The Culture of a College Town
A few days into my freshman year I saw someone walking around campus with a shirt on that said “There is Life After Athens.” It did not take long for me to realize how much pride is in the town that holds our beloved Ohio University, and how the pride is held by the students who most likely are only going to be living there a short period of time.
from the Rubber City Review
Big cities really often have it easy. Throw a college in a big city, and students are provided with ready-made entertainment and plenty of excitement. It’s the home-grown, tiny little college towns that have their work cut out for them. Growing up in a town of a little over 8,000, I have a lot of appreciation for the American small town. I also know that living in a town, as opposed to a big city, sometimes you have to be creative to find entertainment. Athens, Ohio, however, has made its mark with students in a way that has built up a strong amount of love with this little Appalachian town.
Uptown Athens on Court Street from Ohio.edu
With its haunted history, obscure stores, locally owned restaurants and memorable nightlife, I have become throughly used to staying within the confines of Athens without any of my own transportation.
Since I love lists, here’s another for local favorites:
1. Salaam, a small Mediterranean restaurant that’s just a short walk from campus is perfect for date nights and lunch with friends. Places like Salaam can bring out the exotic eater in us all with anything from stuffed grape leaves to lamb kebobs. Stephen’s and Zoe are two other more gourmet options perfect for when the parents visit.*
*Trust me, dining hall food is just fine, but you will appreciate going out to dinner ten times more. I miss having steak and my mom’s wonderful cooking, and places like these can fulfill these cravings if you’re willing to spend some extra money.
from restaurantsalaam.com
2. If you’re looking for less expensive treats and comfort, places like Goodfella’s Pizza, the Union Street Diner and Big Mama’s Burrito’s are great local favorites for a late night snack.
3. BananaRoad is a costume, music, and poster store that has been in the community for three decades now. It’s the go-to place to find the perfect Halloween costume (a necessity as an Ohio University student), browse for a poster, or if you’re particular adventurous, find a “new” pair of antique shoes.
BananaRoad costume store from Athens News
4. Athens Underground—don’t let its strange location intimidate you, this little antique store is flat out fun. With accessories (rings, bangles, necklaces) and antique clothing (purses, sweaters) you can bring back the old and mix it with the new.
5. The Other Place, Fig Leaf, and the Import House are also great shopping locations with local flavor. The Import House has all of the “hippie” and “green” items you may want, from incense to brightly decorated shoes.
from collegefashionista.com
6. If you’re in to the music scene, the Union Bar and Grill is for you. Although it is a bar, the Union has an upstairs that they use as a venue for local music and various events that caters to a wider age range. To see local bands perform, experience the increasingly famous Dave Rave Dance Party, or attend the annual performance of Rocky Horror Picture by the Lost Flamingo (acting) Company, the Union Bar is the place to be.
Dave Rave is a company with the goal to bring the big city club experience to Athens. Walking down Union Street on the night of a Dave Rave you can see an extremely long ling waiting to enjoy the neon, strobe lights, and funky techno music scene.
Whatever your tastes are, Athens has something for you. As a student at Ohio University, Athens becomes your temporary home, and it’s up to you to make the best of it. Don’t be afraid to take a quick break from studying or random spontaneous trip uptown to grab some yummy food, shop, and indulge in the small-town glory of Athens, Ohio.
Oh, and don’t forget about the ghostly history of my favorite college town. This place is full of history, culture and plenty of mysteries—as long as you know where to look.
