Students discuss what they love about downtown
Sep. 25—WILKES-BARRE — With yet another academic year in full swing, downtown is once again bustling with students taking in the city while working towards that coveted degree.
A welcome yet, dare we say "strange" sight, considering the last couple years.
Of course, with students back in town traditionally, filling dorms and downtown apartments instead of virtual classrooms, that means patronage and perhaps a bit more life in Center City.
Two current Wilkes University students and one's King's alumna who now works in the city spoke to a reporter about their experiences in downtown, where they hang out, what they like, and what they'd like to see more of.
Caroline Nolen
Nolen is a native of Dunmore. The 20-year-old junior at Wilkes majors in communications with a focus on both strategic and broadcast forms. As Assistant Director of the Comms' Departments Zebra Communications — a student-run full-service public relations agency — as well as being a Scholar of Communications at the Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise (among other extracurricular activities), she admittedly stays pretty busy.
"So, I live in 'Towers', so, it's an on-campus apartment. Downtown ... I'm gonna be so honest, I don't get out much because I'm a very busy person," she said with a chuckle. However, she noted her sister, Elizabeth, a recent King's graduate, was a big fan of Public Square's Thursday Farmers Markets during her undergraduate studies.
Nolen also gave praise to local coffee shops, Abide and Pour, for keeping students going during long study sessions, or even just offering a relaxing atmosphere to hang out.
On the subject of getting students more engaged in downtown, Nolen said she'd like to see more bookings from local venues that cater to the college-aged audience. Her last outing to the FM Kirby Center for the Performing Arts was to see Led Zeppelin tribute-act, Get the Led Out. "I was the youngest person in the audience besides one other child. It doesn't surprise me at all. I mean it was a great time. I recognized at least some of the music because my parents play it all the time. It was just like a lot of older folks, which is no problem, it's just, I wish there was more to engage the college communities," she said.
Nolen also suggested that perhaps the schools daily newsletter, WilkesToday, should begin putting the word out about more downtown goings-on. Furthermore, she noted the importance of businesses being active on social media, as students are sure to be on many of the various platforms.
Dan Jones
Jones is 23-year-old Plymouth resident who studies Pharmacy at Wilkes while working in the industry at a local Rite Aid pharmacy.
"The city of Wilkes-Barre has a connection with the students," he said. "Most of the community connects with the college students through the night life, for sure, but for the underage students there are numerous different activities they can take part in."
Jones also the noted the Farmers Market as a highlight, as well as close proximity to Kirby Park for outdoor recreation and views, and local eateries.
"Downtown has various establishments that are remarkable, not only in affordability but with quality," he said, using Circle on the Square and Abide as examples. Jones enjoyed the Rockin' the River Free Concert Series over the summer (which he added was well-advertised), as well as various events held at the FM Kirby Center for the Performing Arts. Between classes, he tries to make it to to Abide as often as possible. He said the taste of their coffee speaks for itself and the environment is welcoming and relaxing for stressed-out students.
Moving forward, Jones said he'd like to see more winter events, and pitched the idea of a Public Square snowball fight or some other sort of community event and echoed sentiments similar to Nolen's about events that draw a younger crowd.
Emily Dreyfus
Dreyfus just wrapped her undergraduate marketing studies in the spring. The 22-year-old Mountain Top native is pursuing a graduate degree at Bloomsburg University, and still spends time downtown where she works at LSEO as a Product Lead and enjoys the nightlife.
She spoke to the importance of Public Square and its potential to draw more of the college crowd with new and more frequent events. "There's always such a great group of people who come to them, and it helps the college students become involved in the community and meet new people," she said.
Dreyfus is also a fan of so many places being well-within walking distance downtown and the various locations students have the choice of blowing off steam at. "When I was in college (undergrad over 21), I frequently went to Senunas', Beer Boys, and Vesuvio's on the weekends. Senunas' is a King's College favorite out of the three," she reflected.
And, as is becoming a theme throughout the students' perspectives, the coffee houses are a favorite. Dreyfus also greatly enjoy Nucleus Raw Food — the "vegan smoothie/food place" that she said shares a similar vibe to the relaxing atmosphere's offered by Abide and Pour Coffeehouse.
There's also the various events.
Dreyfus mentioned, "I really like when there are festivities or events held on the Square, such as PrideFest, the Multicultural Festival, and the Farmers Market. It's really nice to see the community come together in a nice, safe place, or seeing the community support local business.
After all, that's what the Downtown Rebound is all about: a community coming together.
