Melissa Barales-Lopez

An iconic institution located in the middle of town, Lou’s Restaurant has been open for over 70 years. This business has served the Dartmouth community well, supplying mouth-watering and delectable plates during that time period. For any Gilmore Girls fans out there, I would class classify Lou’s as the equivalent to Lukes in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. While I can’t speak to the food at Lukes, I can certainly attest to the sheer deliciousness of Lou’s menu items. It attracts people far outside of Hanover, but beyond it being a regional tourist attraction, Lou’s is the faithful haven of Hanover residents and Dartmouth students. On any given day, you can find long-time community members, undergraduates, and even Dartmouth professors chatting away inside! In addition to the celebrational visits to Lou’s with close friends, I’ll miss its quaint and friendly ambiance. The restaurant’s sense of community is something you can’t replicate anywhere else. 

As a movie fanatic, the Nugget Theatre is my favorite place in Hanover. The Nugget Theatre first opened in 1916 and, given its popularity among the community, it’s stayed open ever since. While my first visit to the Nugget took place during spring break, I have not stopped going since! The Nugget is smaller than your traditional movie theater, but it still screens the most popular productions out there. So far, I’ve seen Jordan Peele’s Us, the long-anticipated blockbuster End Game, and Disney’s live-action film Aladdin. The popcorn served in the Nugget also happens to be especially good (it’s somehow extra savory), and the small showing rooms create a pleasurable viewing experience. Every time I’ve gone to the Nugget, everyone seems to be immersed in the movie, and it elevates the entire experience. Beyond the yummy treats and the comfortable accommodations, the experience of watching a good movie with close friends is unbeatable. 

Unlike my handful of (yet nonetheless memorable) visits to the Nugget Theatre, I frequently visit Morano Gelato. Morano Gelato is also located down Main St. and is an absolute town gem. While Morano Gelato is not unique to Hanover, the establishment has a special place among the community. With a continuously changing list of flavors, Morano Gelato notably serves something for everyone. Because of its impressive variety, you can almost always count on encountering a line of customers when you pay Morano a visit. But the wait time is well worth it! My favorite flavor is Cioccolato Bianco (or White Chocolate), which I like to enjoy on the nearby outside patio. I love relaxing on one of the many benches on this courtyard on a nice sunny day while savoring delicious gelato.

The first piece I want to discuss is titled Look Me in the Eyes by Jorge Carlos Álvarez. This artwork is really a series of photos hung on a wall in the first floor of Berry Library. The photographs depict images of Mexican and Central American people and immigrants with all sorts of facial expressions and gestures. These images demand viewers’ full attention and, as Alvarez’s website states, that’s the entire point. Alvarez intends to have the audience look at the photo’s subject straight in their eyes and recognize the humanity of each and every individual. 

This artwork doesn't just capture powerful images, it also takes on political significance given the polarizing, anti-immigrant rhetoric disseminated by the president. But this artwork urges Dartmouth students to go beyond those narratives and recognize the dignity and individuality of all immigrants south of the border. 

This artwork was placed in multiple locations surrounding the Green, including on the lawn in front of Dartmouth Hall and Baker Library. This temporary art series is titled Flower Garden and was organized entirely by the Office of Sustainability. A simple look at the photograph above will clue you in on the office’s central role in coordinating this display of public art. Indeed, the “flowers” scattered around the front lawn of Baker are not traditional flowers, they’re actually bike wheels. This piece of art similarly carries a significant message which, I’ve determined, highlights the importance of recycling already-used items and keeping our planet clean and beautiful. 

The third and final piece of artwork - which is really more of an exhibit - is a student-curated exhibition at the Hood Museum. Armando Pulido, ‘19, is one of seven senior interns who had the opportunity to independently organize a small gallery, which was showcased last Friday. I had the opportunity to attend the reception and, of course, enter the museum to observe Armando’s exhibition titled Los Mojados (“Wetbacks”): Migrant Bodies & Latinx Identities. The central piece of the exhibit - pictured above - depicts a stranded backpack by the border of Calexico, California. This piece alludes to the risks and perilous journey of border crossing and urges the viewer to consider the circumstances under which people would migrate. Moreover, the entire exhibit ultimately seeks to reclaim the term "wetback" and redefine the dominant narratives associated with immigration. 

Last week, a friend from back home (a Dartmouth ‘23 to be exact!) visited me for the weekend. That Saturday afternoon, as I was planning what we were going to do for the next two days, my phone buzzed with a series of emails about events that were going on later that evening. One such event allows students to assemble their very own cactus plants and ice cream sundaes. Given that my friend Rudy has a love for cacti and ice cream, we decided to attend the event. We spent that night in One Wheelock, putting together our plants, enjoying some delicious ice cream, and simply hanging out on the comfy couches. 

This activity is one of the HUNDREDS of events coordinated by the Collis Governing Board. Week after week, the student-run CBG organize fun, social activities - like roller skating, arcade nights, and endless trivia - for the entire campus. These events are a great opportunity for students to go out and spend some quality time with their friends. 

Perceptions of Dartmouth vary widely among prospective students and family members. I’ve come across a fair number of people who thought that Dartmouth was right smack in the middle of nowhere. While no one can deny that Hanover is no New York City, this small town has its own special gems - one which comes in the name of Tuk Tuk Thai Cuisine! Tuk Tuk prepares the BEST Thai food I’ve ever had the pleasure of consuming. There’s no food I enjoying ordering more than Tuk Tuk. It’s become a bi-weekly tradition to order my regular - fried rice with chicken! Sometimes I enjoy my meal in my floor’s common room alongside my friends and sometimes my friends and I will make an entire evening out of eating Tuk Tuk. There’s nothing more fun than eating out and chatting with your friends. After all, great food lends itself to great conversations!

Dartmouth’s residential options are unique because of our housing system. Upon entering the College, first-year students will be randomly sorted into one of six houses. This allows students to find a small community within the larger college. One of the ways Dartmouth continuously fosters relationships among each student class is through the House executive boards. Members of each house will throw engaging events and activities for the benefit of the students. This dedication to coordinating fun social activities also extends to my very own floor, Thriving Through Transitions. My undergraduate advisor (or UGA) is always hosting special events on our floor for my floormates and me to spend time together and simply interact with one another a little bit more. A couple of weeks ago, she hosted a painting therapy session which was a huge hit on the floor and a great way to have some fun in the convenience of our very own floor. Ever since then, my friends haven’t stopped creating beautiful art! 

Recognized as a national historic landmark in 2013, the Orozco Mural Rooms are a personal treasure of the school. These murals - which take up the entire wall space of the room - were painted by renowned Mexican muralist Jose Clemente Orozco from 1932 to 1934. Titled The Epic of American Civilization, these murals counter the common narrative of the history of the Americas and give voice to the indigenous people of Mexico who constructed great civilizations. This artwork is a sight to behold and is full of vibrant colors and great detail, showcasing the undeniable talent of Orozco. These frescos are a fine example of Mexican muralism and Latinx art representation at the College! The mural pictured above (not a part of the official Epic of American Civilization) was Orozco’s first mural ever painted at Dartmouth!

Dartmouth Hall serves as the center of the language department. The upper floors of the building are divided between different languages, and the common room for the Spanish department (located on the third floor) proudly displays a magnificent mural painted by Dartmouth’s very own Ernesto Cuevas (a member of the class of 1998). Additionally, Ernesto Cuevas has also completed several art projects which are currently displayed in the Latin American, Latino and Caribbean Studies (or LALACS) House. One painting in particular depicts a group of what is presumably recently-graduated students in the midst of a field of plants, a direct allusion to Cuevas’ own background as a son of migrant farm workers. His murals not only depict his personal Latino background, they further promote Latinx artistic representation at Dartmouth. The painting pictured above is yet another one of his incredible works depicting Latinx resiliency. 

As a leading college museum in the nation, the Hood Museum houses a vast collection of artwork that is accessible and free to the public. Through its countless galleries and rotating exhibitions, the Hood is able to display a diverse and wide collection of art. This past Tuesday, my classmates and I visited the Hood for an hour-long session and had the opportunity to analyze a curated array of Latinx and Latin American art. The Hood had such a variety of art pieces, some of which (like the artwork above) were purchased by the request of student interns, that nicely complemented our course themes, and all we had to do to see them was ask! I plan on visiting once again to tap into the Hood’s vast collection of Latinx art because there’s still so much I have yet to see. All in all, the Hood's depth in art undeniably highlights the diversity in art at Dartmouth.