As I sit here in Harrison lab, exactly one week away from graduation, I'd like to take a few minutes to share my favorite places at JMU and in the Harrisonburg area. I've developed quite a fond attachment to them between move-in day in 2005, pictured to your right, and now.
Hanson Field: I lived in Hanson Hall freshman year and had a lot of fantastic times in Hanson Field. A lot of these involved sports. Snow football, where I intercepted the ball and returned it for a touch down. Practicing soccer for another Champs intramural victory. Dominating sand volleyball until 2 am causing my feet to freeze and homework to be neglected.
Hillside Lab: All I can say about this is that it was basically my second home my last two years at JMU. 90% of my homework was completed here as well as a ton of facebook stalking.
Old Dominion Coffee: I know this doesn’t exist anymore, sadly, but it’s still one of my favorite spots in Harrisonburg. It had such a homey vibe and was great for studying or having conversations with a friend over a cup of coffee.
TDU: When I toured JMU as a potential student I thought TDU was a groovy place. My tour guide said people take naps here and leave notes on themselves saying “Wake me up for class at 3”. I never saw this, but I might have taken a nap here once or twice. It was also a great place to hang out with friends, do homework, and play a little tambourine here and there.
DHall: Let’s be real, I ate here at least once a day freshman year. When peanut butter pie or peanut butter passion are on the menu my day is instantly fantastic. I think I might end up starving after I graduate without dhall there to feed me my favorite comfort foods with a swipe of my JAC card at the door.
Mr. J’s: This has become a nearly every weekend tradition. I’ve had many recaps of the crazy weekend events here. Bagels are also one of my favorite foods & Mr. J’s has a mean everything bagel. Great people, conversation, and food are a killer combination.
The Nile: One week I think I spent 4 straight nights at the Nile. It’s one of those places that some of my friends just associate with me and I don’t hate it. Enjoying live music with friends and a PBR in hand is definitely one of the best ways to spend any day of the week.
MGL: McGraw-Long Hall, for those of you who have no clue what MGL stands for, has a pretty special place in my heart. This is the dorm where I was a FrOG for 2k8. I met some of the greatest people through this experience and owe a large part of who I am today to them. MGL was my go-to place if I had time to kill and I was on campus.
Wilson Steps: The Wilson steps are always going to be the place I think of when I think of JMU. I’ve spent a lot of time in between classes, skipping classes, and hanging out with friends here. I don’t really have the words to describe the significance the Wilson steps have to me, just know it’s a lot.
There it is, my list of favorite places at JMU and the Harrisonburg area. As you can see most of these places involve people. The thing that makes something one of my favorite places is that it has brought me together with the people I’ve met. These people are the things I’m going to remember most about JMU, the places I shared with them are just a random detail.
