Gilberto's blog

  Meet Me: Hello! My name is Gilberto Rivera. I am here to take you around town with me as I explore Baltimore and get a hold of all the cool stuff that comes with living in this city. But just before going into that, let me tell you a little bit about the workings and why I'm doing this. Originally from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, I have grown up in an environment full of vibrant culture, family, and of course a love for sports. Currently, I am a senior at Loyola University Maryland and a player on our NCAA Division I tennis team. While tennis is a huge part of my life, I am really the type of guy who loves any sport. Be it soccer, basketball, or an even laid-back sport like beach volleyball, anything that involves moving and a little competition, and I'm there! Speaking of which, the beach-when I am not at the tennis court or studying-you usually find me near the ocean. In growing up in Puerto Rico, the beach has always been part of who I am: I love everything about the water,...

Discovering Culture and History at the Baltimore Museum of Art: A Spontaneous Adventure Sometimes, the best things in life are not planned, and that is just what happened on Sunday, October 13. I got surprised by my cousin who visited Baltimore at the same time my girlfriend was here, and we decided on spur-of-the-moment to go to the Baltimore Museum of Art. It was unscheduled, and it soon became clear that sometimes in life, the finest moments are unplanned. This museum outdid my expectations by offering so much more than the mere display of artwork: it was a journey through time, culture, and history. If you are a visitor weighing the options of moving to Baltimore, then the BMA is a good place to understand how intimately the city identifies with the local and global culture. This museum suits all tastes, from art lovers to those who aim to do something different. The Museum: A Whole World at Your fingertips The moment we stepped inside, we entered into a world of creative e...

 The Empanada Lady: A Taste of Puerto Rico to Baltimore's Inner Harbor A Taste of Puerto Rico, hidden in Baltimore's Center Discovering a fragment of your culture in a new city is like finding a piece of home where none was expected. It is one of those beautiful surprises which may warm up the heart and wake up nostalgia. Like today, I had one of those moments as I went with my girlfriend and parents to The Empanada Lady in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Being a Puerto Rican myself, it was a great thing to find out about this jewel of a restaurant that proudly serves PR dishes in a city that desperately lacks such food treasures. This is more than another Puerto Rican restaurant in Baltimore; it's a cultural cornerstone serving up an especial rendering of the traditional Puerto Rico food through its menu and in its art. Even more than its cuisine, the restaurant's role within the community speaks to unity. The restaurant is not just a place to eat. It is a story of...