Activities in the Area:
Suggestions from Emily Clark, Summer 2011
- There are several summer music festivals in Lansing including the Common Ground Music Festival and Jazz Fest. www.lansingfestivals.org lists some of the bigger summer music and arts events in town.
- There are a couple great yoga studios in Lansing. In 2011 Hilltop Yoga Studio offered a 30 days/$30 unlimited yoga pass for new students. It’s a good opportunity to get started with yoga even if you don’t have extensive previous experience.
- Some fun day trips include Ann Arbor (great campus art museum, awesome restaurants, summer festivals every weekend including a huge annual art fair), Kalamazoo (cute liberal-arts-college town with Bell’s Brewery, one of the best breweries in the Midwest and great for lunch and a pint), and beaches along Lake Michigan. Weekend trips could include camping or a drive to Chicago (appx. 4 hours away).
- The Golden Harvest is a Lansing gem and one of the best breakfast restaurants I’ve ever been to! No website, but look it up on Yelp and note the positive reviews and 4.5 stars. Go as soon as they open to avoid waiting in line for an hour or more- the place is tiny and very popular.
How to Find an Apartment:
- I found my apartment through Craigslist. Since it’s a college town, finding a sublet shouldn’t be a problem, and the rent can be quite cheap. I lived with a housemate in the Frandor neighborhood for less than $300/month, but studio apartments were also available for around $500/month when I looked, and many options were closer to campus.
Commuting:
- I lived about 2 miles from campus, and found that walking or riding a bike was the best option. Note to bicyclists: people in East Lansing bike on the sidewalks rather than the street! I rode my bike in the street, but sometimes people seemed surprised to find a cyclist in the flow of traffic, as is common (and the law) in other cities.
- I rarely drove my car, but when I did, I was able to find free parking by turning north on Collingwood Drive from E Grand River Avenue, then turning right on Ann Street and continuing until a free spot was found. I think lots of students may use this tactic, because sometimes most spots were taken and I had to park quite far away from Matrix- so still be prepared to walk a bit to get to work.
Other Advice:
- Matrix is a busy place, especially at the beginning of summer when lots of projects are being completed by a June 30 fiscal year deadline. I found that the best approach was to do initial information-gathering by talking to the Matrix team, but ultimately to determine/define a project that can be done without a lot of supervision. There is room to be creative and independent, which is a valuable part of the experience. Take advantage of it!