From quaint cafés to grandiose performance halls, every town has something unique to offer.
St. Bonaventure students come from many different areas. No matter how diverse these places, students said they have hometown favorites they feel obligated to visit every break.
For Holly McCully, a sophomore creative and professional writing major from Cazenovia, her must-visit spot is an underground, waffle-serving hideout in Syracuse.
Funk n’ Waffles, which serves a variety of decadent waffles, is one of McCully’s favorite places to bring friends from school.
“I have a lot of memories there with family and friends, and it’s always cool and nostalgic to visit when I come back,” said McCully. “Sometimes I bring back friends from school to try it too.”
Daniel Cowan, a junior journalism and mass communication major, said he loves talking up places from his hometown, Toronto, Canada, to friends too.
He said he has a lot of places to choose from, because he lives in the heart of the city. Sometimes he hangs around a pub, and other times he wanders the streets.
“During winter breaks I usually hang out with friends at pubs downtown,” said Cowan. “During the summer I like to be outside a lot. I go to parks like Trinity Bellwoods Park, a park downtown that is known for younger people to hang out. Also at any time, I like to just walk around the city. It sounds boring, but it’s nice to just be outside taking in my hometown.”
Cowan said his favorite pub is The Green Room. He added that although it’s a small place, it holds a lot of memories for him and his friends.
While his friends at home understand the significance of such places, he said he wants his friends at Bona’s to experience it firsthand too.
“I tell my friends about home all the time,” said Cowan. “I try and convince all of them to come visit just because it’s a very positive atmosphere in my city. Those that have come to visit usually say it is a great place to visit.”
Cowan isn’t the only big-city resident who prefers quiet hangout spots over tourist-filled attractions. Sophomore English major Ryan Gregory, who lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, said he tends to stay away from the famous Las Vegas Strip.
“When I’m home I really just hang with my friends at their houses like most people,” said Gregory. “Locals don’t really go to the Strip. We go to South Point, an off-strip casino, where we will go bowling or see a movie. It’s close and cheaper than the casinos on the Strip.”
Gregory said one of the best things about Vegas is the food. His favorite place to eat is a fast-food chain that’s native to the West Coast—In-n-Out Burger—which he said is “the best fast food burger out there.”
Since Vegas is a huge tourist attraction, Gregory said he hears of people’s plans to visit often.
“I have people that tell me they’re going to Vegas, so I’ll give them a list of spots to hit and what major attractions are really rip offs.”
As excited as students usually are to return to campus, there are always things to look forward to at home, too.
kolbee14@bonaventure.edu
