50 things to do around JMU
Brent Finnegan -- November 9th, 2007
A group of JMU students, led by new Student Body President, Lee Brooks, are putting together a booklet with “50 things to do at JMU” that will include things to do in and around Harrisonburg as an alternative to drinking. It seems the administration, as well as a number of students, wants to do something to change their reputation as a “party school.”
UPB webmaster and jMubilee President, Drew Richard, is helping compile the list. He’s looking for suggestions from hburgnews readers. In an email, he wrote:
What I would like for locals to provide is a list of places that are really special to this area. Things that they think students need to go to in their time in the area or would really enjoy going to. Ideally, these would be things that students would enjoy doing and would do instead of drinking. It would also be cool if they were unique to the Valley, but that’s not a requirement.
Some examples would be skydive orange, blue hole, UPB Grafton movies, and reddish knob. We will have a small description of each place/acitivity and a $,$$,$$$,$$$$ rating system along with some other information such as location. They will be on-campus, and off-campus activities probably within 30 minutes to an hour away. It will be available to give to prospective and current students and anyone else who wants it.
You can contact Drew at richards@jmu.edu, or leave a comment on this post.
does this mean no more ‘i bleed beer shirts?’
Be sure to list the arts and cultural events calendar at http://www.ValleyArts.org – we’re doing our best to integrate all the events in the Rocktown, Escape, university announcements, Eightone, and mailings. We don’t get them all, but there’s always something on our schedule!
Have a paddle around Shenandoah Lake. You can rent a boat at the little shack there. Not sure about the $.
i recently shared this with some others concentrating on a similar project, feel free to edit:
Arts and Antiques Afternoon:
Attraction: JMU’s Sawhill Gallery (in Duke Hall, it’s their
professional gallery, and often times they have big names)
Attraction: Quilt Museum
Shopping: Oasis Gallery
Lunch: Artful Dodger (Different emerging local artist featured every month)
Shopping: Rt 11 North- Hunt for hidden antique shops along the way
Shopping: Rt 11 North- The Shoppes at Mauzy
Shopping/Attractions: Rt 11 North- Downtown New Market antique stores
and pottery shop on the corner.
Snack: Grab an ice cream float or piece of pie at The Southern Kitchen
on your way back- a living antique.
For a taste of The Harrisonburg Bohemian Scene: (this one is more of a
night trip)
-Find a live poetry reading, jazz combo or art opening downtown
(hints: check Earth and Tea Cafe, The Artful Dodger or Old Dominion
Coffee Co.- or go to valleyarts.org to preplan – *shameless plug*)
-Shop and gawk at Glen’s FairPrice Store
-Treat yourself to some ‘Groovy Gravy’ at The Little Grill on Thursday
for breakfast night, hear some local music if you’re lucky
-Head to the Rock Wall at the top of Campbell Street at Ott to see the sunset
-End your night with a traditional hookah at Firetop Bar and Grill
Awesome list Ashley, my additions are as follows.
-Paint Pottery at You Made It! Paint Your Own Pottery Studio (http://www.youmadeit.net) A shameless plug of my own. Bring a date or come alone to relax!
-Have a picnic in Hillendale Park or BIKE thier trails ( http://www.harrisonburgva.gov/index.php?id=1105)
-Drive 33 West past the West Virginia Border. JMU students have so very rarely ventured beyond Blue Hole, they don’t know what they are missing.(just don’t tell them what time WV stops selling beer, that might be contrary to the point of this exercise).
-Then go East for Skyline Drive, another must see
Explore local Civil War sites up and down the valley. Learn your country’s history and get some exercise to boot!
- Get involved with the Boys and Girls Club, Our Community Place or another local non-profits that need help
- Oakdale Park for a pickup soccer game every Sunday at 2pm
- Purcell Park for a pickup game of basketball, ultimate frisbee or soccer
- Court Square Theater and the HDR have a number of events downtown
- Massanutten water park and skiing
- Work for free..er..experience with an internship at Immerge Technologies (shameless)
The truth of the matter is that they’re aren’t alot of fun things for 18-23 year olds to do here. Compared to where I went to college, Harrisonburg is pathetically boring and unimaginative.
With all due respect, I just can’t see a self-respecting 20 year old hanging out at the Quilt Museum.
Young folks like to socialize (like we did when we were in college), and VA’s puritanical laws about alcohol and food just makes it easier to stay on campus and party. Path of least resistance.
Kyle, I disagree completely. NOT with the Quilt Museum thing, but with the :aren’t alot of fun things for 18-23 year olds to do here. I grew up here. I left when I was 17 to attend ODU, upon my return I realized that it wasn’t Harrisonburg that was boring. It was ME. After I got over the notion that things should be jumping out at me, I started jumping out at things to do. I haven’t been bored in 6 years. I laugh every time I hear someone claim that they are or were. I remember the time when I could have identified. That time has long since passed.
If they ever figure out a way to buy spare time, time in which one might actually get to be bored. Sign me up for a couple of g’s worth.
Geo-caching – http://www.geocaching.com/
Rock Climbing/ Bouldering – Go visit Wilderness Voyagers for details or pick up an area climbing book that details routes. (Wilderness Voyagers also has a bulletin board to find partners.)
Skiing/ Snowboarding – Snowshoe (2 hours), Massanutten (30 minutes), Wintergreen (1 hour), Canaan Valley, Bryce, etc.
Kayaking/ Canoeing – The Shenandoah River surrounds us. There are some local outfitters like Massanutten River Adventures, etc who can help you out. JMU’s UREC also rents out equipment to students and I’m sure the staff there can give you some tips and locations to drop in.
Mountain Biking – Visit the Shenandoah Bicycle Company downtown (http://www.shenandoahbicycle.com/) or other local bike shops for information on local riding spots, and also group rides and activities – including monthly scavenger hunts! http://www.shenandoahmountainbikeclub.com/
Paint balling – I don’t know where they are exactly, but I hear the community is around.
Purcell Park
Disc Golf – Westover Park (Harrisonburg), Gypsy Hill Park (Staunton), Green County, Walnut Creek.
Go Downtown – visit the shops and restaurants, see shows and bands – you don’t have to drink!
Court Square Theater – see a musical show, band, watch a movie, or hear a discussion/forum
Visuallite (Staunton) – see movies
Blackfriars Playhouse/ American Shakespeare Theater (Staunton) – http://www.americanshakespearecenter.com/ Its a recreation of Shakespeare’s first theater and a great opportunity to get some culture. They also have student discounted tickets.
Drive up and down Route 11 and visit some of the towns – There are some good eatin’ places in Staunton, Dayton, Bridgewater, New Market, Woodstock, etc. Also the Route 11 Chip Factory is up north in Middletown.
Pitch and Putt Par 3 Golf Course (Bridgewater) – Its fun and free. http://town.bridgewater.va.us/v.php?pg=128
Harrisonburg Community Activities Center – Check out their community activities guide each season. They often have dodgeball and kickball tournaments. http://www.harrisonburgva.gov/index.php?id=156
Blacks Run/ Downtown Clean Up Day – Participate in this Clean Up Day the second week of April each year and help keep Blacks Run clean and beautiful (clean up, planting projects, and educational activities). http://www.cleanstream.org
Dance – Dancing with Karen
Yoga – several locations in Harrisonburg.
Striptease Class – I don’t know the details about this one, but maybe another hburgnews reader can fill in the details. Some friends of mine earlier this year took a striptease class for several weeks together.
Mr. J’s Bagels
Join the local soccer league – Shenandoah Valley Adult Soccer League (SVASL).
Harrisonburg Tourism – There’s tons of events in the area. I would recommend that students stop by the local Tourism Office on Main Street downtown. There’s tons of information on local places to visit, things to do, and events to experience.
Can you sign up to WATCH the strip tease class? How much does that cost?
I just emailed Drew with my suggestions I posted above. I ended up writing him this, which I thought I would also share here:
“Drew, Here are some of my suggestions that I posted on Hburgnews. I think what you are doing is a great. As a JMU alumn, I understand and I experienced the “JMU Bubble”. I had no idea what the area had to offer, and perhaps I am guilty of not wanting to know or not believing that there was more out there… until I moved away for a few years and returned. Since I returned last year, I have discovered so many things I wish I knew about before. I think that this kind of guide written by a student FOR students and shared with students on campus throughout the 4+ years they are here is a great way to get students to enjoy what the area has to offer, and also has potentially to make wonderful connections between JMU students and their neighbors in the surrounding communities. Thanks.”
Come to Grottoes, the town with one stop light. Be amazed! Just minutes away!
But seriously, these are all really good suggestions. I’ve lived here for 7 years and I might have to try some of them.
Folks
no disrespect intended but please tell me what there is to do. I’ve lived here 7years and I’m going insane trying to figure out good things to do. I’m an energetic, outdoor guy (perhaps like most JMU males) so I could care less about the Quilt Museum, tea sipping, or antique shopping (I also think that most college students don’t have the money or interest to buy antiques).
Geo-caching is awesome and I’ve done that all over this country (some great caches have been set up by an EMU professor.)
Biking and hiking is great but it gets old around here.
Skiiing is a joke to those us who grew up skiing on real mountains.
And any JMU student who ventures to WV only needs to go there once to be scared into never leaving campus again.
I guess I’m just spoiled. I went to a college that promoted outdoor and alternative experiences. For $100 you could get your scuba certification, for $20 on the weekend an open water dive, and $500 got you an airplane pilot’s license. Not to mention the countless clubs to go hiking, canoeing, kayaking and white water rafting. Olympic class skiing was 30 minutes away.
Sorry, but at 20 years old,I cannot see myself (or many of my friends) looking at quilts, sipping tea, or taking a trip to redneck, appalachia WV, home to many an inbred horror story.
Do you think that there might a reason why the students feel that there is nothing else to do but party? Why the graduates never stay here? Why even the professors keep to themselves? Because Harrisonburg has nothing to offer people from better places!!
Harrisonburg is a place where locals think Applebee’s and the Golden Corral are upscale restaurants!
Where they’ve got it made because they have 2 Wal-Marts and a Kohl’s!
Where no one gives a rat’s ass about the planet because “god has a plan.”
Where a university of 20,000 students can’t even have a proper nightclub?
Do you see why the JMU population ignores Harrisonburg?
I always hear from the locals how great Harrisonburg is, (and the less that the local has done with their life, the more vocal they seem to be) but I seldom hear such sentiment from those who have actually travelled and done something with their lives.
I’m sorry for sounding so cynical but college should be fun and about transition. Unfortunately Harrisonburg is behind the times, too conservative and judgemental, and fuddy-duddy. No wonder students drink.
Roger,
You make some interesting points.
Would you give me a call at your convenience?
540-820-2592
I am involved with an organization with this as one of their primary goals, and I would appreciate your input.
Lowell Fulk
Roger, I have to agree with you on all points made. There is nothing exciting for college students to do here. No great night clubs. Why would Harrisonburg want more drunk kids on the road endangering our residents? The DUI rate among college kids is astonding. So, I guess we need more night clubs so they can drink more. I have lived here all my life, although I have traveled and lived many places in the US. Exciting places with lots of things to do, but I love the quiet backward ways of the Valley. We that live here like it that way. Our crime rate is fairly low also and we have great police forces here. I’m grateful to them for trying to keep drunk kids off the road. If you hate it here so bad, why in the world did you CHOOSE to be here? Maybe you didn’t choose it, but you sure can change it. Call Lowell Fulk. He can give you some good information.
Roger,
Actually the entire tone of your statement is disrespectful to the area and local residents. Did you develop your assumptions and stereotypes living in a “better place”? You lament that Harrisonburg is “too judgmental”, yet your message is layered with judgments of ‘The Friendly City’. And I don’t even have the energy to address your ignorant stereotypes of our neighbors to the west.
I agree that “College is fun and about transition” – transition to being an adult, an active and responsible member of your community. If you’re running out of things to do, why don’t you take some responsibility and invest in the community you have lived in for 7 years? For all the wonderful experiences you’ve had elsewhere I’m sure you have ideas that could be adapted to the Harrisonburg area.
Roger- Seems like if there was a decent night club in town, you’d need a big black X on your hand and be ordering lemonade. More constructive response later…
I’m going to have to agree with everyone who has responded to you Roger. I am sure that is must be frustrating and as someone who was married and pregnant at 20 (my choice) I guess I’m not one to talk about what there is to do here. But, Christa is right, you did choose this town to come to college and I’m sure you checked the place out before you came. There were probably plenty of people to tell you what this town does or doesn’t have to offer. I’d be a bit more sympathetic to you if you weren’t being so disrespectful and stereotypical. And I’m going to agree with AC when he/she said this…
“I agree that “College is fun and about transition” – transition to being an adult, an active and responsible member of your community. If you’re running out of things to do, why don’t you take some responsibility and invest in the community you have lived in for 7 years? For all the wonderful experiences you’ve had elsewhere I’m sure you have ideas that could be adapted to the Harrisonburg area.”
Call Lowell if you have ideas. He’s a great man who will listen to you and be a little less ticked off than some of us here probably are right now.
Unhelpful words in discussions like this:
“never”
“always”
“nothing”
and even to a degree, “locals,” because all locals are not alike.
One of the things people look for when they choose a college is the “fit”, measured by the academics, the size, the culture, the community, the location, and more. A faculty friend at JMU uses the metaphor of a buying a pair of shoes, and of walking a marathon. Some people want high heels, some scruffy loafers, some Tims, some Nikes. There’s something for everyone out there.
JMU is a superb fit for tons of students. Lots and lots of us love it here, though we know damn well it’s not perfect. Nothing wrong with them or with us. Or, for that matter, with you for not finding this place and this school a good fit.
So you have some choices. You can find a place that fits you better, or you can, well, grow where you’re planted. Call Lowell and take him up on his offer, or a city council member (hi Charlie!), or Kai at the Arts Council, or Eddie at HDR, or Thanh or one of a dozen other H’burg officials and do something about it.
Oh, and one more thing. Those real mountains you wrote about? Blue Ridge wannabees.
Roger, I believe you got the response from these good people that you were looking for. You went the wrong way to find out what to do.
We have lived here now for 4 years and have never had a hard time keeping my 14 year old daughter entertained.
There are SO many local teams that are involved in so many sports, go out and watch a game. Find some friends or just walk into a bowling alley and roll some games. Go shot pool (Gold Crown is owned by a really cool guy)…
maybe the problem is YOU? Do you not have friends? Go fishing, boating, tubing. Mini golf or drive a bucket of balls at Mulligans.
Volunteer somewhere. There are church groups you can join…anything !
All you have to do is get out of your house and meet people, we can’t bring them to you.
Good Luck !
http://www.wildguyde.com/
My kids have done a few of the home school adventures and had a blast.
Roger
I have never heard anyone be so negative, or wrong. Let me quote myself from above “I realized that it wasn’t Harrisonburg that was boring. It was ME.” So my suggestion is that YOU are boring.
“Do you think that there might a reason why the students feel that there is nothing else to do but party? Why the graduates never stay here? Why even the professors keep to themselves? Because Harrisonburg has nothing to offer people from better places!!”
I have many friends who are staff and professors at JMU. My business partnersat Midtowne are alum. They love it here, so much so that they plan on spending the rest of their lives here. They’re about the coolest people I know too. So when you make blanket statements, remeber next time how wrong you were this time.
So what is there to do tonight? I’m bored. hehe
Emmy, stop by the local VFW on Waterman Drive tonight for some good grub and a great time. It is the Marine Corps’ birthday to so they will be showing off tonight.
Or, jump in the car right now and drive to William and Mary and watch the DUKES take on the Tribe.
Also, I think if you call ahead, you can probably get a lane in Mt. Jackson and do some Duck Pin Bowling!
Enjoy
Calhoun’s for a beer is what I had in mind Emmy. Then to the Dodger for friends and cools jams. Pool afterwards for the night owls out there! Sorry Frank but I have my own:) I do need to eventually return to Gold Crown for the atmosphere, a friend has told me that it’s gotten to be pretty chill lately.
Dang, I gotta start drinking.
Dianne and I are going to sit on the couch, drink a glass of wine, and watch a movie. (We haven’t done that in a while…) I will use the walker which I received for my birthday to shuffle back to the computer occasionally to check mail and the blogs, and we will continue to plot the overthrow of the reactionary divisionists who currently hold power.
Hehe Lowell! Be careful on that walker! Don’t wear socks while using it. My five-year-old just pushed his truck too fast across the carpet and bit it!
I think after I take them to their dads I’m going to clean my house. Please, don’t be jealous!
I’m glad Roger wrote what he did. He’s not alone. In thinking about why his sentiment doesn’t sit well with me (other than its ignorant stereotyping), I land on it being founded in a consumerist, entitled mentality. Our mainstream culture has conditioned us to be entertained by things outside of us, and simply wait for exciting options to be presented to us via advertising. I wonder how many times people saying, “There’s nothing to do here,” could be substituted with, “No one put a flashy ad in front of my face to tell me what to buy today so I don’t know what to do.”
I just got back from an artisans studio tour, highlighting about 15 venues from Elkton to Charlottesville where artisans’ work is presented. It’s amazing work. I don’t mean to advertise it here as “The Thing To Do” (it runs through tomorrow), but rather juxtapose the effort that went into this work with the mentality that ruffled my feathers in Roger’s post – these artists are creating, not consuming. They are creating their work, but also collaborating to shape the community by providing opportunities for us to see their work, be inspired, and share it with others.
The point is they, like so many others in Harrisonburg, are shaping their days and our community in directions they want it to go rather than simply bitch about what’s not here. The Farmers Market Pavilion, Reggae in the Park, Clementine’s, the new Blue Nile, First Fridays, the Museum and Gallery Walk, Valley 4th, the library’s new tile mosaic, the Friendly City Food Co-op, OrangeBand, the fish kill task force, Seven Generations, Lowell’s run at the delegate seat, Midtown Market, the Citizen’s Academy, Friends of Blacks Run Greenway and Clean-Up Day, Rocktown Info Shop, the new radio station application, SpaghettiFest, Larkin Art Studios, 150 Franklin Street Gallery, Earth and Tea Cafe, countless discussions and speakers, Fridays at 5, and Supper Club are just a FEW of the initiatives I’ve personally witnessed in the last couple years spearheaded by people stepping up and filling a void they see. That’s why I’m still here – there’s a chance to shape this community as it grows to be even more of a place I want to be. Of course, if we weren’t starting with a caring community, beautiful surroundings, and rich tradition and history, it wouldn’t be such an exciting place to be to shape.
That kind of work isn’t for everyone, though. Some people just want to consume the experience others provide. We need both, but those who are creating can’t serve every interest.
I’m a little unclear about what exactly Roger feels he’s missing, other than the scuba certification (UREC offers that by the way), open water diving (Blue Hole?), pilot’s certification (see BRCC’s new aviation mechanics program), a “decent” night club (ok, we’re not New York City), and the Alps or Rockies (can’t do much about that one, but our karst geology offers some awesome caving).
A friend of mine who stayed after JMU (like I and most of my closest friends here have), once said, “The people who leave saying there’s nothing to do here, never were ‘here’ to begin with.” I agree. No place offers everything to everyone, but Harrisonburg certainly offers something to anyone who will take a moment to embrace the unique offerings we have.
“I’m a little unclear about what exactly Roger feels he’s missing”
Which is why I asked Roger for input. I appreciate his willingness to express his opinion regarding how we could improve.
“Always and forever seek to improve,” W. Edwards Demming
Emmy, if your kids want some real fun, put the socks on their feet and spray a little furniture polish on the hallway floor. Makes it slicker than ice! Talk about a fun slide!
Of course the floor also becomes somewhat a hazzard to the unsuspecting. I don’t think my Dad thought it too funny when he discovered a major loss of traction, which almost put him in traction, but at ten I could out run him.
But at ten I also learned that I had to eventually come out of hiding, and darned if he didn’t have a good memory… While the sliding was great for a while, the sitting later that day presented some challenge… ;o)
Emmy, when you are done there, please feel free to join me on my day off (Sunday) to strip and re-wax the front floor at the restaurant.
PS ~ Roger, if you still find nothing good in this town, stop by Kitchen Classics and pick a soldiers name of our Soldier Tree and go out and buy something for someone overseas. We will wrap and ship the items Dec. 9th. Walk into Wal-Mart, close your eyes and pick anything off the shelf, they can use anything over there.
Frank,
What would they most like? I will send an email out to our list. We ususally get a good response.
Thank you for this opportunity!
Lowell
Lowell, ANYTHING….these soldiers that we send packages to will appreciate anything….
From socks to squirt guns to Raman noodles…it doesn’t matter.
If you have any questions please stop by or leave me an e-mail and I will try to answer to the best of my abilities.
May God Bless you all.
Oh Frank! I can do that!! Not the floor thing, but the soldier thing. Are you looking for gift type things, or things they use like toiletries? If you are the person delivering food to my office downtown on Monday then you can bring me a name if you like!
Ha Frank we posted at the same time.
Oh and Lowell, my hall is carpeted or we would probably try that. However, since we are practically on a first name basis with the ER doctors at the hospital already its probably best that we not attempt that stunt.
Well said Kai. My personal motto is: “Make It Happen.”
Roger,
Feel free to send me an email and we can talk about what there is to do here. I’d like to help you find connection to things you and your friends would enjoy doing. thanh.ha.dang [at] gmail [dot] com.
I think that you will be amazed with how many connections and shared interests you have with people who are local and non-local (non-local being those who have been living here for a while and plan on staying here for a little while longer or indefinitely). I know that most of us, I think all of us, responding to your post are not in college right now. You might think we do not understand you. However, I think you’d be surprised if you gave us and the community a chance. I am not much older than you – I am a 25 year old, JMU alum who was born in Northern Virginia and came from the DC-scene, who moved away and came back, who has traveled nationally and internationally, and intends to travel and visit more places soon, who enjoys outdoor adventure of various kinds, and who continually tells people that Harrisonburg is a great, interesting, engaging, and fun place to be because I firmly believe it. Don’t get me wrong though, I definitely take occasional weekend trips elsewhere to mix it up a bit. (However, I do remember when I was a college student how everyone over 22 seemed REALLY old… they’ll learn that age doesn’t matter much.)
And this might help: Don’t think as Harrisonburg as a temporary home. I think that many college students (and I was guilty of it) thought of Harrisonburg as only temporary phase of their life. Because of that, I did not take the time to invest a lot of myself into the community and I did not take the time to find things outside of the “JMU Bubble” because I guess I thought, “what’s the point?” By not engaging myself, I did not get as much in return as I could have. Now at 25, I invest quite a bit of my time into the community, and I feel pretty engaged, and I am taking the time to discover many wonderful activities, and I love it. Plus I’ve found a lot of people to love it all with.
And please, no disrespect to you, but how often were you able to spend $100 for a scuba certification, $20 per open water dive, and $500 to get a airplane pilots license or even to spend $75 to $115 per hour to rent and fly an airplane around? Although those activities ARE available around here, I don’t think I could have afforded those “luxuries” when I was a student, and even as a graduate with a decent paying job now I don’t think I’d be able to afford those activities often enough to keep me busy all year-round. Please try to think outside of the box and realize that not all things that are fun and enjoyable cost money.
I also think that it is disappointing that you and other students have generalized Harrisonburg like you did. (I want to help change that, generalizations are usually not good.) I don’t fit that description at all. If you can believe that not everyone is like you described, then you might have a chance in finding others who enjoy what you do.
Then again, everyone is entitled to feel differently about matters, and I realize that maybe even after trying, this place isn’t for you. There are other places that I feel are not for me, but I also feel that’s okay.
And I’m not against college students drinking. For many, it’s a part of their college experience that they will embrace and remember for all the good times had. I just want you all to realize that there are plenty of other things to do too if you want them. Mix it up a bit and keep mixing… (I’m taking about activities, not drinks.)
I still welcome you to email me and we can talk. (I’d give you my phone number, but I don’t want to post it here.)
Kai; you eloquently stated a beautiful point. Thank you for doing so. I was pissed and wasn’t able to be so eloquent or kind. Your statement “there’s a chance to shape this community as it grows to be even more of a place I want to be.” Is so true to what we are both doing with our lives (although mine strikes a more self-centered angle that I’m all to aware of). Roger; thanks for not retaliating back at my anger.
Lowell; good luck with your plotting to overthrown the reactionary divisionists currently holding power. I’d help if I thought it were possible. Somehow though, I’ve grown cynical by the age of 26. That’s why I focus so much on local happenings; I still see opportunity for positive growth and beneficial shaping of our community in the spirit that Kai vocalized. I get the feeling that you might feel the same way; what with your political track record.
Another brief rant: I do what I can to “show” people I meet new things (of course its only worth something if they want to be shown). and when I work and/or interact with college students I also take it as an opportunity to show them new things. It appears to me like many of the hburgnews readers who have commented here do the same. I think its great, keep it up!
Hbugnews is a great way for outreach. Roger, are you currently a student? If so, how did you hear about Hburgnews?
Emmy, I will be happy to bring a name down for you. I really appreciate your business and am happy to be part of this great community.
I know for sure that the soldiers DON’T need toothpaste. Other than that, anything goes. Snacks/energy bars are a big request because they must be on mission at night (for safety reasons). Really, and I’m sorry to be repetitive but anything is appreciated.
I will post the list that we have as to the restrictions but other than those religious items, these are “kids” from 18-26 years old. What is it that makes your day? Probably the same thing that would make them smile.
I am so thankful that we live here…
On a side note, Christa, I talked to Bruce on Friday and “Thank you” for saving my First Holy Communion picture. It will be a great gift to my mom. Without looking, did you know where I was in that picture? I will stop by after I drop off the food across the street.
Thanks Frank!! This is the third baby shower you’ve catered for us at work! Seriously, there’s something in our water!
I have a stockpile of items I can send, and I’ll look for some other cool stuff while I’m out and about.
i really miss being out and about on deliveries. Is my main man doing a good job?
Please let me know if anything is ever wrong…thanks
wow… good ideas…
Whoever said wife, wine and movie –I echo that. That was my fun evening like!! (of course, later I watched UVA @ Miami — GO CAVALIERS!!)
I just moved to this area from DC and so far I’ve found many cool things to do; and thank you for the tips, I’m definitely gonna look into some of those activities (i.e. Shopping: Rt 11 North- Hunt for hidden antique shops along the way).
Washingtonian,
First of all welcome to the valley. Secondly, feel free to come by James McHone Anitque Jewelry (located on Court Square next to Bank of America) and check out not only all our antique jewelry, but also our other antiquities. We will also gladly help you find any other shops that you may be looking for. Have a great weekend and we hope to visit with you in the future.
First of all I’d like to say thank you to all who reponded for not taking my headoff just for having a decenting opinion. I obviously touched a nerve with my comments and instead of just calling me names (which would have been the easy thing to do) you came up with some great, well thought out, heart- felt reponses. Again, thanks. I appreciate that you took the time and energy.
My opinions have come from personal experiences and interactions and unfortunately I have several “not so pleasant” ones here. I did indeed use inductive reasoning to make generalizations and, like many generalizations, they were meant as a broad brush stroke not necessarily applicable to all.
I guess when look at the ‘list” I see a lot of things that might be more fun for a 40 year old with 2 kids, or something that you might only do once, rather than something an average 20 year old would want to do. I try to compare Harrisonburg to other college towns and to be honest, I’m not sure what is missing. I read JMU’s “The Breeze” every week, as well as talking to students, and I find that the culture of the students is very different to the local culture.
Example: A couple of weeks ago a radical, probably mentally unstable, evangelical self-proclaimed preacher went on campus and started calling the women terrible name like wh**e etc, and claiming that all the sins of the world could be blamed on the lifestyles of the young and on satanic liberal colleges. He went on and on…..
This incident outraged, and even scared, many of the students. Although I only spoke to a couple of students about the incident, I got the feeling that they viewed it less as an example of free speach, but more as another “crazy local.” (even though the “preacher” wasn’t from H-burg!)
I’m just throwing out ideas here but maybe there is a perception of the local community by JMU students that needs to addressed. Maybe I’m making a mountain out of a molehill, or maybe there is an effort that I’m just not aware of.
I don’t read the DNR very often because I passionately disagree with it’s political slant, but I remember an article sometime ago that just struck me as having a HB vs. JMU mentality berating JMU traffic, expansion, emminent domain…etc.
Between this and “preacher-like” incidents, maybe there is “percieved,”underlying local angst by the students and faculty that contributes to their lack of interest in leaving the dorms and apartments.
And it’s not just H-burg’s fault, JMU often lives in a black hole. Recently Nobel Prize recipient Bishop Desmond Tutu, and hollywood legend Mickey Rooney were guest lecturers/performers at JMU and it was barely advertised outside of JMU.
Thanks again for your thoughtful input. I will indeed try some of the ideas that you suggest and I plan to more completely break down some of the comments later.
It seems that Roger’s stereotypes and attitude have already been fully critiqued by other bloggers here, but I would love to focus on a few statements of his that blew my mind.
“Biking and hiking is great, but it gets old around here.” It gets old around here…
The mountain biking in this area is generally considered some of the best on the East Coast. Harrisonburg is home to more than one professional mountain biker and countless diehard bikers.
If someone really is interested in biking, I would recommend that he/she stop by Shenandoah Bike Company and in 5 minutes you will have more trails than you could possibly bike in a whole year. You’ll also find that the biking community here is eager to help newcomers get into the sport.
Last thing on biking: Check out Hillindale Park’s new mountain biking trails. They’re great for all levels and continue to get better.
I, like many others who have commented on this site, am a JMU graduate who decided to come back to Harrisonburg after living in DC and overseas. I hate to say it, but Roger’s comments are more akin to what I would expect from someone who has NOT traveled much…if one is so afraid of West Virginia, can you imagine how scary the rest of the world must look?
Let’s all pretend my last comment was posted 3 minutes earlier.