Hi everyone, I’m Dravin. In case you didn’t read my bio, I was born and raised in New York City (A small town in the Northeast; maybe you have heard of it?) But after COVID-19 hit, I had to move to a small town in Pennsylvania for high school.

The suburbs were a shock. I had been walking myself to school in NYC since I was eight or nine, in third and fourth grade. I had grown accustomed to not only being able to get anything I needed at any time but just anything being open past 9 p.m.

Pennsylvania was the complete opposite.

Everything shut down at a specific time, especially food. If you wanted food after 10 p.m., it was McDonald’s or starve (No hate to McDonald’s, but I like variety). This pushed me towards Iowa City, and Iowa City has not disappointed me.

Iowa City is widely known as one of the best college towns in America, and the central part of that is the food and nightlife. Off the top of my head, there is Cane’s (Chicken), China Star (Chinese), Saigon’s Corner (Thai), Chipotle and Pancheros (Mexican), Mesa’s (Pizza), Subway and Jimmy Johns (Sandwiches), and Insomnia (Late night sweets). That is all within a 15-minute walk from the west side, the furthest part of campus. The variety, late hours, and diverse pallets allow students to match any cravings they desire at any time.

As someone who grew up with this luxury, I miss it dearly. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to someone who hadn’t had this kind of experience before.

I may be a big back, but Iowa City is fantastic for allowing me to become one.

Till Next Time!
-Dravin