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Explore Baltimore! Papi’s Tacos
Thursday, January 27th, 2022 by Ronnie Gruseck
What: Taco Restaurant
Where: 3820 Falls Rd, Baltimore, MD 21211 (this is the Hampen location- Papi’s also has locations in Fells Point and Towson!)
When: 11:30am-9 pm on weekdays, 11am-9pm weekends
If you are craving Mexican food, do not think about going anywhere but Papi’s! Their menu is packed with tons of Authentic Mexican cuisine as well as several Americanized and even vegan and gluten free options. There is also a delicious brunch menu if you happen to go between 11:00 and lunchtime! From small appetizers like elote, tostadas, chicken tortilla soup, to entrees like chilaquiles and a build your own taco bar, Papi’s will satisfy all your cravings. The service was fantastic, and the waiters were knowledgeable and helpful regarding the menu. Although this place is on the small side, the outdoor seating is very cute and nicely decorated and the atmosphere enjoyable. I ordered the birria tacos and they were scrumptious. They beef was juicy, and the meal overall was filling. They were topped with cilantro, onion, jalapeno crema, and avocado, but you can also customize them to your liking. The birria consommé that accompanied them was also delicious and was perfect for dipping your tacos in. Another benefit was the massive bag or tortilla chips you receive when you are seated to munch on with salsa as an appetizer. I will without a doubt be returning to Papi’s Tacos to fulfill all my Mexican food cravings (However, before paying your check make sure to check the receipt for an automatic 20% gratuity if you dine in)
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Explore Baltimore! The Sound Garden
Monday, January 24th, 2022 by Ronnie Gruseck
What: Music store
Where: 616 Thames St, Baltimore, MD 21231
When: Friday-Sunday 10 am-9pm, Monday-Wednesday, 12-8 pm
Located in the heart of Fells Point, Sound Garden is a cool little music store with a variety of funky items for sale and an ample collection of used and new music. It is a wonderful place to pick up an awesome gift for someone’s birthday, or just spend some free time browsing all the store has to offer. Since 1993 they have been growing their inventory and now have over 10,000 new and used CDs and DVDs in stock. Not only do they sell newly released music, but they also carry various amounts of imported music- regardless of how rare or obscure what you are looking for may be. Soundgarden is bound to have it!
They also carry releases from smaller independent labels and local artists- all for reasonable prices! If you are not able to find what you want, special orders can be placed at no extra charge, and it takes about a week for them to arrive. You are also able to listen to anything in the store before you buy it, all you must do is ask someone working in the store and they will assist you! Soundgarden does an excellent job at making buying music as easy it can be– the ordering and pickup process is quite simple, and the staff is incredibly helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable. Beyond CDs and DVDs, Soundgarden has tons of vinyl, T-shirts, stickers, patches, socks, card games, collectable figurines, and magnets. They even have their own parking lot for customers, and host live events! Artists like Beach House and the Goo Goo Dolls have played here before, but unfortunately Covid has put this on hold. Next time you find yourself in Fell’s point you should check out the Soundgarden- you will not leave the store empty-handed!
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Explore Baltimore: Strawberry Fields
Friday, December 3rd, 2021 by Ronnie Gruseck
What: Antique Shop
Where: 803 W 36th St, Baltimore, MD 21211
When: Thursday-Sunday- 12-4 pm Tuesday/Wednesday- 12-5 pm
Reviewed By: Amelia Dunat
When I first entered Strawberry Fields it just looked busy and cluttered. However, upon further inspection, this little shop was packed with utterly unique finds and tons of little knickknacks to dig through. Even if you are not looking to collect or purchase anything, it is always fun just to look through everything since there is always something new each time you return, and every item is priced low. You can find items like costume jewelry, mirrors, vintage art, sunglasses, figurines, vintage magazines, CDs and vinyl, Vintage décor, pins, beads, brooches, and even toys like Beanie Babies. The owner is also incredibly kind, greeting every customer at the door. She is very enthusiastic about her inventory. If you are looking for anything specific, you can leave your name with her, and she will give you a call if it turns up. The last time I went she was standing outside the store asking customers and even strangers on the street to guess her age- and if they got it correct, she gave them a $25 gift card to purchase anything they want in the store. She even gives a 10% discount to students and teachers! It is impossible not to like Strawberry Fields or its friendly owner, and it is always so much fun going in because you never know what to expect!
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Album of the Week: Language & Perspective by Bad Suns
Wednesday, December 1st, 2021 by Ronnie Gruseck
“Language & Perspective” by Bad Suns
Reviewed by: Ben Ostrowski
Pop songs can take you on a journey in 3 minutes, and this is exactly what this song does. It sounds catchy, it’s simple and quite lovely.
Bad Suns are a Californian-based quartet whose slick hooks earned them a spot on today’s song of the week! Their song “Cardiac Arrest” was released with their album “Language & Perspective” and was an instant hit. One of the song’s greatest attributes is its echo, especially during the intro. This reverberating into lick builds up to a neo-new wave guitar fill and an insanely catchy drum beat that will stay stuck in your head for weeks.
With finals going on, you’ll need some catchy and relaxing music to calm you down, and Bad Suns will deliver just that every single time.
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Album of the Week: Girlfriend By The Driver Era
Wednesday, November 17th, 2021 by Ronnie Gruseck
Girlfriend by The Driver Era
Reviewed by: Isabelle Braudakis
Rate: 9/10
RIYL: Wallows, HUNNY, Kid Bloom, Lovelytheband, Ruel, Bad Suns, Hippo Campus
Girlfriend by The Driver Era, released on October 18, is the duo’s second studio album. Based in Los Angeles, Rocky and Ross Lynch crafted this R&B/Pop-Rock/Alternative record. The duos sprinkle bits of so many genres in their music. Starting with the first track, Heart of Mine, right from the beginning this song is a perfect example of genre-blending. This record has the ability to mix in different genres and styles without making anything seem mismatched.
This album has earned its place in my personal top albums for 2021. The Driver Era does such an amazing job at creating such an addictive sound. Creamy bass lines and smoothing vocals help create a very vibrant and electric experience. One of my favorite bands of all time, you should give them a listen!
Try out “Flash Drive” and “Heart of Mine” from this album!
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RED SAMMY Live at Starbucks this Saturday, Nov. 13!
Wednesday, November 10th, 2021 by Ronnie Gruseck
Our second live show since COVID-19 takes place again on Saturday, Nov. 13 from 8-10 p.m. at Starbucks, this time with RED SAMMY where there will be a live showcasing of RED SAMMY’s new album Vultures! Lead singer and songwriter Adam Trice from Baltimore, Maryland performs with a variation in instrumentals, where the cast of talented musicians that work alongside him ranges from a full rock band to a quartet string ensemble. This new release contains a blend of rock, folk, country, and blues songs, perfect for this Saturday as we approach a more sobering time with colder weather! RED SAMMY has made previous appearances at WLOY Loyola Radio.
We are excited to have him back again and have the first chance to see his new collection of songs live and in person!
Follow RED SAMMY
Facebook: @redsammyband
Instagram: @red.sammy
Twitter: @redsammy_band
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Album of the Week: This Thing Called Living by Eloise
Monday, November 8th, 2021 by Ronnie Gruseck
“This Thing Called Living” by Eloise
Reviewed by: Aliyah Smith-Bradley
Rate: 9/10
RIYL: Billie Eilish, Laufey, Lizzy McAlphine
Released on May 31, 2019, this album is the perfect album for chill studying vibes. The Alternative-R&B young artist recorded this first album which has been shelved since she was a teenager. She is currently producing new singles. The most recent released single “Hungover” is her new comeback song released in 2021.
My personal favorite song off this album is “Left Side”. Popular Artist Billie Eilish did a short cover on her snapchat of this song which is where Eloise got her popularity from. Eloise wrote this song for the reason most artist do, a broken heart. “Left Side” describes the weird feeling of being in the gray zone of a relationship. The mellow jazz tunes tell the story of a breakup. The artist sweet vocals makes this a great song to listen to while multitasking and studying.
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Berry the Band Interview
Saturday, November 6th, 2021 by Ronnie Gruseck
Music Director, Anna Markulis, gets to know Berry! The band comprised of guitarist/vocalist Joey Lemon, drummer Paul Goodenough, and bass player Shane Bordeau has been together for nearly 20 years now, and we cover how they came to be and their journey all over the country.
Instagram: @BerrytheBand
Facebook: /BerrytheBand
Bandcamp: BerrytheBand
YouTube: BerrytheBand
Website: berrytheband.com
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Acid Dad Interview
Friday, November 5th, 2021 by Ronnie Gruseck
Trevor from psychedelic garage rock band Acid Dad and our Music Director, Anna Markulis, chat about tour life, fun facts, and touch on Acid Dad’s long-awaited album Take It From The Dead. Acid Dad is currently on their US tour.
Record label: Greenway Records
Youtube: Acid Dad
Instagram: @AcidDad666
Twitter: @AcidDad666
Facebook: Acid Dad
Soundcloud: Acid Dad (NYC)
Spotify: Acid Dad
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QueenEarth and Modern Nomad Live at Starbucks this Friday, Nov. 5!
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021 by Ronnie Gruseck
Our first in-person show since COVID-19 put our events on pause. Our first show will include two artists very familiar with Baltimore and Loyola! QueenEarth worked at WLOY and is a grad school alumnus, while Modern Nomad’s alma mater is Towson University!
QueenEarth (Missy Smith) is an artist and educator whose breadth ranges from writing/composition to diversity and inclusion to music and arts. She also hosts and travels with Queercore, a concert series that highlights Queer stories through storytelling, visual, and performing arts. Her lyrics are beautiful in their simplicity and their word choice, in which all of her pieces stay true to her roots and enrich the learning experience of listeners.
Modern Nomad (Tom McLean) began recording songs in his bedroom in Baltimore at the age of 16. He recently released a new music video “Baby, I Love You” and another album after Bardo! His music can be defined as cosmic and groovy indie-pop that makes listeners feel good after finishing his songs.
Come to Starbucks from 8-10 pm Friday, November 5 to experience this double bill of acoustic awesomeness! Both are smooth and creative artists that complement each other, and now you can now finally see them in person!
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