Explore Baltimore! Now&Then

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022 by Ronnie Gruseck

What: Music store

When: Wednesday-Sunday, 10 am-6 pm

Where: 5308 East Dr, Halethorpe, MD 21227

Reviewed By: Amelia Dunat

Now&Then has everything you could ever want and more. A friendly atmosphere, a knowledgeable owner, an interesting inventory, and access to all music genres and paraphernalia. CDs, tapes, guitars, musical electronics, DVDs, magazines, and pieces of vinyl are just some of the items that you can find here. Not to mention the Lps, record players, cassettes, 8 tracks, and movies you can find here… Seeing all the varying items feels like a flea market.

This business deserves everyone’s support- once you visit you will understand how enjoyable this store makes digging through such a massive amount of music. The employees will let you know of any running sales promotions, so you’ll have the opportunity to save some money, but everything is fairly reasonably priced to begin with. My only warning is that the place is almost overflowing with inventory, so be prepared to do a lot of digging and give yourself some time to thoroughly look through everything that interests you.

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Explore Baltimore! Graffiti Alley

Sunday, May 1st, 2022 by Ronnie Gruseck

Reviewed by: Amelia Dunat

Graffiti Alley is an L-shaped alley located between North Howard Street and 19 1/2 Street. It’s the only legal space in Baltimore where graffiti artists can create freely. This secret alley is a safe space for all local artists, where they can express their creative thoughts via spray paint on a wall with no limits (the nearby trash cans and pipes are also covered with art). My favorite thing about this place is that the art is never the same, and therefore it continuously attracts locals and tourists which supports the artists. The only rule in this “gallery” is to treat all of the artists’ work with respect. You might even see one of the artists at work!

Every so often the art-covered walls get painted over to create a fresh canvas and the process of covering it with art begins again. This space also promotes local street artists as it might connect them to and spark interest in future buyers, or commissioners. I definitely recommend visiting this alley on a warm spring day- you won’t be disappointed and even if you’ve been here before you’re sure to see a new work of art.

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Explore Baltimore! Dr. Gloom’s Crypt of Curiosities

Saturday, April 30th, 2022 by Ronnie Gruseck

What: Museum

When: Open 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. every day except for Monday

Where: 836 Leadenhall St, Baltimore MD 21230

Reviewed by: Amelia Dunat

Fiji mermaids, mummified remains, and varying re-creations of monsters are some of the peculiar items you might find on a strange self-guided tour of Dr. Gloom’s Crypt of Curiosities, located by the backroom of the Protean Book and Record Store. The artifacts are from all over the world and this display also includes reactions of characters from myths and folklore. The original “Crypt of Curiosities” was opened by Dr. Augustus Gloom in 1954. He was a strange man interested in death and bizarre creatures, so his hobbies quickly led him to accumulate a collection of unusual artifacts from all across the US.

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Explore Baltimore! Protean Book and Records

Friday, April 29th, 2022 by Ronnie Gruseck

What- music and bookstore

When- Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm

Where- 836 Leadenhall St, Baltimore, MD 21230

This place is more than just a music or book store, it is an experience! Protean Book and Records is the ideal store for anyone who is looking for a vast selection of exceptionally reasonably priced and used books, movies, and records. The store also features an eclectic array of unique items and pop culture memorabilia. This store is a must for anyone searching for a one-of-a-kind book, hard-to-find vinyl, or even a birthday gift. The owners are extremely friendly and sweet so they are more than willing to assist their customers in any way they can.

I very much enjoyed visiting this store and checking out all the books and records, as well as the little museum of weird items in the back of the store, Dr. Gloom’s Crypt of Curiosities, which features mummified and taxidermized creatures. Most of the walls are lined with books and all the records take up room on the floor. Running along the top of the bookcases are little Knick knacks and collectibles. Featured in a display case at the counter are vintage videos, and there is even a little section of the store which sells items for only $2. All the items are highly organized and checking out all of the quirky items and toys is like a blast from the past. Make sure to check out this hidden gem next time you find yourself in Federal Hill!

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