After being at WashU for more than a minute, you will definitely hear someone talking about the ever-present St. Louis summer. This summer, aptly named the STL summer, is divisive amongst WashU students. People love it, people hate it, but, as people who spent a summer in St. Louis, we will die on the hill that the St. Louis summer is not as bad as some make it out to be.

A few reasons that everyone from a weekly Champions League viewer to someone brand new to soccer should make their way over to CITYPARK.

The Moolah Lounge is often touted as the best movie theater in St. Louis, but its admittedly plush couches can’t compare to the unique movie experience at Chase Park Plaza.

Just south of the Loop, Boosters Cafe is in the ideal location for upperclassmen to roll out of bed straight into a delicious brunch on a Sunday morning (and by morning, we mean noon, of course).

Located just northeast of Brookings, Kayak’s offers something for everyone. It opens at 6:30 a.m. and serves Belgian waffles for the early risers. And even though it closes at 10 p.m., it’s a convenient place for art students to stock up on caffeine for a late night at the studio.

There’s a renaissance happening in south St. Louis, and we think it’s high time for Wash. U. students to get off the Loop and explore it. With art galleries, coffee shops and vintage stores packed closely together, Cherokee Street’s run-down, industrial feel only serves to highlight its artsy, underground appeal. “I think Cherokee is to St. Louis what St.

Located in swanky downtown Clayton, Miso’s menu combines eclectic pan-Asian dishes with staples like pad thai and crab rangoon for a traditional, but markedly posh, take on Asian cuisine.

Where in St. Louis can you hop in a flight simulator, sleep under the stars and construct a (sort of) giant arch? In one afternoon? For free? The answer, of course, is the Science Center, conveniently located in the giant backyard we call Forest Park.

Pi’s biggest claim to fame is also what tends to draw new customers—its pizza is President Obama’s favorite. In fact, he paid to have the restaurant’s chefs flown to D.C. in order to cook their cheesy deep-dish delicacies for a White House dinner.

Sometimes simpler is better. With dart boards, pinball machines and a jukebox inside, Blueberry Hill has a low-key vibe that’s perfect for students. Patrons are friendly, laid back and always open for conversation.