After late-night studying during the week, I proudly become a homebody on weekends. While I occasionally hit Prospect Street, on most Fridays and Saturdays, I typically relax by watching whatever show is my current obsession — right now, it’s the new Shogūn series. I watch a few episodes in my usually quiet dorm and fall asleep before midnight. However, some nights, I want to venture outside my comfort zone. When I want to try something a little more adventurous and not too tiring, I’ll explore the events, places, and other offerings found on campus and around town. If you’re looking for a weekend night alternative, here are some ideas.
Start a new art project
As a student who enjoys the arts, I always enjoy exploring my creative passions at Princeton. One outlet for expressing creativity is the NCW Ceramics Studio. Throughout the week and weekend, there are many opportunities to visit the studio. In addition to the Ceramics Studio, there are other artistic spaces offered to students, such as the Crochet Club, which sometimes meets on Friday nights. While I’m not a particularly talented ceramicist or crochet artist, these options are low-stakes creative environments on campus that give you the freedom to lose yourself in the creative process and find a new social community.
Visit the Garden Theater
USG Movies is known for screening films at the Garden Theater each weekend. The selection typically consists of a recently released favorite or an anticipated upcoming release. While I love to watch movies in my room, there is also nothing quite like experiencing a film in a movie theater. The weekly showings are also a chance to explore something new. Whether you go with friends or attend solo, you might just leave with a stomach full of popcorn and a new favorite movie. The movie for the week can be found on the USG Movies Instagram account.
Attend a performance
There is never a lack of dance shows, comedy shows, and art exhibitions to experience on the weekend. As someone who regularly attends dance shows, I’m always amazed by the consistent quality of the work. Each show is a complete production, with many having a video component shown in between acts and appearances from other performing groups around campus. As the semester ends, many groups will showcase their last performances of the year. Some groups that I have immensely enjoyed watching are Black Arts Company, Princeton University Ballet, and Quipfire!. Find some groups that sound interesting to you, and make a plan to check at least one of them out.
Pick up a book
Although I spend a fair amount of time on my phone before bed, on many Friday and Saturday nights, I reach for a book before I fall asleep. On Thursdays or Fridays, I often visit Labyrinth Books on Nassau Street to pick up new books for the weekend. However, I have severely underestimated how much storage space I would have in my small double for stacks of books. For students with space constrictions, I suggest the Princeton University Library’s Dixon eBooks catalog through the Libby app or online. You can borrow an ebook from the catalog’s wide variety of new releases by emerging authors to classic books with cult followings across every genre. If you have not browsed through the catalog already, I highly recommend seeing what it has to offer.
Visit the Princeton Public Library
I have found that a less stressful alternative to studying in Firestone is studying in the three-story window haven that is Princeton Public Library. Although the Library closes at 6 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, there is usually an art workshop, film screening, or author’s talk offered in the Library just before closing. Notably, April 5-14 is the Princeton Environmental Film Festival, and the Princeton Public Library will host screenings of documentary features and documentary shorts this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with a few showings taking place at night. If you are interested, check out the upcoming Princeton Public Library events here with the screening times.
Try a new restaurant
Weekend nights are the perfect time to try a new restaurant or return to a reliable favorite. The town of Princeton has many offerings to choose from. Sitting at a table and ordering a meal will truly make you feel like you have entered the real world again, successfully escaping the “Orange Bubble.” However, if you decide you really do want to have a night in, then order takeout and get cozy. I personally love to grab a burrito from Tacoria on Friday nights and eat while I read. Grabbing some scoops of ice cream from The Bent Spoon and going for a night stroll is the perfect way to embrace the upcoming hotter weeks. If you are still in the mood for some warm food, Lan Ramen has excellent ramen and a cozy atmosphere to help you unwind after a stressful week.
Visit the Princeton Record Exchange
If you like collecting physical editions of your favorite songs or exploring new music, browse Princeton Record Exchange’s collection of new and used vinyls, CDs, and DVDs. In the last few years, I have started buying more vinyls, adding to a growing collection. However, I often do not buy vinyls strictly for listening to music. Instead, I like decorating my walls with the vinyl jackets of my favorite albums. Whether you want to buy for decoration or listening enjoyment, check out the store. Princeton Record Exchange, located on Tulane St, closes at 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Surprise yourself!
There is nothing wrong with falling into the same comfortable rhythm every weekend and having a trustworthy Friday or Saturday night routine. I am most definitely a person loyal to my routines. Now that I know the easiest way to relax is to hit play on my show and have a quiet night, I might not want to change my routine. However, there is pure enjoyment in finding a new thing to love. We can find activities that bring comfort and enjoyment, which cause our shoulders to loosen and our lips to lift into a grin. If you feel even the slightest desire to try something new, trust that instinct and go explore. You’ll be glad you did.
Meredith Sneed is a freshman contributor for The Prospect from Savannah, GA. She can be reached at ms1290@princeton.edu.
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