The HCC Student’s Guide to Keeping Occupied
Suggestions and tips to help the average HCC student stay occupied during the time they have to spare between classes.
By Kristin Gayda
Editor-at-Large
Thumbs up to B.B. the Bluefish, who’s always down to chill between classes.
Photo Courtesy of Kristin Gayda
Suggestions and tips to help the average HCC student stay occupied during the time they have to spare between classes.
By Kristin Gayda
Editor-at-Large
Thumbs up to B.B. the Bluefish, who’s always down to chill between classes. Photo Courtesy of Kristin Gayda
A mode of transportation is a beautiful thing. If you’re a car-less HCC student, keeping your sanity intact between classes can feel like something of a hopeless situation. But never fear, my bum-riding, shotgun calling friend – you’ve got a professional on your side! Not only have I endured three semesters at Housatonic without a means of getting to and from school, but my attention span can be measured in nanoseconds. With that in mind, here are some suggestions to get you on your way to having fun and conquering Bridgeport’s concrete jungle!
If you’re trying to stay as local as possible, then take advantage of campus. Walking around HCC requires little to no effort because you’re, uh, already there. Rather than waste all of your time in one place (like the Cafeteria), make an “adventure” out of your quest to overcome boredom. For example, take everything in steps. Start in the cafeteria, grab a soda or hot chocolate, and mentally prepare yourself for the hours ahead. Take your beverage of choice out into the court yard, look around for familiar faces, or simply sit on a bench and contemplate the day’s events.
When you’re finished outside, take a walk indoors and scan the newspaper racks. Of course, you should always pick up an issue of Horizons if you haven’t already (what a shameless plug!), but many times you can find editions of Play Magazine, Fairfield Weekly, and The Connecticut Post (among other publications) for free! Free reading, comics, Sudoku puzzles and calendars of local events always equate to at least a good half an hour of time consumption.
From here you may want to check out the HCC Library. The obvious suggestion here is to take out a book; whether it’s applicable to a class you’re taking or simply for leisure is up to you. I bring my laptop with me everywhere I go, so the Library is a quiet, calm place to relax and do my work with a pair of headphones and some groovy tunes. If you really have nothing else to do, take advantage of yet another library perk – the movie selection. It’s free to check one out, and they offer headphones and television sets to aid in your viewing pleasure.
Once walking down the same hallway and seeing the same people over and over again gets to be too much, consider venturing outside. It’s always good to set a goal for these sorts of travels, so have a mission in mind. I suggest hunting for caffeine. If you do it right, the hunt for caffeine can be both extremely rewarding and time consuming at once!
You have several options in the area to choose from, which is nice because it takes time to figure out where to go and allows you to mix it up every so often. The simplest choice – Dunkin’ Donuts – is located directly across the street from the parking garage. While it may not have the greatest service ever, it’s an easy walk and you know what you’re in for. Plus, they have free Internet access for those of you with laptops.
If that isn’t your cup of tea (or, uh, coffee), and it’s before 3:30 in the afternoon, check out Take Time Café or Avalon Café. It takes two minutes (tops – they’re located on State Street) to walk to either establishment from campus and both are definitely worth your while. In addition to providing gourmet drinks in a “café” atmosphere, Take Time and Avalon’s full menus include a wide array of sandwiches, paninis, salads, and pastries guaranteed to satisfy your appetite.
So, where do you go next? Well, if you’re the collegiate type who likes to feel cultured every once in a while, be sure to check out City Lights Gallery and Rainy Faye’s. Both are located just a block away on Broad Street, and are, as far as I’m concerned, hidden gems many HCC students are unaware of. City Lights Gallery is a great spot for all you art enthusiasts out there to visit. The selection is always changing, as the gallery displays a new themed exhibition every six weeks or so. Each exhibition aims to showcase local artists’ sculptures, paintings, prints, and photography. Admission is $0, so feel free to walk in and browse some of the area’s best artistic talents.
Situated a short distance away is Rainy Faye’s. Serving as the area’s only bookstore, it provides much more than a diverse selection of today’s best sellers. Live jazz concerts, poetry readings, lectures, and book signings are offered on a regular basis, so be sure to browse their schedule. If purchasing books doesn’t tickle your fancy, Rainy Faye’s also sells art prints, CDs, handicrafts, and gourmet coffees/teas. Who knew?
Now, if you still aren’t sure as to what you can do to kill the time, then you haven’t been reading carefully. There’s clearly a wide variety of things to do on and around HCC’s campus. Remember, these are only a few suggestions – there’s still a whole lot more to explore in the area! Read flyers for events, ask around, meet new people, and do all you can to quell the boredom (at least until your ride arrives). Believe me, in the end you’ll be a happier, more productive student. Good luck!
If you’re trying to stay as local as possible, then take advantage of campus. Walking around HCC requires little to no effort because you’re, uh, already there. Rather than waste all of your time in one place (like the Cafeteria), make an “adventure” out of your quest to overcome boredom. For example, take everything in steps. Start in the cafeteria, grab a soda or hot chocolate, and mentally prepare yourself for the hours ahead. Take your beverage of choice out into the court yard, look around for familiar faces, or simply sit on a bench and contemplate the day’s events.
When you’re finished outside, take a walk indoors and scan the newspaper racks. Of course, you should always pick up an issue of Horizons if you haven’t already (what a shameless plug!), but many times you can find editions of Play Magazine, Fairfield Weekly, and The Connecticut Post (among other publications) for free! Free reading, comics, Sudoku puzzles and calendars of local events always equate to at least a good half an hour of time consumption.
From here you may want to check out the HCC Library. The obvious suggestion here is to take out a book; whether it’s applicable to a class you’re taking or simply for leisure is up to you. I bring my laptop with me everywhere I go, so the Library is a quiet, calm place to relax and do my work with a pair of headphones and some groovy tunes. If you really have nothing else to do, take advantage of yet another library perk – the movie selection. It’s free to check one out, and they offer headphones and television sets to aid in your viewing pleasure.
Once walking down the same hallway and seeing the same people over and over again gets to be too much, consider venturing outside. It’s always good to set a goal for these sorts of travels, so have a mission in mind. I suggest hunting for caffeine. If you do it right, the hunt for caffeine can be both extremely rewarding and time consuming at once!
You have several options in the area to choose from, which is nice because it takes time to figure out where to go and allows you to mix it up every so often. The simplest choice – Dunkin’ Donuts – is located directly across the street from the parking garage. While it may not have the greatest service ever, it’s an easy walk and you know what you’re in for. Plus, they have free Internet access for those of you with laptops.
If that isn’t your cup of tea (or, uh, coffee), and it’s before 3:30 in the afternoon, check out Take Time Café or Avalon Café. It takes two minutes (tops – they’re located on State Street) to walk to either establishment from campus and both are definitely worth your while. In addition to providing gourmet drinks in a “café” atmosphere, Take Time and Avalon’s full menus include a wide array of sandwiches, paninis, salads, and pastries guaranteed to satisfy your appetite.
So, where do you go next? Well, if you’re the collegiate type who likes to feel cultured every once in a while, be sure to check out City Lights Gallery and Rainy Faye’s. Both are located just a block away on Broad Street, and are, as far as I’m concerned, hidden gems many HCC students are unaware of. City Lights Gallery is a great spot for all you art enthusiasts out there to visit. The selection is always changing, as the gallery displays a new themed exhibition every six weeks or so. Each exhibition aims to showcase local artists’ sculptures, paintings, prints, and photography. Admission is $0, so feel free to walk in and browse some of the area’s best artistic talents.
Situated a short distance away is Rainy Faye’s. Serving as the area’s only bookstore, it provides much more than a diverse selection of today’s best sellers. Live jazz concerts, poetry readings, lectures, and book signings are offered on a regular basis, so be sure to browse their schedule. If purchasing books doesn’t tickle your fancy, Rainy Faye’s also sells art prints, CDs, handicrafts, and gourmet coffees/teas. Who knew?
Now, if you still aren’t sure as to what you can do to kill the time, then you haven’t been reading carefully. There’s clearly a wide variety of things to do on and around HCC’s campus. Remember, these are only a few suggestions – there’s still a whole lot more to explore in the area! Read flyers for events, ask around, meet new people, and do all you can to quell the boredom (at least until your ride arrives). Believe me, in the end you’ll be a happier, more productive student. Good luck!
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