Milling around Lowell

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I remember the first semester at UMass Lowell I didn’t really leave campus much. I was new to the area and didn’t know what the city had to offer me. Using the deductive reasoning skills I gained from watching countless episodes of Columbo I am going to assume most of you are in the same boat as I was. For those of you who don’t know what Columbo is it is a TV show that is kind of like the movie Toy Story 3 except completely different. What I am going to tell you all about is some fun things to do around Lowell that are off campus that I wish I knew about sooner.

This is Columbo not Buzz Lightyear


Fun Place #1: Showcase Cinemas Lowell
Location: 32 Reiss Avenue, Lowell, MA 01853

What is not only relaxing but also exciting? Seeing a movie! Showcase Cinemas Lowell is probably the closest and easiest movie theater to get to in Lowell. It is right off of exit three on the Lowell connector and when you get to the rotary take the second exit then you’re at the theater. There are also two restaurants right next to the theater which makes it a primo convenient date night extravaganza location. You have your choice between Chili’s and the Outback Steakhouse. I prefer the Outback strictly for their Bloomin’ Onions and the delicious Chicken Caesar Salad. If you want to hear about how delicious the Chicken Caesar Salad is email Tim, he is a Chicken Caesar Salad aficionado of sorts and can tell you all of the best locations around Lowell for Chicken Caesar Salads. The big thing about Showcase Cinemas Lowell is that on Tuesday nights they have this thing called “bargain Tuesdays” where admission is $7 and for IMAX and 3D it is $9, yeah boom. The Cinema also offers a good variety of food such as the standard theater popcorn that is delicious, freshly-baked cookies that are delicious, pretzels and pretzel nuggets, hot dogs but you already know those are delicious because they are hot dogs, nachos, ICEE’s, and much more!  Unfortunately Showcase Cinemas Lowell does not accept UCash, I should know I am a Tim Brown appointed genius of UCash.

Fun Fact about Showcase Cinemas Lowell: This is where Tim and I saw the English Patient, it is a great movie to watch if you have ten hours to spare and an attention span far greater than mine. Something special happened when Tim and I were approaching the 25th hour of the movie and the credits started to roll. Tim looked at me and said “Brady, when I go to the movie theater, I want to be hit on every level I can. I want to laugh, I want to cry, and I want to think. This movie just hit me in the deepest way possible, it made me cry. This movie made me realize what I really want in life and that is to love another with all my heart and soul.” Tim realized at that moment that he was just a common man with common thoughts and that there are no monuments dedicated to him. That was when I realized that Tim is like an onion except when you start peeling away at the many layers of Tim Brown the center of him isn’t a super oniony center it is the nexus of everything cute. A little sugar, spice, and everything nice. I like to picture it as a giant ball of kittens snuggling up on each other.

Maybe he was the one that loved another with all his heart and soul stuff…


Fun Place #2: Brunswick Zone
Location: 647 Pawtucket Boulevard Lowell, MA 01854
Phone: 978-454-0476

So you’ve been at school for a month and all you’ve done is go to class and play Wii Bowling. You think you’re pretty good huh? That don’t impress me much. Take your skills to the alley and prove it. Looking for a place to bowl? Look no further than the Brunswick Zone! Located on the same side of the river as North Campus the Brunswick Zone offers you a place to bowl and play arcade games. They offer a different deal every day of the week! On Monday nights from 9PM – 11PM bowling and shoe rental is $1.50 each and the hotdogs are $1. On Wednesday nights they have this thing called Bowlapalooza which is kind of like an all you can eat buffet except for bowling. You pay $11.99 and can bowl as much as you want from the hours of 9PM -11PM. If you want to find out about the other deals that the Brunswick zone offers you can find them here, there are just too many to list.


Fun Fact: Tim and I went bowling here one time. I bowled a strike but stepped over the line and Tim wasn’t going to count it despite my pleas. Eventually he was able to convince me to not count it by saying this “Brody, this is not ‘Nam. This is bowling. There are rules.”I stopped fighting him on it because he was right; we weren’t in Vietnam, we were in the Brunswick Zone.  

This is the face Tim gave me when I wanted that strike to count…


Fun Place #3: Pheasant Lane Mall
Location: Nashua, NH

Let’s go to the mall, today! While not in Lowell the Pheasant Lane Mall offers a nearby showing megaplex for student at UMass Lowell. Just over the border into tax-free New Hampshire lies the Pheasant Lane Mall with a food court that features three or four different Asian food options and a mall that has over 130 specialty shops. There are also restaurants near the mall such as Red Robin, Smokey Bones, Bahama Breeze, and a KFC. The strip that the mall resides on also offers much more shopping options such as Best Buy and Bed, Bath, and Beyond. For those of you who may not be excited to go to the mall here is a video to help make that not be a thing anymore, you should always be excited for the mall. 



While only a twenty minute drive I felt that giving you Google’s directions rather than mine would be much more helpful and beneficial to you in your quest for finding the Pheasant Lane Mall


Fun Fact: If you go to the Payless outside there is an assortment of stationary vehicles that you can ride for a few quarters. My friend and I rode the taxi together. When you finally make your way from the food court to the other side of the mall be sure to check it out and marvel in the fact that we both fit in it. Also the blue airplane ate three of my quarters, don’t trust it.
Hope this helps with you if you are looking for a place to hang out that is off campus.


-Brady 

Something none of us can live without…SLEEP

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Hey everyone,

Today I’d like to talk about sleep. As a senior in college I have had my days were going to bed seemed down right unproductive. However, I have learned my lesson about how important sleep is time and time again. The chart below is a good representation of what most college students do.

But in reality, you can have all three if you learn to balance your college life and get enough SLEEP!

First lets start off with some basic facts about sleep:
1) Getting enough sleep in the first place!
—-The goal here is about 8-10 hours of sleep, so plan accordingly. The longer you are a sleep for the more REM sleep you get, which is the best kind, and our deepest state of sleep.
2) Creating a sleep schedule and sticking to it!
—-Getting the right amount of sleep is important but it can be not as effective unless you go to bed and wake up at about the same time every day. People who get the same amount of sleep everyday not only perform better in college but feel better overall!
3) Manage your time better.
—-Everyone has assignments in college, group projects, and papers that are larger than our dreams! These can take a lot of time and often times we put them off to the night before and stay up until 2:00AM to finish them. Simply put, try and do these before the night before! If the assignment takes a long time generally the professor will give you ample time to finish it. Even though I am a senior I have never pulled an all nighter for any project or assignment because I planned ahead.
4) Do NOT sleep in!
—-I know, you love sleep, and staying in bed till noon; I do too. But this can negatively effect your sleep schedule and make you more tired when you do roll out of bed.

So your homework for tonight is to set your alarm and get some sleep!

Goodnight!

Craig

Om nom nom nom

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Sooooooo…. Who’s Hungry????

I don’t know about everyone… but I typically eat 3 times a day. Because I love food more than many other things. So today I am going to talk about where you can buy food with your Umass Lowell “U-cash.” Not meal plans, not points, but UCASH. They are very different things… let me emphasize.

Quick Breakdown:
UCash is a very different thing than other forms of payment on campus. UCash can be used everywhere on campus! Both residents and commuters can add Ucash by visiting: http://www.uml.edu/UCAPS/UCard/Add-UCash.aspx

Now, you only have Ucash on your card if you visit that page and add Ucash, so don’t get confused. If you do get confused, email Brady.  He is a Ucash, meal plan, point, commuter block meal, genius. He knows all.

Now back to the food… I’M HUNGRY!

Alright, so I am going to go over a couple of the delicious and delectable places located OFF campus that you can spend your Ucash at. I’m from Lowell and the food here is great, so trust me on this one. 😉

Food Destination #1: Eggroll Cafe
Location: 110 University Ave, Lowell MA 01854
Phone: 978-970-3411
Website: www.eggrollcafe.com/



Alright, this little dime is quite easy to get to. I am sure if any of you have been to North campus you have seen it. If not! Then it is located right next to Suppas on University Ave. It’s really hard to get lost getting here. 

The food here is delicious and is one of my favorite in-between class spots to grab a quick snack. Definitely try it out, they have delicious bubble tea’s as well among much more. I would call this place a very americanized asian local restaraunt. Also, its a cute date place, easy on the wallet too gentlemen 😉

Fun Fact: I actually visited this place for the first time  my junior year of high school and have been in love with it ever since. 

Tim’s favorite item on the menu: Gotta be the buffalo chicken eggrolls. No question. Strawberry bubble tea is a close second though. 

Food Destination #2: Southwick Cafe
Location: Basement of Southwich Hall, North Campus
Phone: (978) 934-5759
Website: n/a
Southwick Hall...dining is nearby
(this is Southwick Hall for those who do not know)

Alright, technically this isn’t off campus but I feel like this is a hidden gem on campus that few freshmen and transfers are aware of. I didn’t even eat here til last spring, and I was missing out. 

Pretty easy to find, just go to southwick hall basement and it is all the way in the corner. You’ll see it. 

The food here is wicked good. Delicious cafe sandwiches, soup, burritos, quesadillas, grilled food, fries, pretty much everything. I don’t think you could go here and not find something you would like. Don’t forget you can spend cash, credit, POINTS, and Ucash here. No meal plan swipes though. 

Fun Fact: I’ve ate here about 2 or more times a week or so times this semester, however, since I spent nearly all my points so far I doubt I’ll be spoiled enough to eat here that much anymore.  

Tim’s favorite item on the menu: Ranchero for lifeeeeee

Food Destination #3: The Bite
Location: 500 Pawtucket St, Lowell 01854
Phone: 978-441-9661
Website: http://www.thebitelowell.com/index.php














This little cafe is a cute little place located by SOUTH CAMPUS, located by the river on pawtucket street about 500 feet from campus. It is ran and operated by Orchard Hill Ice Cream and is located right next to them. 

Although I haven’t ate here too often, my friend Georgia raves about it. They have all sorts of typical cafe type goods, sandwiches, soups, baked goods, ice cream, and even pizza. They accept cash, credit, and UCash. 

Fun Fact: I actually went here once to sell my dayglow ticket to a friend. 

Tim’s favorite item on the menu: I LOVE SOUPPPP!!!!

Food Destination #4: The Athenian Corner
Location: 207 Market Street, Lowell 01852
Phone: 978-458-7052
Website: http://www.atheniancorner.com/

This sit-down restaurant is located downtown on the corner of Shattuck Street and Market Street in downtown Lowell. Although this place is a little bit further off campus. It is still walking distance from East Campus and If you enjoy Greek food, this place will not disappoint. 

They accept cash, credit, and Ucash. It’s a little bit more expensive than the other restaurants listed previously, however, its not terribly expensive and they do have excellent lunch specials. 

Fun Fact: There is parking! (surprisingly) So you shouldn’t have to pay the meter if you go here. 

Tim’s favorite food: Octapodi… It’s octopus. And it’s delicious. 

Food Destination#5: Feng Shui
Location:  285 Chelmsford St, Chelmsford, MA 01824
Phone: 978-250-8888
Website: http://www.gofengshui.com/

Alright, so this is definitely the most expensive restaurant listed. HOWEVER, it is easily my favorite.
Also, it is probably the hardest one to get to, it’s not walking distance, and I won’t even try to give directions to it. So here are google’s directions from fox hall. They will be much clearer than mine. I promise, here they are: https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Fox+Hall,+University+of+Massachusetts,+Lowell,+MA+01854&daddr=Feng+Shui,+Chelmsford+Street,+Town+of+Chelmsford,+MA&hl=en&geocode=FTjRigId7Lu_-ynX-2NxRaTjiTFHE5zm8hu44w%3BFTc0igIdUou_-yF2HPhxyy-OhCnZkvpxnqPjiTF2HPhxyy-OhA&aq=1&oq=Feng+sh&sll=42.63699,-71.29509&sspn=0.20357,0.445976&vpsrc=0&mra=ls&ie=UTF8&t=m&z=14&layer=c&ei=qKlcUNDJObGxxAGJ3IC4BQ&pw=2

WOW that was a much larger URL than I thought. But anyways there ya go.

Yea, so this restaurant is AMAZING. Easily my favorite sushi place outside Boston. The Chinese food here is also wicked extremely good if sushi isn’t your thing. They also have lunch buffets that are amazing and a special Sunday lunch buffet with higher quality food for a little extra $. If hibachi is your thing also they have that upstairs, however, I’ve personally never ate the hibachi there but my friends all tell me its great.

Also, they have a really good dine-in lunch sushi menu that is very affordable, check that out. My sister and I frequent lunch there every so often and usually pick from that.

Fun fact: After my Lowell High School graduation ceremony, my family rented a private room and all of us stuffed our faces with so much food, it was so good, my mouth is watering thinking about it. I haven’t ate sushi in over a month and it’s my favorite food :*****(

They accept cash, credit, and UCash.

Tim’s favorite item on the menu: Besides everything, my favorite is the Sushi Sashimi Boat. But I usually don’t get that too often because its a little pricey. My parents just spoil me but its ok because I am going to buy them a beach house when I am rich and famous.


Well, that’s all folks. I’m really hungry now…
-Tim “The Best” Brown

(p.s. you can find all the other places you can spend your lovely Ucash dollars at here: https://www.onecardgivesback.com/MerchantsFinder.aspx?communityID=25 )

Whats next?…..

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Hey Folks!
I hope the semester is going well! I know that it is for me! =)
This past Wednesday to kick off the Latin Heritage Month I attended an event called Cafe con Leche presented by UML’s very own LASA (Latin American Student Association). It was a fun night of talent with performances from a band, UML students with poetry and song, as well as a special guest form New York who also joined us last year and he did such an amazing job that we invited him back this year, Advocate of Wordz. You can find him on Facebook under that name, if you love poetry, realism, depth and comedy, then you will LOVE Advocate of Wordz!
If you are looking for more wonderful events like this one, KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN! There are flyers everywhere on what’s happening next. We have such a variety of clubs/organizations that put on AMAZING events. For example the next LASA and OMA (Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs) event will be this Tuesday September 25th in Alumni Hall (North Campus) at 8pm. It will be a continuation to Latin Heritage Month; it is called a Journey in His Shoes. It will be a special guest, Multi-Award winning filmmaker and speaker Jesus Nebot. He will be coming to share with us his immigration story and hear any ideas you may have. Isn’t that awesome?
If you want to join in all the fun, come check us out every Wednesday at 6pm in the CRC (east campus) conference room for our weekly meetings. EVERYONE IS WELCOME! Or if you want to go in another direction, no worries JUST GET INVOLVED! It’s as easy as checking out this link: http://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/

<3 Giselle

What you know about me?

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Hello everyone!
My name is Brady Simmons, and this is my first blog! Not my first blog ever but my first one for this blog, the clarification was necessary. I am almost positive that some of you reading this will remember me from over the summer if not from having me as your Orientation Leader but from Tim Brown shouting out “BRODY!” 
Now, I am going to tell you a little bit about a man I know, a man much like myself, a man that is myself. I am a sophomore here at UMass Lowell and I am currently studying Chemical Engineering. My two main affiliations on campus go to the Orientation program where I was an Orientation Leader over the summer and also to Residence Life who employs me as a Resident Advisor at the ICC. Oh and I am also an Orientation Ambassador. 
A little more about who I really am besides my affiliations. I will play any sport for fun but the only sport that I can spectate and have it keep my attention is Football. I like to play video games from time to time. I mainly play first person shooters and am most likely better than you at them but that is just a fact of life much like how I am more Gucci than Tim Brown. I play other games than just FPS I also play lane games like DOTA 2. I also like to go to the hockey games at the Tsongas Center, first one is Friday October 12 at 7PM be sure to go! 
Some things I like
Favorite Movies: Pulp Fiction and Fight Club
Favorite Food: Big Kahuna Burgers, Sushi, and Hot Dogs
Favorite Band: I’ve been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. I also like Biggie Smalls and 2 Chainz. 
Favorite Sports Teams: New England Patriots and the UMass Lowell Riverhawks
Things I have learned, if you argue correctly you are never wrong. 
I seem to have gotten off track with my introduction and can’t bring myself back, but that point is probably moot. I have to return some videotapes.

A Little Bit About Me…

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Hello Everyone!
My name is Timothy Brown and I am one of the awesome squad of people commonly referred to as Umass Lowell’s Orientation Ambassadors. I also have several other common nicknames including but not limited to: Tim Gucci, T Breezy, Tbone, Tim BROwn, Ken, Awesome, Grandpa Tim, and many, many, more. Whatever you feel more comfortable referring to me is fine with me. I am a mix between serious, competitive, hardworking, reflective, silly, hilarious, and indifferent… kind of like a shepherd’s pie mixed with whatever your favorite food is, a sprinkle of awesome, mashed up in a blender and served hot enough to burn your tongue.
Besides working, I do a plethora of things on and off campus. Here we go:
Major: Political Science & Philosophy
Student Government Senator
Vice President of Phi Kappa Sigma International Fraternity
Secretary of Political Science Club
Mock Trial Team
Pre-Law Society
Greek Council Judicial Delegate
And of course in the summer I have the fantastic priviledge of being an Orientation Leader
Basically, I am a little bit busy but the sky’s the limit. I share a common approach to life with the great philosopher Lil Wayne in that we both have “No Ceiling’s.” Besides quoting rappers, I have a fantastic family, a cat named Ralph, a dog named Charlie… oh yeah, and two sisters whom I love from the bottom of my heart (not being sarcastic). I like rap, alternative rock, reggae, techno and dubstep, and much more. Fun fact: I actually used to DJ until I spilled a drink all over my macbook last fall and destroyed it! So I don’t have a computer anymore… but I do well on campus still so it is certainly possible to do great things without the same priveledges others have. Sorry in advance if I periodically give out life lessons, I tend to do that, that is how I got the nickname Grandpa Tim. Before I keep going on forever, I am going to leave you with two of my favorite quotes. The first is a political one and the latter a philosophical one. Enjoy!
“A real patriot is the fellow who gets a parking ticket and rejoices that the system works”-Bill Vaughn
“Ideas, religion, and science are the blind mans cane.” -Howard Bloom
Well, I hope you all find me mildly entertaining and I look forward to keeping you updated in the future about many things.
Talk to you all soon!
P.S. Hi Mom!!!

INTRODUCTION TO MEEEEE!!!!

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Hola Everyone!
My name is Giselle Colon and I am your new Orientation Ambassador this year! Are you excited? Because I AM! This summer I was also one of your Orientation Leaders!
On a more academic view, I was a transfer student from Bunker Hill Community College and I am currently a senior with a major in Criminal Justice, and minors in Sociology and Spanish. I have interned with the UMASS Lowell Police Department and worked a whole year at United Teen Equality Center (UTEC) in downtown Lowell. They work to serve the youth around Lowell and help them get off the streets and become more involved, educated and successful. Isn’t that awesome? THIS IS MY PASSION! I have been involved in a few organizations on campus like Sisters of integrity Striving Towards Empowerment, Respect, and Success (S.I.S.T.E.R.S.) and Latin American Student Association (LASA). This year I hope to continue in with them and hopefully add a few more to my list! =)
Enough about that! If you want to know more feel free to ask, but for now I’ll give you a little snippet of the fun side of me! Ready? Okay…..
So if you think of Giselle you immediately think of SMILING, I looove smiling! So if you ever see me around campus I want to see a Colgate smile! =D I am super approachable, outgoing and verrry friendly! I love SING and DANCE and meeting new people. OH THE JOY! Oh Oh did I mention my favorite color is PINK?!! No? Well now you know! It’s an awesome color. I also love dolphins and TRAVELING! One day I hope to travel THE WHOLE WORLD! One way to get that started is STUDYING ABROAD, super easy to do, DO NOT miss the chance! I did it (Costa Rica) and thought it was the best experience EVER!
Well that’s all folks! I really hope you enjoy our blog, and again feel free to always ask us ANYTHING! If you need to ask more personal question, I am your gal, you can just email me at Giselle_Colon@student.uml.edu
XOXO enjoy the ride
<3 Giselle  

Meeting Your Orientation Ambassadors!-Craig

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Hi Everyone!

My name is Craig Reid and I’m an Orientation Ambassador this year. I am currently a senior Criminal Justice Major with a minor in Psychology. I am a Resident Advisor in Bourgeois Hall this year, I was an orientation leader over the summer as well. I have been involved in Student Government, Criminal Justice Society, and I have represented the student body on a number of faculty committees ranging from General Education to my college’s advisory board.

Some fun facts about me, my favorite color is green, I was born two days after St. Patricks day (now you all know my birthday!), and I want to get a doctorate degree here at UMass Lowell!

If you have any questions feel free to ask me,

Craig Reid

Coffee, you should get some

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So as I sit here talking to Alanna about how much we have to do this week we realized the only way we are gonna get through it is with lots of coffee and energy drinks, since there is little time to sleep. Which isn’t exactly a great thing but you gotta do whatcha gotta do in order to get through this week. Energy drinks are not good for you due to excess amount of sugar in them. If you get sugar free energy drinks, think of all the artificial flavorings they use to compensate for not using sugar. And they leave you feeling more tired than before drinking them. But coffee is a magical thing since it’s delicious and has a bunch of health benefits.

Health Benefits of Coffee:
1. Reduces risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease.
2. Prevents brain damage
3. Drinking 4+ cups of decaffeinated coffee can help regulate blood sugar
4. Drinking 1-3 cups a day can reduce your risk of stroke since it can lessen the damage done by inflammation in the arteries.
5. Reduced risk of liver cancer and cirrhosis
6. Curbs appetite

But these benefits only applied to those drinking under 5 cups of coffee a day. Drinking more than that can put you at risk for jitters, high cholesterol, restless sleep, and withdrawal symptoms when you do not consume coffee (Coffee is a legitimate addiction).

So feel free to load up on the coffee to prepare for finals but lay off the Jo next week so your body can re-cooperate. Summer is right around the corner. It’s the home stretch, this is the last sprint to the finish line and I know you will make it. Good luck on your exams, papers, and presentations!

-Meg

AHHHH!

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Yep it’s here. Finals week. Possibly the worst week of the year. Agreed? No one likes sitting the library till 2 am studying for Physics, Art History, Calculus, or Chemistry. But that’s just part of college and since you all survived Fall Semester’s finals week, I have faith that you can do it again. Just remember to take a 5 minute break fro every 90 minutes of studying. Or else your brain is going to feel fried and you’ll stop retaining new information. Also eating foods rich in iron and protein will help get you through the long nights of studying. Avoid sugary foods and drinks because they will a quick rush of energy then leave you more tired than before you ate your snack. One of the best snacks to have while studying is trail mix. The almonds, peanuts, and walnuts will fill you up while the raisins and M&Ms satisfy your sweet tooth.

Since it’s well known that this is the hardest week of the semester, the University and Residence Halls are putting on de-stressing programs all week.

Tonight (May 7th)
Late night breakfast in Bouge!

Tomorrow (Tuesday May 8th):
11am: South Campus Scavenger Hunt: TONS of prizes will be given out.
1pm – 4pm:  There will be a huge block party on South Campus with free food and a moon bounce (and many more activities)
3pm-7pm: Health Services’ Stress Relief Day: Go and take a couple hours to relax. There will be mini-massages, ice cream sundaes, and art&crafts projects. Oh ya and it’s all FREE!!

Wednesday May 9th:
8pm: Smoothie Party at the ICC. Take a quick break with your friends for a yummy fruit smoothie. Or grab one on the go to bring to the library with you.

Throughout the rest of the week, the residence halls will be putting on programs for everyone to enjoy. So keep your eyes open for the signs that will be up this week.

Best tip I can give you for surviving this week is sleep right, eat right, and exercise. Yea we have all heard it a thousand times but its the truth. Schedule these things in so you do not forget to do them. Even just biking for 30 minutes and swapping that bag of chip for a yogurt can do wonders on your grades and studying endurance. My favorite thing to do to keep me interested in studying is using color paper and pens. White paper is going to get bored after a couple hours, while red, yellow, or orange paper will keep you awake and focused.

Good Luck!
-Meg