Freshman Orientation is famous for one thing—icebreakers. New students on any college campus can always expect a lot of these fun-filled activities during their first week. Luckily, at Washington University, most of them are actually fun. But if you’re looking for a change of pace, you can always gather together a group of people from your freshman floor and plan your own icebreakers. Check out some of these well-known St. Louis venues where you can easily have fun in groups and get to know fellow students without any awkward silences or forced conversations.

1. The Moolah

Located right next to St. Louis University on Lindell Blvd., this famous St. Louis lounge/movie theatre is a favorite hangout for many college students and residents. If you’re getting bored with the typical megaplex movie theatre experience, or if you’re tired of the uncomfortable seats that always leave your neck feeling a little stiff, the Moolah will offer you a much-needed movie theatre vacation.

The seating features a wide selection of comfy leather couches as well as lower and upper tiers of regular seating. While the couches all sit at the same level rather than on an incline, one might worry that it would be difficult to see beyond the couch in front. However, the Moolah screen is positioned at a perfect angle such that all couches have a clear view of every film. The staff selects one film every 2-3 weeks, so be to sure to check their website for updates: www.stlouiscinemas.com/moolah.

This beautiful historic building also houses a full bar, a bowling alley, a foosball table, a pool table, dart boards, arcade games and plenty of lounge space with the ambiance of an old gentleman’s club.

So take in a movie, and spend a few hours getting to know other students in a fun, relaxed environment. The Moolah is certainly a diamond in the rough of entertainment.

2. Mad Art

While exploring downtown St. Louis, one could easily mistake this art gallery for a Police Station—mostly because it was. The building functioned as the Third District Police Station from 1937-1990, and the exterior, as well as much of the interior, has been maintained. In fact, in addition to the art exhibits, visitors will find original and fully functioning police cells inside, including wall graffiti from inmates dating back to the 1930’s.

The gallery shows between eight and ten group exhibitions each year and is also open to the public for cultural events such as film screenings, concerts, improvisation and theatre performances and various fundraisers.

Mad Art will never leave you bored, as almost the entire facility (including the cells) is open to the public. So if you don’t have much to say about the art, the building itself will be a constant source of conversation.

3. City Museum

Although the name can insight a yawn or two, don’t let it mislead you; this is no ordinary museum. Instead, think of it as a 600,000 square foot play ground/obstacle course. Made entirely out of found urban objects, this architectural masterpiece was created by Bob Cassilly, an internationally recognized artist, and has been a constant source of entertainment to St. Louis’ young and old alike.

Be sure to visit the MonstroCity attraction, located on the roof of the City Museum. Here you can climb through two authentic Saber 40 aircrafts, an old fire engine and dozens of metal bridges and tunnels, all while enjoying a great view of downtown St. Louis and the museum grounds.

Crawl through the walls and floors of the building in a labyrinth of caves and tunnels. The Enchanted Caves were painted and textured to feel like the real deal, including pools of dripping water and unpredictable dips and bends. Go with a friend because chances are you will get lost
Other attractions include a 13,500 square foot aquarium, an exhibit of renovated architectural relics from famous American architects Elmslie and Sullivan, a collection of vintage shoelace machines and the world’s largest pair of men’s briefs.

This venue will never leave you bored. So go bond with fellow students while getting lost in a tunnel of caves or climbing through an airplane fuselage five stories above the ground. With attractions like these, who needs conversation?

4. Six Flags St. Louis

If college isn’t enough of a rollercoaster for you, head over to Six Flags (only 30 minutes from downtown St. Louis) and enjoy some real rollercoaster action. Make sure to visit before September 7 to enjoy the water park for a relaxing day away from the heat and chaos of campus.

Create lasting bonds with one another by racing down water slides or flying at 70 mph across rollercoaster tracks thousands of feet long. Six Flags has all kinds of rides for all kinds of people. If you’ve had a little too much excitement or if you’re feeling queasy after the loops of the Ninja coaster, kick back and relax while floating along Hurricane Harbor’s lazy river and drift among the waterfalls and lush tropical landscapes.

5. Forest Park

Forest Park is located directly across the street from Brookings and is one of the largest urban parks in America (even bigger than New York’s Central Park). This is not your typical park with only trees, ponds and grassy fields. Of course it has all three of these, but visitors can also see some of St. Louis’ landmarks (all free), such as the majestic St. Louis Art Museum located on top of Art Hill. Stand outside the museum and take in the breathtaking view of the park or wander the museum and see works from some of the world’s most famous artists.

You can stop by the St. Louis History museum or Science Center and Planetarium, but the zoo is definitely a must-see. It’s bigger than you think, so stop at the entrance and pick up a map. The zoo features hundreds of animal exhibits from ferocious tigers, jaguars and mountain lions to an entire hall of butterflies.

Take some friends, a picnic lunch and a Frisbee to spend quality time lounging on the fields or navigate your way through the various museums. Either way, you’re sure to have fun and get to know one of the best entertainment venues in St. Louis.

6. Pi

Located right on the loop, this famous St. Louis pizzeria is perfect for big groups. Stop by for dinner and sit outside, across the street from the Pageant Theatre, where you can do some great people-watching. This Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is a favorite of many (including Barack Obama), and it will certainly not disappoint. Not only are the pizzas incredible, Pi is committed to its ecologically sustainable philosophy—Pi is an example to other restaurants and businesses, encouraging them to minimize their carbon footprints. So get green, get fed and have some fun only ten minutes away from campus.

7. P. F. Chang’s

If you’re looking for another restaurant for your group, you won’t find anything better than P. F. Chang’s. For those of you who have an aversion to chain restaurants, have no fear, the food here is delicious. This famous Chinese bistro is located in Clayton, only a short drive from campus. The dining room is dimly lit and spacious, with high ceilings and painted mural walls. Best of all, the menu is extensive. No matter what you order, you can be sure that the portions will be huge, making each dish perfect for sharing. After dinner, make sure you ask your waiter about their New York cheesecake with raspberry sauce (not included on the menu). It may be the very best cheesecake in St. Louis. This place is always busy, so make sure to call ahead. Mostly full of college students, P. F. Chang’s is loud and fun, so your group will never have a dull moment.