It’s mid-August, and that means college kids have taken over Carbondale once more. To our new Salukis, welcome to Carbondale, and to the returning, welcome back! What you are reading is the Daily Egyptian, the student-ran newspaper. You can find all the local campus and community news each week right here in a 12-page print edition or at dailyegyptian.com. Carbondale is filled with some pretty amazing places, but they might be hard to find right away. My name is Lylee Gibbs, I am the editor-in-chief of the DE, and I was born and raised right here in the 618. Growing up, I spent many of my weekends in Carbondale with my family. I am a senior now, which maybe makes me qualified to give you some recommendations — but I couldn’t do it alone. I have asked my fellow editors and our ad chief to pitch in and give me their favorite spots around town — from restaurants to free activities — and we’ve put it all here in a guide for you. Moving to a new place can be daunting, but the DE editorial board is here to give all the best recommendations to all things Carbondale:

Carbondale Cuisine – The best places to eat around town:

• Quatro’s is one of the most iconic pizza places in town and a staff favorite
• Chango’s is a locally owned fast Mexican restaurant
• China Wok has some of the best crab rangoon, and it’s just a quick walk from the apartments/towers
• Newby’s is a cheap and fast pizza place
• Pita Alley is a great Mediterranean eatery
• Thai Taste is a local, traditional Thai restaurant that is delicious
• Harbaugh’s Cafe is an office-favorite breakfast place just off campus
• Mary Lou’s Grill is a classic diner on the Strip that is a great option for breakfast
• Sunny Street Cafe is a farther drive from campus but a great breakfast spot
• Booby’s a local sandwich shop for a quick bite on the Strip (That inspired the Jimmy John’s chain according to the founder on a podcast)

The best places to hang out with friends:

• Hangar 9, a popular 18+ bar that offers karaoke and themed nights
• Confluence Books is a bookstore full of thrifted books
• The Thrift Shop is an office-favorite thrift store
• PK’s trivia, if you are over 21, every Wednesday at 8 p.m.

Our favorite coffee shops:

• Common Grounds is a fan-favorite coffee spot among our staff
• DeLytes in Morris Library
• Dunkin Donuts is… you already know
• Lost Forest Coffeehouse is a new coffee joint on the Strip

The best places to study around campus:

• Picnic tables near Campus Lake
• Old Campus in front of Shyrock Auditorium
• Morris Library (specifically the sixth or seventh floor)

Sweet treats around town:

• Cool Spoons, a frozen yogurt and ice cream shop that offers a multitude of ice cream and topping choices
• Blend Tea and Crepe Lounge offers sweet and savory crepes along with bubble tea, just walking distance from campus
• Big Chill is totally not a classic Dairy Queen 😉 but it is on the Strip and delicious

Things to do locally outside of Carbondale:

• The Du Quoin State Fair offers rides, fair food, games, live music and more from Aug. 22 to Sept. 1.
• The Makanda Boardwalk is a quaint shopping strip located at 520 Makanda Road that offers local art, ice cream and a sculpture garden.
• Marion and Murphysboro, the next towns over both east and west of Carbondale, offer a variety of food and activities.

Editor-in-Chief Lylee Gibbs can be reached at [email protected] or on Instagram @lyleegibbsphoto

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