Eating Out: Five great places for food off campus

So, now that the semester is completely underway, you've probably gotten used to, or at least re-acquainted with eating on campus most days. First year students in particular are probably starting to wonder what the best options are for off-campus dining. Even upperclassmen may not know all of the options available outside of Valentine dining hall.

Here are some of the top choices for eating out around Lasell, in no particular order:

1. Bruegger's Bagels

Bagels, coffee and breakfast sandwiches are all available for a low price right by campus. They're also the only place on this list that accepts Laser Loot, which means no cash is neccessary if you have money on your torch card. Also, if you're looking to buy in bulk, baker's dozens are half-off on Wednesdays.

2. Prime Deli

Located right next to Brandeis University in Waltham, the Prime Deli offers everything from omlettes to cheeseburgers, and you won't be disappointed regardless of which one you pick. They deliver as early as 9 a.m. until 9:30 p.m., giving you a choice of breakfast, lunch or dinner.

3. Prospect Cafe

The reccomended dish: buffalo chicken calzone. If you're from outside the Massachusetts area, it's possible you've never heard of such a concoction (I hadn't either), but once you feast on one for the first time you'll never be the same again. If the calzone seems too intimidating, their pizza comes highly reccommended by many and they deliver, making it even easier to fill up without going out.

4. Carl's Steak Subs & Burritos

Philly's got nothing on this. Carl's steak and cheese sub runs away with the honor of 'best cheesesteak', not just in Mass. but the world. Be warned: only order the large if you don't want to eat again for at least 24 hours, as it has the potential to overload your stomach. If the subs aren't for you, the burritos just might be. They're equally overloaded with fresh ingredients and come at an affordable price. The only down side is that they don't deliver, so you'll need to find a ride to their location at 55 Prospect St. in Waltham.

5. Wing Night at John Brewer's Tavern

Sunday and Monday nights are king at John Brewer's Tavern in Waltham. 20 cent wings are available from 6 p.m. on those nights, meaning that you can get as many wings as you can handle, plus a drink and blue cheese (the wings are hot, so you'll need it) for under $10. Watch out during football season, though, as it can get crowded pretty quickly for the big Sunday and Monday night games.

So, What are you in the mood for?

Welcome to Lasell, and Boston!

It looks like the countdown shows less than a month until first year students move-in to Lasell! But wait, classes don’t start for another four days after that, so what’s going on in the meantime?

Well, starting on the 3rd, there will be an array of trips, adventures and experiences for first year students to take part in. No matter what your interests, you’ll undoubtedly find activities or outings for you that are being offered during Lasell Laser Welcome Weekend program.

There’s a free tour of Boston’s North End and Fanueil Hall, but be sure you bring some money for lunch at one of the countless eateries in the North End. If you’re looking for a history lesson and shopping excursion in one, you’ll definitely want to think about the faculty-led tour of Boston Common (the nation’s oldest park) and Newbury Street, home to a wide variety of shopping destinations.

Baseball fans will be interested in the tour of Fenway Park ($5), offering first year students the chance to site on famed Green Monster, visit the press box, learn why the grandstand seats (you know, the wooden ones) are so uncomfortable and find out what Manny Ramirez was really doing when he would duck into the scoreboard.

If you’re interested in touring the city, but aren’t so interested in all that walking, check out the Boston Trolley tour or the Duck Tour, both of which take you around to the city’s must-see sights, but only one will give you a view from the (dirty) water.

Fashion majors can get an early intro to their careers with a trip to the American Textile History Museum ($5)in Lowell, MA. Students who take this trip will get a glimpse into what was once the epicenter of the New England textile industry as well as the use of textiles in cars, aero-space and other industries in the museum’s primary exhibit: ‘Textile Revolution: An Exploration Through Space and Time.’

That’s not the only museum available during welcome weekend. Students will also have the opportunity to attend the Museum of Fine Arts (free) or the Kennedy library ($5), home to a wide-ranging celebration of President John F. Kennedy’s life, legacy and presidency. Also available is a trip to Boston’s Museum of Science ($10), home to thrilling natural artifacts and the OmniMax theater, a fully enveloping motion-picture experience.

Those are just some of the trips and activities that first-year students will have the opportunity to be a part of. Registration for these trips will begin soon and advanced sign up is required. So, which trips do you think you’ll attend? Have you already done some of them? If so, what’d you think?

New Blogger, New Year!

Until now, Jordan Feeney was behind the Student Activities blog. Not much has changed in that regard, because my name is Jordan too. Like my predecessor, I work at the Lasell College Office of Student Activities, but I get to see the other side of, what happens during the summer when everything (supposedly) slows down. I’m going to be a senior this year, and have been a part of orientation in some capacity for the last four years, the first of those being as a Guppy in session two.

I’ve been working at the Office of Student Activities for three years now, and this is my third summer working behind the scenes of Laser Link Orientation and Transfer Transitions, and it’s been a great ride so far. OSA has provided myself, and the rest of the students at Lasell a tremendous way to get involved in a variety of ways, and I’ll fill you in on some of those throughout the summer and school year.

Before starting here at the end of my freshman year, I wasn’t too involved. Now, I’m the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, The 1851 Chronicle, a member of the Sports Management Club and Lasell College Radio. In fact, most first year students probably caught me spinning tunes (or spilling speakers) at the Laser Link BBQ.

Keep an eye out for more posts from me about getting involved, finding stuff to do and transitioning to Lasell for the rest of the summer and beyond.

Spring Break '11: No Sand, No Sun, No Problem!

Ahh, my last undergrad spring break. You'd think as a senior I would have had the ultimate vacation planned... definitely Cancun, LA, Florida or even Aruba. Unfortunately, no. I will be spending SB '11 in New Hampshire relaxing with family, friends and hopefully not doing homework.
I really can't complain, it will be nice to sleep in my old bed, fill up on home cooked meals and visit with high school friends, but I can't help but feel a bit unsatisfied. That's why I've brainstormed three ideas to get those of us "spring breaking" in chilly New England through one of our last vacations of the school year:

Be a tourist of your own town- I know when you were younger you felt like you had done and seen everything there is to do and see in your hometown... twice. That may be, but now that a couple years have passed it may be interesting to search out some brochures and really get to know where you grew up.

Host a party- This can be a great way of reconnecting with friends from home. Make it wallet-friendly and have everyone bring their favorite dish or appetizer. You can even take this opportunity to bring in friends from school. In my oppinion, food and friends always equal fun.

Volunteer- Lasell's Center for Community Based Learning (CCBL) offers an Alternative Spring Break for students to do something completely different and rewarding during their vacation. With the Alternative Break, you can provide needed services to communities around the country, while gaining a better understanding of important social issues: poverty, affordable housing, homelessness, etc. Not to mention this is a great way to boost your resume! This year students will be traveling to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Though your spring break may not include sand or sun, it can still be your best and most memorable vacation of the year.

For more information on CCBL's Alternative Spring Break, you can visit Potter Hall, Lower Level or email at ccbl@lasell.edu .

Did you know...

Lasell College Office of Student Activities is on Facebook and Twitter?

Follow us @LCactivities and on Facebook, Lasell College Student Activities.

Connecting with OSA is a great way to be kept up to date with daily information on what is going on at Lasell!

You can also e-mail us at studentactivities@lasell.edu.

Welcome Events; Kicking off Spring '11!

The first week back after winter break is always, for lack of better words, crazy. Between solidifying class schedules, securing internships and jobs, and purchasing course materials, Lasell students have been working hard to begin their semester. Students aren't the only ones busy, however, the Office of Student Activities and other organizations around campus have been hard at work to provide students with activities that are worthy of clearing a busy schedule.

Ticket sales this month include Improv Asylum (January 19 @ 1pm, $10) and Campus Activities Board Tubing Tickets at Nashoba Valley (January 24 @ 10am, $10). If free trips appeal to you more, check out the Campus Activities Board Wrentham Outlets trip on January 29 at 12pm (you must sign up for this event).

More Campus Activities Board events this month include ventriloquist Michael Harrison (January 28 @ 8:30pm in Yamawaki Auditorium), comedians Dave & Ethan (January 28 @ 8pm in the Campus Center) and musician Jared Mahone (February 2 @ 8 in the Campus Center). CAB Movie Series will also be showing Due Date (January 27 @8, 28 @ 7 & 29 @ 7).

Seniors, specifically, have a lot of deadlines approaching as their last semester begins. Senior Week sign-ups have begun and deposits are due by February 11, 2011. Senior Week will begin after the last final exam on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 until Saturday, May 14, 2011.

The Senior Week package includes:
• Senior Bar Night in Boston
• King’s Night
• Class Dinner and Pub Night
• Faculty Staff BBQ
• Senior Cruise
• Alumni Brunch
• Senior Class Group Photo

As a senior, I recognize many dates are looming and there is a lot to keep track of, so take advantage of the Senior Check List provided at this link: http://www.lasell.edu/Campus-Life/Activities-and-Involvement/Commencement-/Graduation-Checklist.html

For any information related to campus events or senior week, please follow this link and feel free to contact the Office of Student Activities and/or the Senior Class Committee: http://www.lasell.edu/Campus-Life/Activities-and-Involvement/Commencement-/Senior-Events.html

On to the Next One- Published in the December issue of the 1851 Chronicle

This December I had my first column published in the 1851 Chronicle. Of course I am all smiles about this accomplishment and wanted to share it with readers via blog! Enjoy!

Until the first semester of my senior year, I was under the blissful impression that once you grow up you will know what you’re going to “be.” Now it’s November and I know better. Age has not defined me or pointed me in the right direction; neither have my grades or classes. Here I am, 11:30 p.m. on a Wednesday, in the middle of what I am so endearingly referring to as my quarter-life crisis.
I recently turned twenty-one and it was almost like a switch had been flipped. I was an adult. Suddenly my 2am courtesy curfew at home had been lifted, I got my horizontal license (I guess it’s only a big deal in New Hampshire), and I was able to go to all the same establishments my friends had frequented for the past few months without me. Along with the few, but fantastic up-sides, a fire was lit under me as the race to graduation began.
I am a Communications major with a focus in Journalism. My next goal is finding an internship. This subject has not failed to keep me up at night. To most I may seem reasonably put together, but inside I’m sure I more resemble a desperate, caged animal than a student.
I am clinging to the hope that I didn’t make a mistake declaring my focus in such a competitive field. To all the skeptics that may scoff at my last statement, yes, writing is competitive. There is always a colleague who grasps the English language better, or creates more interesting angles. All I can do is let what I’ve learned flow from my mind and pray something original, not to mention correctly punctuated, comes out.
There should be no reason to worry; I’ve done everything I was “supposed” to. To put it the way my father explained to me, “I have kept all of my doors open.” I have a solid 3.5 GPA and am involved in the Lasell community. I’ve done almost everything right, yet I still worry. I worry I won’t be successful, or at least not successful enough. I worry all of my hard work the past four years will somehow be wasted. I just plain worry. Hence the “crisis.”
My first internship attempt fell through, much thanks to inner company issues and the disbanding of their internship program. So as Jay-Z says, “on to the next one.” I’ve sent more cover letters and writing samples, edited and re-edited my resume, the last thing to do is the part I’m worst at: wait.
It would be most dramatic to make it seem like I was in this fight alone, but I’m not. I am supported by various professors, friends, and of course, my mom. Even in such good company, I wait for the light at the end of the Graduation Tunnel to grow from a seemingly hopeless pinhole to a Jordan-shaped opening where I will shine.
Crisis averted for one more night.