Winter is coming around and prices on activities are being cut in half on Groupon.com. Groupon is a website that gives people deals on activities and events. It features discounted gift certificates that can be used at many companies local and national. Recently I was looking for a discount on things to do since I am still “balling on a budget” as I try to get through the rest of this semester! I came across a lot of great deals for things from the gym, to beauty and body, all the way down to food! If I can save money on things, why not spread the word!

Gym
1. Up to 66% Off Group Fitness Classes (Knockout Fitness)

Just because it is winter, doesn’t mean it is a time to stay in and do nothing! It is a great time to get fit so when spring and summer comes around people are already ready for beach season! Knockout Fitness is offering to take money off of group fitness classes! Grab a bunch of friends and go, it will make the time less boring, and more fun!

Beauty/Body
2. 50% Off a Facial and Massage (Celias’s Face and Body)

The weather is getting colder, which means skin cells are a lot more dry than usual, and aren’t as moisturized and nourished. Celia’s Face and Body will restore those dead skin cells making them hydrated and healthy.

3. Up to 57% off Swedish Massage (Hot Stones) (Serenity Massage)

The stress of Thanksgiving and Christmas will be arriving quickly, luckily Serenity Massage is providing a discount on their massages to put you at ease. This is definitely a stress reliever. Tension in the muscles is never a good thing, and a Swedish message can also take some pain away.

4. 58% Off Haircut and Highlight s (Candi’s Corner)

With winter finally here, and holidays coming up, it is a great time to change up a look, or even perfect one! Candi’s Corner is taking 58% off of Haircuts and Highlights! Who doesn’t want to look beautiful, and for cheap?!

5. 59% Off Cellulite-Reduction Treatments (Body and Spirits)

If you have a problem with cellulite and would like to work on it, Body and Spirits is taking 59% off of original price! Heat and vacuum suction breaks down stored fat cells with starts circulation throughout the body! Nourish your self-image by indulging in the deal.

Activities
6. 61% Off the New Bedford Museum of Glass

Come check out 7,000 objects in the “Art Glass Headquarters of the Country* If you like glass this is the place to go! Along with celebrating this areas rich heritage, learn about the 3,000 years of glassmaking history.

7. 68% Off Black-Light Mini Golf and Bowling (Oceans 18)

The great thing about this discount is that it is 68% off. It puts a twist on bowling by playing in a black light. Hurry because this deal doesn’t last long.

Food
8. 50% Off (World Famous Pizza and Subs)

World Famous Pizza & Subs is giving a discount on their food made from scratch. This popular pizzeria has things such as chicken-finer subs, cheese-stuffed burgers, and pastas with homemade sauces as well! On the weekends people can stop by here as late as 3:30am and sit down. It also delivers until 3:00am on weekends.

These deals don’t last forever so hurry up and visit the New Bedford Groupon Website.

October flew by, November is coming up quickly, and this year Halloween is on a Friday, thankfully! What other way to end a long week, and kick off a weekend than to celebrate this thrilling day! For some of us we will finally be able to go all out for Halloween without worrying about school or work the following morning. If you have the chance to celebrate this year, whether you have kids, or no kids, here is a guide for a successful night in the city of New Bedford!

1. Go get your costume/Add final touches
If you haven’t picked out your costume already, hurry up! Time is running out, Halloween is creeping up on us. If you haven’t picked out a costume head on over to Halloween Connection on 966 Kings Highway. They have almost every costume you can think of! Even some sweet last minute deals. If you are looking for a cheaper route, Savers has plenty of great cheap costumes! I personally enjoy making my costumes from scratch, so if you are like me Savers in New Bedford is the way to go! If you see an Edward Scissorhands costume made out of 50 belts, and plastic knives for hands strolling the streets of New Bedford, it could possibly be me!

2. Whales, Tales and Sails-10am
Toddlers love to celebrate Halloween too! New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park is offering a free engaging activity this Halloween! This event will consist of story telling by Jackson Gillman which also includes songs, finger play, music, and crafts at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park’s Corson Maritime Learning Center. If you have kids, take them here before trick or treating.

3. Trick or Treating-6pm
Next, If you have kids, or happen to be around kids, take them trick or treating! The best thing about this is you can steal some candy from them, or maybe the owners of the houses you knock on will happily spare a couple pieces for you to enjoy!

4. The Phantom of the Opera-Silent Movie-7pm @ The Zeiterion
This silent movie is definitely a classic! So after trick or treating, if you are looking for some serious chills and spooks this Halloween head down to the Zeiterion Theatre to watch a showing of one of the scariest movies! Viewers get the luxury of organist Bernie Anderson! He will be playing organs during the movie to bring it to life for more thrilling fun! Go in costume to make this night even more exciting!

5. The Rocky Horror Picture Show 2014-9:30 @ The Zeiterion
After Phantom of the Opera stay a while! The Z is bringing the iconic Rocky Horror Picture show back to the screen along with the RKO Army live cast! Whether you are fan or a Rocky Virgin, audience participation is still a must, so prepare for an active, involved night!

Both can be found here.

6. College Halloween Party 9:30pm-2:00am
Finally, If you are a college student looking for an off campus alternative to celebrating Halloween, Bar 908 is the place to go! Every single Thursday this bar provides a shuttle bus that picks students up from Ring Rd at UMass Dartmouth, and brings them to the bar, and brings them back to campus when the bar closes! This Thursday it is no different from the previous weeks. Students can expect to catch a bus to the craziest Halloween Party in the city at 10:15, or 11pm for only $5. If you’re a student, or even someone just looking for fun, go to 908! There will also be a $5 cover to support the UMass Dartmouth’s Class of 2015! Come in the best costume and you can win $250!

7. OR 107’s Monster Mash-9pm
If you are uninterested in partying with a bunch of college students, or hosting your own Halloween party, Fun107 is hosting a Monster Mash at White’s of Westport Restaurant in Westport, MA! If you don’t mind driving a couple minutes out of New Bedford head on over to this event. Make new friends or meet up with old friends as you guys party and dance all night long! They will have plenty of entertainment and a lot of people dressed in costume! If you can’t make it on Halloween, don’t worry they are hosting another party the following day! Make sure to buy your tickets in advanced.

8. Stay safe and have fun!!

The economy, education and transportation were the main highlights on Friday, as Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Charlie Barkers had their public debate at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The debate took place at 4 p.m. inside of the UMass Main Auditorium, which was sponsored by the South Coast Alliance of media, business, and education organizations. The debate was moderated by UMass Dartmouth Professor, Shannon Jenkins, Political Science Chairperson. Students, faculty, and the public were all welcomed to this event to get a glimpse into each candidate’s plan of action.

Chelsea Gallant, a student at UMass Dartmouth explained, “I think having the debate here on campus was beneficial not only to our campus, but our community as a whole, it is another way our campus allows others a chance to visit and get a feel for UMass Dartmouth.”

UMass Dartmouth has one of the biggest College auditoriums around locally. The main auditorium holds 800 people making a successful space for a debate.

Professor at UMass Dartmouth Caitlin O’Neil explained, “Issues that matter have an impact on the community, and it employs people locally. It gives students the opportunity to see up close.” Caitlin also added, that the debate speaks to student issues who are graduating into a tough community.

MASSPIRG is also supporting UMass Dartmouth students in hopes of trying to improve the ballot box this year. MASSPIRG facilitates voter registration while trying to get students to be more involved with voting because student’s voices can also make a difference. MASSPIRG tries motivating students to vote and become more involved with politics, and having a debate on campus gives students an up close an personal way to get informed with the issues they can potentially improve.

“Debates on College campus brings awareness to the students who maybe don’t know enough about each candidate or where the candidates stand. It’s beneficial.” Explains Eric Jones, senior at the UMass Dartmouth.

With the election coming up on November 4th, the debate was a way each candidate could discuss their difference in opinion in hopes to have a broad impact on the people of Massachusetts. Both candidates fostered an understanding, and no matter what someone’s political preference is, this debate was a good way to be informed about the candidates and where they stand.

As the warmth of the summer sun begins to cool, and the leaves start to change color, people are finally putting away the bathing suits and sun block and breaking out the sweaters and scarves. Well break out those fall boots next because AHA! Night is back once again. For those who don’t know, AHA! Night is a FREE arts, history and architecture night that takes place 5-9 on the 2nd Thursday of every month in Downtown New Bedford. These cultural nights involve over 60 downtown venues such as galleries, museums, art organizations, restaurants the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and more. AHA! Night gives performers, artists and others the opportunity to come out and engage within the community.

If you haven’t been to AHA! Nights before here are some things you should expect for October 9, 2014, and some things I highly recommend because they sound like a great time.

Free

You can expect AHA! Night to be FREE. No cost at all for people to attend and have a great time, so why not keep that money in your pocket and come out for a free eventful night.

Music

There aren’t many chances in life where people can listen to live music for free, and luckily live music plays a huge role in AHA! Night. Performers come out and play their music for the community, it gives performers the opportunity to show people the kind of musicians they are, what they can do lyrically. This month, thanks to Cafe Arpeggio, Matt Borrello, a guitar player and singer, will be playing live music for downtown New Bedford!

Other chances to listen to music are when the UMass Dartmouth Jazz Ensemble plays at First Baptist Church, and when Gospel Choir & Soloist performs at Bethel AME. Cape Verdean music will be also played at Pilgrim UCC, and New Bedford Symphony Youth Orchestra will make and appearance at New Bedford’s Friends Meeting House.

Events

Events are always held at the New Bedford Whaling Historical Park, and this month people are able to go back in time with women from the 1850’s to talk about past fashion, and the latest fashion. With Halloween approaching, this event will surely give attendees new costume ideas. It’s about time people started switching costumes up anyway, so why not bring it back to the 19th century and wear authentic Victorian clothing. Hopefully, if people attend this event, they will decide against dressing like Elsa from Frozen along with the rest of the little girls of the world this year.

Halloween Activities

I love October because I can go apple picking, go on hayrides, run through corn mazes, and because I get to decorate pumpkins. Who doesn’t love to paint pumpkins? Luckily AHA! Night is giving everyone the chance to decorate pumpkins through Pilgrim UCC. You should also stop by Buzzards Bay Coalition to paint and decorate a Halloween jack-o-lantern!

Art

Downtown New Bedford is filled with opportunities to check out local art galleries, and view their exhibits. I suggest going to viewing artwork by students who are from Global Learning Charter Public School at Episcopal Church. I love seeing young minds create things. I have always been interested in students and their art because it amazes me how young yet creative kids are.

There are many other events taking place on October 9th so to find out times, and places visit http://www.ahanewbedford.org/calendar.html See you there!

As a college student I am continually trying to get a good deal on yummy food without burning a hole into my pocket. Between books and gas I find myself only dishing out that dollar or two for ramen noodles.

Luckily downtown New Bedford has three great places where students can dine at an affordable price, and these places just so happen to accept 10 PLUS Meal Plan flex dollars.

If you are a sub or sandwich lover, then the first place to eat is Café Arpeggio. They have a huge menu for vegetarians from a Greek veggie wrap to a sesame pesto vegetarian melt. Subway has always been my go-to sandwich place, but after my first experience here I may never go back.

This quiet and comfortable setting will leave you talking with your friends for hours without realizing the amount of time that has gone by. Have a cup of their gourmet coffee or freshly roasted espresso drinks with your soup or sandwich; along with a friend or two and it will end up be a successful lunch date.

Who doesn’t love a nice hot soup to warm themselves up on a chilly fall day? Destination Soup serves cream tomato basil soup, it reminds me of my grandmother’s soup, which makes me feel closer to home even when I am miles away. Destination Soup is a great alternative to ramen noodles, and the best thing about this restaurant is that they deliver.

Destination soups recently started a partnership with Apponagansett Farm in Dartmouth for locally grown produce, which adds to their inspired specials like the eggplant Parmesan Sandwich and luckily it is back on the menu due to popular demand. It is served with homemade marinara and fresh mozzarella as well!

Last but not least is my favorite of all three restaurants, Tia Maria’s European Café. If you are tired of eating American food, try its Portuguese cuisine. It offers homemade desserts, coffee and more! I enjoyed this place the is most because they offer outside seating, and I was able to indulge in great food from another culture especially when I tried their Turkey Reuben with their own homemade dressing.

“I have used my UMass Pass Tia Maria’s European Café and I was pretty excited I was able to use money that was already on my UMass Pass for off campus food,” said Hector Carrisquillo, a junior at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth “The food was great and I am interested to see the other places that accept our dining plans.”

Shannon White a senior from the University or Massachusetts Dartmouth expressed how excited she was that she is able to use her UMass Pass off of campus.

“It gets tiring to eat the same food on campus, and I hate spending extra money, but it is extremely convenient and a wonderful idea for UMD to hook up with places off campus so students can try new food for a change, without a price.”

Fortunately even if you are not a UMass student you can still enjoy these restaurants for an affordable price. All three places offer breakfast, lunch and dinner. I highly suggest everyone go and try out these café’s because it is places like this that make New Bedford authentic and contribute a lot to the improvement of the city.