This is part of a series of columns this month written by Arts & Sciences Student Ambassadors.
Cornell’s campus is “gorges,” but don’t let that stop you from exploring beyond the university. Day after day, the streets of Collegetown and of Ithaca have become filled with memories for me — from first dates to the life-changing boba I’ve had at UTea. Ithaca has slowly become comforting and familiar. Ithaca has become home.
Last fall, after law professor Dawn Chutkow finished her lecture in my class, my roommate and I walked down the hill to Collegetown, into P&L Supply and a tradition was born. We bought each other Sonny Angels, our mystery figures a testament to surviving our first month as Cornell sophomores. Since then, we visit the store on the last Thursday of every month to celebrate another milestone.
While I tend to spend the majority of my time “far above Cayuga’s waters,” going down to The Ithaca Commons provides a change of scenery and promising adventure. On the bus ride, I get to unwind and look out the window as Lana Del Rey blasts through my headphones. The ride is a breath of fresh air, one that allows me to clear my mind and spend a moment with myself. If I’m feeling social, trips to The Commons are an opportunity to get to know a friend better, giving us the time and space to share stories.
Some of my biggest breakthroughs and lock-in sessions have happened at Barnes & Noble, or in the comfy chairs of Taichi Bubble Tea. It’s fun to make an adventure out of a study day, and Ithaca’s shopping plazas have plenty of places to eat, shop and study. With the City Bucks that come with select meal plans, you can enjoy Texas Roadhouse or Auntie Anne’s.
If you’re looking for something to do over the weekend, or on an easygoing weekday, you can’t go wrong with a PokeLava bowl, a mango coconut milk with jelly drink at UTea or a trip to the Salvation Army if you want some cute, unique and sustainable clothes. Maybe we’ll run into each other at one of these spots.
More News from A&S
