First Year Focus

Travel Guide

So here's the deal. It's Friday, you've suffered through your last class of the day, and you're dying to get away. Whatcha gonna do?

If you have a car, or a friend with one (a very valuable asset), then hit the road. The Research Triangle is one of the most happening places around -- if you can find where things are happening.

First, there's Durham itself. While the city has a gritty, blue-collar feel to it, there are certain places that can really be entertaining. Outings in college always seem to revolve around food, for some reason. And food is easy to get in Durham, what with the numerous Italian, Mexican, and Oriental restaurants around, not to mention the typical places like Outback, Darryl's, and Chili's. Just off East Campus is Ninth Street, a little Bohemian haven where you'll find anything from Italian Gelatto (at Francesca's) to cheap CD's (Poindexter Records) to George's Garage, one of the few bars in Durham that's actually considered cool by the students. Further on down the road is Magnolia's, an achingly Southern restaurant dripping with gourmet flair. And if that's not the kind of Southern cooking you're looking for, you can always head to Honey's, which is a lot like Waffle House with nicer employees (Jon and I have decided that anyone who calls us "hon" deserves a medal. Ah, the South!)

But Ninth Street is small potatoes compared to its counterpart in Chapel Hill, the crowded strip of blacktop called Franklin Street. There must be five different music stores there, as well as plenty of cute little cafes and hang-outs. I'll throw in a plug for my friend Leo's business as well - ComedySportz, a family-oriented club where comedians compete against each other for audience approval, can be a lot of fun. Plus, Franklin Street runs right through the UNC campus, so if for some reason you find that school attractive for something other than partying, you can always just wander off the street and into one of the buildings.

If you're willing to drive a little farther, head to Raleigh, the state capital and home of North Carolina State University (my dad's alma mater.) Most good concerts are either in the Walnut Creek Amphitheatre or the Ritz, a small performance arena in Raleigh. I've only been to one concert there (Matchbox 20), but it was worth the trip. And then there's Marrz, a gigantic nightclub that could easily be mistaken for Pleasure Island. It's best to go on Thursday, when its college night at Marrz. And remember to bring your driver's license - trust me, it's much less stressful to just bring it than to charm the employees into letting you in!

Of course, staying on campus has its advantages. I've already been to see They Might Be Giants in Page Auditorium at Duke, and soon I'll be headin' over to see Toad the Wet Sprocket in the same place. We've had Adam Sandler as well. And oh, did I mention that Ethan Hawke came to visit us this week? So there's no drought of celebrity here. Speaking of celebrities, you can always head to Cameron and drool over the basketball players for entertainment. And frat parties, monotonous as they can get, are also a lot of fun, especially if they're semiformals. Or you could just do what I've been doing lately and throw an MRP ("My Room Party", although I'd like to reassure my parents that the MRPs have not been in my room!) Get a few of your closest friends, make sure you have lots of cups, turn up the music (not too loud if your RA is on duty), and sit back and chill.

But don't have too much fun, or you'll end up like this (see picture to right.) And don't despair -- the weekend really can be the best part of the week, provided you don't spend it with your head buried in a book!