Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
April 19, 2024

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 EMI GONZALEZ 
Gonzalez recommends heading to Sherwood Gardens if you’re looking for a beautiful spot to do some work. 

The best outdoor study spots on and around campus

Spring has finally arrived in Baltimore! Tulips are blooming, birds chirp all day and bees swarm around the quad (which isn’t always my favorite thing). The sun sets later, and people can finally enjoy the sunset instead of missing it when they walk out of Brody at 5 p.m. and head to dinner. Everyone has tucked away their winter jackets and put their sandals on, presenting their “dawgs” proudly to the world! While many aspects of spring bring me joy, one of my favorites is finally being able to study outside without needing to wear four layers and fearing that my fingers will be frostbitten. 


COURTESY OF ROWAN LIU 
The Friendship Archway at night.

A tale of two Chinatowns

The crisp air, the petrichor. Nothing feels quite as refreshing as rain after a hot, muggy day, which is simply a positive way to say I got caught in a heavy downpour on a Thursday afternoon and was cold and wet while on my hunt for dim sum in Chinatown.


COURTESY OF ARUSA MALIK
There are lots of exciting events happening in Baltimore this weekend, especially for alumni visiting Hopkins! 

Events this weekend (April 14 – 16)

It’s Alumni Weekend at Hopkins! If you’re on campus, check out these events happening over the course of the weekend. If you want to get off campus a bit, though, explore these events happening around Baltimore! 



COURTESY OF LEELA GEBO
For $5 a person, you and your group can check out as many games as you want from the No Land Beyond game library. 

Check out No Land Beyond, Baltimore's first board game bar

Over the past three years, my roommates and I have gone through a lot of game phases. We spent many hours during our quarantined sophomore year playing Werewolf, our junior year was defined by games of chess around our dining table and we consistently play Codenames (my personal favorite) whenever we have other people over. 


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
Read about the ways fellow students carve out leisure time in their busy schedules. 

Hopkins students share tips and tricks for achieving a healthy work-life balance

As Hopkins students, we are all extremely busy. It seems like every week there's a new quiz, test or 10-page assignment looming over our shoulders. As a result, skipping meals and pulling all-nighters have become normalized under the “grind” mindset. While it might feel necessary — believe me, I know — creating the right study habits for a good work-life balance is essential. 




COURTESY OF TANVI NARVEKAR
Narvekar highlighted that First Seed uses sustainable packaging when sending its food. 

First Seed offers vegan, oil-free Indian food

It would be a crime to shove all Indian cuisines into the category of “Indian food.” There are at least 10 main categories of Indian food with many other subcategories — butter chicken with naan is barely representative of the diversity of Indian food. Though, butter chicken with naan is amazing.


COURTESY OF MINGYUAN SONG
Song ran the Shamrock 5k in Baltimore this past Sunday.

Running in a sea of green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day

Hopefully, it is not boring to see my name on yet another piece about a running event because, this time, there is a celebratory twist!  Growing up as an immigrant and coming from the West Coast, St. Patrick’s Day usually meant cluelessly going to school and getting pinched on the arm for my lack of green apparel. That’s where the holiday ended for me. So, this past Sunday, the Shamrock 5K and St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Baltimore was the first time I’d seen this festival in its full glory. Honestly, I was quite excited for it — I’d heard it’s a big deal on the East Coast. 


JOHN D'CRUZ / GRAPHICS EDITOR 
If you're staying in Baltimore next week, check out these fun events around the area!

Events this break (March 17 – 26)

Congratulations, Blue Jays — you made it to spring break! For those of you leaving Baltimore, safe travels! If you’re sticking around, however, check out these events happening in the area. 


COURTESY OF ROWAN LIU
The entrance to the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station is located near the George Washington University Hospital.

A guide to D.C.'s Foggy Bottom neighborhood

Mist rolled over the marshy east bank of the Potomac River into the low-lying swampland that would become the neighborhood of Foggy Bottom. As an intern in Foggy Bottom this spring, I have the privilege of exploring one of the oldest neighborhoods in Washington D.C.



COURTESY OF MICHELLE LIMPE
From sweet to savory, Spoons offers a variety of delicious brunch options.

Make Spoons your next brunch stop!

Last weekend, craving some brunch, a group of News-Letter editors traveled down to Spoons in Federal Hill. Only a 20-minute drive or 30-minute bus ride from the Homewood Campus, the spot presents a convenient opportunity to get off campus and have brunch with friends to start off the weekend.



PUBLIC DOMAIN
Song and Wang recommend Sherwood Gardens as a beautiful destination for your run.

Tips and tricks for getting into running around Baltimore

Running can be intimidating, especially when you’re in a new place, but it doesn’t have to be! If you want to explore Charm City to its fullest, you have to escape the “Hopkins bubble.” To us, there is no better way to do that than in a pair of running shoes and with a few good friends. 


JOHN D'CRUZ / GRAPHICS EDITOR
Take a break from studying to check out these events in Baltimore this weekend!

Events this weekend (March 3 – 5)

With midterms picking up, it’s important to take some time this weekend to relax and recharge! Check out these events if you’re in need of an entertaining study break. 


COURTESY OF EMMA ANDERSSON
Andersson ordered the Pho Vegetables at Mona's Super Noodle. 

Make sure to check out Mona's Super Noodle in Hampden

After a minor Blue Jay Shuttle confusion, my friend and I arrived at Mona’s Super Noodle just in time for our 7:30 p.m. reservation. It was a Thursday night and every table was taken, save for ours — a good sign. The hostess graciously welcomed us, sat us at the open high-top table and left us to ponder over the menu. 


COURTESY OF YANA MULANI AND SHIRLENE JOHN
Mulani and John describe a weekly ritual that has come to be very important to their group of friends.

Family Dinner night: Found family and healthy rituals

Picture the AMR II communal kitchen: there’s three-day old leftovers in the fridge (not ours), a dirty pot in the sink (also not ours), freshmen flitting in and out to warm up ramen (couldn’t be us) and, finally, seven girls sitting at the table. We all just wanted to try Shirlene’s pasta. 


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