We’re almost done with the second week of classes and still trying to get into the rhythm of college life. Some of us have returned from studying abroad, some from traveling over winter break and others from spending time at our homes. Now that everyone is back, it becomes increasingly impossible for me to ignore the complaint repeatedly heard from different students: It really blows to be back at UCSD because there is nothing to do. I find that a little hard to believe; if you were to look around, you would realize that there is more to life as a UCSD student than eating at Chipotle, going clubbing at Safari in Tijuana and getting drunk at house parties. To jump-start your new year (and hopefully new attitude), here is a tiny cross-section of things to check out around San Diego when you feel as if there is no escape from the monotony of campus life.
Culture and Cocktails:
Don’t get put off by the fancy name — the night is really all about having a few drinks and enjoying interesting art. You don’t have to pretend to be the arty type, either, as you will run into all kinds of people at this event. As part of its Sundown Series, every few months the San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) hosts an evening art walk, usually featuring its current big exhibition. The museum opens its rotunda for a mingling of no-host spirits at 6 p.m. Enjoy a refreshing martini, or for those under 21, sip on a sweet and fizzy Shirley Temple. Relax to some DJ-spun music before viewing a traveling exhibition of paintings, sculptures and the like, when the gallery walk begins at 7 p.m. Culture and Cocktails is simply a cool place to have a cocktail, enjoy the unique surroundings, and mingle with people you might not ordinarily meet.
Museum admission is $9, and a bar will be set up for cocktail purchase. For more information, call (619) 696-1930.
The upcoming schedule:
Feb. 10, 2005 – “Human Presence: Contemporary Works from the Museum’s Collection”
April 21, 2005 – “Retratos: 2000 Years of Latin American Portraits”
Twiggs Cafe and the Green Room:
This eclectic and inviting coffee house in University Heights beats Starbucks any day. Grab a freshly ground cup of coffee and head over to the Green Room, the cafe’s area for musical performances, for some good music. This room might look small, but it has an amazing sound system that draws both local and national acts to perform periodically. It’s not just about music, either. Everything from acting and piano workshops to readings take place there. Workshops finished and the show over? Head back into the cafe for dessert. The ice cream’s to die for, the pastries are scrumptious and there is usually always room to hang out in one of the comfortable chairs or couches scattered around. For hours and event listings, call (619) 296-0616.
Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach:
Forget UTC and Fashion Valley for a day and wander around these communities. Full of art and crafts galleries, surf shops, antique stores, smoke shops and other assorted boutiques, these casual and hip areas are a refreshing break from upper-crust La Jolla. You will find everything from cool clothing to cheap and good places to eat.
Cafe 976:
This place is perfect for studying or just hanging out with friends over a good cup of coffee and delicious food. The cafe, which is hidden in a corner of one of San Diego’s oldest neighborhoods in Pacific Beach, is a charming 1920s beach house with a deck and garden. One of the first buildings in the area, it was originally a home, then used as a school and then an antique store before it was turned into the coffeehouse bistro it is today. A large, impeccably maintained garden with tables and chairs installed throughout surrounds the cafe’s wooden deck and patio. This place is one of my favorites because of its casual, relaxed atmosphere, and it is a great escape from UCSD. It has wireless Internet as well, which makes getting work done even easier. Nibble on pastries or indulge in a great selection of moderately priced food — from soups to pizzas — at lunch time while enjoying the latest artwork from a featured local artist on the walls. For directions and hours, call (858) 272-0976.
Thursday Night Thing (TNT):
Hosted by the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) every first Thursday of the month, TNT offers the perfect opportunity for anyone to get involved in the San Diego art community. This free event is designed to keep pace with the rapid turnover of contemporary art in the museum; it is a fresh, up-to-the-minute view of art that is unfamiliar to Southern California. It will always feature something new, relating to the art on display or the cutting-edge artists present for the event. Don’t expect to quietly sip a drink and walk through galleries — TNT is meant to actively engage everyone present. The wide variety of events that have been offered in the past, from DJs and break-dancing lessons to poetry readings, does the job. This is a very trendy event attended by hipsters in the San Diego area — in short, a cool place to see and be seen. For more information, call (619) 234-1001.
