notable locations around saint rivera, pennsylvania.
a college town 30 miles north of philly.
breadstix. a family-owned italian restaurant. everybody knows someone who's gotten food poisoning here, but they'll also argue that it's worth it for the endless breadsticks and the satisfaction of supporting a local business. reservations are almost always impossible during the weekends and every club has at least one annual dinner tradition here. it's cheap, the food is delicious, so what more can you ask for ( stricter food safety rules not included ) ? but be careful not to sit too far from your love interest, because there's longstanding local legend here that says no relationship survives making eye contact across breadstix's long group tables!
les affamés. a 24/7 open retro diner. craving a $9.99 burger and milkshake deal? this diner is the go-to destination for any stressed out student who wants comfort food, or maybe they just really like red vinyl booths and black-and-white tile flooring. but some students consider this place cursed, or at least that's what they want to blame because everyone seems to have developed a habit of confessing life-changing secrets here, and people have been in relationships during their time in saint rivera have definitely hosted at least one breakup here.
standing ovation. kind of a speakeasy. only accessible through a secret knock given to third year performing arts students, this bar is located in the basement of les affamés and hosts everything from improv nights to poetry readings to karaoke to the local battle of the bands. the drinks are cheap, the seating is cramped, and visibility is not much better either, but everyone goes anyway just in case somebody important shows up or someone is naive enough to spill their secrets in slam poetry form.
trouty mouth. fish and chips sports bar. the usual hangout for the student athletes, where titans hockey and football games are broadcasted live. there's a rumor that the batter they use for their fried fish is laced with cocaine, especially with how deliciously addicting they are, but perhaps it is the energy in the room that's actually the most infectious. the atmosphere here is very welcoming and not as testosterone-heavy as the other sports bar. in fact, half their clientele these days are theatre kids ever since the jocks started mingling with the show choir nerds!
sweet sugar. part dessert shop, part lounge. oddly enough, saint rivera's designated place for saying their intrusive thoughts out loud without any care in the world. the shop is open until midnight and you can find students desperately trying to catch up on their schoolwork here while nursing oversized desserts, elaborate drinks, and anything with enough sugar for them to power through assignments and bad decisions. no wonder everyone seems to be losing their minds here.
the bijou. the town's only real movie theatre. saint rivera's premiere site of every first date, friend group outing, accidental encounters and missed connections, the bijou doesn't actually screen any new movies but is well known for all their strange and fun double features, as well as the rocky horror midnight showings throughout the month of october where the audience can dress up as characters from the film and be involved in all the audience participation segments.
video star. half video rental store, half arcade. the only place in a twenty-five mile radius that still rents out physical media, but they manage to keep the lights on after transforming the back half of the store in a small arcade that houses retro cabinets, rhythm games, and pinball machines. the dance dance revolution machine here in a cult favorite and almost every student at saint rivera has tried to beat the high score of a girl named brittany, but no one has ever come close.
the overlook. condemned parking garage. no one is actually allowed to be here as it has been condemned after the local government found it structurally unsound and poses risks to human life, meant for demolition for the last five years yet they haven't found the budget to actually demolish the place. but it still remains as one of saint rivera's most important hangout spots. students drive up here to sit on hoods, eat takeout, smoke weed, talk about their futures, and pretend their lives are cinematic even just for a few moments. this garage has been a witness to so many love confession and failed relationships that it's a miracle it hasn't collapsed from that alone.
rose's turn. thrift store. saint rivera's local destination for pre-loved clothes, where everything is organized by color instead of category, and the changing rooms have handwritten affirmations taped to the mirrors. sometimes people just come here to vibe or mellow out, which is easy to do when the speakers only play suspiciously emotional acoustic covers. but if you need a dramatic but affordable reinvention after a melodramatic life event, then this is the only place you need to go to for a new wardrobe.
fabray's. bakery café. need an aesthetic photo for your instagram? this spot is known for its aggressively elegant exterior that it makes you feel like the next president or first lady of the united states every time you walk in. fabray's specialize in delicate low-calorie pastries you won't find anywhere else and seasonal drinks with names that sound judgmental, so of course, it's popular amongst people in student government, cheerios, and people who own trench coats.
the smythe. bookstore. are you on booktok? you can find all the required readings here, but good luck on asking the employees for help because they look like they should be in magazines than helping you find where heated rivalry is. the second floor has quiet reading spaces and old couches that students somehow become emotionally attached to, and they're also known to host poetry nights every last weekend of the month where creative writing students have made it their mission to get the most applause.
scandals. queer-only bar. nobody admits going here because of its sleazy reputation, but they're locally famous for their themed cocktails, celebrity wall photos, impromptu song performances from the repertoire of gay icons, and the low lighting that provide enough privacy to make people feel bold to hookup in the dirty washrooms.
other locations.
intermission, a convenience store near the residential block, where you can find anything you might possibly want in the dead of night. famous for their slushies!
rinky dinks, a roller rink managed by a fun alcoholic woman who's always giving unsolicited advice to students from how to manage relationships to shoplifting.
sheets-n-things, the local home goods store where employees are often seen fighting about definitions and fake news rather than helping customers find new beddings.
pillsbury, saint rivera's only full-sized grocery store that is always somehow pristine and clean despite all the traffic it receives.
adrenaline, the local nightclub for drinking, dancing, drugs, and avoiding responsibilities. aspiring djs are allowed to sign-up for a set every thursday night!
anderson's, a piano bar where students go to after a week of pretending they weren't emotional to finally sing devastatingly emotional piano ballads to express their feelings.
harmony records, an independent music store and your one-stop shop for all vintage and latest releases on cd, vinyl, cassettes, and other forms of physical media. they also have a section for sheet music, as well as a second floor where listening parties are hosted and local bands can sign up to perform!
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on campus.
feel free to use any spaces that would usually be found at a college campus! check out the dormitories page as well for the special amenities and spaces in each residential building.
