It’s the Weekend: What to do?

It’s the weekly anxiety: what am I going to do this weekend? You chose Wabash for its elite, well, everything. However, the first shortfall is always, “What the hell is there to do around here?” Can you enter that cool new 21+ club in Indianapolis? Negative ghost-rider. What about joining all your new upperclassmen pals at The Cactus in Lafayette? Nada. You choose to visit your friends at IU or Purdue…until they all go out to the bars. As a result, you are thrown under the bus faster than George Bush in the 2012 GOP candidate platforms. Never fear dear freshman—this sophomore can help you gain sanity again!

The following hot spots will fall under the categories of Crawfordsville, Indianapolis and Lafayette. A drive to Indianapolis may take anywhere from 50-60 minutes, whereas Lafayette is usually 35-45 minutes. While pricing varies between these fine establishments, keep in mind that all areas mentioned are wonderful and can accommodate most preferences.

Crawfordsville

1. Buffalo Wild Wings – Essential to every all-male college! The thought of Mild to Blazin’ wings not existing in this little town Wabash students now call home is an utter nightmare. Where else can a Wabash man be immersed under 15+ projectors and flat-screens blasting some good football, basketball, or anything else sports! Oh yeah—they have CNN on in the corner on the smallest TV for all other interests. The place is bumpin’, the wait-staff is nice, and it’s a Wabash hangout. Located across 231 from the Walmart entrance. Pricing: $10-$15, tip included.
2. Carmike Capri 8 Cinemas – Crawfordsville’s only movie theater, and it certainly does the trick. Location: between Kroger and Staples off of 231. Pricing: $9.50 Fri/Sat evenings.
3. Turkey Run State Park – Hiking, sightseeing, fishing, and a nice restaurant at the lodge: it’s great place to hang out on a Saturday. Location: Down SR 47. Turkey Run is about 30 minutes away. Pricing: $5.00 entrance fee for Indiana license plates, $7.00 for out-of-state plates.
4. A Church of your Choice – Is it really the last place you want to be on a Saturday? The bottom line is that individuals active in a local church will become a part of that family. Meeting and becoming involved with individuals from the Crawfordsville community is gentlemanly behavior. What a better place to be than a welcoming environment where the Crawfordsville community is excited to have you? On a side note, Greencastle hates its college for a reason: elitist dannies who brush off townspeople. Congregations that are a short walk from campus include (but not limited to) Wabash Avenue Presbyterian Church, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), First Church of the Nazarene, St. John’s Episcopal Church, St. Bernard Catholic Church, and First United Methodist Church.
5. The Iron Gate – Slightly formal, the Iron Gate is Crawfordsville’s most upscale dining establishment, whatever that means. Steaks, prime rib, seafood, pastas, and sandwiches are accompanied by a pleasant atmosphere. The bar has outdoor entertainment and live music inside on weekends. When you turn 21, a cocktail is nice with some desserts for a late night in downtown C-ville. Until that point, coffee and dessert will have to suffice. The Iron Gate Bar is NOT smoke-free, so bring a cigar and enjoy some weekend entertainment. Also, a good spot to take your significant other for a date, if she is in town.
6. Crawfordsville Amtrak Station – If you can’t take it anymore—why stay?  The Crawfordsville Amtrak Station has a daily train that departs for Chicago’s Union Station. Make it a day in Chicago with an array of museums, shopping, and phenomenal dining, all of which is downtown. Gino’s Pizza boasts the best Chicago deep-dish, FYI. Amtrak station location: the south end of downtown Crawfordsville. Pricing to Chicago: $40-$45 round-trip.
7. Merle Norman – It’s a great place to get your hair cut! Competitively priced, and it is downtown Crawfordsville so you do not have to drive. The owner Betty is a nice lady from town who has owned the salon for a very long time. She loves to chat with Wabash men more than anyone you would find at Great Clips, and she has been cutting their hair for many years. Pricing: $12-$18.

Indianapolis

1. Keystone-at-the-Crossing – Keystone is an area on the north side of Indianapolis that has everything you would want to do on a Saturday. The Keystone Fashion Mall has great stores and a phenomenal indie movie theater, the Keystone Art Cinema. Any current documentary or Oscar-winning flick is always on the ‘Now Showing’ list, as well as coffee, organic snacks, and other non-traditional movie snacks. If you want to grab a bite outside the mall, you can do PF Changs, Maggianos, Café Patachou, and much more
2. Butler University/Broad Ripple – Even if you do not have friends at Butler, Broad Ripple is a great place for any college student! To be brief…it’s a hipster paradise, complete with art-everything, amazing local restaurants, and a hookah bar.
3. Indianapolis Art Museum – It really is a fantastic art museum with a great modern art display! Free admission, but you pay $5 to park. Regardless, it’s a great way to spend your afternoon touring inside, as well as in the beautiful outer gardens. Make sure to stop by Broad Ripple on the way back for dinner. Mama Corolla’s is one of the best Italian places ever, and it is right by the museum.

Lafayette

1. Wabash Landing Center – From Crawfordsville, drive about 40 minutes north to Lafayette. When you hit the main intersection (231 and SR26/State St.), you will see the Wabash Landing Center on your right. Yes, it’s a town-center concept, but if you think about it, all one needs for life is there! Starbucks, Panera Bread, and Scotty’s are great places to grab some food or a snack. There are about 3 clothing boutiques that would have a great gift for a girlfriend! Plus, there is Evan Todd Salon. If you enjoy a more particular and artistic haircut, this place is for you! It’s an Aveda concept salon, and I would highly recommend Katie to cut your hair. In addition to everything, there is a new movie theater and Chipotle down the street.

Greencastle

1. Awful college
2. Hateful townspeople (because they think you are from DePauw)
3. Why were you ever thinking about going here before November 12th?

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