The Underground Coffee Shop- Neutral Review

The Underground is a small, local Bellingham coffee shop on the edge of Western’s south campus. It is connected to the Viking Union, where lots of students send time at, whether grading a meal or doing homework. It can be a very convenient spot to grab a cup of coffee or read a book, but it can also be out of the way and very foreign to those living closer to north campus. The shop is constantly busy with people coming here to study, eat, relax, or hanging out with friends. The coffee shop has a lot of things going for is, with their variety of events and activities that it has to offer. The coffeeshop serves a variety of pastries and hot or iced beverages. It also serves soups, salads, and sandwiches for the students to choose from. The room has very warm tones combined with subtle lighting. The room has an old, vintage feeling to it which is appealing to some. It gives off a relaxing and homey feeling. The space is filled with couches and coffee tables for those who want to relax while sipping on their coffee. There are also bar stools and tables for those who are eating a meal or catching up on school work. The coffeehouse has massive windows that overlook Bellingham Bay. The window seats are usually the first seats to be taken at the coffeeshop. It’s not the quietest place on campus due to the background music or constant chatter, but different students use this space for different reasons. I have talked to many people who work better in this kind of busy environment, who enjoy a casual studying spot where they can relax while getting homework done. I have also had conversations with those who require a study environment that has absolute silence and no distractions, like their dorms or the library. When coming to the coffeeshop you’ll see many students studying away or chatting it up with their friends. Many students like this space for it’s relaxing feeling and “good studying environment”, but others enjoy the food or come here to hang out with their classmates. The Underground offers many boardgames and card games that anyone has access to. There is also a separate room with a pool table that anyone can use. On week nights, AS Production puts on events for the students on campus. The Underground has open mic night which, depending on the night, can consist of stand-up comedy or musical acts. It also offers concert night and club sponsored events. Many students come to these events, if not to perform, to cheer on their classmates and have a fun night. Here students have the opportunity to meet new people or be introduced to new, local talents here in Bellingham. These events usual bring in crowds of people with similar interests, such as creativity or music. Many students find this as a great way to make friends that have similar hobbies and tastes as you.