Best Spring Hotspot:

Purcell Park! If you’ve never been, now is the time to go. Whether it’s for running or walking the 1.5 mile trail, tanning or just enjoying the weather, this hotspot deserves recognition. Check out the full post from our fellow bloggers, WellnessU, for a great review of the park, pictures and more info (and cool health tips and recipes since bathing suit season is almost here). It’s too nice to be inside, those 67 acres are calling your name!

Back to the 90’s

Red Rover, Freeze Tag and Kickball…it’s time to go back in time! This Thursday, April 21st,  UPB is hosting 2 events on the Festival Lawn which are sure to bring back great childhood memories and give us all another chance to act like kids. Kayla Fleming of UPB’s Film Committee wrote about some of her experiences as a kid and has more details about these events on UPB’s blog…go check it out! The events are:

9:30 p.m.- movie: The Little Rascals

10:00 p.m.- Dr. Seuss Late Night Breakfast

There will be FREE FOOD so go have a Thursday night that will bring back memories while you’re making new ones. Sometimes we all miss being kids…what was your favorite thing to do as a kid? Let us know! 

This week at JMU…

…there’s something for everyone!

Art lovers: Tomorrow (April 19) is the opening ceremony for the “Drawing Peace” exhibit at the Mahatma Gandhi Center for Global Nonviolence, Cardinal House. The big event, themed “What Would a World Without Borders Look Like?,” is free from 5-6:30 p.m. and refreshments will be served. If art is your thing, check it out!

Music Fans: Take a break from your traditional ipod soundtrack and hear the Prestige Clarinet Quartet tomorrow (April 19) at 8 p.m. in the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts Recital Hall. For tickets call (540) 568-7000 for tickets or check the website.

Dance Enthusiasts: The Spring Student Dance Concert at 8 p.m. from April 19-22 (Tuesday-Friday) in the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, is a showcase of student-choreographed dances. Tickets, which can be purchased at the Forbes Center’s box office or by calling (540) 568-7000, are $6 for students and $10  for general admission. As a former dancer, I’m definitely considering going to see this!

Theater Buffs: “Bright Lights, Big City,” a play about a man forced to make a life-altering decision, is showing at the Forbes Center Tuesday-Friday (19th-22nd) at 8 p.m. and Saturday (23rd) at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling (540) 568-7000 or visiting www.jmu.edu/JMUarts. (Warning: mature language and sexual content)

Check out one or all of these cool events and let us know what you thought!

Before You Graduate…

The other day I was driving a freshman back to her dorm, and we were talking about the things you’re supposed to do before you graduate JMU. She asked me if I had done any of those things and then made me feel pretty lame when I told her I haven’t…yet. After talking to her about it, it got me thinking about what those things actually are. We’ve all heard of streaking the Quad, trying to get into the tunnels under the Quad and (my least favorite) swimming in Newman Lake. Those were the only three things I could think of, and decided to do a little research. Most of us only have four years to spend in Harrisonburg, so I came up with a list (with the help of another blog by ’08 graduate Elvin) of some things I think everyone should do before graduation!

1. Take your picture with the James Madison statue. Easy! Usually accomplished by the end of your first semester at JMU. In the words of our fellow blogger, Elvin, “If you haven’t yet, well, then you need to molest Jimmy the status in some way or another.”
2. Along the lines of getting up close and personal with J. Mad, take a picture with the Duke Dog statue! He’s forgotten about sometimes…go visit our favorite mascot.
3. Submit a dart or pat to The Breeze. My favorite part of our newspaper, why not submit my own?
4. Play on an intramural sports team! After high school I thought I’d never play soccer again, but JMU let me give it another shot.
5. Call SafeRides for a ride home! I’ve taken it once, by miracle. If you’re patient enough for the ridiculous wait, then do it! (540-JMU-RIDE)
6. Take a nap on the Quad. It’s that time of year, and the Quad is my favorite place to be when it gets warm…everyone needs to do this!
7. Go to a UPB concert at the Convo…still on my list of things to do, but again…patience is a must.
8. Take a group fitness class at UREC. I’ve done World Beat Dance and Kickboxing…both really fun and great workouts. (Check out WellnessU for more college student health tips)
9. Get into the football stadium at night. This is a little more difficult now that it’s a war zone over there, but hopefully once it’s finished it’ll be possible again. I’m not saying I’ve done this, but I’m not saying I haven’t….
10. Go to Trivia Night at Clementine Cafe! This is definitely on my list of things to do next year; I hear it’s a ton of fun.

These are just 10 of the things I think everyone should do before graduating and leaving Harrisonburg! If you know of some more, let us know! Make sure you’re up-to-date with vaccines if you attempt to swim in Newman Lake, more power to you if you actually get into the tunnels, and of course, don’t forget to streak the Quad!

First Fridays

 Downtown Hburg is the place to be on fridays! Now through October, the first Friday of every month downtown will offer something for everyone. First Fridays offers live music, good food and a variety of entertainment between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Check out the full article by Karen Campbell of WHSV…you won’t want to miss it!

 

From http://www.valleyarts.org

 



Springing into Block Party Season

It’s that time of year again…the weather is (hopefully) starting to warm up, students are spending more time outside and block party season is in full bloom. After last spring’s block party came to a gaseous end, most of Harrisonburg and JMU thought there was no possibility for future events. Over the past few weeks, however, an event for a block party all day Friday and Saturday leading up to the Wiz Khalifa concert Saturday night was created on Facebook.

Over 2,000 people were listed as attending the party and  Harrisonburg police and local news took notice. WHSV news did a story on the block party yesterday, March 30th, and the Harrisonburg Police Department has made its presence known around the city, visiting apartment complexes and reminding residents of legal concerns.

Whether or not this year’s block party goes down, remember to be responsible. If it happens, the police will be there so be smart! We’re all excited for spring, and there are plenty of ways to safely enjoy the upcoming weather. Check out UPB’S calendar of events for some more entertainment, and if you were lucky enough to get tickets enjoy the Campus Consciousness Green Carpet Tour with Wiz Khalifa Saturday night!

Check out the Harrisonburg and Dayton Farmers Markets!

A Bowl of Good run by Katrina Didot (www.abowlofgood.com)

It’s hard not to love fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade bread and unique handmade clothing all while spending time in the amazing spring weather. The farmers markets in Harrisonburg and Dayton are great places to go see and there is something for pretty much everyone!

The farmers market in Harrisonburg is close and easy to get to, even if you don’t have a car. It’s located downtown and is open every Saturday in March from 9 a.m. to noon. The vendors offer everything from soups, baked goods, fresh bread and pastries, to handmade clothing, toys for your pets and more.

The Dayton Farmers Market is about a 20 minute drive down Route 42 South and the ride is worth it. This market offers just as many great products and is open Thursday through Saturday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Dayton’s location provides fresh food as well, including pretzels and a variety of cheese. One vendor even offers knitting classes!

Don’t waste your time in Harrisonburg and miss these great places! Now that spring has finally sprung it’s time to get out and experience everything the Shenandoah Valley has to offer. Harrisonburg’s Farmers Market was voted Best Place to Be on a Saturday morning two years in a row…don’t miss out!

For more information like who sells what, changing spring hours and driving directions check out their websites:

Harrisonburg: 

http://harrisonburgfarmersmarket.com/

Dayton:

3105 John Wayland Hwy

Dayton, VA

(540) 879-3801

http://daytonfarmersmarket.com/index.html

Passage Creek Farm with hot sauces, salsa and more! (www.passagecreekfarm.com)

Maddy Wagon coming to Harrisonburg!

According to Doug Manners’ article posted today on the Daily News Record’s website, a big purple van, the Maddy Wagon, is coming to Harrisonburg! The shuttle, owned by Joseph Mills, offers rides for $3 per person anywhere in the city on Fridays and Saturdays. The service runs from 7 pm to 3 am and is geared toward college students. Manners writes, “Mills, 28, drove vans for JMU while in college and co-founded a taxi service called Wahooptie in Charlottesville three years ago. Much like Maddy Wagon, it features vibrant-colored vehicles and emphasizes fun.” Check out more about Mills and his business on Facebook and follow the Maddy Wagon on Twitter. See a picture of the Maddy Wagon and keep your eyes open for it this weekend!

You Made It Night!

Come out to You Made It! downtown between 5 and 9 tonight (Thursday) to support SCOM 318, event planning. The class is hosting the International Oratory Association’s National Speech Tournament at JMU April 22 and 23. Speech teams from all over the country are coming to Harrisonburg and SCOM 318 needs your help making this the best experience possible for them! Go to You Made It and make a coffee mug, a plate, an ornament and more and 20% of the proceeds go to SCOM 318! Thanks!

The Depot Grille

Hungry for some great local cuisine? This week I got to eat at The Depot Grille in Staunton, Virginia. It’s only about 20 minutes from Harrisonburg, which may be a problem for those of you without a car, but it’s so good it’s worth it to take a cab! Before this week I had never even heard of The Depot Grille, but luckily a friend of mine, a Staunton native, introduced me to this delicious secret. The restaurant offers a wide variety of food, from seafood, steak and ribs to burgers, wraps, soups and more, and has an amazing 40 foot bar that was originally in the Ten Eyck Hotel in New York! The atmosphere is relaxed and the staff is friendly. The website boasts a “come as you are” attitude, which I couldn’t agree with more. A dinner for two, including an appetizer, only cost $23.14. I enjoyed tortilla chips and queso as an appetizer and an amazing Bacon and Cheddar Burger for my main meal. It’s hard to mess up a burger, but I really loved this one because instead of the typical strips of bacon on top, smaller bites of bacon were melted into the cheese! I can’t wait until next time when I can try the Cajun Chicken Quesadillas or Fajita Burrito. If you’re looking for something new that isn’t too far away but still lets you explore a new part of the area, definitely try The Depot Grille in Staunton! Check out their website for more information!