Use Your E-Card!

In my last blog I wrote about the Pocono Record online event calendar, a useful tool that anybody could use to find things to do in the Poconos. There are also a few tools that East Stroudsburg University has created to help students get off of campus and get into the community.
The first, and probably most important, tool ESU gives students is your E-card. We already know that students use their identification e-card for meal plans, to access computer labs, residence halls and gym facilities, buy snacks at vending machines or the school newspaper, even access your student account. What students may not know is your e-card is also helpful outside of campus in many businesses within walking distance.

If you purchase a meal plan you don’t have to be confined to the school cafeteria or student union. Your card can also be used as cash in these East Stroudsburg Food establishments:
• Burger King
• Cluck-U Chicken
• Domino’s Pizza
• Holy Guacamole
• Kasa’s Pizzeria
• Pizza Hut
• Vinny D’s
• Wendy’s

There are also a few food establishments where your e-card can be used as cash in near downtown Stroudsburg and Bartonsville:
• Chili’s
• Goomba’s Pizza
• Palumbo’s Pizza
• Sonic

Finally, you can also use your e-card to purchase personal items at
• CVS Pharmacy
• Paradise Tanning
• South Beach Tanning

If you’re one of those people who do not put money on your e-card (like me), ask the staff if you can use your card for discounts. At the Crossings Factory Stores in Tannersville, just a short drive down Route 80, students can use their e-cards to get discounts at various clothing stores like Charlotte Russe.

If you have any questions about your e-card you can contact the Campus Card Center at 570-422-CARD or 570-422-2273, or by e-mail at ecard@esu.edu.

Online Event Calender

Many students who have come to ESU from different areas are aware of our community newspaper, the Pocono Record. What students don’t know is that the Pocono Record has an online event calendar with an abundance of activities posted for everyday of the year and usually, for the months and years in advance. It’s a very simple tool to use that could get students out of their dorm rooms or that commuter students could use in their downtime on campus.
The events are categorized into different types of events ranging from boys basketball to nightlife to community organizations. The great thing about this event calendar is that anyone can be their own publicist and submit their events online.

Here’s how you can check out what going on in our community:

1. Go to www.poconorecord.com
2. Scroll towards the bottom of the page and look to the left hand side. Pictured is a little calendar with the title “Event Calender.”
3. Click on the day of the month you would like to search for.
4. Choose the type of event you would like to search for whether it’s sports, entertainment, outdoors, civic affairs, sports, community, health or you can choose all of these filters.
5. Choose the specific event, if any, that you would like to search for. This can be anything from certification classes to St. Patrick’s Day events.
6. Presto, a list of activities available for students to do off campus right at your fingertips.

Hungry? No Cash? No Problem.

In the past three weeks of school, especially with being involved in the professional media writing track at East Stroudsburg University, two of the most talked about subjects are parking and cheap food. Unfortunately, God himself would not be able to find you a good parking space at 10 a.m., but I can at least lend a helping hand towards off-campus food that is nearby and student-friendly, or in other words, fairly cheap. 

There are some nearby gems for those who commute and are tired of paying $6 for a buffet you don't exactly want to take full advantage of, and don't want to lose that coveted parking space. Although those Union wraps will never get old for me, this year they seem to have shrunk in size. And no, I don't want to make it the same size it was for years before for an extra dollar. Here is a list of restaurants that are within walk-able distance:

• Island Delights, 31 Crystal St., offers “a taste of the islands.” Jamaican patties in beef, chicken or veggie are only $2. For $5 you can choose two patties and a can of soda. They also offer a variety of platters includes jerk chicken and tropical shakes.
• Tony's Restaurant and Pizzeria, 57 Crystal St., East Stroudsburg, $2 pizza slices and a huge Italian menu, however they only accept cash.  You can check out their menu at http://www.tonyspizzapa.com/pizza.html.
• Golden Star Chinese, 5 and 7 Crystal St., East Stroudsburg, has a large menu with loads of good deals. My favorite, Crab Rangoon, an oriental pastry, is only $3.95 and comes with eight pieces.
• Itchiban Restaurant in the Pocono Plaza (K-mart Shopping Center), East Stroudsburg, is within possible walking distance but might take a few extra minutes. Itchiban serves Chinese and Japanese cuisine. They offer 30 different Chinese lunch specials served with fried or white rice from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday ranging from $5.25 to $6.25. If you prefer Japanese food, Itchiban also offers a sushi lunch special for $8.25 that includes two rolls of your choice and soup or salad, or you may choose three rolls for $11.25.

There is also a good selection of restaurants located on Main Street in downtown Stroudsburg just over the Veteran's Memorial Bridge, not quite within walking distance but about a three minute drive or so.

• Marita's Cantina located on Main Street in Stroudsburg offers 30 cent wings and $1.50 tacos all day on Sundays, 30 cent wings from 8 to 11 p.m. on Wednesdays, and $1 tacos from 4 to 11 p.m. on Thursdays.
• Siamsa Irish Pub, also located over the bridge at 636 Main St., Stroudsburg, offers daily lunch specials from their regular menu in a lunch portion for $8.95.
• Pizza Hut, 1135 North Ninth St., Stroudsburg, is not within walking distance. It is located about 10 minutes away in Stroudsburg across from the Stroud Mall on Route 611. For a limited time the buffet is $6.  

If you are 21 and have night classes there is always the endless array of wing nights that take place almost every night of the week on Main Street in Stroudsburg. You may be able to walk to these bars; however it is about a five minute drive from the ESU campus.

• Jock & Jill's and Grace O'Malley's, 700 Main St., Stroudsburg, 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. every Monday night with 30 cent wings and $5 domestic pitchers, www.JockNJills.com.
• Flood's, 732 Main St., Stroudsburg, 30 cent wings from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. every Tuesday with $2 domestic drafts.
• Ciro's Italian Bistro, 728 Main St., Stroudsburg, 35 cent wings all night every Monday with $1 Miller Light drafts.
• Siamsa Irish Pub also offers a happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. daily with free food and drink specials. The specials and free food change from day to day. You can view the menu at http://www.siamsairishpub.com/menu.htm. 

Things to Do Outside ESU Through My Eyes of 22

Many East Stroudsburg University students, no matter the age or the year, are constantly looking for things to do outside of the fairly small Pennsylvania campus. Even the freshman students, once passed the initial culture college shock, eventually want to break free from their dorm rooms and explore what East Stroudsburg and nearby downtown Stroudsburg have to offer. Moreover, students that commute from other regions of Pennsylvania or New Jersey that are forced to stick around the campus all day grow tiresome of returning to the Student Union day in and day out.

This may be a small college town, but there is definitely no shortage of things to do outside of campus.

Since I was raised about 30 minutes from ESU, deep in the corn fields of Reeders, and attended the Pocono Mountain East School District from kindergarten through graduation, I would like to think I know the Poconos like the back of my hand...sadly. Although I wasn't born here and it pains me to admit this, but the term "townie" could probably be seen on my forehead from miles away. So why not contribute my knowledge of the place that I've lived for the past 20 years to those who are less fortunate? 

Don't get me wrong, this blog is dedicated to students like me who are nearly pennyless, driving lemons (or taking the heel-toe express), that are bored with their downtime on campus. Some entries might require the use of a car (which would mean leaving your precious parking spot) and some entries might require being 21 (or a designated driver). Nevertheless, there are plenty of options to be explored whether you're looking for art and entertainment, nightlife, restaurants, shopping or outdoor life. 

I wouldn't advise people of my age group to go places I wouldn't want to go, so I plan to take on the task of visiting them myself to scope out the scene. That being said it should be kept in mind that this blog is going to be centered on things to do outside of ESU through the eyes of a 22-year-old. I should also note that none of my plans include entering a fraternity house of any kind. In a town this small, those houses are the easiest to find.

 Taking in all that the Poconos has to offer.