August 27th, 2010

Last weekend I went camping at Point Lookout State Park in Maryland and decided to research places to camp near the Philadelphia area.  I found an article written by a woman with her top five favorite campgrounds near Philly.  I think her definition of the word “near” is a little different than my own, but maybe some of the parks are worth the road trip. Out of her top five, I’ve only been to Shenandoah National Park and had a great time so I trust her judgment on the other sites.  Shenandoah is about a five hour drive from Philadelphia and the main draws (for me) are the hiking trails and beautiful views from the mountain tops.  I got up super early one morning to watch the sunrise and it was breathtaking.  Other recommended campgrounds near Philadelphia are Dingman’s Campground (2 hour drive), Pioneer Campground (3 hour drive), Promised Land State Park (2 hour drive), and Cape Henlopen State Park (1.5 hour drive).

One suggestion I have for you camp-goers is to think ahead and make reservations a couple weeks (or in some cases, a couple months in advance) before your trip.  My friends and I wanted to go camping at Assateague Island this summer but it turns out it is always fully booked even before the summer months begin.  Also, check the forecast before you head out, and plan accordingly!  When I went camping last weekend the temperature ended up being almost 110 degrees.  The beaches were packed and it was way too hot everywhere so we ended up bailing a day early because we couldn’t stand the heat.  Also, do some research on your campsites to see what activities are offered.  A lot of places have fishing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, swimming, and more.  Find a place you can do what you like.

If you’re not a camper, you should obviously be able to find things to do closer than 1.5 to 5 hours away from the area.  Check out VisitPhilly.com for some ideas!

Tagged As: camping, Cape Henlopen State Park, Dingman's Campground, Philadelphia, Philly, Pioneer Campground, Promised Land State Park, Shenandoah National Park, Visit Philly
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March 19th, 2010

Before driving back down to Maryland for spring break, my sister wanted to take advantage of being in the Philadelphia area by checking out South Street and going to a concert at the Theatre of the Living Arts to see Copeland on their last tour.   After she and our friend Mel picked me up from my Sugarloaf dorm, we decided we were craving pizza and began our search for a good pizza place.  After our GPS led us to two different non-existent places, we found Toto’s, which we quickly established to be THE BEST PIZZA PLACE EVER.  We ordered a cheese pizza pie and watched as someone behind the counter started making it and brought it to our table in just a matter of minutes.  After finishing our awesome meal we headed over to South Street to explore before getting in line for our concert.

Teaser picture below. This is how close we were.  : )

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Tagged As: Concert, Music, Philadelphia, Phileo Yogurt, Philly, South Street, Theatre of the Living Arts, Toto's Pizza
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December 3rd, 2009

 I choose to give thanks to God every day, Thanksgiving was one of those days I did that and more.  Thanksgiving is a day of reflection on what we are thankful for. It seems many families experience thanksgiving with different traditions. So in the spirit of being diverse and embracing different traditions my friend Emil (BFF) and I set out on a journey to 7 different houses to shake hands, hug friends, and of course EAT!

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Tagged As: Art, basketball, Community Service, Food, Friends, Jobs, Philadelphia, Philly, photos, thanksgiving, Visiting
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October 18th, 2009

Pressed for cash, but wish to explore Philly? Thanks to Student Activities new,  “Fall in Love with Philly” reduced ticketing program, visiting Philly on a budget is easier than ever. With $3 One Day SEPTA Independence Passes, $5 tickets to the Philadelphia Zoo, and $3 tickets to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, planning a fun-filled day in Philly on a budget, is a cinch. The mission of the reduced ticketing program, is to give you, the student, more freedom and activities during the weekend.  Often, it is easy to get into the habit of staying on campus every weekend; however, this program gives students on a college budget, a chance to branch out and experience the city of Brotherly Love.

To acquire tickets, one must go to the Student Activities Office, which is located on the 3rd floor of St. Joseph’s Hall, with a valid Chestnut Hill Student ID. Students are able to purchase 2 tickets with their ID, but it’s important to note that tickets are distributed on a first come, first serve basis. Therefore, don’t be tardy! Plan on visiting the Student Activities Office early to insure that you get  your tickets. Typically, tickets for a specific date will be sold one month before the event. If you have any questions about the program, feel free call Kim Cooney, the Director of Students Activities, at 215-753-3648, or e-mail her at cooneyk@chc.edu. Similarly, if you’d like to learn more about the various events held on campus, become a fan of Chestnut Hill’s Student Activities page on facebook at: //www.facebook.com/pages/Philadelphia-PA/CHC-Student-Activities/138944257027?ref=ts, or  on twitter at: http://twitter.com/CHCACTIVITIES. 

Tagged As: Facebook, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Zoo, Philly, SEPTA, Student Activities, Twitter
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September 11th, 2009

College is like a tattoo. (Work with me for a minute.) Much like your degree, a tattoo is stuck with you for the rest of your life, for better or for worse. Tattoos are quite common; thousands of people may have the same design. (How many psychology majors do you know? That’s what I thought.) Often, it’s not the tattoo’s design that makes it unique, but where it’s located.

Here’s my point: you’ll find many things in common at every college, whether they be similar majors; esteemed faculty; fierce mascots; or Friday classes. So, what sets a college apart more than anything? Where it’s located. (Not impressed by my stellar tattoo analogy? Read on.)

No matter how large or small your college of choice is, you can’t stay on campus forever. Whether you’re looking for an internship, a part-time job, or just a way to spend Saturday evening, the city surrounding your campus makes all the difference.

With that in mind, my upcoming series (fittingly titled Why Philly?) will give you plenty of evidence proving that Philly is the ultimate college town. I’m going to dive into Philly’s affordable nightlife, fashion, music, internships, food, and more, plus how to access these amenities from CHC.

In the mean time, check out stories I’ve written for AroundPhilly.com (as an intern this fall, nonetheless) for a small sample of what Philly has to offer.

Tagged As: fashion, Food, Internship, Music, nightlife, Philly, SEPTA
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October 23rd, 2008

In light of the wonder that is the Phillies, Flyers, Eagles, and Sixers all playing at the same time, and especially because of the Phightin’ Phils current World Series appearance, here are the top 5 reasons to be a Philly sports fan:

5. Our sports complex is second to none. The Linc, Citizen’s Bank Park, and the Wachovia Center are all some of the best places to see a game in all of sports.

4. A cheesesteak after a hometown victory tastes that much better, and reliving postgame highlights at Pat’s or Geno’s is always a good time

3. You feel a part of a brotherhood, the battered yet persistent fans that dare to hope, no matter how long its been since we’ve won a major championship. And that hope’s symbol? Rocky Balboa, my friends.

2. Green/white, orange/black, and red/white are three really great color schemes that suit anyone and everyone.

1. Cuz we’re better than New York, plain and simple.

Tagged As: Philly, sprts
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September 23rd, 2008

The Chestnut Hill music department is slowly but surely making its way up in the world, as my fellow blogger Andréa has stated in one of her previous blogs. However, one just doesn’t realize how many options there are besides the already established performing groups if he or she is having trouble finding their niche in the music community.

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Tagged As: A Capella, Brass, Flute, History, Jazz, Lessons, Music, Music Department, Open Mic, Pep Band, Philly, Theory
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