Study Break!

Okay, okay... so my last post wasn't quite what you were expecting. But I PROMISE, you'll find this post quite helpful. This week I had the pleasure of joining my colleagues for dinner at another locally owned eatery. O'Betty's Red Hot Dogs is definitely not your typical hot dog joint. Located on West State Street, it's a little further down from campus but it's worth the walk! When I first walked in I was a little hesitant to order because of the, um... "interesting" menu options. The staff was very friendly in helping me decide what I wanted to order. After debating between the "Lily" and the "Blaze", I finally ordered the "Blaze", which is basically a beef hot dog with sweet cole slaw and bacon, a side order of homemade fries, and a coke. It was amazing! For all of my vegan's and vegetarian's, be sure to order you meal "shy", which is tofu.

In addition to great food, the restaurant also serves as a museum of hot dog history. Located on almost every wall are pictures of celebrities and random facts in hot dog history. The dining area is a little small but it was perfect for our group of four and a few other diners. However, if you don't have time to stick around and eat, you can always take it to go. After we finished our meals, we sat around for some time to discuss issues in popular culture, film studies, and of course, our students. Because it's now the end of the quarter I definitely plan on visiting O'Betty's again next quarter, if not sooner.

Note: This is a CASH only establishment!! $7 bucks should be enough for a dog, fries, and coke. Check out the slide show below.



Can't see it?? Click here

Saturday Night Fever

So, in my previous posts I've shown you places to live and eat. Now the fun part-ENTERTAINMENT! You may have heard that Ohio University was once the #2 party school in the nation. Well, they've since fallen to #9 but trust me there are still plenty of bars to choose from on a Friday or Saturday night. As with the last post, I racked my brain for hours trying to figure out which spot would be great for graduate students. And then it hit me. The one place I always find myself on Saturday nights-the library. Yup that's right, the library. As a graduate student I've come to realize the library is most likely my #1 "hang out" spot.

Click here for more info about the types of resource available at the Vernon R. Alden Library.

Quick Eats

Believe it or not, Athens offers a variety of restaurants and cuisines to its over 20,000 residents.I racked my brain for days trying to figure out which restaurant I wanted to feature in today's blog. I mean, there are the typical McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's. But since undergrad I have discovered that the dollar menus are no longer appealing to my tummy. C'mon four years of hitting the drive through every day eventually takes a toll on your digestive track. Because you will be a graduate student and are going to spend lots of hours (trust me) studying-you are going to need a slightly healthier alternative than the typical fast food joints. Bagel Street Deli is one such restaurant.

Located directly on Court street, it is within walking distance from the library and the student center. BSD offers bagels that can make anyone's mouth water. Vegan? Try one of the many bagels on the "Veggie Delights" menu. Love Tofu? The "Steamy Tofu Melts" menu will keep you coming back. Other menu titles are "Carnivorous Cravers", "Poultry Pursuers" and "BSD Originals". There are literally hundreds of bagel/food combinations to choose from. This morning I was feeling somewhat school spirited so I ordered the OU Bagel. Next time, I'm thinking about ordering the "Chris Farley" bagel with honey, banana, and peanut butter. If you are not in the mood for bagels BSD also serves made to order salads.


Another interesting feature of BSD is the decor. When I walked in for the first time I immediately noticed artwork hanging on walls covered with side walk chalk graffitti. The tables are spaced so that you can either come in with a group of classmates or enjoy a more intimate conversation to toss around thesis ideas.




Not a fan of bagels or salads? Click here for a list of other popular Athens eateries.