<p>I am attending, and I can't wait!</p>
<p>Who else is attending?</p>
<p>Does anyone have any ideas on places to visit around the town?</p>
<p>What do you mean by “places”? Restaurants? Activities? Shops?</p>
<p>Well, anything really. Where could I go that would give me a really good picture on how life is in Northampton?</p>
<p>D has been accepted, but waiting on much needed Fin aid. We’ve been to N’Hampton tons of times so here’s some favs for the town, but other folks will certainly weigh in.</p>
<p>Shopping: D’s mandatories are Urban Outfitters (in a huge old bank), Faces (trendy housewares, cards, tshirts, clothes), Thornes Market (retrofitted 4 story cool old building sort or vertical mall) many other shops around including designer consignment store, candy spot “see fudge made!!!”, card stores, etc etc… Upscale Silverscape has original jewelry/pottery from local artisans that is amazing. There are basically one or two main streets so with a couple mile stroll you can get a sense of the fun town you’ll have access to.</p>
<p>Noshing: Steve Herrill’s is a must for mix in ice cream, Pasta place across from N’hampton music hall is very good, Mama Iquana’s gets great raves (but no lunch), and a whole host of foods ranging from Tibetian, Thai, Mexican, Paul and Elizabeth’s is top notch veggie place, but only if the 'rents are paying!</p>
<p>Music: I am an oldster, so my old haunts have turned over, but definitely get the free paper “The Advocate” while you are there. Northampton has a diverse and vibrant music scene.</p>
<p>Sites: I’d just focus on the beautiful campus and town for your first visit, but if its a sunny day, and you want a bit of a drive/hike to reflect a bit outside the sphere of Smith, the Summit House gives a great vista of “Happy Valley”. </p>
<p>While you salivate over what may be your new home, check out the digital edition of the Advocate, it is a pretty good local bible with good reviews and leftist editorials. [The</a> Valley Advocate: 2010 Valley Advocate Best Of Winners - Wheels](<a href=“http://www.valleyadvocate.com/best/best_08.cfm]The”>http://www.valleyadvocate.com/best/best_08.cfm) </p>
<p>ENJOY!</p>
<p>I don’t know what to do first! 
I hope you two get the fin aid you need, and congrats to your D!</p>
<p>Brie99 has pretty well covered the waterfront. Just cruise up and down the main street, pop into some of the little shops that appeal to you, and take in the sights. As far as food goes, I haven’t met a restaurant yet I haven’t liked, and I’ve been to lots as Smith is 1-1/2 hours away; they have much more selection in number and variety than the Central Mass. boonies where we live.</p>
<p>For the most part, you’ll be really busy with on-campus stuff, so as long as you are on campus, I strongly recommend a visit to the Smith College art museum. It’s the second best collegiate art museum in the nation (we’re number 2! we’re number 2!) and it has a great collection that spans pretty much every style. There’s impressionist paintings by people like Degas and Monet, some early Roman pottery and marble, all the way up to more modern and contemporary works. </p>
<p>If you have time to eat in town, I think Haymarket makes the BEST grilled cheese sandwich you will ever eat (grilled cheese with avocado, mustard, etc. yum!), but it’s a coffee shop, not a restaurant, so it might be crowded in the midddle of the day. Herrell’s is a wonderful ice cream place if you don’t have time for lunch. Steve Herrell invented the idea of putting candy bars/cookies/etc in ice cream, and he also invented the technique that they use at Cold Stone creameries. He makes all the ice cream right there on site, and it’s different flavors every day. LOTS of Smithies spend LOTS of money getting ice cream there, it’s an institution. </p>
<p>I always think the Northampton Brewery is a good place to take parents. It’s mostly locals, it’s a little off the beaten track, and it’s nice but not too nice, with burgers and other pub fare. But you can’t go wrong with any of the restaurants there on the main drag and they’ll all give you a good Noho flavor.</p>
<p>If decisions aren’t coming out until Friday, why is preview on Sat?</p>
<p>Preview is for 11th graders and younger. I’m sure there is a day or overnight for admitted students - every similar school has at least one such opportunity - but I can’t find it on the Smith website this minute.</p>
<p>There is an admitted students day, but I too forget what it is called. It’s usually in April though, before admissions decisions are due.</p>
<p>Go to the art museum and check out the bathrooms. Don’t google them now!</p>
<p>Yup I’m just a hopeful junior for the class of '16 !</p>
<p>It’ll be hard waiting five days to see the museum, but I’ll hold off!</p>
<p>Thanks again to all!</p>
<p>A Smith student called me today – she mentioned that the admitted students days (called Open Campus I believe) are Thursday April 14th & Friday the 15th – you can come and stay over night or just come on one of the days. Sounds like a good opportunity to get to know campus to me. :)</p>
<p>I am not an admitted student, though, but I can schedule an overnight anytime?</p>
<p>Besides the Open Campus, there’s also a similar Discovery Weekend April 15-16 that’s for URMs, which, in Smith’s case, includes Asians – both surprising and kind of awesome. </p>
<p>@CPU - Smith’s website seems to imply that you can. </p>
<p>[Smith</a> College: Scheduling a Campus Visit](<a href=“http://www.smith.edu/admission/campusvisit/]Smith”>Visits & Programs | Smith College)</p>
<p>Wow that’s cool. Thanks!</p>
<p>It says overnights are for seniors :/</p>
<p>Crud, sorry CPU! I actually remember reading that about the overnights – I think I just see you on the boards so much that I momentarily assumed that you were a senior, even though I know you’re not…</p>
<p>My bad. :)</p>
<p>Ha it’s okay. </p>
<p>Hopefully I’ll be attending the admitted students weekend next year :)</p>