Keswick Knight Life
Philadelphia is a college student’s dream come true: street fairs, cheap food, 18-and-up clubs, museums, bars— the works. As Arcadia students, all of these activities are practically at our fingertips. But what happens when you don’t have the $13 for an (outrageously overpriced) SEPTA pass or a car to get you there? Sure, there’s always Uber and carpooling with friends. Sometimes, though, you truly are stuck in Glenside. So what then?
If you listen to the tale told by most Arcadia students, there isn’t another option: if you’re in Glenside, you’re in for nothing but boredom. But I’ve never been one to accept lethargy with grace. After all, I grew up in rural Kansas, where playing hide-n-seek in the local Walmart was our Saturday night excitement. There weren’t actually places for us to go, so we created our own adventures. In comparison, Glenside is a veritable treasure trove of activities. The trouble is, most Arcadia students aren’t willing to be that inventive when it comes to finding things to do. Most never bother to walk past the train station: it’s Philly or nothing.
Since I came from the midwest, I entered college with a much different perspective. Even the suburbs held excitement and promise for me. From day one, I took every opportunity to explore. My efforts were rewarded with adventures at Glenside sites such as Hilltop Mini-Golf, New Life Thrift, and Dollar Global Food Mart (now rechristened Lahasa Quick Mart). Then, sophomore year of college, I moved to an apartment complex merely 0.3 miles from the invisible barrier Glenside Train Station creates. That measly quarter mile was enough to open my eyes to a whole new neighborhood in Glenside: Keswick Village.
Keswick is home to a number of locally owned businesses, from the much-loved Humpty’s Dumplings (yes, it is a real restaurant, not just a food cart on Haber Green) to the nostalgia-inducing Keswick Diner to a tattoo and piercing parlor. And, of course, there’s my personal favorite: Weldon’s Soda Fountain (if you think Michael’s has the best milkshakes, you’re wrong). All of this, only 1.5 miles from Arcadia’s campus. To put the journey in perspective, that’s 11 minutes and $2 by bus or a 6 minute drive. Ubering there would set you back about $5. Or, worst-case scenario, is 32 minutes of walking really too much for a bunch of relatively healthy young college-students?
When all’s said and done, there’s really no excuse for Arcadia students not explore Keswick. So the next time you’re complaining about how expensive SEPTA is, or how boring Glenside is, don’t just give up and go back to your dorm. Try Keswick instead.
