Towson, Maryland is a popular place to hang out for people of all ages because of the variety of entertainment offered. The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about entertainment in Towson is Towson Mall. Towson Mall is a fantastic place for hanging out, but people aren’t aware of the many hidden gems in Towson. A hidden gem is a restaurant, store, or entertainment center that is not always noticed because of location or unusual exterior, but is reviewed as a phenomenal place to experience. If the place is a restaurant, the food is regarded as quality and service exceptional. The same applies to shops and entertainment centers, but in terms of product stock and enjoyment of the costumer.
Three hidden gems that are found relatively close to each other are Record and Tape Traders, Trader Joes and Ukazoo. Record and Tape Traders is a small shop with a vintage feel that sells music, movies, vinyl records, games, clothing and items related to pop culture. What makes Record and Tape Traders so special is the welcoming feel and transportation to the many eras of the music. Reviews of the store say that Record and Tape has a fun, “funky” feel to it, a good selection of new and used items and offers some “not so mainstream” items. Trader Joe’s is about as hip as grocery stores come. The employees at Trader Joe’s are mostly younger people with a keen sense of style. The food offered is delicious as well as unique in terms of food offered at grocery stores and much of it is organic. The floors are made of wooden planks, and the overall feel is calm as opposed to the hectic rush of most grocery stores. Ukazoo is a bookstore tucked back behind a line of other shops, of these shops is the famous Smoothie King. Because NDP girls are caught up waiting in line at Smoothie King, they may not realize there’s a quality bookstore behind it. Ukazoo offers predominantly used books in its stock selection which is great for the client because not only are they cheap, but Ukazoo also only buys books in good condition. This quaint bookstore is decorated with fun, relevant pieces of art like a chalk victim’s body outlined on the ground in the mystery section. The atmosphere is comfortable and quiet as any bookstore should be and its employees are always kind and willing to help.
Bread and Circuses Bistro is an outdoor restaurant with rave reviews. The décor of Bread and Circuses is quirky, with wooden horse head busts and paintings hanging all around. Customers do not visit for the setting, because the setting isn’t the most amazing; what they do visit for is the delicious food. The menu consists mostly of meat, seafood and sandwiches. Reviews of this bistro exclaim repeatedly how wonderful the food is and that the live music and open mike nights are always fun. Another hidden gem restaurant in the Towson area is called Pollo Amigo. One anonymous reviewer said, “The chicken is spiced just right and juicy; and the sauces that go with it are delicious. I like their chicken so much that I have never tried their Mexican dishes, but I am sure they are wonderful as well.” Pollo Amigo is famed to have some of the best chicken available in Towson, but is a hidden gem because of its location. Many people have not heard of it.
Towson has many more places to experience than just Towson Mall. There are dozens of hidden gems throughout the area, and one simply has to take the time to look for them. Advice for stumbling on these gems is to take that little back road or see what’s around the bend. That is where these places are located.