According to my calculations, I have lived in Muncie for a grand total of 28 months. I probably never would have come here if it weren't for BSU, but I have no regrets. And despite the fact that I'm not a Townie, I have accrued some knowledge of the area.
So I decided to make a list of the top things to do in Muncie. Note: None are alcohol-related unless you really want them to be.
1. Go roller skating at Gibson Arena. This is where I took my fiancee on our first date. Chances are, you and your friends will be the only people old enough to drive home when the place closes, but you will have a blast. All the junior-high girls will giggle and blush when they see a college boy. And the junior-high boys will try to act cool around a college girl.
2. Learn your way around the city. Hang a right at 332 to go to the mall. Take a left and you'll hit the Interstate. Great. Now, can you tell me how to get to the license branch? Didn't think so.
3. Go to a Central High School basketball game at Muncie Fieldhouse. I know, class hoops has all but ruined Indiana prep basketball, but this gym will throw you back to the good ol' days, whether you want to go there or not. You can almost smell the basketball tradition when you walk in the place and see the purple state championship banners decorating the rafters.
4. Go for a run/walk/bike ride through the trails at Minnetrista. A piece of advice: If you've never learned to ride a bike, it's not a good idea to practice on these winding trails. Not that I'd know from experience or anything.
5. Girls: Visit the Glass Factory. I imagine that female heaven is a large warehouse filled with candles, picture frames and pretty glass items -- all for cheap! If that's true, all the good women of the world will die and go to the Glass Factory. Guys, if you can stomach it, you can go, too.
6. Guys: Jump off the cliffs and into the Reservoir. I've never done it, but I've heard it's great. Girls, if you can stomach it, you can go, too.
7. Stay for a summer. Nothing will help you appreciate a city more than living and working there when you don't have 18,000 friends to call up every night. There is some sort of free food festival every week, the Endurathon and Gus Macker entertain the sports-minded, and this city has a parade every time the mayor changes his underwear.
8. Go to a free movie downtown. Every weekend during the summer, Downtown Development projects a movie onto the side of a building at the corner of Charles and Walnut. Bring a lawn chair and check it out.
9. Follow the news in the community. A lot of interesting stuff happens here. If only students knew it.
10. Leave. You don't have to go for good, but after you've done all this other stuff, go someplace else and complete a list there.
Muncie might not be the best vehicle in the lot, but every car sucks if you never drive it.
Write to Jay at jdkenworthy@bsu.edu
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
