Steph: New Local Eats
If you know anything about me, you know that I'm in a long-term, emotional relationship with food. Even though I've definitely blogged about great places to eat around Boston before, being around this summer has exposed me to some brand-new places right here on campus! So, Aidan told you which dining halls are best, and I'm gonna tell you what near-by restaurants are best.
Mei-Mei
You may already know and love the Mei-Mei food truck--that "Double Awesome" though--and they just recently opened up a restaurant right on Buswell in South Campus! I expected an "order-at-the-counter-and-go" type of place, but no, no. Mei-Mei stepped up its game for the restaurant. It is a sit-down place that uses locally-grown and organic foods to inspire their constantly changing menu. You'll still see all your favorites, but alongside them will be something new to try each time.
Burger-Fi
Now, I loved Burger-Fi ever since I discovered it last summer in my hometown of Miami, but I am extremely pleased to say that they have made their way up to my second home. Located literally steps from Agganis, the new Burger-Fi location is a huge--you guessed it--burger place. Their shakes and fries are to die for. Much better that Shake Shack, in my humble opinion. (I just think that if you're gonna have "Shake" in your name, your shakes should be a bit more exciting, but thats just me.)
Roxy's
Okay, I have to admit, I'm a monster who has still not tried Roxy's Grilled Cheese. I know. I should just leave now. BUT, now that they have followed in Mei-Mei's footsteps and turned their TV-famous food truck into a restaurant right in Allston, I have absolutely no excuse. And I cannot WAIT to try them.
Go forth, and feast!
Alexa: Fall in Boston is the Best
I currently just came to terms with the fact that I’m spending my last fall here in Boston. It’s depressing, it’s sad and I don’t like to think about it too much. However on the topic here are some things so fantastic about the perfect season in Boston, fall.
1. Apple picking
I have not been apple picking yet but a really fun thing to do in New England is heading just outside of Boston and picking apples with your friends. Regardless if you even like apples, it’s nice to head outside, enjoy the weather and at the very least- do it for the Instagram.
2. Foilage
The leaves changing colors is probably one of the prettiest scenery changes in New England. Being from California, I foolishly didn't realize that leaves could be so many different colors.
3. Being able to walk around in the most walkable city
Trust me, you cannot walk around in the winter as casually as you can in the Fall. Take the opportunity to walk around the Boston Public Garden, the Commons and even the North End now, because when it’s 5 degrees out, the only thing you’ll want to be surrounded by is a heater and a copious amount of blankets.
4. Head of the Charles Regatta
This may be one of the coolest events ever. The HOCR welcomes the world’s best crew teams right in our backyard. This year it’s October 18 and 19th and its incredible event to watch in the perfect weather atmosphere.
The best thing about Boston is that even though fall weather is the best, every season is exciting and brings new things to do. For example, when the Red Sox stop playing (and the Dodgers win the World Series), the Patriots come to play and then the Celtics. I’m not sure where I’m going with this besides the fact that Dodgers will win the World Series this year but fall in Boston is incredible and you should take advantage of it while you can.
Aidan: The Beauty of Dining Points
I am going to get this out there from the start: I love food. Food is love. My love affair with food dates back to the first time my mom fed me White Russian Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream instead of the usual mush that she provided, and my mind was blown. Since then, I have always prided myself in being able to find good foods, and finding good food for good prices.
One thing I didn’t know coming into my freshman year is that our dining plans all provide us with something called Dining Points. These points are essentially money you can use at certain locations around campus to buy food. The best part is, these places aren’t dining halls (Dining Halls here are great, but everyone gets to a point where they start saying “Do I have to?” when it comes to the topic of eating in them). So, here is my (evolving) guide of where you can use dining points around campus for each meal:
Breakfast: Einstein Bros. or Rhetts
You have an option for this one. Einstein Bros. is a bagel and coffee joint located in the basement of CAS. This one is convenient if you want to grab a bagel sandwich and iced coffee before you go to three discussions in a row in CAS (which happens all of the time). However, if you have more time on your hands, Rhetts is an old-fashioned diner-like restaurant located in the GSU that has a whole range of bagels and spreads.
Lunch: Extreme Pita
Where do I begin with my love for Extreme Pita? Its Subway, but for some reason you feel classier eating it, because it’s a Pita. MMMMM. Anyways, this gem of a Dining-Points-Accepting restaurant is located in West Campus, attached to the Claflin Hall dorm. Stop in and grab a Steak Bomb Pita (my fave) and a drink, all courtesy of your Dining Points
Mid-Class Snack: School of Management Starbucks
Here is an important thing to note: this is the ONLY Starbucks on campus that accepts Dining Points. The one on West Campus does not, neither does the one in Warren Towers. So, if you want your Pumpkin Spice Latte and don’t want to be paying out of pocket, hit up the Starbs on the second floor of SMG and enjoy a Latte paid for by Dining Points.
Dinner: Dominos
If humans were allowed to engage in marriages with foods, my nuptials would be with a Medium Dominos Pepperoni Pizza. The most beautiful discovery ever made on this campus is that Dominos accepts Dining Points. HOWEVER: You must order from one of the Dominos kiosks (located in the lobby of most BU Dorms) in order to use Dining Points. It doesn’t work with online delivery. But, play the game right, and Cheesy Bread will be yours for Dining Points.
So, there it is: How to eat a full day on dining points. This guide is ever evolving, as I venture through different parts of campus, and learn how to get around spending actual money on things I want.
If you want to know your dining points balance, click the “Current Balance – Meals and Points” option under the “Food and Shelter” tab on your BU Student Link.
Venture forth, young grasshoppers, and eat!
Hannah H: Getting Back At It
September’s here once again as evidenced by the 20 degree drop in weather and the sea of students that have now swarmed campus. The past week in COM has been mayhem to say the least, but super exciting nonetheless. Our new freshman class of 2018 matriculated into BU this past Sunday, spent the next day meeting their COM Ambassadors, and the following attending their first day of COM 101.
The start of the school year is always a time met with excitement and anticipation, but it can also be pretty overwhelming (even now as a junior). Here’s a few quick tips to help get back at it without all the stress.
- Not every class is for you – This isn’t the end of the world either. Sometimes that writing class that you thought was right up your alley just isn’t. It’s okay to swap classes and it’s not the end of the world. You’ll be happier if you change it now then wait to accept it weeks down the road when it’s a lot more difficult to do something about it.
- It’s okay to say no – Sometimes I have this tendency to agree to do everything and I know I’m not alone. BU students are motivated, excited and eager to participate, but it’s also important to remember that you need time for yourself too. You can’t do it all and that’s okay. You’ve got four years to try everything BU has to offer. You don’t have to try it all in the first four days.
- Rhetty To Go Meals are all the rage – adjusting to a normal schedule can take a little while and sometimes it’s hard plan dining hall times around class and work and studying and free times. (And sometimes a girl just wants to eat dinner at 11 o’clock at night cause she didn’t wake up till noon) Rhetty To Go Meals are basically the dining hall in a brown paper bag. You can pick and choose what you want/your pick up location all online and then you can decide when and where you want to eat. It’s sometimes a lot more functional when you’re always on the move instead of setting aside the hour and a half the dining hall can eat up.
Last but not least though just try to keep in mind that this is only the start of the semester. Give yourself time to find your rhythm and don’t forget to enjoy every second, because the four years go by way too quick. A little melancholy that it’s junior, but so excited to spend the next two years with our wonderful class of 2018.
Stacy: Pre-Summer To Do List
The weather is nice, spring is in the air (or was a few days ago… typical Boston) and the summer season is right around the corner. You know what that means… time to go out to eat, explore and “treat yo self “(Parks and Recreation reference).
So I’ve compiled a list of last minute Bostonian things to do before going home for summer.
1. Go to a Red Sox game. I KNOW I KNOW, such a Boston stereotype. But I haven’t been yet so it made the list. The new dip in prices for students is motivating me to finally head to Fenway and experience the baseball culture before the end of the semester. Please hold me to that.
2. Bova’s Bakery in the North End. Let’s face it; Mike’s Pastry is overrated. Bova’s is cheaper, less mainstream and less touristy. And it’s open 24 hours. Only a true Bostonian puts Bova’s over Mike’s.
3. Coolidge Corner Theatre. It shows classic movies, foreign films, documentaries and sci-fi features. From time to time there are new movies, but it’s fun to experience movies that aren’t typically shown in a theatre setting.
4. Maria’s Taqueria. Best Mexican food in Boston. It may look like a hole in the wall, but it’s a best-kept secret of the theatre district.
5. Raven Used Bookstore. One in Cambridge and one in the Back Bay area, it’s a great place to find your next read. Buy a book and go read it outside! Date day with yourself.
6. Dumpling Café. Hands down the best Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. Get soup dumplings, and your life will never be the same
7. Bella Luna. It’s a restaurant in Jamaica Plain with a bowling alley downstairs. It’s definitely not touristy, and a lot of fun.
Of course you could always walk on the Common, do the Freedom Trail, look in graveyards for some of Boston’s historical figures, explore Harvard yard… but let’s be honest. Most of us have done these things within our first month of college.
I hope these suggestions are helpful in your adventures during your last few weeks of classes, good luck on finals!
DJ: Summer Checklist
The summer in between high school graduation and my first semester at college was by far the best summer of my life. Since many of you reading this blog are about to embark on your last summer before stepping foot on Boston University’s campus in the fall, here are a few things that I did last summer that truly made it amazing and that I highly recommend you try as well:
Spend time with your friends without your cell phone
Since many people in my group of friends were going away to college, we knew that we had to make the most of the summer. Thus, we invented a game whenever we went out to a restaurant that prevented us from using our cell phones. We would put all of them in the center of the table in a pile, and the first person who touched his phone would have to pay the entire bill. Since all of the phones were together, when one phone vibrated, we had no one idea whose phone it was. Needless to say, no one ever touched their phones, but it was great truly being in the moment with friends instead of just being on our cell phones, since we knew our time together would soon end.
Spend an entire day at a lake or a beach
If there’s a lake or a beach near you, spend an entire day there. Just marvel at the beauty of nature. BU is a city-school, and although you can definitely find places to be with nature in Boston, there’s nothing like a warm day swimming, playing volleyball, and basking in the sun.
Read that book you never got around to reading
As an avid reader, one thing that I have found very difficult in college is finding free time to read. My roommate often notes that he brought ten books to college to read when he had free time, and has not managed to touch a single one all year. So, if there’s that one book you’ve always wanted to read and just never got around to doing it, now is the time to pick it up!
Spend time with your family
This might not sound like the most fun thing to do on this list, but it might be the most important. Yes, I know. Your parents can be very pestering and your siblings might get on your last nerves. However, in just a few months, you won’t see them everyday anymore. I understand that going out with your friends is extremely important, but don’t forget about your family this summer. You will miss all of them, even that one crazy aunt you have.
Travel around your hometown one last time
I grew up in a small-town in New Jersey, and I’ll admit it - I was one of those kids who spent all of high school impatiently waiting to get out of my town. However, in retrospect, my hometown gave me countless memories and truly made me the person I am today. The night before I left for BU, I got in my car and just drove around. I went down side-streets that I played on during snowstorms, I drove by my elementary school, I went past all of my friend’s houses that I spent numerous hours in, and I visited my high school football stadium one last time. Trust me, if you can drive around your hometown before you leave for the fall, you should do it. And while you do, remember this quote: "You get a strange feeling when you’re about to leave a place. Like you’ll not only miss the people you love but you’ll miss the person you are now at this time and this place, because you’ll never be this way ever again.”
Kaley: Freshman Don’ts from an Almost-Sophomore
1. Don't wear your BU ID around your neck. I did this until my roommate felt comfortable enough to tell me that maybe it didn't look as cool as I thought it did. She was right, it didn't.
2. Don't sign up for all afternoon classes thinking you'll go to the gym every morning before them. You won't.
3. Don't run to catch the BU bus. In the words of my friend Joe, walking home is so much better than losing your dignity for ten seconds. (Side note: I still run. Have I gotten a few weird looks? Maybe. Have I saved a lot of time and energy? Definitely. )
4. Don't make it to May without leaving BU's campus. You'll hear this a hundred times, but I'm happy to be the hundred-and-first. It's that important.
5. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. It's BU, and although the catchphrase "Be You" may be cheesy, it's true. There's a place for everyone here -don't worry if you're having trouble making friends at first, as long as you keep an open mind, you'll find your niche.
Life across the pond has been transformative. When you hear the words ‘Study Abroad’ don’t shove it off, instead embark on the experience.
1. The classes are extraordinary. Students are taught by spectacular instructors with a wealth of experience and credibility. Who ever thought 4-hour classes could be enjoyable?
+For my core journalism course students were granted the opportunity to visit the broadcast powerhouse for class.
2. The residential areas are phenomenal. To say the least, American posture and volume has undergone a transformation.
Oh, I live 15 minutes away from the royal family. #PrinceGeorge
3. Tea time is the best time- happens everyday.
For once you can enjoy life without constant Facebook usage or data consumption.
Lets be honest who really wants international charges.
4. The theatre scene is surreal- you never know who you’ll run into. I purchased a ticket to see a production at Royal Court without prior knowledge of the cast.
MET GARRY CARR #JackRoss FROM DOWNTON ABBEY!
5. Studying abroad offers a chance for students to immerse themselves in the culture of a foreign land, get lost, travel, eat yummy food, network, and create memorable moments that will last a lifetime. DO IT!
Sad to leave London but excited to rejoin Terrier Nation!
Cheers,
Taylor
Follow me: @TaylorReports
Hanna: Schoolwork, Just-For-Fun Work or Both?
Every COM student is required to take a series of classes, one of which is COM 201. This introductory course gives students a taste of what it is like to write for the many fields offered within the College of Communication. We learn to write hard news stories, features, screenplays, reviews, obituaries, memoirs and more, and each assignment not only sharpens our writing skills but also exposes us to the type of specific writing we may be doing our entire lives. I know, the thought of practicing for a future career sounds daunting for me too, but there is no better way to begin than with the baby steps of COM 201.
As the semester’s flown by, I have loved each style of writing we have attempted to tackle. However, none have been as alien to me as the Public Service Announcement. Aside from studying persuasive writing in high school, I knew little about creating an advertising campaign. Aside from watching a few episodes of Mad Men, I knew little about presenting a campaign pitch. This one was totally new for me, not to mention far from any project I expected to encounter in the future. My major, Film and Television, did not seem to have much in common with a major in Advertising, yet two weeks ago when we received the assignment, I was anxious to give it a try anyway.
Our professor, Chelsey Philpot (I encourage you to Google her if you would like to be impressed) split us into small groups that would be our teams for the project. I pushed my desk toward the two other students, both of whom I barely knew, and we started to toss around ideas…well, we tried to.
It did not take long for us to get totally stuck. We were not sure if we could create our plan for a print ad, or if we were enthusiastic enough about the non-profit organization we chose to promote. “Good idea, but I don’t think that will work…” was said again and again, and after a while I thought this project might be my COM 201 downfall.
“Let’s think of another type of advertising. It doesn’t have to be print,” said Justin, a sophomore in the group studying journalism.
“Well, I can edit film if we want to make a commercial,” I offered, and with that, the tone of our first meeting changed in an instant. Ideas spilled out on top of one another as we crafted a humorous and simple commercial that would be perfect for a younger audience. By the end of the class we had finished a full storyboard, and I found myself adding these two almost-strangers as friends on Facebook and planning to meet up with them that weekend. Sure, we were meeting for a project, but we would be filming and acting in our own PSA. The meeting was far from mandatory as we could have designed a print ad in class and called it a day, but for some reason each one of us wanted to go that extra mile.
A week later we stood before our quiet classmates and began our final presentation. Although we had an outline of what we wanted to say, the three of us barely looked its way. We had invested ourselves in the campaign and in turn did not need a guide to tell us why we made certain choices, what we wanted to accomplish, and how our campaign would accomplish it. The commercial was woven seamlessly into our oral presentation, and by the end students seemed to sit up a little straighter and listen a little closer.
“Please send me a copy of that video!” Professor Philpot said when we finished. “Great job. You clearly put a lot of work into this.”
The funny thing is, we didn’t. We didn’t put a lot of work into creating our idea because it came easily to us. We didn’t put a lot of work into filming because it was a lot of fun. I didn’t put a lot of work into editing because it is something I love to do anyway, and we didn’t put a lot of work into preparing the presentation because we had learned everything we needed along the way. The PSA assignment did not feel like a typical school assignment at all. I did learn plenty from the process, including that advertising can certainly relate to film and television, but I would happily volunteer to film another one any day.
Needless to say, this entire semester in COM 201 has helped me solidify my choice to enter the College of Communication. Even a project as foreign to me as a Public Service Announcement turned into an experience I will fondly remember, and I think it is a good indication of how much fun my “work,” both in college and in my career, will continue to be.