UMBC Transit’s stop by the Hippodrome Theatre
Aboard a shuttle bus provided by UMBC Transit, students are now offered a free ride to downtown Baltimore. There are so many fun things to do, great places to eat and cool places to see, one of them being the Hippodrome Theatre.
From the Maryland Science Center to the highly acclaimed National Aquarium, downtown Baltimore sure has a lot to offer. Luckily for UMBC students, a ride downtown is made easily accessible thanks to UMBC Transit.
“The [downtown] route began operation just this fall semester,” said Joseph Regier, executive director of The Commons and UMBC Transit. With this reliable shuttle service, students should have no trouble at all scoring a short and safe ride to see what the buzz is all about downtown.
“The ridership number for the fall semester is just over 10,000, which is much higher than expected for a new route,” said Regier. Clearly, this new destination was quite a hit this past semester and is sure to be for semesters to come.
One of downtown Baltimore’s main attractions for entertainment is the Hippodrome Theatre, which is just a few blocks from the Greene Street and Lombard Street stop. During the spring semester, the beloved classics Annie, Swan Lake, Chicago and Dirty Dancing will be showing in this artistically structured showplace.
Located on Eutaw Street, this theater is large enough to entertain about 2,300 people. It was renovated in 2004 after closing in 1990 due to an unfortunate loss of business. Back on its feet, the Hippodrome Theatre is now a part of The France-Merrick Performing Arts Center. Just like before, it’s known for hosting countless outstanding performances as well as special events including proms and wedding parties.
The Hippodrome Theatre is a one-of-a-kind architecture makes it an ideal place to enjoy a show-going experience surrounded by beautiful scenery. The prices of tickets can be steep at times, especially on a college student’s budget. However, they offer a student discount for many shows as long as a student ID is shown when purchasing tickets.
UMBC Transit’s newly added route to downtown certainly proves to be another convenient campus resource for students to utilize. Making a trip to the Hippodrome Theatre is definitely an enjoyable way to spend a day or evening out on the town. For a nearby place to eat before a show, there’s also the Hipp Café, which offers quick and affordable sandwiches, soups and salads.
With a hectic semester ahead of many students, a trip downtown during any free time could alleviate some stress and provide a good time. The Hippodrome Theatre is just one among many great places to visit in downtown Baltimore.
