Freshmen year is all about possibilities, exciting new opportunities and the chance to explore everything that Washington University and St. Louis have to offer. Not surprisingly, Wash. U. students work extremely hard during the week. Come weekends, however, students put away their books and let loose. For many freshmen, frat row is the place to be every weekend; others take the shuttle over to the Galleria, the local mall, for shopping or a movie. Still, neither of these options may be the best for a given weekend.
So now, you may be wondering what else there is to do without a car, since, as you probably already know, freshmen are not permitted to have cars. The answer, literally, is right in Wash. U’s backyard-the Delmar Loop, or more affectionately termed, just “the Loop.” Located conveniently in University City, the Loop just a short walk of about ten minutes from campus.
Just what is the Loop? The Loop is made up of six blocks that offer a large selection of diverse restaurants, unique shops and arts and entertainment opportunities. On any given night, you can usually find the same guy who plays the piano right in front of the old theater or you can stroll along checking out the eclectic array of specialty shops. Just walking around the Loops is a treat. Check out your feet and notice the abundance of stars and plaques describing famous St. Louis citizens that make up the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
Looking for some new CD’s or just want to catch a flick? Have no fear, because you can find everything for your entertainment needs at the Loop. A Blockbuster is located right across the street from Coldstone Creamery and you can then head over to Vintage Vinyl, well-known for its large selection of new and used CDs, records and hard-to-find music. Farther down Delmar is the Tivoli. The Tivoli Theatre, originally constructed in 1924 and fully restored to match its original appearance, features foreign and independent films.
In addition to entertainment needs, the Loop also has a variety of offbeat clothing and thrift stores, offering cool, unique clothes for low prices. Best known is Rag-o-Rama, which has a wide selection of fun and funky clothing and is also an excellent place to go for a Halloween costume.
The Loop also features many eclectic restaurants, including some award-winning cuisines. One famous restaurant, and the first one you will see as you walk into the Loop, is Blueberry Hill-none other than Chuck Berry’s own restaurant. Featuring live music from many well-known artists, this is the perfect place to go for a delicious burger and a good time. Fitz’s is another good restaurant that is known by St. Louis citizens, and Wash. U. students in particular, for their delicious, homemade root beer. The Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant that offers a lively atmosphere, is another highlight. This is definitely a good place to go for a night of fun or a romantic outing, though a pricey one. The Loop is particularly known for its delicious Thai cuisine which pops up in numerous locations along the Loop. After dinner, be sure to grab some ice cream at Ben and Jerry’s or Coldstone Creamery, or if you’re craving some bubble tea, check out the St. Louis Bubble Tea Co.
For music, you need only walk along the Loop to catch the sounds of St. Louis. Often there are street musicians and many restaurants feature live music on the weekends, including Brandt’s and its Red Carpet Lounge, as well as the Red Sea, which features alternative music, reggae and blues. For more of a concert setting, the Pageant is an intimate nightclub-style venue that features concerts from a wide range of artists.
The real attraction of the Loop, however, is its vibrant atmosphere. In such an exciting, stimulating atmosphere, it’s truly no wonder why each weekend Wash. U. students and St. Louis citizens alike flock to the Loop. So the next time you’re stumped as to what you should do on a weekend night, grab some friends and head on down to the Loop, where there’s always something to do.