B in Transit

The Loyola Alumni Chapel is one of the most important places on campus to me, not just because it’s a religious space, but because of how deeply connected it is to my own experience at Loyola. I’ve been working with Campus Ministry for the past two years, and through that involvement, the chapel has become a place where some of my most meaningful college memories have taken place. It’s a space tied to service, reflection, community, and moments that have shaped who I am during my time here at Loyola.

What makes the chapel special isn’t just the building itself, but the traditions that happen inside of it. I’ve experienced the chapel through two of our most important Campus Ministry events, like Lessons and Carols and the Mass of the Holy Spirit. Both of these masses bring the Loyola community together in such a powerful way. Lessons and Carols is our Christmas prayer service with music, scripture, and a candlelit atmosphere. This always feels especially reflective and emotional. It’s one of those events that forces you to slow down, listen, and be fully present, which feels RARE in the middle of a super busy semester. The Mass of the Holy Spirit, on the other hand, marks the beginning of the school year and brings together students, faculty, and staff with a shared sense of purpose. Being part of this tradition makes the start of the year feel comfortable and purposeful.

I personally have seen how the chapel is a living tradition rather than just a physical location, thanks to Campus Ministry. People go there for many different reasons. While some regularly attend Mass, others only come for bigger events, and some even just stop by for a quiet moment in between classes. There is an unspoken understanding of respect and silence, no matter the reason someone comes in. This is an example of intangible cultural heritage because everyone seems to know these behaviors already, even though they aren't stated anywhere. Being a part of Campus Ministry has improved my understanding of the vulnerability of traditions like these. Traditions only last in a college setting, where time is very limited and priorities are always changing, if people choose to participate. Because faculty, staff, and students take part in it, the Alumni Chapel maintains its importance. The traditions, music, and times spent together would slowly disappear without that involvement from the school. The chapel is more than just a place of worship for me. It means service, community, and a reminder to stop and think. It has impacted my Loyola experience so much, and I'll remember it even after I graduate. 

I went on a spontaneous weekend trip to Sweden, and it ended up being one of the most memorable trips I’ve ever taken. We flew out of JFK Airport to Stockholm, and the flight was around 8 hours, which honestly flew by because I slept almost the entire way. When we landed, getting into the city was incredibly easy. Stockholm’s airport train took us straight into the area where our hotel was, and we immediately knew how efficient and organized this trip was going to be. As soon as we got off the train that morning, we were welcomed with fresh cinnamon rolls and coffee, which are absolute staples of Swedish culture. Cinnamon rolls are such a big deal in Sweden that they even have a national holiday called Cinnamon Bun Day, which is celebrated every year on October 4. I can confidently say these were the best cinnamon rolls I have ever eaten in my entire life. I noticed how seriously Sweden takes coffee and pastries, especially cinnamon rolls. It's more than a snack, it’s a daily cultural ritual called fika that teaches you something important about Swedish life.

Since it was such a short trip, we made sure to see as much as possible. We spent some time walking through Gamla Stan, which is the old town of Stockholm. We got to explore the cobblestone streets, all the colorful buildings, and small local shops. The city felt very walkable, and everywhere we went felt safe and welcoming. Everyone we interacted with was genuinely so kind, and people were excited to chat with us once they realized we were American. There’s a strong sense of openness and warmth in Swedish culture, where people value hospitality and community.

One afternoon, we stumbled upon a pub called The Pickwick Pub, and from the moment we walked in, we felt completely at home. We were greeted with such open arms and decided to grab a beer and look at the food menu. As a very picky eater, I was slightly panicking when I saw the menu, so I played it safe and ordered a pretzel with mustard on the side. It ended up being a 10/10, hands down one of the best pretzels I’ve ever had. We left to explore some more, but later that night, we found ourselves right back there for dinner. That’s when I tried Swedish meatballs, served with mashed potatoes, gravy, and lingonberries, which are traditionally paired with the dish. The lingonberries are supposed to add a tart taste that balances the taste of the meatballs, but they were not my favorite, so I pushed them aside. I was nervous at first, but the meatballs ended up being SO good. I loved it so much that I ate Swedish meatballs every single day I was there. We actually went back to Pickwick every day of the trip, and by the end, the servers recognized us right away and would seat us in the same spots we sat at the bar. That sense of familiarity and community really reflects how the Swedish culture is.

While exploring, we visited the Royal Palace of Stockholm, which is one of the largest palaces in Europe and is still actively used by the Swedish royal family today. The palace includes over 600 rooms, multiple museums, ceremonial halls, and royal apartments. Walking through it gave us a deeper understanding of Sweden’s monarchy and long history. We learned about royal traditions, past kings and queens, and the role the monarchy still plays in modern Sweden. Seeing the palace in person made it clear how much pride Sweden takes in preserving its history. Inside, you are able to walk through the grand state apartments, see the different royal artifacts, and even watch the changing of the guard, which happens every day. Tickets to enter the palace are around 200–220 SEK for adults, which is roughly around $18–$20 USD. They also offer student discounts!

Since ABBA is one of my all-time favorite music groups, the ABBA Museum was an absolute MUST while we were in Stockholm. The museum is very interactive and walks you through the band’s rise to fame with all the original costumes, music, videos, and even opportunities to sing along (which I did the ENTIRE time we were there). Adult tickets cost around 239–329 SEK, which is about $22–$31 USD, depending on the ticket. It was COMPLETELY worth it, especially if you love ABBA or just appreciate how much of an impact they had on the music world.

One of the most unforgettable visits on the trip was the Vasa Museum, which holds a MASSIVE 17th-century warship that sank on its first voyage and was recovered centuries later. Seeing the ship up close was actually unreal, especially knowing how well preserved it is after all that time. Adult admission costs about 195–349 SEK, which is about $18–$33 USD. The museum is SUPER informative and easy to spend a lot of time in without getting bored. They have signs to read all over about the history. They also have a lot of glass cases that are filled with original pieces from the ship. At first, I didn't think that I would enjoy this museum, but it ended up being one of my favorite parts of the trip.

For dinner one night, we decided to switch things up and went to Eataly Stockholm, which is located inside a beautifully restored former cinema. I was really surprised that they had an Eataly here! The building itself was incredibly gorgeous, with high ceilings and classic architectural details that made it feel special. I ordered spaghetti with burrata, which cost around 190–220 SEK, or about $17–$20 USD, and it was absolutely worth it. The pasta was so comforting and a perfect change from eating Swedish meatballs every day.

Every Sunday, my friends Emma, Elizabeth, and I try to plan something fun to do for what we call “Sunday Funday.” It’s our way of making sure we actually get out, explore Baltimore, and do something different instead of letting the weekend slip by. One Sunday, we decided to spend the day at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, and it ended up being one of our favorite Sunday Fundays so far. The aquarium consists of various award-winning exhibits, including the Amazon River Forest, animal rescue center, Atlantic coral reef, Australian wild extremes, Blacktip reef, Harbor wetland, and living seashore. There are a lot of stations around the aquarium that allow children and adults to partake in hands-on exhibits, like touching jellyfish and horseshoe crabs!

I’ve been going to this aquarium since I was little with my family, so coming back now felt both familiar and new at the same time. Walking through the entrance brought back so many memories, but experiencing it again as an adult made me appreciate it in a completely different way. The National Aquarium is located right on the Inner Harbor and is one of the most well-known attractions in the city. It’s home to thousands of animals from all over the world, including sharks, dolphins, tropical fish, reptiles, birds, and rainforest species.

We took our time walking through the exhibits to watch the animals and actually learn instead of rushing through. We ended up spending hours walking around without even realizing how much time had passed. One of my favorite parts of the entire aquarium was Shark Valley. Sharks have always been my favorite animal, so standing right up against the glass and watching them was amazing. We watched the sharks swim next to the glass for a longggg time, looking at their slow movements. By maintaining the marine food chain and ecosystem, these massive apex predators play such an important role in our natural environment.

Another highlight was the Amazon Rainforest exhibit, which actually felt like you were stepping into the rainforest. The space was warm and humid, filled with all types of trees and plants, little ponds, and animals all around us. We walked along elevated paths and up and down stairs, surrounded by tropical plants, and we even got to see the sloth! It was one of the best parts of the aquarium, and it lets you learn so much about the Amazon’s biodiversity. We also definitely spent a lot of time in this exhibit because it is truly breathtaking.

In November, my friends Elizabeth, Emma, Greta, and I spent a fall afternoon at the Baltimore Taco Festival, and it turned into one of those days that felt easy and fun from start to finish. The festival brought together food vendors, music, performances, and crowds from all over the city, completely filling the space and giving it a high energy feel. It was so busy, loud, and full of life in the best way possible.

Once we got inside, we walked around for a bit to look at everything they offered before jumping into the food. The ticket system made the whole experience so easy. The ticket for the event was $25, and we paid another $20 and received five food vouchers, with each food item costing one voucher. When we wanted more food, extra tickets were only $2, which made it easy to keep trying new things. Each ticket also came with a free drink voucher for a margarita, beer, or mixed drink, which was a nice bonus!

As we made our way through the festival, we shared food and stopped at different vendors along the way. The tacos we tried were pulled pork topped with lettuce, cotija cheese, tomato, and Valentina hot sauce from Kacey's Kitchen. They were simple but had so much flavor. Greta got the famous jerk chicken taco that came with slaw and a lime crema, and she said it was AMAZING. Trying different vendors instead of sticking to just one made the whole experience more fun and adventurous.

One of the highlights in between tacos was the elote from the Corn Lovers stand. The street corn was warm and covered in cotija cheese and Tajín seasoning, which was perfect for sharing between the 4 of us. It felt like classic festival food and fit right into the day. Standing around while eating elote as people danced past us made everything feel SO energetic. It felt like such a community.

Walking through the festival, there was always something happening. Music played in the background, and performers kept people stopping to watch and cheer. It made the festival feel bigger than just food and added to the excitement of being there. The crowd filled the space, vendor tents lined the area, and everything felt so lively and social without it being too overwhelming. We got to watch the Lucha Libre match, which is a theatrical Mexican wrestling show. The one guy was so lively with the crowd, making sure to get them pumped up.

Between eating, we walked through vendor tents selling clothes, accessories, and handmade items. Looking around gave us a break to digest and made the festival feel more like a street market than just a food event. It was nice to slow down, look around, and take everything in.

We ended the day with dessert. The churros were one of the BEST things we ate all afternoon. They were so warm, crispy, and covered in Fruity Pebbles and whipped cream. They were fun, colorful, and way better than we all expected. They had a lot of other options like Nutella, strawberry shortcake, Fruity Pebbles, and Oreo. We all wanted to get the Nutella churros because who doesn't love Nutella? Buttttt they were sold out...

Last but not least, Guapos Coffee House in Beach Haven, NJ.

If you know me, you know Guapo’s Coffee House in Beach Haven is my entire personality in the summer. This is hands down THE BEST coffee on the island. The second you pull up, you already know it’s going to be good because the line is literally wrapped around the corner… like always. But honestly? It is worth every second. And lucky for me, my friends work there, so I get to squeeze right in and grab my drinks without the hour-long wait (don’t hate me). If you’re visiting, here’s my insider tip: get there early. Like wake up with the birds early or prepare to stand in a line that tests your patience because tourists are brutal... Now let’s talk coffee, because Guapo’s doesn’t miss. My go-to order is the Salty Dog, which is around $6.50. It is basically heaven in a cup. It's sweet, salty, smooth, and just the right amount of bold and topped with blue spirulina cold foam and a sprinkle of sea salt. But the Coco Jo, which is also about $6.50–$7, depending on size, is another amazing option. It’s chocolatey, coconut-y, and tastes like vacation in a cup. If you’re someone who needs your caffeine to feel like a dessert, Coco Jo is your soulmate. If you are not a coffee lover, do not worry, they have smoothies and juices!

And the food? Amazing. Their bagels come from our local bagel spot, The Bagel Shack, so you already know they’re good. Whether you go classic with cream cheese, load it up with bacon and egg, or grab one of their breakfast sandwiches, everything hits. They’ve also got muffins, pastries, banana bread, little breakfast bites, and even healthier options if you’re trying to work on that summer body! My favorite food option is their ricotta toast, which is so fresh and a great healthy option, and it is around $12. The vibe inside Guapo’s is just as good as the menu, beachy, chaotic, and full of people who look way too happy for 7 a.m. Guapo’s is dog-friendly, so bring your dog along for a pup cup and snap a cute pic to add to their iconic dog Polaroid wall, which is basically the hall of fame wall for beach-town dogs. But the real secret ingredient is the amazing people who work there. And I’m not just saying that because my friends work there. They’re genuinely some of the nicest, most patient people EVER, even while cranking out 400 coffees before noon.

Next up on the "Best Coffee Spots" we have The Local Market & Kitchen located in Ship Bottom, NJ

Living in LBI automatically makes you a coffee connoisseur. With new coffee shops opening up every summer, making sure to try all of them is ESSENTIAL.

How You Brewin- Surf City, NJ

How You Brewin is probably the most well-known coffee shop on LBI, and it definitely lives up to the hype. The vibe is super relaxed and beachy, with bright walls, big windows, and plenty of space to sit down if you want to hang out for a while. It always feels like there’s this perfect mix of locals and vacationers stopping in, which gives the shop a fun, lively energy. It’s the kind of place that feels welcoming whether you’re grabbing a quick drink or planning to stay for hours. My go-to order here is a 24 oz. vanilla cold brew with oat milk and breakfast avocado toast. I spend around $6 for the cold brew and $13 for the toast. The cold brew is smooth, refreshing, and not too sweet, which makes it the perfect drink for a hot summer morning on the island. They also have a big menu, so there’s always something new to try, but I always find myself coming back to that cold brew. One of my favorite things about How You Brewin is how people treat it less like a pit stop and more like a community space. No one is rushing out the door, and people actually sit, talk, read, or just hang out. Whenever I come home during the school year, I like to stop in to get some work done. Since it’s the off-season, it’s usually quieter and less crowded, which makes it a great study spot. In the summer, it’s a little busier, but that just adds to the energy and charm. Growing up on LBI, How You Brewin has always been the spot to go. They have three different locations, with all different vibes, so it's nice to change it up here and there!