Off Campus
by Kate Thrane
photography courtesy of Amanda Willis
It’s easy to get stuck in the “BU Bubble” and never leave campus. Luckily, it’s not too hard to break out of the bubble if you know where to go. Here are some of the best places to go off campus.
Newbury Street and Boylston Street
Newbury Street is a short walk from central campus and offers lots of shopping and dining experiences for college students. Newbury Street is lined with stores like Brandy Melville, Urban Outfitters and LF. A street over on Boylston, the Prudential Center is loaded with even more shops, including Vineyard Vines, Sephora and Aritzia. (Heads up: Madewell and J Crew give student discounts if you bring your student ID.)
“Whenever I get stressed, I like to walk around Newbury Street and window shop and people watch. I like seeing people who aren’t college students,” said Christina Marcisak (COM ’20).
These streets are also home to quick and trendy eats like Fresh Pressed Juicery and Eataly.
“It’s a really authentic Italian experience. I like just walking around and looking at all the different foods I can buy and bring back to my apartment,” said Ivy Zhang (COM ’20 ).
Fenway
The Fenway neighborhood is located right off of East Campus. The Target in Fenway is a popular place to shop for college students, but there is also a Sweetgreen, Sephora, Saloniki, Chipotle and the vegan restaurant by Chloe.
“The AMC movie theater in Fenway is my favorite movie theater and one of the best places to get off campus. They have super comfortable chairs, and I can easily walk there from my dorm,” said Mia Lomoskey (CAS ’20).
For nightlife, Cask ‘n Flagon and Lansdowne Pub are always crowded with college students from around Boston. For more entertainment, the House of Blues has concerts multiple times a week with popular artists like Milky Chance and ODESZA.
Boston Public Library
For one of the best off campus places to study, a lot of students head to the Boston Public Library. It was the first large, free municipal library in the United States. Today, it has expanded to include a more modern wing with a courtyard and café. Students can choose to study in either the modern glass area or the classic Bates Hall. Bates Hall is filled with dark wooden tables and green lamps, which makes for a relaxing and quiet study space.
“I love studying at the Boston Public library because it’s a way for me to get off campus to study and to push myself outside of my comfort zone,” said Taylor Yi (CAS ’20).
Harvard Square
Leave BU’s campus and go toward Harvard University’s campus in Cambridge. Although it is a tourist attraction, there are lots of little coffee shops and stores to poke around in. Go to Creme Cafe for a nitro cold brew coffee or a flaky pastry and then go shopping at Urban Outfitters, Lush and Anthropologie. Or, visit all three Harvard art museums: the Fogg Museum, the Busch-Reisinger Museum and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum. Admission is free for students with a school ID and all three museums include works from Degas, the ancient Mediterranean world and German expressionism.
Next weekend, leave BU’s campus and embrace living in a city that has so much to offer!