If you took a campus tour this spring , there’s no doubt your tour guide mentioned E.S. Bird Library, the Schine Student Center and Insomnia Cookies. Sure, these spots are great, but your eating, studying and lounging options certainly don’t end there. Syracuse University and surrounding city offer plenty of hidden gems no one mentions until you’re half-way through the semester. So cancel your trip to Carousel Mall, put down your Wings menu and experience SU’s best spots that sometimes fly under the radar.

 

Panasci Lounge:

Located on the top floor of the Schine Student Center, the Panasci Lounge is a massive living room where students can study and relax. Comfortable chairs and couches are scattered throughout the quiet room while fireplaces burn on cold, gloomy days.

 

‘It’s great because it gets you away from the noise and congestion on campus and puts you in a comfortable, cozy place to study,’ said Jen Camasso, a sophomore health and exercise science major.

 

The lounge is less crowded and more inviting than the library, offering a calm atmosphere on campus.

 

People’s Place:

Tucked in the basement of Hendricks Chapel, this student-run, nonprofit coffee shop offers cheap drinks, snacks and lunches. Known around campus for its friendly atmosphere, the shop’s funky decorations give it an alternative feel you won’t find at Starbucks. In a university filled with Pepsi products, People’s Place is the only on-campus supplier of Coca-Cola products.

 

‘It’s the cheapest place to find coffee on campus and it’s a really fun environment,’ said Emily Fasel, a junior accounting and supply chain management major.

 

Goldstein Alumni & Faculty Center Restaurant:

Dubbed ‘Faculty’ for short, this restaurant is located in the alumni center between E.S. Bird Library and Watson Hall. When the dining hall seems impossible, this sit-down restaurant where students serve students is the perfect alternative to take-out.

 

Faculty offers a wide variety of dishes in a full three-course meal, including sandwiches, pastas, salads and steak. Money isn’t even an issue, since you can use your SUpercard instead of cash or credit.

 

‘Faculty is a nice little secret on campus,’ said Michelle Gaston, a sophomore communications and rhetorical studies and policy studies major. ‘It’s slightly more formal than most restaurants on Marshall Street, and it’s a great place to go for good food at a reasonable price. It’s perfect for lunch out with friends, brunch or even a date.’

 

The MOST:

The Museum of Science and Technology, located in downtown Syracuse, doesn’t exactly scream ‘college hot spot.’ But don’t let the name fool you: a ball pit, toothpick city and a virtual basketball game makes this the coolest museum you’ve been to since you were five. It also holds the closest Bristol IMAX Omnitheater around campus.

 

‘Unlike the more common flat-screen IMAX presentation, the Omnitheater is domed, which envelops the audience, bringing them into the action of the film,’ said Justin Sawyers, director of marketing and communications for the museum. ‘You’ll swear you’re swimming along dolphins, flying a plane, or diving off that cliff. It feels that real.’

 

Syracuse Stage:

Located on East Genesee Street, the Syracuse Stage is perfect for an evening out with friends. For the 2010-11 season, Syracuse Stage will host seven plays, including ‘The Miracle Worker’ and a stage adaptation of ‘A Christmas Story’. SU’s own Department of Drama is teaming up with Syracuse Stage for a co-production of ‘Rent’ in January. You can find discounted tickets at the Schine Box Office making this a great option for a change of pace on the weekend.

‘It’s great that the Syracuse Stage is so close. It’s nice to go out with friends sometimes and see a show,’ said Rosa Perez, a sophomore social work major.

Published on August 24, 2010 at 12:00 pm