The Perfect Place to Study
Arielle Michaelis
As I walk in, my eyes quickly latch onto a large comfy chair in the corner of the café, facing the bay. I plop into its weathered but warm embrace, settling into the quirky vibes of the place. The overhead speakers bump out the funky “Boogie Shoes” song by Kc and the Sunshine Band: “I want to put on my my my my my boogie shoes, ooohoo…”
As a first year college student I quickly realized that it is essential to find a study spot where you can be productive but not get too overwhelmed or burnt out. The Underground Coffee House at Western Washington University suits this need well, drawing in students like myself from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm every weekday. It’s captivatingly quirky atmosphere stems from its random variety of art, mismatched chairs and couches, funky lamps, and the constant Indie or funk music playing from the overhead speakers. This quirkiness makes studying that much less boring and frustrating. The tasty coffee and tea, light food, and a variety of comfortable seating make the café a perfect place to get schoolwork done.
Large cushy chairs and couches are placed throughout the Underground, which provide a great spot to relax or work on a laptop. A handful of small tables (as well of a few of the large chairs) line the wall-to-wall windows, allowing for a well and natural lit writing space. Additionally, a large dining room-like table is set up to accommodate students who need to work on group projects.
If you need a mental break from studying, all you need to do is glance up at the room around you. Rather than seeing your semi-modern pictures of coffee beans that you find at most Starbucks, completely random art decorates the walls. One picture looks like a 5th grader drew it: a blue ocean with two stick figure mermaids, backed by a massive yellow sun. On the opposite wall, hang two old-fashioned paintings, one of an older woman who appears to be staring into the neighboring painting of a middle-aged man smoking out of a pipe. Funky and disproportional, the lamps hold their own sense of uniqueness as they light up the mismatched chairs and couches. Additionally, some fake trees add in a nice touch of green.
Of course coffee and/or tea is also a must when considering a study space. The Underground Coffee House serves a variety of hot and cold drinks, and my favorite coffee drink — a vanilla late — is definitely better than one you would find at Starbucks. As one student posted on the AS Underground Facebook page, “A Lavender London Fog makes everything that much better.” (Diana Cervantes) Serving drinks in cute glass mugs spice up the home-y vibe, and is more environmentally friendly. The Underground also serves soup, fresh made sandwiches, salads, and small baked goods. This tasty food is great to have as a snack or light lunch while buried in your schoolwork.
From the clashing patterned couches to the funky lamps, the Underground holds a certain captivating quirkiness that makes schoolwork a little less painful. When I interviewed Alina Tully, a first year student at Western, about why she enjoys studying at the Underground, she replied with a well rounded answer: “I come here mostly because I study better with some background noise, but it’s still quiet enough that I can focus. There’s a pretty good view of the bay and good music…it is just a great place to relax. Also, the coffee and tea is a major perk.”
Finding a university with an enjoyable study space is an important part of the college decision process because it is essential to getting good grades. because you are surrounded by a cheery crowd of other students. The Underground is a perfect example of what to look for: upbeat, comfortable, good coffee, other cheery students around you, and best of all a little quirky.