Middlebury vs. Wesleyan

<p>Wesleyan is in such a depressing city.</p>

<p>^^Oh, please. How many times have I heard Middlebury and Bowdoin supporters point to the fact that they’re not as isolated as they seem because “We’re near Burlington.” or, “We’re near Portland”. Well, guess what? There’s not a whole lot of difference between Portland, Burlington and Middletown:</p>

<p>[Portland</a>, Maine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland,_Maine]Portland”>Portland, Maine - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>[Burlington</a>, Vermont - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burlington,_Vermont]Burlington”>Burlington, Vermont - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>[Middletown</a>, Connecticut - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middletown,_Connecticut]Middletown”>Middletown, Connecticut - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>^ ^^</p>

<p>LOL- I was expecting you to respond. Your ability to feel a disturbance in the force is waning though. Took ya almost 24 hours.</p>

<p>Middletown is depressing. Burlington and Portland are beautiful.</p>

<p>

So wait, you would travel nearly three hours to Burlington for its BEAUTY?</p>

<p>If I lived in Middletown due to circumstances totally beyond my control, I would. I’d be desperate to get out of there.</p>

<p>But, what if you live in Middlebury?</p>

<p>I’d stay right there and admire the glories of nature. If I wanted urban, I like Boston or Pittsburgh.</p>

<p>Three hours? Burlington is less than one hour from Middlebury.</p>

<p>[Yahoo</a>! Maps, Driving Directions, and Traffic](<a href=“Yahoo Search - Web Search”>Yahoo Search - Web Search)</p>

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<p>That may have been true six or seven years ago. Although I have been to Wes and the Wes boathouse on a few occasions in last six or so years, when I visited Middletown last Sunday I took the time to drive around many parts of the city. I commented to a friend, who grew up in Middletown, how vibrant the city seemed. He explained Middletown has had a renascence of sorts. It’s impressive to see how far Middletown has come from a city in decline.</p>

<p>So Middletown has gotten better, that means it’s not years behind MiddleBURY. ;)</p>

<p>I don’t know anything about Burlington, but I just visited Portland over Columbus Day weekend, and, even as a Wesleyan alum, I’ve got to admit that it’s more than a little bit nicer than Middletown (and I’m talking modern Middletown, not early 80’s Middletown). Portland is an exceptionally cool place. Frankly, I’d like to live there.</p>

<p>Is it true Middlebury, the college, has more dining halls than there are restaurants in the entire village?
[Restaurant</a> Listings in Middlebury at Frommer’s](<a href=“Best Restaurants in Middlebury | Frommer's”>Best Restaurants in Middlebury | Frommer's)</p>

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<p>No.</p>

<p>[Middlebury</a>, VT, Restaurants | Urbanspoon](<a href=“http://www.urbanspoon.com/n/315/45713/Vermont/Middlebury-VT-restaurants]Middlebury”>http://www.urbanspoon.com/n/315/45713/Vermont/Middlebury-VT-restaurants)</p>

<p>Is Middletown even listed in Frommer’s?</p>

<p>I don’t know. Does the Food Network count?
[O’Rourke’s</a> Diner : Food Network Local](<a href=“http://www.foodnetwork.com/local/ct-middletown/orourkes-diner-restaurant/index.html]O’Rourke’s”>http://www.foodnetwork.com/local/ct-middletown/orourkes-diner-restaurant/index.html)</p>

<p>Somehow, I can’t resist reading these totally irrelevant posts…like an addiction to junk food… I think the food in Middlebury restaurants is incredibly good-it’s amazing how many places are serving noteworthy food.
Prolly more than in Middletown, but I can’t say. I imagine I’ll eventually have to eat a meal there due to NESCAC sport competitions;where would the great JW recommend?</p>

<p>According to this matrix, there are approximately a dozen restaurants with a four-star rating or above, within walking distance of each campus. Mind you, these do not include the sorts of places an average college student on a tight budget would hang out or visit on a regular basis – but, they’re there (surprisingly, O’Rourke’s only rates three stars): </p>

<p>Middletown - [Restaurants</a> near Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 06457 on Yahoo! Local](<a href=“http://local.yahoo.com/results;_ylt=AlpswcFt.qdgpmNcB_t0Zz2HNcIF;_ylv=3?p=Restaurants&csz=Wesleyan+University%2C+Middletown%2C+CT+06457&sortby=adistance]Restaurants”>http://local.yahoo.com/results;_ylt=AlpswcFt.qdgpmNcB_t0Zz2HNcIF;_ylv=3?p=Restaurants&csz=Wesleyan+University%2C+Middletown%2C+CT+06457&sortby=adistance)</p>

<p>Middlebury - [Restaurants</a> near Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753 on Yahoo! Local](<a href=“http://local.yahoo.com/results;_ylt=AlpswcFt.qdgpmNcB_t0Zz2HNcIF;_ylv=3?p=Restaurants&csz=Middlebury+College%2C+Middlebury%2C+VT+05753&sortby=adistance]Restaurants”>http://local.yahoo.com/results;_ylt=AlpswcFt.qdgpmNcB_t0Zz2HNcIF;_ylv=3?p=Restaurants&csz=Middlebury+College%2C+Middlebury%2C+VT+05753&sortby=adistance)</p>

<p>Is this a serious comparison of the 2 schools, or cocktail banter amongst partisans with too much time on their hands? I have had an opportunity to spend a reasonable amount of time on the 2 campuses, and find they have radically different attitudes. Wesleyan students take pride in “Keeping Wesleyan Weird,” and to their apparent satisfaction do just that (often it seems for its own sake). There is no apparent desire for weirdness at Middlebury (it probably gets in the way of studying and partying, although the Quidditch thing may smack of weirdness to some). These are schools with similar student profiles but, it seems to me, very different social attitudes and priorities. Anyone from a city larger than Cedar Rapids will find the restaurants near both schools a huge disappointment. The scores, grad school stuff…all hair splitting. Who cares? If you’re a prospective student make sure you spend enough time on (any) campus to get the feel of the place.</p>

<p>Frankly I don’t think it would be much of a fight; much dancing, little action.</p>

<p>Wesley–I’m getting ready to make another cocktail to accompany our banter. What would you like this time? I’m going with a Moscow Mule. Anyone else?</p>