ESPOSITO: Make time to appreciate George Street
Column: Unapologetically
In the beginning of my college career, my world did not stretch past the College Avenue campus. It was where every one of my classes were. If I needed to print, I would walk to the Academic Building on the College Avenue campus.
If I needed to study, I would walk down the street to the library. On chilly mornings, I would get a cup of coffee from Panera Bread. If I had leisure time, I would wander over to The Yard @ College Avenue for a Starbucks refresher.
On the days when the dining hall seemed unfathomable, I had my pick of restaurants ranging from stir fry and salads at honeygrow to sandwiches crammed with mozzarella sticks and fries and RU Hungry. It really seemed there was nowhere else to go and nothing else I needed to do.
On the brief occasions I went to Livingston campus (as a journalism major, I found no need to visit the Rutgers Business School), I found the allure of the plaza to be quite dim. Henry’s Diner — a Rutgers staple, always had a line that stretched outside the door. When I finally made my way inside, I found it not better than any other diner, especially a diner with no wait.
Qdoba was just another chain, a chain I was not willing to take an LX bus to, and even Kilmer’s Market was not faring better than the convenience of College Avenue. My bubble that stretched from Bishop Beach to Barnes and Noble was perfect for me. Until, I got a job on George Street.
It was my sophomore year of college when I began to look for a job in preparation for the expenses of the holiday season when I came across an advertisement for the Rutgers Telefund. Located on George Street, it was a calling center where students called Rutgers alumni and asked them to give back to the school. It was a horrible job asking people for money, I quit as soon as I could afford it.
My favorite part about the job was the commute. Walking from College Avenue to George Street took me to a part of New Brunswick I had never experienced before. It was no longer a college town, but a bustling arts district with live music, fumes from local restaurants, laughter from people sitting outside of coffee shops and meeting with friends. Beautiful boutiques lined the streets and I loved looking in the windows.
I had always known about George Street. I had heard about the Stress Factory Comedy Club, Perlé Lounge and of course, I knew the closest Chipotle was located there. But, I was unaware of the overall ambiance, of young 20-something socializing, experimenting with new restaurants and enjoying the arts.
As a now 21-year-old, I have explored up and down George Street, experiencing the different restaurants, breweries and cafes. George Street Ale House does an affordable and delicious bottomless brunch of weekends, where an entrée and endless drinks cost together an affordable $25.
Poke Nagomi offers a customized, make-your-own poke bowl with a serving big enough to last you for multiple meals and toppings ranging from hot cheetos to fresh fish. Tavern on George offers soft acoustic performances almost every night and a range of trendy drinks and appetizers that attract the most bougie of guests.
In the midst of the pandemic, the city of New Brunswick made the decision to close down George Street from vehicles, in an effort to expand each restaurant's outdoor dining. As a result of this, it feels now more than ever like a bustling city of it is own. In the holiday season, ice sculptures litter the streets and decorations light up the night.
Each business has its doors cracked open, welcoming to all. And each business is probably still reeling from the restrictions earlier this year due to the pandemic. So as both students of Rutgers and dwellers of New Brunswick, each one of us should do our part to keep this cozy sector of New Brunswick alive and well.
Laura Esposito is in the School of Arts and Sciences sophomore majoring in journalism and political science. Her column, "Unapologetically," typically runs on alternate Fridays.
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