Ever wonder what to do downtown once Cote's closes for the season? While its ice cream pleases crowds during the summer, the Brunswick arts and entertainment scene remains active throughout the year with art galleries, movie theaters, and quirky DVD rental and music stores that are easily accessible to Bowdoin students. Below are some of the options available within walking distance of campus.
Maine Street boasts several art galleries, and deciding which one to visit or where to start along the street can be difficult. Five Rivers Arts Alliance, an organization promoting cultural assets of the greater Brunswick area, sponsors the Second Friday Art Walk.
On the second Friday of each month, 25 galleries and exhibits in downtown Brunswick and Topsham stay open later than usual. The Alliance also provides free visitors' maps, which can be found at any gallery along Maine Street as well as at local coffee shops such as Bohemian Coffee House. The next art walk will be held on September 14. Visit Five Rivers Arts Alliance's Web site (http://www.fiveriversartsalliance.org) for more information.
Two businesses on Maine Street, the Frontier Café and the Eveningstar Cinema, provide alternatives to Cook's Corner hotspots. The Frontier Café is located inside Fort Andross, the large brick building at the base of Maine Street. Decorated with contemporary art, it offers excellent food and film screenings with an ethnic twist. The Frontier's eclectic menu includes a turkey panini, a summer squash and portabello wrap, and various Middle Eastern sides.
"My favorite thing about Frontier is the view of the river and the delicious food," said Sara Hubbard '10, who attended a film festival at Frontier last year.
"It's a nice, intimate, off-campus environment. The people who work there are excited to have Bowdoin students around," she said.
The Café's "...Go Beyond?A Visual Journey" gallery exhibits art from both local and international artists. Visit the Café's Web site (http://www.explorefrontier.com) for show times, exhibit dates, and a menu.
Don't go to the Eveningstar Cinema if you're craving the latest trashy romance flick. A one-screen movie theater located in Maine Street's Tontine Mall, the cinema takes pride in its offbeat screenings and showcases many Academy Award nominated films, including foreign films and documentaries.
"I think it gives them an edge over the Regal Cinema because they show high quality, independent shows that the other theater doesn't show," said Amelia Lanier '10.
The $7.50 you'll pay for a ticket is well worth it?there are no bad seats in this small theater. Moviegoers who arrive early might even snag a couch in the front row.
"The theater is really welcoming, casual, and laidback," Lanier added. "The couches are a nice touch."
Snack offerings, including homemade cookies and Lindt chocolates, match the unique atmosphere. Showtimes are available on the theater's Web site (http://www.eveningstarcinema.com).
Visit Bart & Greg's DVD Explosion, also located in Tontine Mall, for a solid collection of popular movies, independent films, and documentaries.
"In regards to Bart and Greg's I have only this to say: If Margaret Thatcher were still alive I'm sure she would be very proud of her sons and their DVD business," said faithful customer Jamil Wyne '08.
"They have had such a profound impact on my life that I plan to name my first two daughters Bart and Greg," he said.
The web site (http://www.bartandgregs.com) includes prices, new releases, and Bart and Greg's lists of top movies. The entire catalog is online.
Looking for music? Brunswick's Bull Moose, located next to Tontine Mall, has everything from the latest Kanye album to used CDs and vinyls. Peter McLaughlin '10, music director for WBOR, notes that "Bull Moose has a great selection of creative and independent music from all different kinds of labels, not just mainstream ones."
The store also includes a local music section that will soon feature Bowdoin students' music.