The weekend provides students with free time that can seem boring when they have nothing to do.
With no classes or homework, staying inside the dorms or going home doesn’t feel like a solution. Sometimes, taking a trip to New York City might feel too long as well. Students don’t have to venture far just to have a fun experience.
There are solutions to cure weekend boredom right in South Orange.
Taking a walk to explore downtown South Orange Village is a start. Multiple stores and restaurants are just a shuttle ride away. Seton Hall provides a shuttle service that takes students from campus to the village. Students can track the shuttle on their phones via the TripShot app. From Wingstop to Carvel to Target, the range of places to visit is almost endless.
An ideal spot to visit is Dunkin’. Students can take a trip to sit with a small group of friends or on a solo self-care trip to enjoy delicious food and drinks.
“I recommend Dunkin’ because it’s cheaper than Starbucks and the hot chocolate there is better,” Sabrina Roman, a freshman marketing major said.
Dunkin’ is one shuttle ride away, or a 14-minute walk if you want to take in the view. This is perfect if you’re still awaiting the official reopening of our on-campus Dunkin’.
“There's bound to be something you like there if you haven't already found your order,” Anthony Guarino, a freshman art major said.
If you are in the mood to take a seat and enjoy the arts of entertainment, South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) is also a great place to visit for entertainment.
SOPAC is located on 1 SOPAC Way. It showcases a variety of performances from famous artists worldwide to talent right in our state, including people from our very own SHU Arts Council. This makes attending live performances even better. There’s a high chance you get to see and support a friend who’s performing with a band, a choir, or is a part of a play.
“One of the first things I ever did since attending Seton Hall was go to the movie theater in SOPAC while it was still open, and I met some of my closest friends there,” said Sylis Gilot, a sophomore double major in mathematics and computer science. “I’d go on to watch choir performances in the semester, which I joined by the next semester. Although I wish the movie theatre was still open, it’s a really nice place to be in general.”
As of March, the movie theater at SOPAC is temporarily closed. The previous independent operator, Cinema Lab, has ended their lease. While there is no confirmed reopening timeline, the SOPAC still offers live performances.
As SHU students, we have an advantage to attend SOPAC events, that are in collaboration with SHU, for free. For example, an upcoming show, “Il Trovatore” by Giuseppe Verdi, on Nov. 13, will be available for SHU students to watch.
Tickets for “Il Trovatore” are available now on the SOPAC website. This will showcase the talent of the Art Council along with the Alberto Italian Studies Institute through opera and a dramatic plot. This is a great opportunity for students to see something exciting outside of campus without having to take a long journey there.
“I definitely plan on going to SOPAC again to support my friends and because I like the place,” Gilot said.
Rickiya Coulton is a writer for The Setonian’s Opinion Section. She can be reached at rickiya.coulton@shu.edu.
