Being a new student and learning the ropes of Wash. U.’s campus and the nearby neighborhoods can be tough-I know, I too was once a freshman. It might seem scary to figure out a whole new environment, but it doesn’t have to be! To help ease the transition into Wash. U. life, here’s an A-Z guide of many places on and around our campus you’ll need to know.
A is for the Arch, the symbol of St. Louis. If you’re new to town, paying a visit is a must. You can buy tickets to travel to the Arch’s top, or just enjoy the view from the ground in the riverfront park. Go with your parents during Orientation Weekend, your floor or your advisee group, and take pictures to send to your friends back home!
B is for Bear’s Den, Bear Mart and Bear Necessities, all three of which are located on the ground floor of Wohl Center. Bear’s Den is great for grabbing a quick sandwich, hamburger or pasta dinner on campus. Bear Mart is the South 40’s convenience store, where you can use your meal points to buy snacks and drinks to take back to your room. Bear Necessities is the place to pick up all the Wash. U. logo-emblazoned sweatshirts, hats and pencils you could ever need-be sure to take your parents here before they leave, because (unfortunately) you can’t charge anything at Bear Necessities to your account.ÿÿÿ
C is for Center Court, the all-you-can-eat buffet style eatery on the 40. Upstairs in Wohl, Center Court is the best place to catch dinner when traveling in large groups-and is reason enough to wake up before 2:00 p.m. (for brunch) on a weekend.ÿÿÿ
D is for Duncker Hall, home of the English Department on Hilltop Campus.ÿMaybe I’m partial to it because I’m an English major, but Duncker is worth checking out, even if only for Hurst Lounge, a room upstairs that hosts fiction and poetry readings on Thursday nights. Schedules of visiting writers are posted all around the building.
E is for the Esquire Theater, one of the closest movie theaters to campus. It’s a manageable walk away, and is located practically on the corner of Clayton Road and Big Bend Boulevard. They offer student discounts, so be sure to remember your I.D. card!ÿÿÿ
F is a tie between Frat Row and Forest Park, because both of them are worth knowing about. If partying is your thing, there is always something going on at Frat Row. With parties almost every weekend, Wash. U.’s fraternities on campus are a popular way to spend weekend nights. Forest Park, one of my favorite places, is home to the zoo, the history museum, paddle boating, the art museum, a golf course, and an ice skating rink, and is a great place to rollerblade, bike ride or just enjoy the St. Louis sunshine.ÿÿÿ
G is for the Gargoyle, in the basement of Mallinckrodt. Comedy shows, concerts, campus events and parties are frequently held here. During the day, the Gargoyle is a good place to eat lunch or catch up on homework, but at night, bands like Phantom Planet and comedians like Mitch Hedberg perform.
H is for Holmes Lounge, one of the best places to get lunch and coffee on campus, and definitely my favorite place to study.ÿThe detailed ceilings are amazing, the chairs are comfortable, and the sandwiches are a campus favorite.
I is for the Information Desks in Mallinckrodt and Wohl. If you need to pick up a shuttle schedule or a map, or want to rent out the South 40’s car or just have a question, either of the Info Desks are there to help!
J is for J. Buck’s, a really yummy restaurant that’s an easy walk from campus on South Hanley Road in Clayton. A good choice (one of many) for taking your parents out to dinner during orientation.
K is for Kayak’s Coffee, an outdoor-themed coffee shop located on Skinker across from Brookings Hall.ÿ Kayak’s is a popular off-campus spot to get lattes and sandwiches and study-most evenings, it’s filled to the brim with Wash. U. students.
L is for the Loop, one of the coolest places in all of St. Louis.ÿA stretch of Delmar Boulevard very close to campus, the Loop is filled with unique places to shop and an impressive variety of restaurants. Be sure to check out the Thai Country Caf‚, a personal favorite.
M is for Mallinckrodt, the sort of on-main-campus student center.ÿMallinckrodt, in addition to housing the Hilltop Bakery and a bunch of places to eat in its basement, is home to the Gargoyle, Campus Bookstore, Film & Media Studies and Performing Arts departments and Edison Theater, where visiting plays and artists frequently perform.
N is for Nobu’s, one of the best and most popular Japanese restaurants in St. Louis. It’s located on Olive Blvd., not far from Wash. U., and is definitely worth checking out if you’re a sushi fan.
O is for the observatory in Crow Hall, a place on campus definitely worth visiting. Climbing up a steep spiral staircase into an attic that feels like the home of a mad scientist and squeezing through a small doorway out onto the building’s roof will lead you to Wash. U.’s observatory. On a clear evening, the view of the St. Louis skyline is amazing, and the observatory can give you a fantastic view of the night sky.
P is for the Pageant, the small concert venue on the Loop.ÿPay attention to upcoming performers, because the Pageant will attract a wide variety of very well-known acts, like Bob Dylan and Live.
Q is for the Quad, which you’ll very soon be seeing. When it’s nice out, the quad is guaranteed to be filled with students lounging, studying, eating lunch or playing Frisbee.
R is for Rag-O-Rama, the very cool, very inexpensive vintage clothing store on the Loop. Although you can easily find stuff at Rag-O-Rama to include in your wardrobe, be sure to pay a visit in October to pick up your Halloween costume.
S is for Schnucks, the amusingly-named grocery store located close to campus and all around St. Louis. My Intro. to Psych. professor freshman year said you know you’re acquainted with St. Louis when you no longer need to giggle upon hearing or saying “Schnucks.”
T is for the Tivoli Theater, my favorite stop on the Loop. The Tivoli is the alternative to the Esquire, and shows independent and arts films that won’t show up in mainstream theaters.ÿ
U is for Ursa’s, the hang out spot/eatery on campus that makes wraps, smoothies and ice cream and has tons of board games available to be borrowed. On weekends, Ursa’s puts on some really cool events, like trivia tournaments and concerts. A capella groups frequently perform there, and it can also be a good place to study.
V is for the Village, also known as Small Group Housing. Don’t ignore this area of campus! A number of students live here, and the dining hall is often preferred, even by students who live on the South 40. Located on the northwestern-most part of campus, the Village is a walk, but it’s worth it.
W is for Wohl Center, where Bear’s Den, Bear Mart, Bear Necessities, Center Court, the South 40 Gym and student mailboxes are located. It’s in the heart of the 40, hard to miss, and will soon feel like your second home at Wash. U.
X is for X-Treme Paintballing, which I will admit I’ve never been to.ÿIt’s not too far from campus, and fraternities sometimes take their pledges here. If you’re interested in paintballing, it’s worth investigating.
Y is for Yen Ching, a very popular Chinese restaurant from which Wash. U. students frequently order. You will probably want to begin a collection of Chinese restaurant menus from every place in town that will deliver!ÿÿÿ
Z is for the St. Louis Zoo. In Forest Park, the St. Louis Zoo is not only a really fun and nationally recognized zoo, but it’s also free! The St. Louis Zoo is a favorite destination during Orientation Weekend, Parents’ Weekend, or, really, any weekend at all.