The Spire

Viveca Stucke ‘26

Chief Features Editor

As we settle fully into the winter season, campus enters what I like to think of as its period of hibernation. Reflecting on my four years at Holy Cross, the winter months occupy a uniquely quiet space in the academic calendar – a time when campus just feels a little bit less loud. The sun is setting earlier, the cold nips at your nose, and snow is covering everything, making even the shortest walk outside feel like a test of balance and patience as ice dares you to slip. The fall semester, by contrast, is marked by excitement and renewal. You return to campus riding the high of summer, and the crisp autumn air makes everything feel like it is in its right place. Spring semester, however, feels somewhat misleadingly named. For a significant portion of it, spring is nowhere to be found. While the latter half will eventually bloom into something beautiful (shout out to whoever plants all the flowers around campus), it is filled with sunshine, color, energy, and the long awaited revival of hope that warm weather truly exists. But, the stretch that we now find ourselves in tells a different story. This period, what I consider to be the spring semester slump, is quieter and can feel heavier. Many students stay indoors, seeking refuge from the cold in their dorms, and social energy dips to an all time low. It’s a season of hunkering down and truly waiting the cold weather out. But, in that spirit, I wanted to offer a list of ways to bring a little more warmth and light into these winter weeks, because even in the coldest months, Worcester and Holy Cross still have plenty to offer. 

EVENTS TO GO TO:

• Skate Nights at Worcester Common (There is a glow in the dark event 2/6!)
• Worcester Art Museum
• Worcester Public Market
• Go to a Worcester Railers Game
• Take a peek at Worcester Public Library 
• Sled on Freshman Field 
• Check out the Museum of Worcester 
• Take the T into Boston!
• Visit the American Antiquarian Society 
• Check out a show at Hanover theater
• Go to the CASA Fashion Show on 2/21
• Check out a Holy Cross sports game
• Check out some of the events for Sexual Respect Week
• Go to some events for SGA Unity Week
• Join a new club!
• Go to Worcester Center for Crafts
• Go to some local concerts (super cheap and there’s tons of venues in Worcester to try out!)
• Go bowling at American Flatbread 

FOOD TO TRY:

• Chashu Ramen
• Thai Time
• Have brunch at Altea’s Eatery or Livia’s
• Gerardo’s Bakery!
• Volturno’s Buy One Get One Tuesdays
• Feng Asian Bistro (my personal favorite!) 
• The Fix Burger Bar
• Victoria Evergreen Kitchen
• Pepes Taquiera
• Mezcal (but specifically their birria)
• Bagel Time
• Peppercorns
• Pho Sure! (my roommates’ suggestion)
• Halal Guys
• Golden House (would be remiss if I did not include this)
• Red Pepper
• Mint 
• El Patron
• Fatimah’s Cafe
• Momo Palace
• Antonios

Overall, there is still so much to do, so much to try, and so many experiences waiting for you, even as you push through the winter weather over the next few chilly months. While staying in to watch your favorite TV show is always a tempting option, many of these activities can be done for under $20 (excluding transportation), and offer a fun, fresh break from the winter routine. Don’t let the mountains of snow around campus make you feel like you’re living in an igloo, there is still plenty out there to explore, even in the cold. 

Featured image courtesy of Google Images

Copy Edited by Colette Potter ‘26