Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
April 30, 2025 April 30, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

Magazine

COURTESY OF TOMMY SONG Stella may have never seen a single episode of Friends before, but she sure can draw. This is the most prized decor on my wall.

All 10 Friends Thanksgiving episodes ranked

By MINGYUAN SONG | November 10, 2023

To celebrate the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, and to do a bit of research for this magazine article, I watched every single Thanksgiving-themed Friends episode — one episode a day — over dinner with my girlfriend, Stella. What makes this ranking different from the millions of rankings out there is that I am a huge fan of Friends, while Stella hasn’t seen a single episode. So the average of our scores will hopefully provide a fresh perspective.

COURTESY OF YUYU HUANG Huang provides a list of local destinations to dine, shop and relax in this fall.

Baltimore spots to visit in fall

By YUYU HUANG | November 9, 2023

While the air cools down, an undeniable warmth seeps into the heart of Baltimore. Sunlight filters through the soft canopy of park pathways, gilding the gold and amber leaves with shimmer. At farmers markets, patrons are greeted by the comforting scent of coffee and the vividness of ripe fall fruits. The city hums with fresh produce, seafood and craft wines.  In this article, I've handpicked a list of eateries, farmers markets, festivals and leaf-peeping destinations to savor this lovely season. 

ARANTZA GARCIA / DESIGN AND LAYOUT EDITOR Lacey recommends four horror movies to watch during the ‘spooky season’ this year.

Horror movies to spook you this fall

By HELEN LACEY | November 9, 2023

Fall is marked by the most specific and iconic symbols of any season: pumpkins and pumpkin-inspired foods, changing leaves, Halloween costumes, turkey legs and, of course, horror movies.

ABIGAIL TUSCHMAN / CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Bahl analyzes how the Pumpkin Spice Latte has become a fall staple.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte takeover

By ARMAAN BAHL | November 9, 2023

Since Peter Dukes, Starbucks’ director of espresso, and his team developed the infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) in the Liquid Lab just short of 20 years ago, the PSL has become not only Starbucks’ most popular seasonal product since its launch but has become a way of life for some and a cultural phenomenon for even more. For all, though, the annual re-up of the pumpkin drink is a signal of the oncoming fall season. 

ARANTZA GARCIA / DESIGN AND LAYOUT EDITOR John provides sweet and savory recipes for you to experiment with this fall.

Three recipes to spice up your fall

By SHIRLENE JOHN | November 9, 2023

As the leaves change color and the air turns cold and crisp, it's time to whip out the pumpkin spice lattes and embrace the flavors of fall. From seasonal vegetables, like pumpkins and squashes, to the dishes that make you want to curl up by a fire, fall is a time for cozy nights and the smell of cinnamon. 

ARANTZA GARCIA / DESIGN AND LAYOUT EDITOR Gonzalez recommends musical artists and albums that are, to her, quintessentially fall.

Music that encompasses fall

By EMILIA GONZALEZ | November 9, 2023

Every season has its associated food, clothes and activities. Pumpkin spice lattes, flannels and apple picking all bring fall to mind. Yet, my most fall-esque associations will always be Bon Iver, Noah Kahan’s Stick Season and Taylor Swift’s Evermore. Hopefully, this music will bring you the same autumnal joy it brings me.

ARANTZA GARCIA / DESIGN AND LAYOUT EDITOR Kye contends that nostalgia plays a significant role in the association of Red with the fall.

Taylor Swift’s Red is the perfect fall album

By MADELYN KYE | November 9, 2023

When I think of Taylor Swift’s album Red, a few things come to mind. Structurally, I think of how the album demonstrated Swift’s potential to segue from country to pop, offering hits like “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” Beyond this, though, I think of the personal memories I have associated with Red.

ARANTZA GARCIA / DESIGN AND LAYOUT EDITOR Villarba provides a list of fun activities to enjoy this season.

My Fall Bucket List

By MADISON VILLARBA | November 9, 2023

Without a doubt, fall is my favorite season of the year. From the colder weather to the exciting holidays, there’s so much to look forward to. With the abundance of activities to do, my fall bucket list certainly grows year after year. Here are eight things that I’m hoping to get done this fall, and maybe you’ll find some things to add to your bucket list as well!

MARCO VERCH PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER / CC BY 2.0 Daum provides some ideas for fun fall activities to enjoy at home.

Cozy activities for a perfect night in

By NICK DAUM | November 9, 2023

The seasons changing offers a perfect excuse to kick back and relax on a cool night. Amid midterm season and the endless stress of college life, we all deserve a break or two. So here are some ways to spend your free time effectively as the weather turns cold, or just to have a cozy night in your dorm.

ARANTZA GARCIA / DESIGN AND LAYOUT EDITOR Tiwari explains the lasting power of the 2000s TV show Gilmore Girls.

The cultural relevance of Gilmore Girls

By SHREYA TIWARI | November 9, 2023

Gilmore Girls was never a hit during its original run. It didn’t win awards or gain a large following, but the show’s Netflix-sponsored revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, and the wave of millennial nostalgia in the past two decades sparked the show’s current fame. Its enduring cultural impact is a hallmark of Gilmore Girls itself; there’s a hard-to-place something about the show that makes it appeal to its large fanbase today. 

JESHOOTS / PEXELS LICENSE Isaly gives readers recommendations for entertainment to stream this fall.

Fall watchlist: Movies and shows to welcome in fall!

By KRISTEN ISALY | November 9, 2023

Before the season of nostalgic Christmas movies and cheesy Hallmark Channel love stories comes television with its own unique aesthetic — movies and TV show episodes that simply match September-November energy. The fall season has lots of nostalgic, light-hearted choices to pick from, so here is a list of my top movies and TV shows to watch as the weather starts to cool down. This list purposely excludes horror movies, as they are a category of their own. 

ARANTZA GARCIA / DESIGN AND LAYOUT EDITOR Liu reflects on the transitional nature of fall.

A season of renewal, a season of many faces

By ROWAN LIU | November 9, 2023

Why is it that we associate the season of fall with endings? The answer seems obvious when we place fall in context with the other seasons. It comes after the bright and warm vitality of summer, and it precedes the barren wasteland of winter. Naturally, we call that process of going from life to death “dying”. Thus, we could think of fall as a melancholic season of endings.

COURTESY OF SHAYNA FAUL Faul reflects on how the transitional nature of fall mirrors her life.

Stuck in-between

By SHAYNA FAUL | November 9, 2023

Autumn is the season of in-betweens. It is the soothing nook — a gentle space of transition — between Baltimore’s sweltering summers and its icy winters.

COURTESY OF MOLLY GAHAGEN Gahagen shares how growing up in the subtropics influenced her love of fall in Baltimore.

A Floridian’s perspective on fall

By MOLLY GAHAGEN | November 9, 2023

Coming from South Florida, I grew up experiencing an endless summer, punctuated by the winter ‘cold fronts’ every few years that would bring temperatures down into the 60s. Every day, the weather was warm, the air was humid and the sun was bright. Fall was no different, distinguished from the rest of the year only as being the second half of hurricane season and the tail end of the wet season.

STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR Ahmed describes three enriching courses offered at Hopkins.

My favorite Hopkins classes

By ARMAAN AHMED | August 30, 2023

As a rising sophomore, I remember being nervous to apply to courses as I was freshly entering college last year. I would wonder, “Is my course load too tough?” or “How can I be sure that I will like the class?” After two semesters of grappling with these thoughts, here is a list of my top three favorite courses (not in any particular order):

COURTESY OF ESTELLE YEUNG Yeung explains the importance of getting involved in the Baltimore community and various opportunities to do so.

Getting involved with the Baltimore community

By ESTELLE YEUNG | August 30, 2023

It’s important to recognize that you are a student at an elite institution and that this status carries immense privilege with it. You are likely a transient member of the Baltimore community, hopefully here to learn from residents of the city — not only from your educational institution, but from leaders in Baltimore, who are experts in their fields, as well as community members, who are experts on their own experiences.

ARANTZA GARCIA / DESIGN AND LAYOUT EDITOR Zhu offers ways new Hopkins students can tend to their mental health needs.

Mental health as a freshman

By ANGELA ZHU | August 30, 2023

It’s everything you’ve worked toward. It’s what all your high school years have been leading up to. It’s college.  College is one of the biggest transitions — a stepping stone from the more rigid high school setting to the freedom of adulthood. Here, people get a taste of independence, gain new experiences and meet a world of different people.

COURTESY OF ALIZA LI Li reveals how she budgets time for her academic and social commitments.

Balancing school and a social life

By ALIZA LI | August 30, 2023

Everything you do has an opportunity cost. More time studying means less time with friends. Going to office hours might mean missing a club meeting. Rather than feeling overwhelmed with all the options while trying to do it all, think about what matters to you most and prioritize those. 

ARANTZA GARCIA / DESIGN AND LAYOUT EDITOR Garcia details the serendipitous formation of her college friend group.

The groups that connect us

By ARANTZA GARCIA | August 30, 2023

Upon my arrival at Hopkins, it seemed that everyone around me immediately congregated into friend groups. At first, these social clusters were loose and ever-changing, breaking apart and re-forming like schools of fish. I kept hearing people say, “Join as many clubs as you can” and “Put yourself out there.” The hostess at HomeSlyce Pizza Bar told me, “It took me till junior year to find my people. Don’t worry, you’ll get there.”

COURTESY OF MADELYN KYE Kye explains strategies that helped her cope with homesickness while studying abroad in Paris. 

Dealing with homesickness

By MADELYN KYE | August 30, 2023

Even as a senior at Hopkins, I haven’t exactly mastered control over my own homesickness. Initially, this lack of proficiency was a product of not experiencing much homesickness early on in my time at Hopkins. More recently, during my semester abroad in Paris, I was overwhelmed by how isolated I felt. It’s likely that no one is completely in control of their homesickness, but over the years, I have found a few effective strategies to mitigate dwelling on it.

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