Oberlin, while small, contains just about everything a student could need within walking distance. Restaurants, fast food joints, coffee shops, clothing stores, supermarkets, a health food store, a record store, and now a tattoo parlor are all just around the corner.

Oberlin also has an active arts community. In addition to the resources of the College, the New Union Center for the Arts provides a home for a number of organizations dedicated to increasing appreciation of the arts, including the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA), and the MAD* (*Music Arts and Drama) Factory.

One of the best things about Oberlin is the Apollo movie theater, an Art Deco style building featuring bright neon lights on its marquee. It shows (fairly) current films (a good balance to the College's film series), and at $3, regular admission is a true bargain. And it gets even better -- on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, admission is only $2.

Recently, the Oberlin College Art Department established a connection to Cleveland's Here Here Gallery, where student and faculty exhibitions now take place during the academic year.

Oberlin students have the best of both worlds: the safety and familiarity of small town life, along with access to a world-class city less than an hour away. Cultural events, museums, and great food are just a few of the reasons to visit Cleveland.

Among the city's many attractions is the Cleveland Orchestra, recently dubbed the finest orchestra in the country by Time magazine. Cleveland's theater district, known as Playhouse Square, has a combined capacity of 7000 seats, and is the largest theater complex between New York and Chicago. The city's many museums include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Museum of Art, one of the most eminent art institutions in the country, and one of the few that has free admission. The Here Here Gallery in downtown Cleveland presents work by Oberlin faculty, staff, and students in a first-class exhibition space. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the recently opened Great Lakes Science Center, and the Cleveland Zoo--which now includes a year-round rainforest exhibit--are among other educational sites.

Nightlife in Cleveland is centered in the Flats. The area's many warehouses have been converted to nightclubs, restaurants, and comedy clubs.

Cleveland is also a major-league sports city. Teams include baseball's Indians, perennial division and league champions; the NFL's recently resurrected Browns; the NBA's Cavaliers; the WNBA's Rockers; the NPSL's Crunch; and the IHL's Lumberjacks.