Adventures in the City

    Now that you have read about the mistakes I’ve made and what I have learned from them you should be in for some smooth sailing. The best thing about higher education is all the choices and paths you can take. Yours may be nothing like mine but in the end we will all find ourselves in the same place; walking across the stage with a diploma in our hands.

    Until that day you will have to live close to or at Worcester State University. Unless you study abroad... but that is a path that I did not venture down and am unable to advise you about. The only advice I could give would be if you can do it and you want to do it then GO, because you may not have the chance to stay in another country for such a long period of time ever again. For those of us who aren’t planning on studying abroad we have to find adventures in of the city and state we live in. If you live on campus or even commute the cafeteria can get a bit boring. I highly recommend going down the street to Elsa’s Bushel and Peck. Just take a left out of campus and it’s a straight shot. After the first set of lights it’s on the left after the gas station. They have delicious sandwiches on special every day generally for under six dollars and the portions are very generous.

    As a citizen of Worcester for my entire life I can recommend some pretty neat places to go that you may overlook as a student who is new to the city. If you like sushi the only place to go is Baba Sushi on Park Ave. It’s expensive but completely worth it. The best bagels in the city are at Bagel Time on Park Ave. The best hummus and imported foods are at Bahnan’s International Market and the best olives are at Hyder’s Market both located on Pleasant Street. Tweeds has the best cheap food and burgers in the city.

    Worcester’s best bars aren’t on all Water or Green St. Nick’s on Millbury Street has some great live music and hilarious bar tenders with a patio for smokers. Vincents has the most interesting decor in the city included a stuffed baboon head on mounted on the wall along with an assortment of other taxidermy and pictures of people and places in Worcester from the early twentieth century. If you like metal and punk rock Ralph’s is the place to be. They have amazing local and at times international bands come and perform for a small cover. If you don’t want to pay the cover you can still drink downstairs and order one of their delicious handmade burgers. On tuesdays they have poetry slams with some very talented artists and anyone is free to take their turn at the mic.

    All in all Worcester is a great city. It just takes some exploring and research to find the most interesting places to go. Don’t waste your money going to some chain restaurant that exists in every state. Seek out the local businesses, the food is of higher quality and the service is much better too. Maybe you’ll make friends with the owners and they will give you some free stuff! So get out there and ask Worcesterites about their favorite restaurants and places to hang. They would be happy to let you know. Don’t let anyone fool you, Worcester is a wonderful city with a rich culture and history.