the edge summer 2015

jessica edwards

VOL. 6 | EDITION 6SUMMER 2015

ELON, N.C.

insidethe Instagram food craze

gets wicked

how topractice

safesun

whichone directionmemberis your man?

THE EDGE

jessicaedwards

THE MAGAZINE OF THE PENDULUM

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ello Edge readers, and welcome to our summer issue! Inside, you’ll find everything from tips for tanning responsibly to an inside look at the #FoodInTheAir Instagram culture.

We took to the beach and the forest for our summer fashion editorial, and we hope you’re as excited about it as we are. Flip through the pages to find healthy and easy summer recipes, our picks for the best songs of the summer and a feature on what happens on Elon’s campus while we’re away. P.S. — There’s a “Which One Direction Mem-ber is Your Man?” quiz on page 31 — you’re welcome.

Unfortunately, this was the last issue for several of our editors — Kim Duong, Shauna Willetts, Julia Bucking-ham and Jenny Sekulow. We wish them well as they graduate and move onto other things, and we’re excited for the group of new editors we’ve hired for the fall.

A few things you need to know before next semester: -We’ll be updating our website with content on a daily

basis. Look for fashion and entertainment news, beauty videos and DIY tutorials. We’re pumped.

-We’re hiring! If you’ve ever wanted to get involved with The Edge, there’s no better time than now. Email me at [email protected], and I’ll help you get started.

-We officially have a presence on three social media sites! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up-to-date with the latest Edge news. Letter

from theeditor

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Lindsey Lanquist, Editor-in-Chief of The Edge

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1/cover2/letter from the editor3/table of contents4/masthead5/ad6-7/style/cooler 1018-9/style/foodies and filters10-11/health&wellness/practicing safe sun12-13/health&wellness/summer recipes14-17/features/jessica edwards18-27/fashion/shades of cool28-29/entertainment/summer blockbusters30/entertainment/summer playlist31/entertainment/1d man quiz32-35/features/elon after hours36/ad

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Editor-in-Chief of The PendulumMichael Bodley

Editor-in-Chief of The EdgeLindsey Lanquist

Design ChiefIngrid Frahm

Creative DirectorsIngrid FrahmKim Duong

Fashion EditorKim Duong

Assistant Fashion EditorsKaty BellotteKristina Lee

Brooklynn Lowrey

Features EditorLauryl Fischer

Assistant Editor Alyssa Potter

Entertainment EditorMary Sheehan

Assistant Editor Amanda Garrity

Health & Wellness EditorsShauna Willetts

Assistant Editor Xernay Aniwar

Style EditorJ.C. Craig

Assistant Editor Sarah Baum

Social Media EditorMaggie Griswold

Photo EditorJulia Buckingham

PhotographersJane Seidel

Ben StringfellowKyle Vines

Shauna Willetts

VideographerJenny Sekulow

Copy EditorLauren Phillips

Business ManagerXernay Aniwar

Design Team:MacKenzie Clarken

Kim DuongAnne Fioravanti

Kristina Lee Haley Longbottom

THE EDGE

MAST HEAD

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Editor-in-Chief of The PendulumMichael Bodley

Editor-in-Chief of The EdgeLindsey Lanquist

Design ChiefIngrid Frahm

Creative DirectorsIngrid FrahmKim Duong

Fashion EditorKim Duong

Assistant Fashion EditorsKaty BellotteKristina Lee

Brooklynn Lowrey

Features EditorLauryl Fischer

Assistant Editor Alyssa Potter

Entertainment EditorMary Sheehan

Assistant Editor Amanda Garrity

Health & Wellness EditorsShauna Willetts

Assistant Editor Xernay Aniwar

Style EditorJ.C. Craig

Assistant Editor Sarah Baum

Social Media EditorMaggie Griswold

Photo EditorJulia Buckingham

PhotographersJane Seidel

Ben StringfellowKyle Vines

Shauna Willetts

VideographerJenny Sekulow

Copy EditorLauren Phillips

Business ManagerXernay Aniwar

Design Team:MacKenzie Clarken

Kim DuongAnne Fioravanti

Kristina Lee Haley Longbottom

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PAINTING 101Banquet — and cooler — season has come and gone, but regardless of

whether you were invited to a fraternity’s banquet, you can always paint a cooler for yourself. Frat boys may come and go, but a customized cooler can

be your companion for years of beach excursions and day drinks.

The task is mighty, but if you do it right, it can also be rewarding. So grab some friends, stock up on paint and get started on this summer must-have.

COOLER

STYLE

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While your primer is drying, plan out your sides! If you struggle in the creativity department, this

step can be tricky. Pinterest is full of ideas, so head there first!

Prime your cooler with a plastic primer. Spray primer works great and can be found at Walmart or

any home improvement store.

Sand the entire cooler. This step is probably the most tedious and will leave your arms sore, but it

will help the paint stick and keep the cooler looking smooth.

Purchase the perfect cooler. Any retailer such as Target or Walmart will have a wide selection of beach

coolers. Try to find one that’s got a lot of surface area without a large logo.

step 1 Start with your background colors. Painting images over a solid background is much

easier than painting the image first and filling in the excess white space later.

Get your Picasso on. The more coats the better! Make sure you also set aside

ample time for everything to dry.

Once you’re happy with the design, cover the entire cooler with Mod Podge

to decrease the likelihood of the paint chipping away.

Fill with your favorite snacks and drinks and get to the beach!

STYLE

step 2

step 3

step 4

step 5

step 6

step 7

step 8

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FiltersFoodies &

It started with #nofilter and #TBT. Soon after, #MCM and #WCW were added to Instagram’s vocabulary. Recently, a new player has entered the social media game and has revolutionized the way we document our daily lives. If you’re unfamiliar with #FITA, sign onto Instagram and prepare to be hungry.

These days, dinnertime means much more than enjoying an evening meal. It has come to mean pull-ing out professional cameras, standing on chairs and doing whatever it takes to capture the perfect photo of the delicious food you’re about to consume. Peo-ple everywhere have become obsessed with docu-menting meals and sharing them with the world on platforms such as Snapchat, Facebook and, of course, Instagram. In the past year or so, innumer-able accounts dedicated to food have surfaced on the photo-sharing app. One of the most popular is called “Food in the Air” (#FITA) and features mouth-watering treats floating midair. #FITA has joined the ranks of common Instagram abbreviations and has changed the way we look at food.

“The idea came to us on a family vacation where we saw a picture on Instagram of someone holding their bagel with a cool background,” Charlotte Nie-mann, co-founder of “Food in the Air,” said. The col-lege sophomore and her sisters, Carolyn, Meg and Patty, run the account that started as a fun hobby for a few girls who love to eat. When it all began, how-ever, they never could have guessed that more than 170,000 followers were headed their way. “People from around the world know and follow us,” Char-lotte said, “but to me it still is sort of funny to think … because we’re just normal people who thought of this random idea, and it blew up.”

Instagram users vie for appearances on “Food in the Air” by using the hashtag #FITA or tagging the account in their various food-related posts. The

FiltersFiltersFoodies &Foodies &

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Niemann girls then pick their favorites and post them on “Food in the Air.” “Between e-mail, direct message, the hashtag and tags, I would say [we receive] around 100 submissions a day,” Charlotte said, “and that’s probably just the noises we see.” “Food in the Air” ca-ters to every taste and preference, but the most popular posts always seem to feature deliciously unhealthy treats “I think the obsession with seeing food pictures on Instagram makes sense with soci-ety’s [other] obsession with body image and fitness,” Charlotte said. “We like to see the things we can’t have. It’s not fun to see a salad on Instagram if that what’s in your diet.”

Food lovers everywhere follow the Niemanns’ account and drool over every post. One follower is Elon’s own Sarah Richardson. Although the sopho-more doesn’t consider herself a “foodie,” her Ins-tagram account says differently. Sarah’s account is not dedicated solely to food, but she frequently documents her meals with posts that are met with an above-average number of likes. Not only do her followers enjoy her photos, but Sarah has also been featured on “Food in the Air” three separate times. “I like to get up close and personal with my food,” the expert said. “That’s what usually makes it look appetizing.” The native New Yorker likes to choose restaurants based on Instagrams she sees, but the only food account she actually follows is “Food in the Air.” “If I followed any others, I would find myself looking at food Instagram pictures for hours on end,” she said.

Gone are the days of restaurant reviews and verbal recommendations. If you’re stumped for lunch plans, a few simple clicks are all that stand between you and the perfect meal. “The biggest benefit I have taken away from food Instagrams is that they have exposed me to different food genres and restau-rants that I would have otherwise not known existed,” Sarah said. Various restaurants in big cities such as New York and Chicago have become trendy sim-ply from visitors sharing appetizing pictures of their meals. Food Instagrams are truly changing the way we eat, one post at a time. So the next time you pick up some tasty grub, throw it in the air and try your luck.

STYLE

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practicingpracticingpracticingFirst, remember you are beautiful no matter your skin tone. If you happen to love the feeling of warm summer sun on your skin as much as we do, follow these steps to enjoy it as safely as possible.

practicing

SAFESUNSAFESUNSAFESUNSAFESUN

The worst thing you can do to your skin is get a sunburn. But the darker your skin is, the more it protects itself — at least a little — from the sun. So if you like spending time in the sun, what you want is a base tan. Best way to get there? Get your skin acquainted with the sun! Like bring-ing together any two natural enemies, start off with small spurts of direct contact and lots of patience.

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VV

Apply extra sunscreen to the backs of your hands and to your face. Your

skin is thinnest in these areas and is thus quicker to wrinkle and spot

Exfoliate once every couple weeks to slough off dirt and dead skin cells that could get in the way of a faster, more even

Apply sunscreen. You can still get tan with

sunscreen on. You can also tan and sunburn

Try an at home spa treatment: Mix a drizzle of oil (coconut, sesame or olive) into

Small doses of sun: If you have really fair skin, don’t expose yourself to direct sunlight for more than 20

Moisturize and apply aloe vera afterward to calm any irritation from the radiation and keep your skin soft!

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tan. Use sugar, oatmeal, a loofah or salt mixed with honey and oil or your regular liquid soap.

*General warning: Oil may cause a slippery floor in the shower. on a cloudy day — trust us,

personal experience. Apply sunscreen even if you don’t

think you need it.

minutes a day. As your skin gets darker you’ll be able to stay out a little bit longer, but don’t push it.

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3your sunscreen. The reflec-tion of the oil accelerates the tanning process while keep-ing your skin moisturized.

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because of sun damage.

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eat well while living simply with these summer recipes


SIMPLIFYSIMPLIFY

-Soak wooden skewer sticks in a bowl of water for one hour. (This will prevent the wood from splintering.)

-Slice cucumbers, celery and carrots into bite-size pieces. You can leave the cherry tomatoes as they are.

-Place the veggies on the skewer one vegetable at a time so that bite can have a little taste of each flavor.

-Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. It’s that simple! No cooking necessary. If you want, bring along

dressing or hummus for dipping.

veggie skewersveggie skewersCherry tomatoesCucumbersCeleryCarrotsSalt and pepper

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-Start by slicing your watermelon into bite- size chunks. An easy way to do this is tocut off the top and bottom to make a flatsurface.

-Set the watermelon upright, one flat surface facing up and one facing down.

-Run a knife along the edge from the top to bottom, separating the rind from the melon. Rotate and repeat these steps until the watermelon is rind-free.

-Cut into bite-size chunks.

-Place watermelon in a large bowl. Rinse and tear the mint leaves to release their flavor, then add them to the bowl.

- Stir together and top with crumbled feta cheese.

One whole watermelonMint leavesFeta cheese (crumbled )

watermelon saladWatermelon salad

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Jessica edwards

Behind the scenes, she’s the one calling the shots.

gets

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Jessica edwards

Behind the scenes, she’s the one calling the shots.

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Lauryl FischerFeatures Editor

Jessica Edwards was only an intrepid freshman when Elon’s Per-forming Arts Department asked her to be the assistant stage manager for the 2012 Main Stage Play “Pride and Prejudice.” It was an opportuni-ty she couldn’t pass up — even if it was one she didn’t feel qualified for at the time. So she took on the job.

And during one of the shows, the lights cut off.

“It was definitely trial by fire,” Jessica said. “It felt like, ‘Hi, you’re a freshman, working on your first show. It’s a main stage show, and the power is going to go out — have fun with that!’ But that’s stage management in a nutshell — think-ing on your feet and reacting.”

For a long, terrifying minute, the theater sat in darkness while Jes-sica launched into action. With the help of her crew, she got the lights up without any large delay. But it was an experience that stuck with her and the rest of the department. When she looks back at her four years at Elon, “Pride” stands out.

“I have people recognize me my sophomore year — ‘You did “Pride,” right, the lights went out on you, right?’ And I’m like, ‘Yes. Yes, that’s me,’” Jessica said.

It was the beginning of a long career in Elon’s technical theater department. With 18 productions under her belt, most of which she stage-managed, her stacked re-sume has launched Edwards to her biggest role yet — stage manage-ment intern for Broadway’s “Wick-ed.” After she graduates, she’ll spend a summer stage-managing at North Carolina’s Flat Rock Play-house before heading up to the Big Apple for the coveted internship.

But snagging the “Wicked” intern-ship was no easy feat.

journey to wickedThe “Wicked” journey started in

January 2014, when Jessica visited a friend in New York City. While her friend sat in class, Jessica contact-ed Elon connections on Broadway. They led her to a tour of the “Wick-ed” stage in the Gerswhin Theatre.

A particular wall caught her eye during the tour: a bulletin board covered with interns’ achievements. Jessica inquired right away about the program.

“They gave me the email address and told me to send my cover letter and resume to this address,” Jessica said. “So I watched the show, and that night, I emailed them to thank them … and attached were all my materials.”

“Wicked” got back to her the next day. Unfortunately, it wasn’t good news. The show had booked its in-terns through 2014 already, but Jes-sica was encouraged to send her information again the next summer.

“And I said yes, “Wicked,” anything for you,” Jessica said, smiling.

It was back to normal life after that. Jessica finished her junior year, then packed up her life and headed into the Appalachian Mountains for a stage management intern-ship with Flat Rock Playhouse. She stayed in a tiny one-room house with four other girls, working eight shows every week. Her position demanded all her attention and time. She had forgotten all about applying for “Wicked” again until the show emailed her, asking if she was still interested.

“I said, ‘Oh god, yes I am, hello!’ So I sent them all my updated in-formation ... and they wanted me to come to the Gershwin on July 1 for an interview.” She laughed as she recalled this. “And I was like, ‘I’m in North Carolina! Can we do a call? Can we Skype?’”

“Wicked” agreed. They set a time, and Jessica waited anxiously by her computer for a chance to talk with Mary Beth Able, “Wicked’s” stage manager for all ten years of the show’s run. They had a short, quick conversation, no more than ten minutes long.

“She called me late as well, and I was very nervous and put-out be-cause we didn’t start Skyping when she said we were going to, and we didn’t talk very long,” Jessica said. “So I thought, ‘Well, at least I made it this far.’”

“Wicked” once again took a back-seat for the next month as Jessica finished her internship with Flat Rock. After a long, challenging summer, she took advantage of a day off to go for a hike with her Flat Rock friends. The news came while she was sitting by a waterfall where her reception was spotty at best.

“We’re about to leave and I said, ‘Let me just check my phone.’ And so I check my email, and I have an email from ‘Wicked,’ saying, ‘We would like to offer you a full intern-ship with Wicked from September 7 to October 4,’” Jessica said. “And I screamed on the side of a waterfall. And that was it.”

With more than a year to prepare, “Wicked” didn’t feel real, not right away. Jessica still had her senior year to get through, which meant plenty more productions, and an-other summer at Flat Rock. But now that her year is over, it’s starting to sink in, even if Jessica has no idea what she’s going to do during her internship.

Many students might find such mystery overwhelming.

Edwards is not one of those students. In fact, she’s excited for absolutely anything.

“It could be anything from PR stuff to paperwork to running the show as well to ‘Go get us a sand-

FEATURES

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wich’ — generic intern grunt work. Which is fine,” Jessica said. “They could say mop the floor with your tongue and I would say, ‘Absolutely I will. Thank you.’”

Before WickedBut long before “Wicked,” there

was “Little Shop of Horrors” at Holly Springs High School, Jessica’s first stint at stage managing. The head of the department approached her and offered her the position. Know-ing very little about it, Edwards still jumped at the chance to have what she referred to as a “position of power.”

“I stuck with it ever since,” Jessica said. “It wasn’t until junior year when I realized that stage manager was a real profession, and that real peo-ple do it, and earn a living doing it.”

She set her sights on colleges where she could continue her call-ing. Elon was the top of her list.

“Elon was my reach school,” she revealed. “When I toured the campus, though, I immediately felt comfortable on campus, and that was my priority.”

Even though she was deferred on the first round, Jessica visited Elon anyway. During her visit, she got the opportunity to see the Performing Arts Department firsthand. She sat in on a costume design class, got a personal tour from current students and watched Elon’s production of “Rent” from the light booth.

Right before “Rent” began, as she was walking up to the booth, the department dropped big news.

“They told me, ‘Unanimous deci-sion, we want you in our program, and we’re going to talk to the school to get you in,’” Jessica said. “And here I am.”

She joined a tiny, intimate techni-cal theatre department of 25 pas-sionate students. In Jessica’s grade alone, there are only six technical

theatre majors, each with his or her own specialty. And while the small size means each student is stretched thin — the department has to staff at least 15 productions every year, counting main stage, student work, honors and more — it also brings the students closer.

“The community is always there to help you,” Jessica said. “I remem-ber, last year, I was stage-manag-ing the senior class’ fundraiser — a Disney musical cabaret. Something went wrong in the board and the lights froze, and I couldn’t get the lights to come up, so I immediately called my friend Taylor, and he told me, ‘I’m on my way,’ and he flat-out ran from Global to the theater and was troubleshooting in the middle of their performance. So whatever you need — they’re there for you.”

The small department also means there are plenty of chances to try new things outside one’s specialization. Jessica has definitely dabbled. She has directed a few shows and joined the props team for several shows, such as the 2013 production of “Into the Woods.” A Winter Term study abroad trip to It-aly taught her how to make leather masks — a unique skill she used for this year’s production of “Servant of Two Masters.”

But, without question, stage-managing is her true passion.

“It’s the best use of my skill set,” Jessica said. “I like being the hub of information, being in the thick of it — and that’s what stage manage-ment is.”

Beyond the stageHer passion for stage manage-

ment is leading her in a direc-tion she never foresaw: graduate school. Usually technical theatre majors only go to grad school if they are interested in teaching. But Jessica, intent on mastering her

craft, says she still has a lot to learn.

“I want to use grad school as an opportunity to learn more about the performing arts industries and expand past theatre and musical theatre,” she said. “I am interested in how my skills can be applicable to opera and television. I haven’t been able to dabble in the com-munications building, so that’s what’s appealing to me.”

And though she has looked into Yale and Columbia, Jessica also wants to take her passion overseas. Her study abroad ex-perience in Italy ignited a love of travel, and Jessica has pinpointed what she describes as an “out-standing” graduate program with the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. The year-long aca-demic program would give her an 18-month Visa, guaranteeing Jes-sica six months to work hands-on in the country.

“And getting work can lead to more work,” she said.

It isn’t set in stone. There’s a chance Jessica might be hired to work full-time with “Wicked” if her internship goes well. But she doesn’t want to stay on Broadway forever.

When she talks about her fu-ture, Jessica is bright-eyed. She imagines a place without limits and refers to her skills as “transfer-able” across fields. Opera. Ballet. Cinema. Even cruise ship tours. She isn’t scared of trying and fail-ing, either. While there is a stereo-type that theater degrees make no money, at no point did Jessica express any reservations about her future. In fact, she shrugged it off, pointing to the last three summers. She has had a job every single one in her field of choice. The work, she says, is there.

“I want to do it all,” she said.

FEATURES

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if you’re in the mood for a feel-good teen movie

Paper TownsThe movie adaptation of John Green’s hit novel is coming to theaters near you. This feel-good coming-of-age story is sure to be a winner with a “Breakfast Club” vibe. Starring Nat Wolff and supermodel Cara Delevingne, “Paper Towns” will be coming to theaters July 25.

Summer is a time for relaxing with friends and quality entertainment. make sure you don’t miss these exciting films:

to make sure not to miss

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if you’re in the mood for a feel-good teen movie

The Avengers: Age of UltronBased on the popular comic book series, the Avengers team reappeared on the silver screen May 1. We think everyone can look forward to more Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson coming our way.

Magic Mike XXLChanning Tatum is back in action, and this racy drama will be a treat not only for the multiple six-packs, but also for the killer dance moves and laughs along the way. The sequel to the original “Magic Mike” swung into theaters July 1.

Pitch Perfect 2The funny, light-hearted and inspirational sequel to the world’s most famous a cappella movie came back better than ever. Aca-believe it May 15!

Ted 2Our favorite trouble-making stuffed animal is back and more outlandish than ever! The same people who brought us “Family Guy” brought this wacky sequel to theaters June 26.

30 || ENTERTAINMENT30

SONG: PapercutARTIST: Zedd (ft. Troye Sivan)ALBUM: True Colors

the edge’sSUMMER PLAYLIST

SONG: Can’t Deny My LoveARTIST: Brandon FlowersALBUM: The Desired Effect

SONG: Seeing StarsARTIST: BORNSALBUM: Candy

SONG: Rule the WorldARTIST: Walk Off the EarthALBUM: Sing It All Away

SONG: Color in my WorldARTIST: Little & AshleyALBUM: Color in my World

SONG: RenegadesARTIST: X AmbassadorsALBUM: Renegades

SONG: Our Own HouseARTIST: MisterWivesALBUM: Our Own House

SONG: BiscuitsARTIST: Kacey MusgravesALBUM: Biscuits

SONG: Lone RangerARTIST: Rachel PlattenALBUM: Be Here

SONG: Pray to GodARTIST: Calvin Harris (ft. HAIM)ALBUM: Motion

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Mostly A’s: Your dream man is the creative Harry Styles. He’s sweet and sensitive, and his high notes will have you swooning.

Mostly C’s: Louis Tomlinson is the one for you. He’s funny and athletic and will keep you on your toes. Be careful, he’s known for his prankster ways.

Mostly D’s: Liam Payne’s caring, responsible nature will have you making heart eyes all night. His protective nature has you written all over it.

Mostly B’s: Your perfect match is the unpredictable, funny Niall Horan. He’s got a big heart and will keep you laughing all night long.

At a party you often find yourself:A. Hanging by your friendsB. You’re the life of the party!C. Playing a practical jokeD. Mixing it up alongside the DJ

Your friends call you:A. The flirtB. The funny oneC. The pranksterD. The mom

What is your ideal first date?A. Ice skating or something activeB. Something reserved, like game

night or a movie at homeC. A nice day outside, maybe go

for a driveD. A carnival or a festival

Do you have any secret talents?A. Baking/cookingB. GuitarC. SportsD. Songwriting and poetry

Besides One Direction, your side interests include:A. Posting ambiguous tweetsB. Partying with your friendsC. SoccerD. Singing

What’s your favorite thing in your closet?A. Super skinny jeansB. Comfy t-shirtsC. VansD. Work-out apparel

Who is your (other) favorite group or musician?A. The BeatlesB. Backstreet BoysC. Robbie WilliamsD. Justin Timberlake

Where would you most like to vacation?A. LondonB. IrelandC. TaiwanD. Ghana

What’s your favorite 1D song?A. “Little Things”B. “Act My Age”C. “No Control”D. “What Makes You Beautiful”

which One Direction member is your man?

PHOTO BY ADAM ORCHON/SIPA USA MCT, COURTESY OF TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

32 |

elon

after hours

Come the end of May, Elon tends to go quiet. While some students stick around for summer

classes and jobs, June through August, Elon can still feel like a ghost town. Many students wonder

what there is to do.

Right next door is Elon’s big brother: Burlington. Elon students make jokes about the area, referring to its na-

tives as “Burlies.” What Elon students don’t know is that Burlington — and the “Burlies” it houses — is not as small or

boring as its reputation suggests. Summers in Burlington are thriving with activity, and it all begins with one event: Active City

Streets, a celebration of healthy living that kicked off the summer with a variety of local, free events to bring the community together.

| 33after hours

ALYSSA POTTERASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR

Come the end of May, Elon tends to go quiet. While some students stick around for summer

classes and jobs, June through August, Elon can still feel like a ghost town. Many students wonder

what there is to do.

Right next door is Elon’s big brother: Burlington. Elon students make jokes about the area, referring to its na-

tives as “Burlies.” What Elon students don’t know is that Burlington — and the “Burlies” it houses — is not as small or

boring as its reputation suggests. Summers in Burlington are thriving with activity, and it all begins with one event: Active City

Streets, a celebration of healthy living that kicked off the summer with a variety of local, free events to bring the community together.

34 |

Active City StreetsWhen Active City Streets was born four years ago,

it faced a struggling economy and a recent census that revealed that more than 20 percent of Burlington residents lived below the poverty line. Despite this, the town came together to celebrate positive living in a cohesive environment. It was an attitude Active City Streets wanted the entire city to adopt, and a prelude to the summer months ahead.

The festival has gained immense attention since its first year. Its central location downtown attracts local businesses and a surplus of customers. Here, Burling-ton residents can take part in activities, appreciate art, and sample foods from both locally-owned restau-rants and food trucks.

Recently, Active City Streets attracted a new partici-pant: Elon University

Last year, Elon Volunteers developed a program devoted to bridging the gap between its university and the local community, coining the term “Downtown Engagement.” The program built a team devoted to discovering Burlington and advertising it on campus in a positive light. As one of its first partnered events, the program reached out to help Active City Streets expand to include the university as part of its support system.

“Partnering with Elon is great because it’s the first intentional combination of the two areas not on Elon’s campus,” said Christian Gilbert, director of the Down-town Engagement Program.

As a core of the Downtown Engagement’s mission, the program directors help the local community by advertising local businesses on Elon’s campus and partnering in community events. For Active City Streets specifically, the program encourages student groups to set up stands, volunteer and participate in the fun of a summer festival.

At the most recent Active City Streets, the Down-town Engagement Team implemented a scavenger hunt, giving out the directions at their table and en-couraging Elon students to complete all the tasks. The students who participated had to take a picture with the hashtag #discoverBurlington to qualify for the win-ner’s prize of $100.

Among the groups that participated, Elon’s Periclean Scholars were a large supporter of Elon’s involvement with the festival.

Student groups also came and set up tables around

the festival. To name a few: Campus Kitchen, Campus Recreation and the Department of Physical Therapy, as well as the Phoenix mascot — a crowd favorite. Each table either had an activity or information regarding their involvement on campus.

Downtown Engagement’s InvolvementThe Downtown Engagement Program coordinates

with Burlington’s Recreation and Parks Department to determine what needs should be met by the Elon community.

In order to properly meet such needs, a large num-ber of people are required to help, which caused some concern for the small, up-and-running volunteer pro-gram.

“[Active City Streets] wants attractions and student groups, representations of student organizations. But we have to figure out how to motivate students to come. Which groups do we reach out to?” Christian said.

The volunteers targeted specific student groups and musicians they felt were most appropriate for each community occasion, including Active City Streets.

As the relationship between Elon and Burlington de-velops, Burlington has to sustain interest for the com-munity outside that of the university, especially during the summer months, as few Elon students stay in town.

“Lots of businesses use [Active City Streets] as a springboard for the summer,” Aidan Dyer, co-director of the Downtown Engagement Program, said.

Elon students staying on campus in the summer-time — either working, taking classes or interning in nearby cities — can take advantage of these events and the expanding town of Burlington.

Local EventsAlong with Active City Streets, many other commu-

nity events began in May and will continue through-out the summer, all catered to creating an inclusive community atmosphere. Most of the events are free of charge and fight back against the stereotype that Burlington is a city where there is nothing to do.

Saxapahaw has one such draw. Beginning in early

step beyond elon’s bubble

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the festival. To name a few: Campus Kitchen, Campus Recreation and the Department of Physical Therapy, as well as the Phoenix mascot — a crowd favorite. Each table either had an activity or information regarding their involvement on campus.

Downtown Engagement’s InvolvementThe Downtown Engagement Program coordinates

with Burlington’s Recreation and Parks Department to determine what needs should be met by the Elon community.

In order to properly meet such needs, a large num-ber of people are required to help, which caused some concern for the small, up-and-running volunteer pro-gram.

“[Active City Streets] wants attractions and student groups, representations of student organizations. But we have to figure out how to motivate students to come. Which groups do we reach out to?” Christian said.

The volunteers targeted specific student groups and musicians they felt were most appropriate for each community occasion, including Active City Streets.

As the relationship between Elon and Burlington de-velops, Burlington has to sustain interest for the com-munity outside that of the university, especially during the summer months, as few Elon students stay in town.

“Lots of businesses use [Active City Streets] as a springboard for the summer,” Aidan Dyer, co-director of the Downtown Engagement Program, said.

Elon students staying on campus in the summer-time — either working, taking classes or interning in nearby cities — can take advantage of these events and the expanding town of Burlington.

Local EventsAlong with Active City Streets, many other commu-

nity events began in May and will continue through-out the summer, all catered to creating an inclusive community atmosphere. Most of the events are free of charge and fight back against the stereotype that Burlington is a city where there is nothing to do.

Saxapahaw has one such draw. Beginning in early

May, the town attracted an audience with local bands at the Haw River Festival. The small river town hosts Saxapahaw Saturdays, which features a farmer’s mar-ket and other attractions.

As part of its own music event, the 2015 Musical Chairs Concert Series, Burlington’s City Park will host additional local artists and bands every Friday through-out the summer from 7-9 p.m.

Another recurring summer event within the Burl-ington area is Hikes with Hounds. Volunteers can take adoptable dogs for a stroll through the city on days throughout the summer.

Bookworms have the option of the Writer’s Club. Located in the Alamance Arts Center, local authors visit throughout the summer for readings, all for free. Should a college student wish to rekindle her intel-lectual side before classes begin again, the Haw River Historical Museum is hosting many discussions throughout the summer months about important his-torical events along the river.

Another laidback summer event is the series of movie nights hosted by Thataways Youth Center, which is a well-known facility for families that provides a safe space for their young adults to hang out and is always looking to improve this space with new programming.

Burlington’s local businesses, inspired by Active City Streets, will also keep the community buzzing with their own cheap events. The Burlington Co-Op hosts food and wine events consistently, and other local bars, restaurants and vendors will have their own schedules for tastings, sales and community events. Many of these same businesses — ones that came together for Active City Streets — participate in 4th Fridays Downtown, which brings food trucks and music to the streets of downtown Burlington.

The key to finding and participating in events is knowing where to look — and being willing to look in the first place. Elon students involved in Downtown Engagement know what this process is like, and they thrive on it. They want, more than anything, to share their love with the rest of Elon.

“If you go [downtown], head to the train station,” Aidan said when asked to give recommendations. “There’s an awesome mural that spans past the 1900s ... the entire history of Burlington, all that’s happened, on the walls.”

step beyond elon’s bubble

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