Change your scenery: study spots a short trip from Rice
Tired of never finding a seat at Chaus and always losing your favorite study spot at Fondy to someone else? Don’t want to study in your room but don’t know of places outside where you can do so? Look no further for a list of cafés, restaurants and more near Rice to explore for a change of pace while attempting to get through work this semester.
Sweet Paris
Complete work and treat yourself to various sweet and savory crêpes at Sweet Paris anytime between 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Rice Village. Sweet Paris not only has delicious crêpes, but also offers waffles, salads, soup and hot drinks. Unfortunately, Sweet Paris does not have many power outlets, so visitors may need to charge your laptop beforehand if they intend to finish their work. With access to Wi-Fi, students can almost never go wrong by starting their day with a sweet treat while finishing their sour COMP 182 homework.
El Tiempo Cantina
If you are fancying some good Tex-Mexican lunch, check out El Tiempo Cantina at Richmond Avenue. Only a seven-minute drive or a 20-minute bus ride away, Cantina is known for its spicy fajitas, enchiladas and Texas-size portions. The back patio will is charming and, momentarily, visitors might even forget that they are there to do some work, using the free Wi-Fi that the restaurant offers.
Starbucks
Students can never go wrong with our good ol’ pal, Starbucks. Get ready to finish work with that coffee adrenaline rush anytime between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. There are several locations near campus just a short walk or METRO ride away.
Freed-Montrose Neighborhood Library
For a change in environment to study with peace and quiet, Freed-Montrose Library is an excellent option. With a number of outlets and free WiFi, visitors can get their work done here anytime between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Freed-Montrose is open to the public and is an easy six minute bus ride away.
Fresco
For good pasta and music to study with, Fresco could be a new favorite study spot. Only an 11-minute bus ride away, Fresco offers a wide variety of pizza, pasta, lasagnas and various types of sauces anytime between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. from Wednesday through Sunday. Since Fresco does not have Wi-Fi, offline work can be completed without the temptation of being online.
More from The Rice Thresher
Study Abroad Photo Contest spotlights global experiences
For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, students gathered in the Ley Student Center to celebrate global experiences through photography.
Review: "The Crux" Should Redefine Djo
Joe Keery’s work has been boiled down to Steve Harrington from “Stranger Things,” but this label shouldn’t define his 10 years in the entertainment industry. Keery, under his stage name “Djo", is the voice behind the TikTok hit “End of Beginning,” which was released with his album “DECIDE” in 2022 and climbed the charts for the first time in 2024. With “The Crux”, Keery’s third album, he tries to separate his work as Djo and an actor, evidenced by the album’s visual of Keery escaping a building.
Review: “Lonely People With Power” merges blackgaze fury with dreamy introspection
Fifteen years into a storied career that’s crisscrossed the boundaries of black metal and shoegaze, Deafheaven has found a way to once again outdo themselves. “Lonely People With Power” feels like a triumphant return to the band’s blackgaze roots, fusing massive walls of guitar-driven sound with whispery dream-pop interludes, recalling their classic album trio of the 2010s (“Sunbather,” “New Bermuda” and “Ordinary Corrupt Human Love”). It also bears the learned refinements of “Infinite Granite,” the 2021 album where they dabbled more boldly in cleaner vocals and atmospheric passages.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.