I was more hesitant about giving Winston-Salem compliments last year. I think I suffered from freshman syndrome; it took meeting some upperclassman and becoming one myself to realize that maybe off-campus could be just as much fun as campus. I did not know that this town had more to offer than just a mall.

This year, however, I have gotten out and visited the events that are happening constantly downtown. It is actually a pretty neat city if you just take the time to get involved.

Just in the month of September I have participated in a gallery hop, the downtown block party, ArtsIgnite and the Big Sweep of Peter's Creek. This town really does offer everything a college student needs; it just seems to be a little more hidden than in most cities.

The gallery hops really are what got me interested in Winston-Salem. For a "tobacco town" we have an incredible amount of wonderful artists. SECCA is less than five minutes from campus and downtown is full of galleries. ArtsIgnite is working for the cultural revival of downtown Winston-Salem. Walking downtown near the Sawtooth center you can see a huge statue of a washing machine on the side of the road and an incredible sculpture of dogs pouring out of a box seemingly suspended in mid-air.

On the entertainment front (if you do not find art entertaining), we do have Ziggy's and they bring in great acts like Donna the Buffalo. Winston-Salem can't be all bad ¯ Widespread Panic is coming to Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in November!

For those more interested in shopping, the mall is perhaps one of the greatest places to find what you need. It is a pretty nice mall, too ¯ they have banned smoking (kind of ironic in Winston-Salem) and they are resurfacing the floors. The Goodwill Store is not the greatest thrift shop, but there are other thrift stores around.

Downtown has several cool stores; if you go to the gallery hops the first Friday of every month downtown (yes, there is one coming up this Oct. 4) you can check out the nifty eclectic stores of downtown Winston-Salem.

Oh man, can you even begin to think about the kind of food we have in Winston? Restaurants can be found that would please even the most distinguished of tastes.

Three Indian restaurants, a Thai restaurant, at least one Greek restaurant, I do not know how many Mexican restaurants, Chinese restaurants, Japanese restaurants, fast food, nice food (Lucky 32, Staley's) and even cute little hidden restaurants like Rose and Thistle (in the corner of the Lowe's Foods parking lot off Reynolda Road) are dotted all around the city.

Whole Foods sits right beside of Qdoba so all those allergic to wheat, chocolate, peanuts and dairy can find something to eat, and the rest of us can eat organic and feel like we are doing something good for the world.

So what I am saying is, quit being hesitant! This city has more to offer than it seems, so get out there! I promise you will not regret it. After all of this, if you still think Winston-Salem is horribly boring, I invite you to come home with me to see where I am from. Trust me, you would be as happy as I always am to return to Winston-Salem.

Lisa Mann is a sophomore who plans to major in sociology.