By Steph Moore

Alright, let’s get this painful fact out of the way so that we can get to the good stuff:  Yes, summer vacation is over and it’s time to start classes.  There.  We’ve said it, so now we can move on…to the fact that you’ve decided to go to college in one of the best cities in the US to be a college student.  There’s a reason Worcester is known as a major college town ~ not only do we have a whole variety of colleges and universities, but we also have restaurants and diners, entertainment, shoppes, coffee houses, clubs, gyms, cultural organizations,  salons, and a ton more that make student  life here anything but boring, no matter what your tastes are!  In fact, there are so many things to do here in Worcester that it’s always really difficult to narrow down a list of favorites ~ but we went right to the source this year, heading out to popular local hangouts where we knew we’d find your peers and polling them on a bunch of different categories that will be part of your life here in Worcester…so, courtesy of some people who might wind up being your classmates or living down the hall from you in just a few days, here are some great suggestions of how to experience the best Worcester has to offer…but as always, we suggest that, just like networking is the best way to hear about jobs and other opportunities, it’s also the best way to learn about the city ~ so don’t be shy, talk to other kids on campus, or that cutie at the coffee shop, or head to an open mic night at a local club and introduce yourself to someone who seems to like the same kind of music that you do. Make sure to check out what your and all the other college campuses offer, too ~ from movie nights to sports to all sorts of clubs to poetry readings and a lot more. You’ll find your niche pretty quickly, we promise, and then you’ll see what we mean about there being something to do every night and every weekend here in Worcester!
GREAT BURGER
Ralph’s
Brew City
Joey’s
Bocado (shrimp/kobe sliders)
EVO
Wild Willy’s

GREAT ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Piccolos
La Scala
Tomasso’s
In Forno
Rosalina’s
Carmella’s
Leo’s Ristorante
Il Camino

GREAT BBQ
Smokehouse Barbeque
Texas BBQ
Pampas Churrascaria
The Mill

GREAT MARTINI
Keepers
Vincent’s
Ceres
The Sole Proprietor
Lago

GREAT BYOB
Rosalina’s
Le Mirage
Mai Tai
Tortilla Sam’s
West Side Steak & BBQ
Café Manzi
Kai
Pomir Grill

GREAT SUSHI
7 Nana
Baba
Haiku
The Sole Proprietor
Willys
Yama Zajura (Northboro)

GREAT BAR FOOD
The Boynton
Joey’s
Tweeds
Flying Rhino
Perfect Game
Brew City
Vintage Grille
The Parkway

GREAT EATS-ON-A-BUDGET
The Banner
Creegans
Coney Island
Perfect Game

GREAT WINGS
Wings Over Worcester
Wing It Up
Buffalo Wild Wings
The Boynton
Super Wings

GREAT TAKE-OUT
Wings Over Worcester
Wild Willys
Little Caesars
Wing It Up
West Side BBQ
Spoodles
Ciao Bello
Harvest Moon

GREAT LATE-NIGHT EATS
The Boulevard Diner (The Bully)
Tortilla Sam’s
The Kenmore Diner
The Boynton

GREAT IRISH BAR/RESTAURANT
O’Connors
The Banner
Old Timer
The Press Box
Galway Bay
Greyhound Pub
Slattery’s
Dugan’s

GREAT PLACE FOR A FIRST DATE
7 Nana
Bocado
Mezcal
Flying Rhino
Nick’s
Piccolo’s

GREAT PIZZA
The Boynton
Wonder Bar
Corner Grille
Peppercorn’s
Vintage Grille
Pepe’s
Godfrey’s Grille and Pizzeria

GREAT MEXICAN FOOD
Mezcal
Plaza Azteca
Playa Del Carmen
Acapulco’s
Ole
Tortilla Sam’s

GREAT BREAKFAST
Shakers
The Gold Star
Café Manzi
The Parkway
Lou Rocs
Dinky’s

GREAT BAR ATMOSPHERE
Loft 266
7 Nana
Bocado
Cigar Masters
The Banner
The Boynton

GREAT CHINESE FOOD
Red Lantern
Cheoy Lee’s
Chopsticks
Mai Tai
Nancy Chang
Cheng Du

GREAT ETHNIC FOOD [OTHER]
7 Nana (Japanese)
El Basha (Lebanese)
Pho Dakao (Vietnamese)
Pomir Grill (Afghani)
Surya (Indian)
Thai Island (Thai)
One Love (Jamaican/Caribbean)

GREAT SUNDAY BRUNCH
The Beechwood/Ceres
Bull Run
Old Mill
Gardner Ale House
Post Office Pub
Cornerstone

GREAT SELECTION OF BEERS
Brew City
The Dive
Gumbo
The Boynton
O’Connors
Peppercorn’s/Wormtown Brewery

GREAT PLACE TO TAKE PARENTS FOR DINNER
Ceres at The Beechwood
La Scala
The Sole Proprietor
The Castle
7 Nana
Sonoma
Leo’s Ristorante
Joey’s

GREAT BAKERY
Sweet
Palma’s
Crown Bakery
The Bean Counter
On the Rise Baking

GREAT SPECIALTY FOOD MARKET
Ed Hyder’s
Tom’s International Food Market and Deli
Living Earth Health Food Store
Moscow Nights
Mekong Market
D’Errico’s Market
Palma’s
Ha Tien Asian Market

GREAT CLUB
Loft 266
Salty Dog
Fusion
Club Universe
Boiler Room
Jillian’s
Byblos

GREAT LIVE MUSIC
Vincent’s
Ralph’s
Lucky Dog
The Palladium
Tammany Hall
Beatnik’s
The Raven

GREAT LIVE MUSIC IN NORTH COUNTY
Classics Pub
Gardner Ale House
The Bull Run
Blacksheep Tavern
Iron Horse Lounge

GREAT KARAOKE
Cafe Neo
Yong Shing
Wong Dynasty
Lago
Lucky Dog
The Mill
Beemers

GREAT CULTURAL DESTINATIONS
Worcester Art Museum
Higgins Armory
The Hanover Theatre
Mechanics Hall
Music Worcester
Old Sturbridge Village
Russian Icon Museum
Tower Hill Botanic Garden
Ecotarium

GREAT ANNUAL EVENTS
Taste of Shrewsbury Street
Open Road Festival
Paulie’s NOLA Jazz Fest
Pulse Music Awards
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Canalloween
College Shuffle
Gay Pride
Latin Festival
Restaurant Weeks
Walk n Rock

BEST PLACES TO GET EYEGLASSES & SUNGLASSES
Plante Opticians
Bello Opticians
Metz Opticians

GREAT PLACES FOR GUYS TO GET HAIRCUTS
Justin’s
Tommy M
Goodfella’s
Who’s Next
Diorio’s
Head Shop
Orange Salon
Hot Set Hair Studios
Hair Factory

GREAT SALONS
Top Shop
St. Cyr.
Teree Salon
Rinse
Diorio’s
The Claw Shop
Jeffrey Robert
Fulgere
Orange Salon
Tu Moda
Paul Conzo
Bellisimo
Invidium Salon and Spa

GREAT DOG GROOMERS
Dirty Dawg
Dog Daze
The Pampered Pet
Furry Essentials
Perfect Paws

GREAT BODY ART
Miraculous Creations
Piercing Emporium
Za Za Ink
Electric Lotus
Flesh by Design
Tattoo 101
Out of The Dark World Tattoo
Secret Society Tattooing
Tattoo Project

GREAT PLACE FOR COLLEGE KIDS TO HANG OUT
Woo Berry

Spiritual Haze
In House Coffee
Perfect Game
Mahoneys
Nu Café
The Bean Counter
Espress Yourself
Allgos (later at night)
The Shishah Room

 

GREAT HOTELS FOR PARENTS’ VISITS
The Beechwood
The Hilton Garden Inn
Courtyard by Marriot
Residence Inn

GREAT MUSIC STORES WHERE THE GUYS REALLY KNOW THEIR STUFF
Union Music
Kurlan Music
City Music

GREAT MECHANICS
Early’s on Park Ave.
Corvette City
Gerardi’s
Harry Heitin
Cranston Brothers

GREAT COMIC BOOKS/COLLECTIBLES
That’s Entertainment
Music Quest
Jelly’s

GREAT ART CLASSES
CC Lowell
Worcester Center for Crafts
Worcester Art Museum
Just Paint

GREAT THRIFT/CONSIGNMENT STORES
Salvation Army
Goodwill
My Trouvaille
Savers
Grime
Funky Stuff
Alexis Grace Consignment

GREAT VEGAN/VEGETARIAN
Pomir Grill
Nancy Chang’s
Belmont Vegetarian Restaurant
Evo
One Love Café
The Buddha Hut

GREAT GYMS
Planet Fitness
Central Rock Climbing Gym
Worcester Fitness
Anytime Fitness
Crossfit Training
World Gym
Optimal Performance Center
GREAT PLACE TO PLAY POOL
Breakaway Billiards
Blackstone Tap
Jillian’s

 

GREAT OFF-CAMPUS ~[non music] ~ ENTERTAINMENT
Wisecracks at Jose Murphy’s
Crystal Caves
Just Paint
Wachusett Mountain
Fore Seasons Blacklight Mini Golf
Tri-State Speedway
AMF Bowling Lanes
X-Fire Paintball
DCU Center
Worcester Sharks
Worcester Tornadoes
GREAT STUDENT DISCOUNTS
For the best student deals in town, “Do the Woo!”
Sign up for your card at www.worcestermass.org/arts-culture-entertainment/woo-card!

“NEW TO THE WOO”
Gumbo
7 Nana
Vintage Grill
Park Ave. Grill
Krazy Horse Saloon
Pomir
Funky Stuff
Lago
The Park Grill & Spirits
Picadilly Bar and Grille

And if somehow you’re stuck for ideas, just consult one of these great resources!

• Pulse Magazine, ~ especially our Club Listings  section ~ it has everything that’s going on everywhere in Worcester County!
• thepulsemag.com
• GoLocal.com
• SocialWeb.net

So from all of us at Pulse, welcome [back], have a great school year, get out there with your friends, meet some new people, have fun, try something different, be safe, and get to know your city!

The Colleges of Worcester Consortium – COWC

The Colleges of Worcester Consortium consists of Anna Maria College, Assumption College, Becker College, Clark University, College of the Holy Cross, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Mass. College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Nichols College, Quinsigamond Community College, UMass Medical School, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester State University. The Consortium offers a wide array of academic and social resources for its students. Consortium students can access the new internship database, scan the master lists of courses and majors at member institutions, find out more about the Certificate in College Teaching Program, ROTC, and the Tuition Waiver Program, participate in cross-registration, view the schedule for the Consortium shuttle bus, and take advantage of the numerous opportunities to interact with students from other campuses. Some of the links you’ll find on the site include comprehensive information about:

Academic Resources
Academic Programs
Transportation Services
Just for Fun
Calendars
For Graduate Students

Phone: 508-754-6829, Email: info@cowc.org
www.cowc.org/college-student-resources