For some reason or another, almost every Binghamton University student has made the trek from Binghamton to Ithaca, but little is known of Owego, the small town nestled between these two college hot spots.

To be honest, Owego looks nice from the car, but once you’re roaming the streets you’ll discover that there’s not much going on for the young-adult crowd.

Standing outside a grocery store, two local teens reluctantly gave us tips on where to go, protesting that there was nothing in Owego. Their suggestions included a pizza parlor and a cemetery. Another girl joined the two teens and further suggested we check out the movie theater and a diner.

Not heeding their warning, Release explored Owego and found three spots worthy of your attention if you’re ever there.

-Gallery 41

Located on 41 Lake St. (hence the name), the roughly ten-year-old Gallery 41 is run by a guild of regional artists.

Valerie Gundrum, a member of the guild, said the guild boosts nationally acclaimed artists from Broome County, Tioga County and beyond.

‘We feature everything from textiles to jewelry,’ Gundrum said.

The wide variety was evident, almost as if several of the galleries of Downtown Binghamton were combined. From earrings to dog clothing, it really did have everything.

-Riverow Bookshop

Walking into Riverow Bookshop, it looks just like any other bookstore, filled with contemporary books from suspense novels to children’s books, but the real draw of the three story shop is the second floor.

Comprised of rare books from centuries ago, the second floor feels like the study of a Victorian home from the early 1900s. Complete with creaky floors, vintage parlor couches and the smell of stale paper, one can spend hours rifling through the rows and rows of books and other memorabilia from a time long ago.

Riverow has been a staple of Owego for 30 years, but business is slow according to Laura Spencer, the daughter of John Spencer, the owner.

‘It’s usually slow between January and March. Of course Christmas is busy,’ Spencer said. ‘But lately people are just reading things online and don’t have the time to read books.’

Take the time and hit this bookstore. The rare book floor is something that should not be missed, whether you’re a reader or not. Where else will you be able to find and read books dating back to the 1700s?

-Jailhouse Restaurant

Up until 1996, Jailhouse Restaurant was a real jail. Over the past 11 years the restaurant has changed hands and gone through renovations to become what it is today.

The food wasn’t anything to write home about (general restaurant/diner fare), but Jailhouse is better known for its atmosphere.

According to Christopher Nowak, owner and ‘warden,’ the tables are made of the very beds prisoners once slept on and the service stations were once the communal showers. To get to your table, you walk through a barred entryway. You really are eating in a former jail cell.

For historical purposes, the restaurant left one cell intact and it’s quite an eye opener to see that where you’re eating is where criminals once lived.

The Jailhouse Restaurant experience would probably be better at night with a crowd of people. Nowak said they’re pursuing their liquor license and are going to open up the downstairs area as more of a sports bar, emphasizing the casual dining experience.

All in all, Owego doesn’t really offer that much for the college crowd, but if you miss your sleepy hometown or get a flat tire in Owego, these destinations can provide some entertainment.