, I got back to Baltimore and wasn’t particularly in the mood to get started on the papers and projects with looming deadlines the following week. So, as the master procrastinator that I am, I hit up my friend and asked if she wanted to grab dinner somewhere near campus. 

COURTESY OF JESSE WU Friendsgiving in Baltimore was the highlight of Wu’s Thanksgiving Break. JESSE WU

Make more time for friends over Thanksgiving

By JESSE WU | December 5, 2019

After a long 12 weeks, we are finally here. Thanksgiving break and the last issue of The News-Letter. This year, since Thanksgiving came so late in the semester, it seemed that many of us needed the break more than usual. Personally, I was exhausted from the unsustainable schedule I had established that usually works in other school years.

COURTESY OF JESSE WU Dry fried pork intestine and chili mung bean noodles: Sichuanese classics. JESSE WU

Taste of home: Mixed feelings about Orient Express

By JESSE WU | November 21, 2019

In this issue of The News-Letter, Your Weekend brings you a special theme: Taste of Home. In the other article, you will hear from Aubin, who has found a warm comfort in the homey stews and fried plantains from the newly opened Sobeachy Haitian Cuisine in the renovated Cross Street Market. I, on the other hand, will revisit one of the places I have loved to hate in the two-and-a-half years of my Hopkins undergraduate career: Orient Express.

COURTESY OF JESSE WU Poisson rouge, or fried red snapper, is served with pikliz, plantains and rice. JESSE WU

Sobeachy Haitian Cuisine sparks childhood memories

By AUBIN LOHIER | November 21, 2019

Food is a large part of our lives, cultures and identities. Each culture has its own set of unique ingredients, cooking techniques and dishes that distinguish them and set them apart. It is those elements that let us feel closer to our families and ancestors. It is also the taste of those things that give us a sense of belonging and home.

PUBLIC DOMAIN The Jones Falls Trail is one of the best outdoor options near campus.

An exploration of parks and trails near campus

By BAILEY ROBERTSON | November 14, 2019

Many students may believe that the extent of nature which can be found in Baltimore are the trees immediately surrounding campus. However, there are many places nearby full of outdoorsy opportunities for those who feel like exploring nature when they’re not studying for their exams. While not spectacularly expansive, there are areas nearby which are within walking distance from campus. These options provide opportunities for running, hiking or biking depending on what you prefer.

COURTESY OF FRANK GUERRIERO The pop up at Socle served char siu steak bites and kimchi fried rice. FRANK GUERRIERO

Ekiben and SF’s Deuki Hong host pop up at Socle

By FRANK GUERRIERO | November 14, 2019

As any seasoned group chat veteran can attest to, the most difficult college endeavor is getting five friends to agree on a spot to wine and dine at on a Saturday night. It’s hard enough to burst the Hopkins bubble without a half-dozen stomachs and palates negotiating a balance between the K-BBQ cravings of one and the Whole30 ambitions of another.

PUBLIC DOMAIN Korean BBQ is a late night favorite of Gupta’s that can be found near campus.

A brief guide to late night eats close to campus

By KUNAL GUPTA | November 7, 2019

When I first moved to Baltimore a little over two years ago, I knew very little about my new home. Everything was new to me, and it was at times daunting to even think about how to begin getting to know this University, let alone the city and the people who live in it. But I have found that there’s a lot to love here in Baltimore, and one of my very favorite things about this city is the food.

Courtesy of Yoosoo Yeo

Baltimore Light City Festival illuminates local artists

By YOOSOO YEO | November 7, 2019

Not knowing much about it, I went to the Baltimore Light City Festival last weekend and initially thought it would be a display of various light installations in a small area of Inner Harbor. I guess I didn’t think much of the word “festival” because I hadn’t realized the light installations were just a small part of what seemed like nighttime Spring Fair on steroids. 

CC0 Public Domain/Petr Kratochvil The Hopkins community celebrates Halloween in a variety of different ways.

The News-Letter’s guide to a fun Halloween season

By ARIELLA SHUA | October 31, 2019

Officially, Halloween takes place on Oct. 31. Unofficially, the days surrounding Halloween are also grouped with the holiday. Some enthusiasts have long been celebrating, but there are still plenty more activities to put you in the spooky spirit.

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