Kim Jones

Subterranean Books, an independent bookstore, has been a literary oasis on the Delmar Loop for more than 10 years.

The store recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary, marking its longevity on the Loop. The decision to open on Delmar seemed obvious to owner Kelly von Plonski, who said, “I couldn’t conceive of it being anywhere other than the Loop. It’s such a great neighborhood with the University being here and the local community.”

Since its opening, Subterranean Books has seen many changes, most notably its decision to carry only new works rather than both new and used books. Instead of having to search through used books to create a well-rounded inventory, the staff now has the time to go through publishers’ catalogs and be more selective about the selection of new books they want to carry.

As staff member Alex Weir explained, a lot of effort goes into choosing the store’s stock. “It’s a lot of decision making and a combination of personal preference and guessing what customers might be interested in…and listening to our customers for feedback on what they want,” he said.

Subterranean Books has a small staff of five employees, who are all avid readers with a passion for different kinds of books. The staff prides itself on its breadth of knowledge on a variety of works. As von Plonski explained, “One of the requirements of working here is you have to be curious about things you don’t know about. If you’re interested in poetry, you also have to want to learn about something like crime books.”

The breadth of the store’s collection and the staff’s knowledge fosters an atmosphere where all readers are welcome. Members of the staff love interacting with customers and sharing book recommendations. As Weir said, “I had a really interesting conversation just earlier today with a Wash. U. student who’s in the writing program, and we had a nice long talk about different writers that we like. That’s just the best part of the job.”

While the main draw of any bookstore is its selection of books, Subterranean Books also hosts a variety of events for the community. The store has several book readings and signings that allow readers the opportunity to meet their favorite authors. One recent event was author Dan Wells’ reading/signing for his dark thriller “Mr. Murder” on Nov. 2.

The store also serves as a gallery for local artists. Currently, photographer Sara Roger is showing her collection “Women of India,” which includes inspirational photos of women she met during her six-month stay in India. The exhibits change periodically and add a unique touch to the store’s interior.

With its ever-evolving book collection and community offerings, Subterranean Books is truly a unique spot on the Loop. Von Plonski said it best: “What a bummer it would be to live in a neighborhood without a bookstore.”

Subterranean Books is located at 6275 Delmar Blvd. and can be found on the Web at http://store.subbooks.com.

Paula Lauris | Student Life

Gooey Louie, located on Chippewa Street, is St. Louis’ only specialized gooey butter cake store.

In order to truly understand a city, you have to sample its culinary offerings. You wouldn’t visit Chicago without trying a slice of deep-dish pizza just like you wouldn’t leave the Big Apple without taking a bite out of some New York-style cheesecake. But what unique food best embodies the heart of St. Louis? If it were up to the owners of Gooey Louie, the answer would be gooey butter cake.

Like its name implies, gooey butter cake has a pudding-like consistency that comes from its main ingredients: eggs, butter, sugar, cream cheese and flour. Legend has it that in the 1930s, a German baker in St. Louis created gooey butter cake when he mixed the wrong proportions of ingredients for a butter cake. Once people tried this sugary surprise, the concept of gooey butter cake was born.

Although gooey butter cake was invented by accident, Gooey Louie, the only St. Louis specialty store devoted to making this sweet treat, was founded for a purpose. In 2006, co-owners Kirk and Debbie Stieferman opened Gooey Louie in response to the decline of family-owned corner store bakeries in St. Louis.

“We wanted to recreate that small little place where you could go in and get something really fresh and quality and actually see the cake being made,” explained Stieferman.

Stieferman grew up making gooey butter cake with her mother and grandmother and decided to open the store when she had her first son. She sees gooey butter cake as something tied to St. Louis history: “People all over the country are proud of their heritage, and gooey butter cake is just a part of our culture. People have memories [of the cake] from barbeques and Christmases.”

While the store carries the standard gooey butter cake, it also has unique flavors that relate to its St. Louis origins. If you had to deal with the construction on Highway 40, then you might appreciate “HWY 40: Driving Me Nuts,” a gooey butter cake topped with pecans and walnuts. Or, if you went to Zoofari at the St. Louis Zoo, you’ll enjoy “Turtle Park Butter Cake,” which mixes chocolate, caramel and pecans with the standard cake.

In addition to fun flavors, Gooey Louie also offers unique packaging for its cakes. All boxes feature the glasses-wearing cartoon character, Louie, and relate to the theme of the cake flavor. There’s even a special Washington University package.

As Stieferman explained, the distinct packages not only enliven the gooey butter cake itself, but also spice up the store. “Gooey butter cake is not like a fancy cupcake where you can decorate it. The boxes just make the store more interesting,” she said. The purple and yellow house-like exterior and brightly colored walls of Gooey Louie also make the bakery hard to miss among the brownstones on Chippewa Street.

In order to spread the St. Louis love across the country, Gooey Louie offers shipping for a variety of products and even has unique gifts. If you want to give someone a little taste of St. Louis, be sure to send them a Gooey Louie cake. After all, as Stieferman said it best, “When are you not happy having cake?”

6483 Chippewa St.
St. Louis MO, 63109

gooeylouiecake.com

The Aristocats, the all-Disney campus a capella group, and friends performed a spontaneous rendition of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” to celebrate the upcoming release of Toy Story 3 on June 18, 2010.

Girls

Back of the Neck

While many girls wear their hair up when they don’t have time to get ready, revealing the back of the neck can actually be a turn-on to men. Although unexpected, the back of the neck shows a woman’s strength and femininity.

(Scott Bressler | Student Life)

Calves

It’s a widely known fact that heels were created to torture women. But, there is a purpose to them. When ladies don heels, they accentuate the strength and curvature of their calves, something that men find attractive.

Collar Bone

Some girls love to wear jewelry. If you think of it, what is the point of those little charms? Well, besides accessorizing outfits, they can also draw attention to something men go crazy over: the collar bone.

Smile

This one’s obvious, but it is often overlooked in the day-to-day bustle of life. First impressions are key, and a nice smile is always noticed by others.

Boys

(Zachary Cupkovic | Student Life)

Arms

Scientifically speaking, men tend to have more muscle mass than women. In recent years, men have started taking protein shakes and lifting intensely to accentuate their arm muscles. But be careful of going overboard guys, as senior Erica Johnston explained, “I like nicely toned arms on a guy—strong but natural.”

Abs

If college-aged men controlled beer companies, the six-pack would most likely be replaced with the 60-pack. And given that this high-calorie drink tends to lead to what we affectionately call the “beer belly,” having well-defined abs is a coveted asset on campus.

Broad Shoulders

Strength is a sexy characteristic, especially in men. Who wouldn’t want a guy that could lift your suitcases, boxes and books on move-in day?

Lips

Kissing is one of girls’ favorite ways of showing affection. And having good lips makes a man all the more appealing. “I specifically like big lips, especially when the bottom lip is big because then you can bite and nibble it a little and play with their lips and have a more creative time kissing,” explained sophomore Phoebe Marcinek.

The Sci-Fi Lounge, founded by a Washington University alum who calls himself “Coyote,” has an eclectic collection of toys, games, statues and more. The Lounge also features video games, board games, movies, art shows and musicians. (Paula Lauris | Student Life)

Gamers, toy collectors, artists and concert-goers of St. Louis unite: There is now a place for you to share your eclectic passions. The Sci-Fi Lounge, located a short walk from campus at 6010 Kingsbury Ave., offers a unique escape to a world of all things nostalgic and entertaining. While the Sci-Fi Lounge is in a relatively quiet residential area, the 10-foot rooster statue and giant, rusty spaceship outside the building set it apart from the other Tudor-style buildings on the block. And with an entrance like that, the inside does not disappoint.

It’s hard to focus your eyes on just one thing when you enter the Sci-Fi Lounge. There are hundreds of toys and action figures on the shelves, several old-school arcade games against the walls, and a variety of skulls and skeletons dangling throughout. Beyond the entryway, there is a small but funky stage where artists can perform, as well as several chairs and tables for lounging.

The owner, who goes by Coyote, tried to explain the lounge as “a toy museum…for people to hang out in.” Coyote, who graduated from Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in graphic communications and illustration in 1998, brought his passion for art and comics to the lounge. After a nearby café closed, Coyote decided to open up his art studio for locals to hang out in 2005. “There are so many places you go to like movies, and you pay $10 to sit down and not talk to each other. I wanted to have a place a lot simpler than that,” Coyote explained.

(Paula Lauris | Student Life)

Indeed, the Sci-Fi Lounge brings back memories of simpler times with its vast assortment of figures, from Batman to Darth Vader to Godzilla. Coyote began collecting these toys in 1998, and there are even melted figures on display from when his childhood room burned down. There is also artwork throughout the café that was created by Coyote and other local artists. Many of the pieces Coyote makes come from recycled materials and donations.

After getting over the initial shock of the place, there are many things you can do at the Sci-Fi Lounge. You can play the arcade games, which cost only a quarter and feature a handwritten high-score list. You can also have fun with classic Atari and Nintendo game systems and challenge others to a friendly, old-school competition. The Sci-Fi Lounge offers an array of your favorite board games like Monopoly and Apples to Apples as well. And, if you’re hungry, there are a variety of refreshments, including Moon Pies, candy and soda for only $1. Oh, and Wi-Fi is also available for free at the lounge.

(Paula Lauris | Student Life)

Aside from providing visitors with fun games to play, the Sci-Fi Lounge also has weekly movie nights and concerts. For $10 a month, you can join the weekly movie club (aptly called the A.V. Club), which meets Wednesdays from 8 p.m. to midnight and watches rare and unusual films at the lounge. In addition, on Thursday and Friday nights, the Sci-Fi Lounge plays host to eclectic local bands; on Saturday afternoons, more punk and metal artists are usually featured. As Coyote explained, “We’ve done everything from having art shows to having bands. I try to focus on local artists and help local musicians.”

When you come to the Sci-Fi Lounge, you never know what to expect. Whether you end up watching a concert, debating the coolest action figures or chowing down on your favorite childhood treats, you’re sure to have a unique and out-of-this-world experience.

(Paula Lauris | Student Life)

(Paula Lauris | Student Life)

(Paula Lauris | Student Life)

On your way to the Delmar Loop, it’s easy to miss the modest sign for Booster’s Café, located perpendicular to Delmar Boulevard at 567 Melville Ave. Its unpretentious storefront leads to an equally quaint café filled with mismatched chairs and newspaper clippings on the walls. While Booster’s may not offer an expansive menu like other brunch restaurants (notably absent are waffles), what it lacks in diversity it makes up for in quality and uniqueness. Particularly notable are Booster’s handmade pumpkin pancakes, which are sweeter and more flavorful than their plain counterparts. While the breakfast sides like sausage and bacon tend to come in smaller portions, the main meals, which include breakfast sandwiches and scrambled eggs, are more than filling. The coffee is also self-serve with free refills, and it’s surprisingly not Kaldi’s (instead it’s from Northwest Coffee Roasting).  Booster’s serves breakfast all day, so it’s the perfect place to go to if you tend to wake up late.

When the typical brunch fare of scrambled eggs and waffles just isn’t cutting it, check out City Coffeehouse & Crêperie at 36 N. Brentwood Blvd. in Clayton. As the name implies, this café offers a variety of regular and dessert crêpes perfect for brunch. The Lox & Dam Crêpe, filled with smoked salmon and flavored with spinach, cream cheese and onions, is a light but satisfying dish for the morning. For those with a sweet tooth, the variety of fruit and Nutella crêpes offered at City Coffeehouse hit the spot. The café also offers delicious Belgian waffles and great chai lattes.

While it may not look like a restaurant on the outside, First Watch, located at 8001 Forsyth Blvd., is a great chain that serves brunch. First Watch is known for its Crepeggs, a mix of sweet crêpes and whipped eggs, which come with turkey and an assortment of vegetables. Along with this, First Watch has an expansive menu filled with brunch favorites like omelettes and French toast. While the food isn’t extraordinary, it comes out fast and is very filling.

Chances are that if you’ve been off campus for brunch, you’ve been to Kayak’s at 276 N. Skinker Blvd. Known for its proximity to campus, relaxed atmosphere and early opening time (6:30 a.m. every day), Kayak’s is a convenient brunch spot. Although a bit pricey, the berry waffles, which come with fresh fruit and maple syrup, are a great way to start off the day. If you need your caffeine fix but don’t like the taste of black coffee, there are many blended drinks with names like “Teddy Bear” that have enough sugar and chocolate to mask coffee’s bitterness. If you come for brunch, you can also bring your laptop and take advantage of the café’s free wireless Internet and large tables to get a start on your work.

On one particular Friday, my friends and I were in the mood for some good Vietnamese food. We decided to try Pho Grand, which, as you may guess, is located on Grand and (surprise!) serves pho.

When we arrived at this quaint restaurant with our group of 10 people, we were given a buzzer and told to wait upstairs on the deserted second level of the restaurant. The wait was only 20 minutes, which wasn’t bad for a group of our size on a Friday night.

While the dining area was on the smaller side, the menu was not. Pho Grand offers an assortment of noodle soups, vegetarian meals, rice dishes, seafood and meat. On a recommendation, several of my friends decided to try the Bo Luc Lac, otherwise known as shaking beef. Instead, I opted for the Com Chien Ga, chicken fried rice. Within minutes of placing our orders, our dishes came straight to the table.

Although chicken fried rice may seem like a simple dish, it was uniquely prepared at Pho Grand. The rice was crisp and not burnt like it is at many other restaurants. The chicken had a bit of a sweet taste to it, which blended well with the spiced rice.

Looking around the table, I noticed the happy faces of my friends enjoying their shaking beef. Prepared with garlic and onions, the beef had a unique and tangy taste. The portions for all of our meals were also very generous for the prices.

To my right, I saw that one of my friends had ordered an interesting soup—Pho Dac Biet. Inside this rice noodle soup was round beef, beef brisket, meatballs and tripe. While the soup was already overflowing, it also came with a side plate of bean sprouts and mint, which my friend proceeded to add to the soup. The result was a meal full of unique, robust flavor, and I’ll have to trust his word that it was delicious.

By the time we finished our dinner, we were too full to even think about indulging in dessert. But one of my dining mates was adventurous enough to try Vietnamese coffee. The coffee came out in an intricate silver pot. The drink was incredibly hot, so the server told my friend to wait five minutes before he returned to prepare it. After the coffee had cooled off, the waiter pulled up the cup and added some sweetened condensed milk to it. My friend loved the strong-yet-sweet coffee, and the interesting process of making it made it an unique experience.

If you’re looking for unique and authentic Vietnamese food in the area, I would definitely recommend Pho Grand. There is a nearly limitless number of menu options, including food for the conservative and daring diners. Plus, there’s enough strong coffee to keep you awake during the start of the semester.

Rating: 5/5

3195 S Grand Blvd
St Louis, MO 63118
(314) 664-7435

Shop around

While Washington University doesn’t have an official “shopping period,” we do have the two-week add-drop deadline to take advantage of. Most students may not use this time to explore other classes, because they simply cannot add enough courses to pick from with a 21-credit limit. In truth, though, that limit shouldn’t stop students from considering their options.

The trick to this is that you don’t have to register right away for classes you are only thinking of taking. You should have already registered for the classes you want to take this semester a while ago, but did your winter break fuel your interest in learning about Middle Eastern politics? Have you always wanted to take a course in Renaissance literature? Explore the course listings on WebSTAC and take note of the times and locations of any and every class you are interested in. Go to your registered classes and to these new ones you’ve thought about with an open mind: If you’re unsure about an elective you have already signed up for, consider taking something else. Is the professor a great speaker? Does the smaller class size contrast with your larger lectures? Don’t be afraid to drop a class you were previously set on taking and add a completely different one. College is, after all, about exploring.

Find a way in

So, you’ve been checking WebSTAC daily over winter break to see if you had made it off the waiting list for the class you’re dying to take. Or, you decided to shop around and now have found yourself wanting to get into a class that’s already full. Don’t lose hope! The most important thing is to show up to class on the first day and talk to the professor.

Be sincere and explain the reasons why you have to take that class with that professor at that time. Perhaps the class is offered only every two years and you will have already graduated by the time it is offered again. Maybe you’ve developed a sudden interest in the subject matter and really would benefit from learning more about it. Many University professors are understanding, and may let you in the class or give you other options. It may be an uncomfortable process to go through, but you can get more from being proactive than from just sitting by.

Get yourself prepared

Sure, the first week of school is supposed to be relaxing. There are no exams, but there are seemingly a million friends to catch up with. Make sure to enjoy this time, but also prepare yourself for the start of a new semester.

Take the plastic wrapping off your books; that’s always the first step. Try looking through them to see what’s in store and maybe even to get ahead. Go through the syllabi for different classes and see what weeks will be the most hectic. Get a calendar and mark when major assignments or papers are due and when exams are; this will give you a clear view of how your semester will go in terms of classes.

All in all, invest your time well by choosing courses you’ll like and by keeping tabs on the pressures each class will put on your schedule from the beginning. If you map your route in advance, the academic road ahead should be much smoother sailing.