Andrew Smith

One of my favorite things about being a Wake Forest student is getting to explore downtown Winston-Salem. Whether I’m hanging out with friends, grabbing food, or looking for something fun to do, there’s always somewhere worth visiting. 

Wake Forest’s downtown campus is home to programs like Engineering, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Medicinal Chemistry. I haven’t yet had an official class there, but I will soon, and I love visiting Bailey Park at any time, a beautiful green space right next to Wake Downtown. It’s a great place to sit outside with friends, get homework done, or throw around a football or frisbee. And there are food trucks! 

Right across the street from Bailey Park is Cugino Forno, one of my favorite pizza places of all time. The restaurant has a cool industrial feel, with outdoor seating underneath an active railroad track. The pizza’s fantastic, the prices reasonable, and there are plenty of cold drinks. I’ve come here for club meetings, a study abroad group gathering, and casual dinners with friends. 

If you love movies, a/perture cinema is a must-visit. This nonprofit theater has premiere arthouse films, terrific screening rooms, and local concessions. It shows everything from new independent films to documentaries to classics brought back to the big screen. Plus, student tickets are discounted, making it a treasured local movie theater. 

Finally, for a fun night out, Heff’s Burger Club is an incredible option. Retro and sort of counter-culture, Heff’s is a cult favorite. My favorite part is the smashburgers, but the arcade games and playlists are also very cool. 

To put it simply, Winston-Salem is a city of science, arts, innovation, and culinary craft, where industry can meet the arts. 

I hope you’ll visit!