Hocking River Study

First and foremost, I understood the guidelines for this assignment in that we were to choose a place and then write about the feelings that come to mind. I have been running along the Hocking River since my freshman year. Silly or not, I have very sentimental feelings towards this route. Army ROTC loves to wake up at the wee hours of the morning (0530) in order to conduct something called physical training. One place that has always stood out to me is the route we take when we conduct our long agility run. We start out at Pruitt Stadium with the lights of the football stadium blaring down on our tired, groggy faces. From there we form up in groups and run to the long bike path along the Hocking River. Since we all know running without music can be dreadful, I tried to come up with another way to run so I wouldn't constantly think about how tired I was or how bad I wanted to quit. What I found useful was to actually take in the atmosphere around me and to soak up the wonderful scenery set before me.

When I received this assignment, I figured I would get up early one morning and take a nice jog all the way down this lighted path to success. As I began my run, I noticed how quiet the world was. No automobile noises, no foot traffic, and nothing else to do except to look around the world we live in as I run and think about the nature that surrounds us every single day. The fact that most people go throughout the day thinking about all the tasks set before them and all the busywork that has been set before them for the day, I feel like it really takes some solitude to get inside your own mind and appreciate what we really have. As I continued to run down the lighted path, I admired the slow moving river flowing along side of me. I wondered about the river and how it has sustained living organisms for who knows how long. As I continued running and thinking, I encountered other joggers and bikers along the path which were all friendly people starting their day out just the way I do. I wondered whether they thought about the atmosphere around them or if they all had an agenda and were thinking about tasks that they needed to complete throughout the day. Most people don't like running but I do. I actually enjoy running in Athens while taking in the beautiful landscape that constantly changes every single day. The feeling one gets when connecting nature and human interaction has to be one of the best feelings one can acknowledge.

Jimmy John's

Jimmy John’s is a fast food style chain restaurant, and its aesthetic reflects that: tiled floors and painted walls with a minimal black, white, and red design. The seating is booth style with a mix of 4 and 2 person tables, with all chairs and tables arranged with easy access in mind and bolted to the floor to keep it that way, with green & faux wood grain designs. The front of the space (near the entrance) has some round tables with movable chairs, and the storefront is all glass.

Normally the walls have a variety of signs with humorous images and text on them, but today they seem to be gone, possibly due to new paint. Without the signs the space feels a little less friendly unique, and more like a formal and mass-produced chain restaurant, designed to a particular set of standards that stay the same no matter the location of the chain. Still, the popular music that plays over the speakers and the friendly attitude of the workers (who always greet you when you enter and wish you a nice day when you leave) keeps things lively. More often than not, however, the music plays a little too loudly, to the point that it can be difficult to speak over depending on where you sit.

There is a wide range of customers, both lone and with company, and they generally only stay long enough to eat and chat with friends before leaving, which is what the space seems to be designed to accommodate. There is one thing that breaks the usual fast food restaurant expectation, which is a bulletin board labeled “Community Events” near the drink machine where public flyers can be posted.

It’s not a huge change in scenery, but it gives some social and cultural connection to the area in which the establishment is located, something one might not generally expect of most fast food chains.

Oh, and the subs are delicious.

Passion Works Studios

     The purpose of Passion Works Studio is to allow everyone to express him or herself through creating art in collaboration with artists with and without disabilities. The studio is located on East State St. right by Domino's Pizza and has been a staple of Athens culture since it opened. The passion flowers, seen below, can be seen all around Athens in businesses and homes alike.

Being a regular volunteer at Passion Works, I have fallen in love with the place. As soon as you walk in, there is someone there to greet you and help you find exactly what you're looking for. The front part of the studio is the store, where there are items ranging from passion flowers, to jewelry, to stickers, to stamps, to tee shirts, and everything else you can imagine. All of this merchandise features art by the artists who come in and work with the staff of Passion Works. After walking through the store, you'll come to the studio part of the building. Here there are tables surrounded by shelves filled with a ton of different art supplies. When I go to volunteer, I head straight back to the studio and ask what we're working on today. The staff at Passion Works are all so nice and as we work on things such as bookmarks, passion flowers, fabric braids, and paintings, everyone just hangs out and chats. The atmosphere is so friendly and it is obvious to anyone who walks in the door that the people at Passion Works are all there because they truly care about the mission of Passion Works Studios. The friendly environment and the awesome message make Passion Works Studio one of my favorite places in Athens.

Union Street Diner; The perfect place to go for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Union Street Diner, off of Union Street, is a perfect place to go at any point in the day.  They serve breakfast 24/7 and their lunch/dinner options are good as well.  On top of being able to eat breakfast whenever you want,  USD is quite cheap.  I love that I can enjoy a delicious meal for such a small price.  It keeps me and other customers coming back.  When you walk into the diner, you are greeted with a genuine smile.  It's kind of nice.  I think the employees enjoy a lot of the people that come there.  There are always older adults from around here that eat there and you can tell they are regulars.  They strike up conversations with their waiter or waitress and the hostess as well.  The vibes are always good when you go.
You'll see college kids meeting up for lunch, businessmen meeting up for a cup of coffee, adults dressed casually getting their regular omelet and coffee (or something like it).  When you go to the diner, there is no specific crowd you come across.  Union Street Diner is a casual restaurant that welcomes anyone.  It's hard not to love this little hole in the wall place when the people are nice, the food is delicious (and cheap) and you can play music of your choice.

Union Street Diner is decorated with Ohio themed colors, words, signs, etc.  There are bobcat paws around the place, OHIO written on the walls, green walls, green booths.  It's a nice change of pace to eat somewhere that is themed according to our university.  It's welcoming to the college students and I bet the local citizens of Athens like it, too.  A place with welcoming decorations is never hard to dislike.  Union Street Diner is meant to make you feel at home, no matter what the hour.  It's open 24/7, you can get breakfast whenever (which I would recommend) and there are constantly customers.  

Courtside Pizza and Sports Bar

       Courtside is one place in Athens that I tend to visit more than others. I currently live in the apartments above Courtside, which makes it one of the first places I visit on nights out, on weekend afternoons to watch football, or even during the week to grab a bite to eat and play some casual pool. Every Wednesday Courtside hosts one of my favorite weekly events in Athens, "Slice Night," where you can get 50 cent slices of pizza and 5 dollar pitchers. I have chosen to tell of my experiences this past Saturday when I met some friends there in the afternoon to watch football, eat some pizza, and of course drink some beer. One of the first things that came to mind when I walked into Courtside was the sports centered environment. Everywhere you look there are flat panel televisions and Ohio Bobcats decorations. You can tell instantly that it is set up to be a restaurant and bar. There are tables off to one one side of the entire building for eating and gathering as well as an upper and lower bar.

       As I looked around, I began to notice many people dressed in their college football attire. Everyone there was enjoying themselves with their friends drinking beer and watching football. There was no shortage of loud noise including the music, laughter and shouting. Courtside represents Athens very well in that it is your classic "college town" drinking establishment. It is where students and the community outside of the university love to go to relax, and get away from the stresses of school and daily life. Courtside provides food and alcohol, along with great times and great fun.



   

Kiser's BBQ Shack

    The day after this assignment was assigned, I found myself in the car, heading to Kisers Barbeque Shack for a delicious lunch. Kisers is often seen around campus events giving away free pulled pork sandwiches at football games, and events like that. I’ve always thought their sandwiches were extremely tasty, but never had made it out to their actual location. They’re casually located inside of the mall, just a few feet away from the Dunham’s, with their doors swung wide open, ready for business. 

      I was greeted by a girl at the cashier, who sported a bit of a country accent. I couldn’t tell whether she was college aged, or still in high school. So, I placed my order, a pulled pork sandwich, of course, and made my way over to a table. The place was a little over half full, with all kinds of people. A couple families, a few older couples, and a splattering of middle aged men. I noticed a few of the middle aged men dressed in camouflage, which never fails to confuse and amuse me. It appeared to me that Kisers provided a place for a couple friends to meet up for some food. The food, which is absolutely delicious, and customers definitely represented the small town, countryside BBQ feel of Appalachian food. Since Kiser's is located out on East State Street, away from OU's campus, there's rarely many students there, which adds to their authenticity. Unlike most chains that serve similar food, the service felt unique because it was personable, and charming. 

-Sean Linstrom

Buffalo Wild Wings

              On a beautiful Tuesday night we entered Buffalo Wild Wings, a popular spot for hungry college students. The dim lighting and scattered television screens creates a world to view sports with fellow family members or friends. That night the air was filled with patriotism, as the United States played Jamaica in a World Cup qualifier. We began by ordering a few treats in order to enhance the soccer watching experience. Suddenly the restaurant broke out in U.S.A. chants, after watching America score the first and only goal of the game. But the underlying meaning of the chants wasn’t just out of excitement and joy for scoring, but in remembrance of those lost on 9/11.
              Aside from discounted top-notch wings and sports, Buffalo Wild Wings provides a place for families and friends to assemble. Due to the popularity of the joint, it’s not uncommon to run into old friends. While watching the game a friend approached us from across the room. “Kieren! Scott! Colton!” he yelled. We all responded with smiles. Without saying anything he knew we were happy to see him. We shared stories about our third year at Ohio University and remembered the good old days. Many families group together in booths to properly cheer their country to victory. Small kids enjoyed the time with their families, laughing and cheering along. I’m sure this scene of family closeness is not just on Tuesday nights or when the US soccer team is playing. This is probably a regular occurrence at this location. College kids drinking at the bar, or laughing around a table, families laughing and enjoying dinner together.
              While studying Appalachia and what these people cherish about their lives, we’ve learned about family. Families stick together and live together. In Appalachia most neighbors ask, “Who are you related to” instead of, “Where are you from.” These ideas were definitely represented in Buffalo Wild Wings. This nice restaurant allows families and friends to get out of the house and become closer, through bonds of sports and true American spirit.

Kieren Astall

Scott O'Lone

The Old Friend

Written By: Kieren Astall and Scott O'Lone