Shannon Young, who received her M.F.A. from UMBC in 2008, is one of several area artists included in “Eat Your Words,” the second exhibit presented by the Porch Project in Washington, D.C.

According to the Porch Project site, “Taken together, these artists’ works will help viewers examine their own complex relationships with food, and how the acts of preparing and consuming a meal link us all to each other and the larger world.”

There will be an opening reception for the show on May 21, and an artist discussion on June 4. For more information, click here.

You can see more of Shannon’s work at http://shannyoung.wordpress.com.

It’s 7pm. You’ve been busy all day. You don’t feel like cooking, but want something delicious and satisfying for dinner. You want it delivered in less than 45 minutes or within 15 minutes of driving and you want it to be fabulous. This is a standard feeling for most college students. We want something different. The ramen noodles, pizza, and Chinese that normally satisfies our bellies cannot satisfy us. So what are our options?

My favorite type of food is international food. I cannot narrow this down to one ethnicity or country, just a genre. I like the explosion of flavors, the spices, the textures, and the variety. Being of African descent, I am used to flavorful foods of several varieties and flavors. Foods that take more than 30 minutes to cook, foods that epitomize the phrase of “putting your foot in it” to cook it. Foods that warm your soul and make you smile. Pizza and Chinese doesn’t cut it for me. I need Caribbean, Soul food, Indian, Mexican, Italian (the real stuff), Thai, Vietnamese, Pakistani, African, Korean, Filipino, and the list goes on.

So after some investigation, I have compiled a list of a few of the many delicious international eateries in the Catonsville-Baltimore area. I made sure they were either places where I have eaten or places where trusted sources have given rave reviews. So if it’s listed, it’s delicious!

African

• Peju’s Kitchen

This amazing resturant has foods of mainly Nigerian influence. I found some foods on the menu to be similar to Ghanaian foods. The atmosphere and décor of the restaurant is amazing and there is a lounge for large parties too! Prices are under $10.

1724 Woodlawn Drive, Baltimore, MD 21244
Menu: http://www.pejuskitchen.com/menu.html
Phone: (410) 277-9779
Hours: Mon-Fri- 11am-9pm  Sat- 12-9pm  Sun- Closed

• Dukem Restaurant

This restaurant has authentic Ethiopian food right in the center of Mt. Vernon. Prices range from $8 to $15 per plate. They have live entertainment, a full bar, and patio seating for those nice Baltimore days!

1100 Maryland Avenue Baltimore, MD 21201
Menu: http://www.dukemrestaurant.com/Baltimore%20menu.html
Phone: (410) 385-0318

Asian/ Pacific

• Hanoori Town

Right next to the H-mart is a mini Asian mall called Hanoori Town. On the top floor there are two restaurants each serving Korean and Japanese food including sushi. Also delicious frozen yogurt is sold at Yogi Berry inside the “mini mall.” It is conveniently accessible on the UMBC Transit Rolling Road Line only on the weekends.

822 North Rolling Road, Catonsville, MD 21228
Phone: (410) 747- 8315
Prices are under $10 for the restaurant food

• Thai Heaven

This delicious Thai restaurant is truly heaven when you are looking for something delicious to eat. The staff is extremely friendly and they love UMBC students. If you don’t have a car, you can come here on the UMBC Transit Arbutus Line.

6413 Frederick Road, Catonsville, MD 21228
Phone: (410) 455-9239
Menu: Available on urbanspoon.com
Prices range from $5-$15

• Teppanyaki Grill and Buffet

This little unknown establishment is right next to the Super Wal-Mart in Arbutus. The food is of Japanese influence. It is a relatively new location so not much is out there about it.

3581 Washington Boulevard, Halethorpe, MD 21227
Prices are up to $10 per person

Italian/ Mediterranean

• Iggie’s Pizza

A favorite spot of mine in the city is Iggie’s Pizza in Mt. Vernon. Some of the most creative and delicious pizzas are made here. I fell in love with it the first time I went and they even sell Italian sodas and drinks! It’s BYOB and the service is amazing!

818 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD
Phone: (410) 528- 0818
Menu: http://www.iggiespizza.com/Iggies_Menu.html
Prices range from $10- $15

• Dmitri’s International Grille

This restaurant specializes in Greek, Mediterranean, and International foods. They have a reduced menu for lunch including a munchies menu as well. Food ranges from $7 to $22 so you have a large price range to work with. It is also on the way to Old Ellicott City so it would be a great adventure to get into!

2205 Frederick Road, Catonsville, MD 21228
Phone: (410) 747- 1927
Menu: www.dmitris.us/catonsville_baltimore/beef_greek_salad.html#complete

Middle Eastern

• The Helmand

This location is a recommendation I got. The restaurant specializes in Afghani cuisine and is supposed to be amazing! The menu is very exotic and it’s a popular place to get some good food! The price range is $10-$15 per plate.

806 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: (410) 752-0311
Menu: www.helmand.com

• Mughal Garden

This is probably the best Indian restaurant I have ever been to! The food is more than amazing and not too expensive at $11-20 per plate. There is also a daily lunch buffet for $8.95-$10.95.

920 North Charles Street, Baltimore MD 21201
Phone: (410) 547- 0001
Menu: www.Mughalgarden.com

Image From The Huffington Post

Mississippi succumbs to record-breaking floods.

Add another place at the table: Former-House Speaker Newt Gingrich announces presidential campaign.

G-U-I-L-T-Y, you ain’t got no alibi, you’re guilty! Billionaire hedge-fund titan convicted on charges of insider trading.

Check your baby, it might be stolen. Chinese children up for adoption might not be meeting regulations.

And, Betty White shares her thoughts.

Whether you like or dislike Lady Gaga… there’s one thing all can agree on…she’s always surprising.

This week, Lady Gaga made some surprising news. First, she appeared on American Idol as a “Musical mentor” to the final contestants.

Next she joined the world of online gaming. Zynga (the people who brought you FarmVille) announced an upcoming partnership with the eccentric performer.

Soon, players of the popular FarmVille, a game available to Facebook users, will have access to a new territory, GagaVille.

“GagaVille” will be short-lived. Zynga says it’s running the special only until May 26 to celebrate the debut of “Born This Way.” The company wouldn’t say whether Lady Gaga picked “FarmVille” to debut her songs or if Zynga concocted this unusual promotion, which will feature magical unicorns, sheep on motorcycles and other Gaga-inspired items on “GagaVille.”

The unlikely duo is sure to raise eyebrows, but certainly no higher than any of the pop star’s unusual outfits.

Looking East

UMBC’s new Asian studies program will give students the opportunity to learn about Asian languages, cultures and the significant impacts that the region is having on the world. The first public institution in Maryland with an Asian studies degree, UMBC offers a major, a minor and a certificate.

Constantine Vaporis, professor of history and the director of the new program, has been advocating for an Asian studies program on campus for many years. Recently, the right conditions—a cohort of faculty members with expertise in Asia and an increasing focus on making UMBC into a global campus—have come together to bring his dream to fruition.

As the economies and global influence of Asian nations continue to grow, both students and educators are realizing that knowledge of the region can give graduates an advantage as they begin their careers. The program aims to prepare students for various professional paths related to Asia, such as advanced academic research, international relations, international business and trade, governmental service and international law.

Noting the number of Asia-focused classes and events already happening on campus, Vaporis said that “the program will coordinate all of the things that are already going on as well as encourage new ones, and be a voice and organizing mechanism for those elements.”

The program’s value as an organizing mechanism was made clear in the days after the devastating earthquake that hit Japan on March 11. The Asian studies program was able to serve as a central coordinator for relief efforts, working with other departments to quickly organize a lecture, concert and (with the help of the Japanese Culture Club) two fundraisers.

A new course, “Asia 100,” will introduce students to the program. Taught by Vaporis, the course will also draw on participating faculty to show the different approaches to the area of study. Departments that may intersect with the program include history, economics, music, modern languages and linguistics and American studies, and potential courses that can be taught through the new program range from a philosophy course called “The Philosophy of Asian Martial Arts” to a political science course teaching “International Relations of the Asia-Pacific Region.” UMBC is also the only public university in Maryland to teach the three major East Asian languages: Chinese, Korean and Japanese.

Vaporis said that having the program on campus will open up future opportunities. For example, faculty members will have access to resources to help them create courses for the program. “We’ll be able to host faculty development workshops to infuse Asia in the curriculum for people who have the interest but maybe not the expertise,” Vaporis said.

The program will also bring speakers to campus and, Vaporis hopes, expand study abroad opportunities in Asian countries.

 (5/12/11)

There’s an old saying that bad things come in groups of three. Recent news seems to bear this out…

Last February a massive earthquake rocked New Zealand .

Then, a month later there was the tragic quake and tsunami that struck Japan.

Now two deadly earthquakes have struck Spain.

Tragedy struck as the earthquakes quickly rumbled through Spain on Wednesday afternoon. At least 10 have been reported dead and numerous people have been injured due to collapsing buildings and falling debris. The exact count is said to still be growing.

A delegate from the central government stated

The population is scared and are very afraid to return to their homes. The whole of the center of Lorca has been seriously damaged. There are thousands of very disorientated people.

The earthquakes were originally estimated at a magnitude of 5.1 and 4.5. Some geologists say they may have scored even higher on the Richter scale

Stay tuned for updates.