Five ways to stay sane in the cold, dark winter

Maeve Bauer, Spectrum Editor

As we wrap up the second week of spring semester, come off the euphoric feeling of winter break, turn our radiators up and prepare for these next six or so weeks of winter, depending on what the groundhog says, the overall vibes on campus are down. 

Though not all students may experience Seasonal Affective Disorder, or its very fitting abbreviation SAD, a lot of students feel a wave of doom and gloom, which is not hard to feel when you look outside and it is doomy and gloomy. So, as a follow-up to The CT’s list of ways to touch grass, we humbly present: The CT’s tips and tricks to staying sane in the winter. 

• Sample different coffee shops 

If there is one thing Richmond is bountiful in, it is its locally-owned, unique cafes. With one on almost every street, it is the perfect place to escape the windy roads with a toasty cup of joe in hand. 

Just surrounding VCU, there’s Harrison Street Cafe. If you are vegan, vegetarian or veg-curious this is the perfect spot. There’s also Abi’s Books and Brews, which hosts different events and is right around the corner from Cabell Library. While you are in the Fan, go ahead and check out Greenbriar Cafe and Coffeehouse.

Greenbriar is owned and operated by Meredith Temple and her husband Julius Green, both of whom graduated from VCU.

The majority of the menu items at Greenbriar are named after Richmond streets and the owners family members, according Temple. 

“The Nancy Bagel, which is actually named after my mom, she also went to VCU in the 70s when there was a bagel cart and that’s the bagel she used to get,” Temple said.

The bagel consists of avocado, tomato, cucumber, onion, cream cheese or humus if you want it vegan. 

The rest of the menu can be found on their Instagram, @greenbriarcafeandcoffeehouse. 

Temple and Green have been running Greenbriar for the past 12 years. Both have previous connections to the location, according to Temple. With Temple using the fromer shop as her study spot during the 90s when it was known as Puddin’ Heads and Green worked there as a chef under former owners. 

Along Broad St. you will find The Lab by Alchemy, a self-described third wave coffee shop — meaning they focus on the artisanal craft of coffee and high-quality, single-sourced beans, according to Alchemy’s General Manager Trey Shiflett. 

“We wanna make sure that it tastes right for our customers,” Shiflett said. “We’re always willing to kind of make that an open conversation and make it to where you know anybody that comes in. Whether they’re a coffee nerd or don’t really have any knowledge on coffee at all, we do try to make sure that when they’re on their way out they’re pleased with the drink that they have.”

Alchemy works in tandem with Recluse Roasting Project to ensure their beans are ethical. 

If you keep walking eastward, you will hit Mudhouse, Lift and Urban Hang Suite (one of my personal favorites.) 

Another honorable mention is Stella’s Market — a small chain of Greek grocery stores that started in Richmond after the success of Stella’s, opened by Stella Dikos, a Greek immigrant who opened the iconic Village Cafe after moving to Richmond. 

• Visit your local library

Though a good percentage of VCU’s student body is made of people who were born and raised in Richmond and its surrounding areas, the rest is people from all over (mainly NoVa). 

Public libraries supply so much to the community, from knowledge to events and resources. Just around VCU’s Monroe Park Campus there are three bus-able locations all under a half hour and there are nine total branches within the Richmond Library network. Events happening this winter can be found on their RVAlibrary.org.

Explore each floor, appreciate the architecture and open up a library card so when you need a book for class and it is already gone at Cabell you can go grab it at any Richmond Library location!

• Walk around Richmond’s Art District

Richmond’s art scene is ever-growing, there are art galleries throughout the city, you will find the highest concentration of them along Broad St., only two pulse stops down from VCU’s station. 

Though they differ slightly throughout location, most galleries are open from the hours of 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

If you are looking to engage with your community, go during First Fridays, with gallery openings and live music happening up and down the street. 

• Go to The Workshop

Festering under the Starbucks at James Cabell Library is a thriving ecosystem of podcasters, textile artists and photographers. That is The Workshop. 

Sported with recording studios, 3.D. printers, sewing machines, cameras, video cameras, microphones and honestly so much more, the world is your oyster. Have you and your friends threatened to start a podcast before? Wanted to have a professional photoshoot on a budget? Pick up a new craft? Start vlogging? All can be done with resources provided to students through VCU. 

“I love the equipment that we have for students, like stuff ranging from cameras to video games,” said Hannah Nguyen, an employee at the Workshop. “A lot of of students don’t really know we have Playstaion, Xbox and Switch games. I like borrowing those to play with my friends over the weekend.”

Nguyen is a sophomore in graphic design student, she says the scanners there are great for different zines and print projects. 

Though most students are aware of the Workshop, Nguyen feels it is underutilized by most students and encourages people to check out the orientation tab on library.vcu.edu/spaces-tech/the-workshop/  and start learning about everything they have to offer.  

And, if you are a crafty person and are looking for new activities, stop by the Student Media Center at Cary and Belvidere, 301 W. Cary St., where you can find the CT’s Paper Mache Library. Instead of sending our old issues straight to recycling centers come stop by and collect some materials for craft night!

• Make a sweet treat

Sweat treats can not only provide happiness in the moment, but they can also be used as a tool to combat seasonal depression. 

Three foods that can improve your mood are dark chocolate, berries and nuts. The big three of sweet treats. Combine them all, or enjoy them in a recipe separately and it will not only be a fun activity you can enjoy, but a fun activity you and your brain can enjoy.