Going Into Town

By: Selim Kim, Jessica Huang

Groups of students gather in line outside Stillwells Riverwalk Ice Cream, hoping to grab one of the dozens of flavors before check-in. Further down along the road, a mass of backpack-clad individuals can be seen through the windows of OBA Noodle House, huddling over their bowls of food. In each store on the streets of Exeter, sounds of laughter and conversation can be heard ringing throughout the chilly, fall New England air. 

For many Exonians, traveling into town brings up shared memories and evenings spent wandering through the sidewalks. “I think one of my main reasons to go into town is just to take a walk, and it's nice because the town is not really like Exeter, in the sense of there's not like large big buildings or anything. It just looks like an actual town,” upper Enzo Nakornsri said. “[Town’s] a nice place to escape for a few minutes, and the food is good. I would go to town every day if I had the opportunity, but unfortunately I don't.” 

“I remember prep year, every Friday, I'd go to OBA with just a bunch of friends in the dorm,” upper Sam Creelan said. “It was a great way to socialize. I just remember like all these kids just meeting each other there. So it was a good memory.”

Senior Aaron Mampilly shared his own memories in town. “Me and my friends, we got Stillwells one night and we walked around town and just enjoyed the night,” Mampilly recalled. 

Though the town is home to numerous shops and restaurants, many Exonians seem to have their own favorite go-to spots that they seek comfort in. “I like Las Olas. It’s the farthest from campus, but it's really good food,” prep Aymeric Dauge-Roth said. 

Upper Leyla Unver shared a different favorite restaurant. “I like OBA Noodle Bar a lot as a place to eat in town with people. The food is delicious and comforting, and the cozy atmosphere makes it an enjoyable experience,” Unver said. 

Creelan agreed, and also added how he enjoys both the cold delights of Stillwells Ice Cream and the bistro food of Lexie’s. “Stillwells is obviously one of my favorite places. It’s great,” Creelan said. “Lexi's great lunch, great fries. And then I like OBA a lot actually. It's probably my favorite restaurant in town, because it's small and because they just have really good ramen.”

Many other students also shared their go-to shops that may not be as well known. “On The Vine is a really nice little grocery store near Las Olas. It’s got pretty much everything you need (in terms of food) and they have the best chocolate-covered strawberries,” Unver noted. “They also have a bunch of cakes and pastries, so it’s fun to take a walk there with friends and just get some stuff.” 

Dauge-Roth added, “Sea Dogs Brewery [has a] great food selection, and the farmer's market is really nice.” 

While the town holds a good share of nostalgia and happy memories, some students have grimmer stories to share. 

“People have tried to run me over multiple times,” senior Lekha Masoudi explained. “Most memorable was this old lady with her Chihuahua in the passenger seat, and she looked into my eyes, saw me about to cross (and I was about to; I was walking) and then she kept zooming on.”  

“I have been cat called except for sometimes they aren't really saying anything. They're just making monkey noises or like dog noises or animal noises in general,” Masoudi continued. So I'm not sure if they're just saying, ‘I look like a dog’ or if it's sexual, I really can't tell, but either way it's pretty disgusting.” 

With experiences like the ones Masoudi shared unfortunately continuing to occur, Exonians shared advice on how to navigate unsafe situations in town. “Try to find someone to go with, but also if you can't, don't let that stop you from going [to town], because it's still a fun experience. Just look both ways before you cross the road [and] be mindful,” senior Kosi Onwuamaegbu said. 

Although on-campus COVID-19 restrictions have been loosened, some students reported masking seems to be prevalent throughout town. “Personally I'm not that worried. I see a lot of people around town with a mask, either in their hand or on their face,” Nakornsri commented. “Having a mask is pretty nice because that means that they kind of respect other people.” 

Hoping to prevent restrictions from returning, many students have been bringing their masks with them around town, including Creelan. “Generally I think I wear a mask indoors at least, in a restaurant if I'm walking around and then I'll sit down and maybe take it off,” Creelan explained. “But outdoors, I'm feeling pretty good about it just because there aren't that many people, and most of us are vaccinated.”

Other students are a bit concerned about going into town especially while the Delta variant has been rapidly spreading. “I think [going into town] is going to cause a lot of complications. Maybe the school was too quick to get rid of the mask mandate, but at the same time, I think that we'll be able to handle it,” Onwuamaegbu said.

Prep Advika Verma said, “I felt very stuck on campus and I felt the same thing every day. So it was nice to go out to a place different...it's positive. It's nice to be able to see different things and not be stuck on campus all the time.” 

With students back in town, Exeter feels abuzz. Whether it’s a leisurely stroll along Swasey Parkway, a treat with friends, or a cozy study space, there’s a place for everyone in town.