Eat burgers, ride a bull on University Avenue
By Tara Sahdev
On a street only a 25-minute Caltrain ride away lies a different sort of college town.
University Avenue in Palo Alto is the happening spot in the Stanford area. It is crowded with eateries filled with women in heels paired with men dressed in Brooks Brothers button-down shirts.
"Try not to let San Francisco overshadow going to Palo Alto for fun," said junior Paul Kosloski. "The close proximity means you can party in town and get back to Santa Clara in time safely."
During the day, University Avenue is filled with townies spending sunny afternoons enjoying burgers and ice cream at Palo Alto Creamery, a classic diner that looks like it's straight from the '60s.
At night, University Avenue is taken over by a younger crowd -- mostly Stanford students -- and transforms into a much livelier street with numerous restaurants and occasional musical performers at Lytton Plaza.
If you are trying to find a bargain, University Avenue is not typically where you want to be.
At the majority of restaurants, one person will spend about $14 to $25 on a meal, not including drinks.
The most expensive salons can charge $190 for a haircut, and clothing boutiques -- let's not even go there. But, even on this pricey street, college students have found their niche.
Food on University Avenue is plentiful. The cuisines range from Thai at Tamarind Thai Restaurant to New Orleans-style at Nola.
On weekend nights, you have to fight for a parking spot because these restaurants are packed by 6 p.m.
Some of the restaurants will turn into small 21 and over clubs, like Rudy's Pub, which gets filled with college students from Stanford, Menlo College and Foothill College.
The Japanese restaurant across the street, Miyake, turns off the lights on Saturday nights and turns on the disco ball and music for sake bombing. Patrons stand on their chairs and chant loud enough to be heard by passersby driving down the street.
If you are looking for a good old-fashioned American sports bar, go to Old Pro. This place gets crowded pretty fast, be it for a big sports game or the mechanical bull. On busy nights this may not be the place you want to go to for a nice conversation with friends.
Another popular place to grab a drink is The Rose and Crown, located behind Pizza My Heart, which has stand-up comedians and $3 student beer nights on Thursdays.
If you don't like to drink, or if you are underage, you can go to the hookah bar or catch a unique movie at Aquarius or Stanford theaters.
Aquarius features alternative independent films that wouldn't normally be shown at a Century Theater, and it is one of the few movie theaters in the Bay Area to offer midnight movies. The Stanford Theater shows movies from your grandparents' time.
You can also rent a personal hot tub from Watercourse Way at an hourly rate for $18 per person during the day and $23 per person at night.
If you just feel like getting dessert, you can pick some up from one of several frozen yogurt or ice cream shops, or even grab a decorative cake from Satura Cakes.
With all of University Avenue's variety, if you need a night or day trip away, try the town only 20 miles north.
Contact Tara Sahdev at tsahdev@scu.edu.