As summer is drawing near, my time as an entertainment blogger has to come to an end at some point. I have decided to discontinue this blog because of not having nearly enough time to post. I enjoy doing this; so that is definitely not the reason as to why I’m stopping my blog. With my job and the classes I’m taking this summer, it would be extremely difficult to have content to post given my situation. Because of this, I’d like to apologize to any of my viewers that might be disappointed.
With that being said, I’d like to thank everyone who has paid attention to my blog at any point over the past few months. You guys kept me going and made me strive to make my posts as insightful and interesting as possible. Before I started this blog, I really didn’t know about things to do in and around Rowan’s campus. My viewers and I learned together that there is indeed things to do in boring old Glassboro, New Jersey. To all my die hard’s, I say goodbye.
Check out 5 of my favorite blog posts by clicking here, here, here, here, and here.
From 2008 to now, Rowan University has been working to make Rowan Boulevard a groundbreaking entertainment and restaurant scene for the students of Rowan and citizens of Glassboro. It is absolutely beautiful now that it is finally done. When it comes to the entertainment scene, you got to come check this out.
Whether you live in Glassboro or you are a Rowan University student, there is a place for you on Rowan Boulevard. There are all sorts of places to go; ranging from a nail salon, a Barnes and Noble, and there is even a fitness center.
“Barnes and Noble is one of my favorite places to hang out
on campus. I can grab a coffee inside and read for as long as I want. It’s
really a relaxing environment,” said Michael Francis, a sophomore at Rowan University.
Barnes and Noble was opened in 2010 on Rowan Boulevard and has been a key component for students and locals to find books they like and buy different things for school. There is also plenty of space (two floors) to hangout and grab a coffee with some buddies. For more information on the Barnes and Noble at Rowan University, click here.
Across the street from Barnes and Noble, there are a few
restaurants that are worth checking out. The Mexican Mariachi Grill and Chickie’s
and Pete’s are hands down my favorite. A burger from Chickie’s is a must-have
here in Glassboro. Not only are these great places to eat but watching sports at
these places is common with Rowan students and encouraged. I’ve gone there a
few times in the past couple of weeks to eat and watch playoff basketball. Whenever
there’s a night where you got nothing to do, head over to Chickie’s and you’ll
be in for a fun night.
“Watching the Eagles win the Super Bowl at Chickie’s and
Pete’s was so fun. It was so rowdy in there and everyone was just having a
super awesome time,” mentioned Tommy Jenkins, a junior from Rowan University.
For more information on Chickie’s and Pete’s, click here.
A virtual reality place and an escape room also opened recently on Rowan Boulevard. Although a bit pricey, these places are worth checking out. With virtual reality becoming more popular these days, this place has all the up to date stuff for people to use. I have yet to go there myself, but I plan on making an appearance sometime next fall. For the escape room, this is an extremely enjoyable place to go. If you get a group of friends together, you all get locked in a room and you have an hour to escape; figuring out different puzzles along the way. I remember the first time I went, and I had a blast. It was so fun to watch all my friends trying to escape the room and figure out the puzzles. You’re in for a memorable experience at both the escape room and virtual reality place.
Rowan University has been working non stop over the past few years to make Rowan Boulevard as extravagant as possible. Every year I’ve been at Rowan, they have been making huge strides in constructing these new buildings. With all of these new apartment buildings, restaurants, and entertainment places being built, who knows what Rowan University will be capable of in the next coming years.
A street view of Rowan Boulevard. The street is so beautiful with fresh plants all around. It is such a great place to go on walks. (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
A drive-by view of Rowan Boulevard. Although its hard to get around if your’e in a car, you can still appreciate the beauty of Rowan Boulevard. (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
The Barnes and Noble at Rowan University. One of the main spots on campus that students like to hangout at. (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
The Chickie’s and Pete’s at Rowan University. It is in such a great location. On the corner of Rowan Boulevard? Can’t get much better than that! (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
Las Scalas Fire is Rowan University’s newest restaurant. I highly recommend checking this place out if you love Italian food. (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
A view of the virtual reality place and escape. It is very convenient that these places are next door to each other. (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
Flush Nails and Spa is a very popular place to get manicures and pedicures here at Rowan. Girls at Rowan absolutely love this place. (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
Hollywood Tans is the tanning salon here at Rowan. Come get your realistic tan! (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
The Mexican Mariachi Grill is a personal favorite of many students at Rowan University. Like Mexican food? This is the place for you. (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
This is the picnic table area located at the end of Rowan Boulevard. It’s a very scenic area and is a popular student hangout spot. (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
Are you a Rowan University student interested in playing sports? If so, checking out the list of Rowan’s sport clubs is a great idea! Rowan offers a huge variety of different sport clubs so there’s always something for you. There is a grand total of 47 different sport clubs! I didn’t even know there were 47 different sports!
A list of all the Rowan sport clubs. (PHOTO/Rowan University)
All Rowan sport clubs are either instructional, recreational, or competitive; leaving a ton of room for choosing what you’re comfortable with. Any and every skill level is welcome to join as well. Some of the competitive clubs have tryouts in order to get in, but all the other instructional and recreational sport clubs usually just require a small fee to sign up. Membership fees vary by club.
Not only will you get great exercise by joining a Rowan sport club, but also meet new friends with the same interests as you! Either way, Rowan University is proud to have you represent them on the field.
A lot of things people do to get involved on campus aren’t too fun to be completely honest. With Rowan sport clubs, your combining getting involved with fun! The benefits of joining a club can last a lifetime. Don’t you want to tell your grand-children about the time you made the game winning shot as a member of a Rowan sport club? Click here to find which sport club you are interested in joining!
Jon Nielsen, 20, gave me the scoop on the music/entertainment scene at Rowan University. Jon is a proud member of rising band Corporate Dreamboat and is extremely excited about his future in music.
This is Jon! He has a very decorative room. (PHOTO/Jon Nielsen)
Josh Middleton, 40, has ran blogs professionally for several local outlets, including Philadelphia City Paper, Philadelphia Magazine and Time Out Philadelphia. He has also blogged for The Philadelphia Citizen and Uwishunu. He does have experience doing a beat blog at Philadelphia Magazine, where he ran their LGBTQ blog, G Philly, and their arts blog. Middleton graduated Temple University in 2010 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. In 2004, Middleton started blogging (at justjoshfunk1.blogspot.com) while living in San Francisco. Back then, sharing your life online was still pretty new; now so many people have a blog, making it easy to get “lost in the fray”. He developed a following (a lot of it came from the videos he made on his YouTube channel) after he started sharing his experiences living in San Francisco. He continued to blog extensively even after he moved back East. He ended up halting his personal blog because of graduating from college in 2010 and began blogging and writing for a living.
Middleton was born and raised in Lancaster, Kentucky, a
small conservative town just south of Lexington. Throughout his childhood,
Middleton faced some bullying and name-calling for being gay. Although it was
challenging to get through, he had a great support system of family and
friends. Despite facing some controversy, he excelled in writing. He kept
journals throughout his pre-teen and teenage years, and always was at the top
of his English classes. Middleton also has a passion for traveling; he is going
on a trip to Japan this year which he is extremely excited about.
Middleton had a lot of advice for young bloggers. “It’s an outlet where you can be conversational and have a little fun with the things you write and share. It’s also important to keep your finger on the pulse of what your audience is looking for, which is easy to do with SEO tools that show you what people are searching for.” Knowing who your audience is and what they are looking for is essential when it comes to blogging.
Middleton’s favorite part about blogging is having a wider
audience to connect with, to have greater reach. He has been able to develop
relationships with some cool organizations in the city, like the Philadelphia
Museum of Art, Live Nation, the Kimmel Center and local theaters.
“Sometimes you get a chance to check out exhibits and shows before anyone else, so you can share the experience with people who may want to go,” mentioned Middleton.
Something I’d like to share about Middleton is his drive to
be the best person he can be.
“These days, I guess I feel most proud of myself when I feel like I’m being the best person I can be – especially in those moments when it’s particularly hard to do the right thing. So, in a nutshell, being a good, empathetic person even when it’s challenging,” said Middleton. Middleton is up for a challenge and is ready for it to test his ability to be the best person he can be.
For young bloggers and journalists, Josh Middleton is an ideal person to look up to and base some of your work off of. Check out some of his work at Uwishunu by clicking here, here, and here.
Looking for a spot to chill with your buddies? Relund Park is a popular spot in Glassboro to take a walk or just hang out. Check out these scenic pictures we captured.
Relund Park’s walkways are perfect for walking your dog and exercising. (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
Relund Park’s tree are very scenic and good for people who enjoy climbing trees. (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
In this view, you can see a large portion of the park with the Glassboro water tower visible in the background. (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
The fields in Relund Park are great for playing park sports. (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
An up close and personal view of the walkway with trees in the background at Relund Park. (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
Another “on-the-ground” view of the walkway with the scenic Glassboro water tower in the background. (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
The picnic tables look like a nice spot to have lunch or just hang out with a friend. (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
The view of Relund Park from the picnic tables. (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
Another great shot from Relund Park. An up close picture of a tree with a scenic background. (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
Come sit down on a bench and read a book at Relund Park in Glassboro! (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
On March 23, Rowan University’s Anime Club will be hosting the 1st annual KeikenCon Anime Convention. It will run from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. and will be hosted at James Hall on Rowan’s campus. Tickets are five dollars and 100% of all ticket proceeds raised will be donated to the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation. For more on the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation, click here.
Anime is unique in its own way. (PHOTO/Maya Chow)
This convention will be entirely student run and the goal is to shed light on all the beauties that anime has to offer. Events such as anime showings, cosplay, games, art, and exhibits will be showcased. If you’re looking for anything related to creativity and culture involving anime, attend the Anime Convention. By attending the Anime Convention, you are really showing your appreciation for anime and other art forms. You would also be showing appreciation for the Anime Club; as they worked very hard to put this convention together.
Besides Rowan students, the public is invited and encouraged to attend the Anime Convention as well. Children 13 years old and under must always have a paying parent or guardian with them at all times. Anyone 14 up to 18 years old must attend with a legal adult (18 and older). For all the children who might attend, remember to bring your parent or guardian with you or you will not be allowed in. For more on KeikenCon’s Policies, click here.
If anyone is looking for anymore information regarding the Anime Convention at Rowan University, click here.
Follow the Rowan University Anime Club’s Twitter! @RUAnimeClub
I got a chance to sit down with Gerren Sayco, a sophomore at Rowan University who is also a vital member of the Rowan Alternative Music executive board. Gerren gave me the scoop on Rowan Alt and other entertainment opportunities related to Rowan.
Gerren poses for the camera (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself Gerren?
A: My name is Gerren Sayco. I’m 19 and currently a sophomore
at Rowan University. I am also on the executive board for Rowan Alternative
Music Club.
Q: Do you think there is enough promotion for entertainment opportunities and things to do on campus and in Glassboro?
A: To be completely honest, there really isn’t a lot due to the fact that all the promotion is school related, rather than actual fun that people our age want to engage in. I wish there was more age appropriate stuff going on around campus. I see stuff like BINGO going on and I’m honestly not interested in it. I guess that is where you come in.
Q: Do you think Rowan provides enough entertainment for students?
A: I think that Rowan tries its best to entertain students on campus. But the way the school works is that if you’re not in a frat or sorority, there isn’t much fun involved and you end up just sitting in your room all day. That’s where people resort to joining other clubs pertaining to their interests.
Q: Do you have any recommendations for additional clubs or entertainment opportunities that Rowan should offer?
A: Well first of all, I think every should join Rowan Alternative Music because it is the number one club on campus and we have the most fun there. There are other clubs on campus that schedule different events and stuff. There’s a film club I know of but haven’t heard much about it. It’s something that people can check out. In the end, Rowan should add more things to do for students.
Q: What type of business would you start in Glassboro if it had to involve entertainment for young people?
A: I would say a restaurant/venue or a bowling alley/venue. You can bowl and then there’s an area for people to listen to music. Get a DJ or a band to come in. Anything that is related to a sober activity but at the same time a fun thing to do. A lot of businesses don’t utilize the entertainment aspect of what their doing and that is what draws people in. People want to be entertained wherever they go. There is a reason they are going out to an establishment. Realistically in this world, everyone has everything at their fingertips. You mind as well make people enjoy the time they have outside rather than being indoors on electronics.
Q: Do they have a battle of the bands?
A: Yes, they do. The Rowan Music Industry Program will be hosting it on Saturday, March 9th. Rowan Alt will be there promoting their stuff. Whoever wins battle of the bands gets to open up for the headliner this year at Hollybash. It’s going to be really interesting that you get to see some local talent pop up.
Q: Are all concerts off campus?
A: Most of our shows are off campus. If there were shows on campus, that’d be dope but at the moment, we are still trying to get there.
Q: Thank you Gerren for participating in this interview.
Today I had the pleasure of visiting the Rowan University Art Gallery at 301 High Street West. Immediately upon entering, I was astonished by the art of Ebony G. Patterson.
The beautiful work of Ebony G. Patterson (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)A whole wall of tapestry’s by Ebony G. Patterson (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
Patterson uses flowers and laces to bring a unique style to her art. At least ten of her coffin sculptures were featured in the art gallery along with a whole wall of tapestry’s. Click here for more information on Ebony G. Patterson.
(PHOTO/Colin Hersh)A message about Ebony G. Patterson (PHOTO/Colin Hersh)
I highly recommend checking out the Art Gallery soon while Patterson’s work is still on display. On March 27th at 5 P.M., their will be a conversation led by visiting scholar Colette Gaiter, followed by a reception at the Art Gallery. For more on the Art Gallery, click here.
Similar to the Art Gallery and also on Rowan’s campus, The Center for Art and Social Engagement at Westby Hall is a venue that specializes in arts-based methods that investigates social issues. If you’re looking for an event to attend, the center will be holding Susan Sterner. She will be having an open reception and an artist presentation on March 14th. I encourage anyone interested in photography to go to this event because Sterner is such a fantastic photographer. Click here to find out more.
Rowan University’s art community is certainly underrated and should definitely get more recognition because it is one of the more interesting attractions on campus. Having two art centers on campus lets students get more involved in the arts for sure.
The Rowan Alternative Music Club recently hosted an off-campus house show featuring up and coming bands. It was a very awesome turn out as a good amount of people showed up to support local music. Cory Paternoster, Corporate Dreamboat, Cheyenne Dan, and Stella Mrowicki ft. The Ottobots all performed. It was only five dollars to get in which is super cheap compared to a concert where you’re paying close to 100 dollars in some cases. At Rowan Alt, you’re getting the same experience as a concert for an extremely low price.
Jon Nielsen playing bass at a recent Rowan Alt concert (Photo/Colin Hersh)
Rowan Alt Club is a great club to join if you’re looking for somewhere to listen to music where you feel welcomed and at home. It is a really laid back, chill group of people who all share the same love for music. If you’re looking to meet new people, this is the atmosphere for you. Click here for more on The Rowan Alternative Music Club.
While I was at the concert, I caught up with Gerren Sayco, a
Rowan Alt club member. He mentioned that there were usually more people who
show up at concerts and that I came on a slower night. I was shocked because
there was still a nice crowd of people. After hearing that, I was curious to
come back for the next show in about a month. I would recommend all Rowan students
to attend these concerts. It’s a really awesome vibe and I very much enjoyed my
time there.
Glassboro Entertainment Opportunities 