WLOY Loyola Radio

Explore Baltimore! The Lost History of Frederick Douglas

January 31st, 2022 by Ronnie Gruseck

What: Historic Attraction, Frederick Douglas’ Life Tour
When: Saturday, February 5th, 2022 from 9:00 AM- 10:45 AM and Saturday, February 18th, 2022 from 9:00 AM-11:00 AM.
Where: The tour will meet at Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park on Thames Street and conclude at Greedy Reads on Aliceanna Street in Fell’s Point.
Reviewed By: Elizabeth “Liz” Kosik

Calling all students, locals, and history enthusiasts to join Baltimore City in the debut walking tour of the lost history of Frederick Douglas! Historian John Muller will lead the tour, enlightening attendees on the life of Douglas and his impact on the Baltimore community. Ticket sales begin at $16.50 for seniors, $17.50 for adults, and students are free. Connect with history below!
Explore the Lost History of Frederick Douglas

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Explore Baltimore! Bazaar

January 29th, 2022 by Ronnie Gruseck

What: Bazaar

When: Wednesday – Sunday: 12-5pm (Maximum of 10 customers inside at a time, no appointment needed- Monday & Tuesdays only open with a private appointment)

Where: Hampden, 3534 Chestnut Avenue

Reviewed by: Amelia Dunat

Opened by a former waiter and a photo lab technician, Bazaar is by far the weirdest store I have visited in Baltimore so far- and it does an excellent job of keeping their inventory strange. If you happen to be looking to purchase animal skills, framed butterflies, antique prescriptions, books on palmistry, or taxidermized birds… Bazaar is the perfect place for you.

Located in the heart of Hampden, this little store is filled with tons of unique Knick-knacks. The store has also started to produce their own line of greeting cards and diaphanized animals in addition to hosting taxidermy workshops (which are currently not happening due to Covid). Bazaar even offers “wet preservation” on small animals (in accordance with Maryland State Laws) This store is worth a visit- especially if you are in the area!

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Explore Baltimore! Papi’s Tacos

January 27th, 2022 by Ronnie Gruseck

What: Papi’s Tacos, Taco Restaurant

Where: 3820 Falls Rd, Baltimore, MD 21211 (this is the Hampden location- Papi’s also has locations in Fells Point and Towson!)

When: 11:30 am-9 pm on weekdays, 11am-9pm weekends

Reviewed by: Amelia Dunat

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 vegan options.

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. The 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 of 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

January 24th, 2022 by Ronnie Gruseck

What: The Sound Garden, Music store

Where: 616 Thames St, Baltimore, MD 21231

When: Friday-Sunday 10 am-9pm, Monday-Wednesday, 12-8 pm

Reviewed by: Amelia Dunat

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! Read the rest of this entry »

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SOTW – Kilby Girl

December 19th, 2021 by The Professor

SONG OF THE WEEK: The Backseat Lovers – “Kilby Girl”

By Ben Ostrowski ’24

Indie-pop rock has never sounded so good. “Kilby Girl” by The Backseat Lovers comes from their first album “When We Were Friends” and has been a hit ever since, with 130 million streams and counting. The song is a hint towards Kilby Court, a popular outdoor music venue in Salt Lake City, the area the band reigns from. The Backseat Lovers wrote the song about the type of girl that would frequent the venue.

With catchy bass lines, mellow verses that build up into an upbeat chorus, and instrumental experimentation, it’s difficult to sit still while listening to “Kilby Girl.” And if you didn’t think the song couldn’t get any better and just when you think it’s over, the band throws you for a loop with a great turn around ending to once again up the energy and bring the song back to life. The experimentation can be heard with introducing some soft guitar and the harmonica to lull the song to a close.

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Explore Baltimore: Strawberry Fields

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

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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The Maine – XOXO review

November 18th, 2021 by Ronnie Gruseck

The Maine – “XOXO: From Love & Anxiety in Real Time”

Rating 10/10

Reviewed by Ben Ostrowski ’24

On their most recent album, The Maine have been tapping into our deepest, darkest, and most vulnerable feelings. “XOXO: From Love & Anxiety in Real Time” is all about unconditional love, the good and the bad.

From start to finish, you experience all aspects of a relationship and gain an understanding that it is all facets – not just the good bits – that make love so special, and that push you to be stronger in any relationship. From the lustful infatuation that defines album opener ‘Sticky’, to the warm embrace ‘Face Towards the Sun’

“XOXO: Love & Anxiety in Real Time” is some of The Maine’s strongest material, telling a powerfully detailed story while simultaneously making it so relatable. The understanding that so many emotions can exist in one single space, makes you recognize that love doesn’t make everything better, but having a rock to lean on during the rough times makes things easier. It’s a love that continues to grow with each listen until you’ve all but burst. It’s the most authentic kind of love there is, and it on that will always have you coming back to this magnificent record.

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Album of the Week: Girlfriend By The Driver Era

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!

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.