Ewing may not be the first place that comes to mind when imagining the ideal college town. For those new to the area, it is a quintessential suburb, with neighborhoods and strip malls aplenty. But what at first might seem like a dead end for college kids looking for a good time is actually a town filled with opportunity. There are plenty of things to do in the Ewing area. You just have to know where to look.
One of the most popular local attractions is Slocum's, a bar/bowling alley just a few blocks from campus on Pennington Road. The smoky, no-frills atmosphere caters to a college crowd. And for students who are not of legal drinking age, it offers a place to spend time with friends who are legal without restriction.
Further down Pennington Road is Olden Avenue, the Ewing capital of fast-food and movie rentals. Both Hollywood Video and Blockbuster are located on Olden, as well as McDonald's, Taco Bell, Wendy's, Boston Market and Burger King.
Those students who prefer a night out at the movies tend to frequent the AMC Hamilton 24 on Sloane Avenue. About a 10 minute drive from campus, the AMC 24 has a wide selection of new movies and honors a student discount price of $6.50 Monday through Thursday and $7.50 on weekends and holidays.
Fans of the art-house film can find new indie releases at the Princeton Garden Theatre on Nassau Street in the center of Princeton. The ticket prices are slightly more expensive than the chain theaters ($9 for adults), but provide students with the opportunity to see limited-release movies that only play in select cities.
For live music, many tours make stops at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton. Information and tickets are available at sovereignbankarena.com.
For more local shows, the Rathskeller, located on campus in Brower Student Center, frequently hosts up-and-coming artists as well as student bands and soloists. Larger acts that visit campus perform on the main stage in Kendall Hall. Blues legend B.B. King and emo band Matchbook Romance each played in Kendall last semester. A schedule for this semester's concert events is not yet available.
The McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton is the local venue for performance art of all kinds. McCarter's upcoming season includes play, opera, dance and concert performances. More information about events is available at mccarter.org.
With Rider University and Princeton University within miles, the Ewing area has grown to accommodate the needs of a college population. So, after settling into the college routine, take a trip to explore the area. You may be surprised by how much you find.
