Tag Archives: boba

Food, L.A. Life, music, Sight Seeing

Local Los Angeles Hotspots Outside of Downtown

By Melissa Kitagawa

Edited by Natalie Grace Sipula

[3 minute read]

As a person who has lived in Los Angeles her entire life, I have gotten the chance to explore the city for years. For those who have only recently arrived in LA to attend USC, they might not be as knowledgable about the best spots to visit. Here are some places that stand out to me that I still continue to visit every year.

The Grove

Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash

Everyone in Los Angeles has been to The Grove at least once. Most of the stores are more high-end, but many people just go because of the bright lights and warm atmosphere. However, if you go, the best time to go is at night when the views are the prettiest. My personal favorite part is the farmer’s market. They have cheap, tasty food and the best crepes.

Top of the World

This is a very local secret. It is hidden in the hills of Pacific Palisades. Not many people know of this place and I just found out about it recently. It does take a bit of a drive to get here, but it’s worth it. It is essentially a lookout point you can hike up to, and it gives you the best Los Angeles view possible. From here you can see the entire LA coastline and at night, the view is even more stunning.

Griffith Observatory

Photo by Pedro Marroquin on Unsplash

The Griffith Observatory is a very popular site to visit. They have a variety of shows where they project the night sky on a screen on the ceiling indoors and you can learn about the night sky and our planet. However, many people enjoy coming here to see the views of Los Angeles from high up and also to enjoy their hiking trails.

Sawtelle Blvd.

Sawtelle is a street in LA, and if you walk from Sawtelle and Pico to Sawtelle and La Grange, there are tons of popular Asian stores. Many locals visit this area for some of the city’s best ramen, lots of boba choices, and yummy sweets. It is open very late, so if you want some midnight ramen, this is the perfect place to go. One particularly popular place here is Bsweet. They have warm doughnuts filled with ice cream and all different kinds of warm fudge.

Culver City Stairs

Photo by Adam Rhodes on Unsplash

The official name of this spot is the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, but locals call it the Culver City Stairs. This is another popular scenic view; however, most people come here to exercise. Visitors range from children to adults to whole teams who come here to exercise. The individual stairs are tall and the climb is long, but once you’re at the top, you can take a rewarding picture to document your achievement.

Whichever places you choose to visit, I am confident you will be able to capture some great photos and some great memories. Take advantage of your time in Los Angeles by immersing yourself in the local experience, and I promise you won’t regret it!

Featured Image by Denys Nevozhai on Unsplash

Melissa is a recent graduate who studied Business Administration. She graduated high school as valedictorian and spent her summer before college volunteering at the 2017 Summer Taipei Universade. She is half Japanese and half Taiwanese but has lived in Los Angeles her whole life. Every year she visits friends and family in Taiwan and speaks Mandarin fluently. Her interests include playing basketball, traveling, and socializing.

Advice, college, fall, friends, health, lifestyle, Sight Seeing, student life, USC

Hidden gems on campus 

By Tiffany Hsia

Edited by Natalie Grace Sipula

[3 minute read]

Many of us are preparing to return to USC for the upcoming school year with excitement and anticipation. However, attending class and studying for exams can become routine as the school year progresses, but there are places around campus that can help spice up your routine or become a new study spot. Studying day and night at Leavey Library can become boring, and after living on campus for a year, I have found a couple of different study spots to help change up your scenery while studying, especially during finals. 

  • LiteraTea

For all of the people who love boba but don’t like having to walk off campus to get it, there is actually a hidden boba place on campus! LiteraTea is located behind Doheny Library and is a little cafe where you can study. They serve a variety of healthy, quick items you can take on the go (and boba!). It is also the perfect place to study, as there is an outdoor courtyard to do work right across from the cafe. This courtyard allows you to enjoy the sunshine and take in the rays of Southern California while getting work done.  

  • Balcony of the School of Cinematic Arts 
Photo by Alexis Brown on Unsplash

If you are looking for a quiet yet scenic place to study, the balconies in the School of Cinematic Arts are the perfect place. The balconies are not restricted to Cinematic Arts students and are open from 7-11 PM. You can access the balconies by entering in one of their buildings and taking the elevator to the second or third floor. Once you enter, the balconies overlook the beautiful courtyard of SCA and have outdoor patio seating. This is perfect for quiet studying with a view or hanging out with friends. I have had many late-night chats and group studying sessions here!

  • Café 84

Café 84 is conveniently located between Fluor Tower and Webb Tower. While the hours of Café 84 fluctuate (they close anytime from 11-2 AM on weekdays), this is the perfect place to get work done or have group meetings. Café 84 also has a Starbucks, which is convenient to help kick start studying. If you like doing work surrounded by some noise, this is the place to study. I especially enjoy doing group work here, as it is a very casual atmosphere.

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culture, Food, L.A. Life

Best Boba

By Erika Gomi

It’s a late night on campus and you’re working hard. But then it hits you. The craving for boba. Now, since you’re a USC student you have two major options for boba nearby: Boba Time and Cup o’ Joy. But which one should you choose to give your money to? Here is a helpful guide to cure your late night boba cravings.

Boba Time

If you’re on the West side of campus, Boba Time is the closest option to you. Right by the local Taco Bell, all you have to do is exit out of the gates by KAP. It’s orange themed décor welcomes you as you take a step inside. Boba time has a modern feel and extensive menu. They serve coffees, slushes, smoothies, milk foams, milk teas, etc. They even sell acai bowls and macarons for those late-night munchies. The acai bowls are around the same price as Nektar and Amazebowls, around $8. The boba however, is much cheaper. And guess what? Unlike most places, they don’t charge extra for boba! If you order just a milk tea or iced tea, it’s around $3.25. What a steal!

Cup o’ Joy

If you’re on the East side of campus, Cup o’ Joy is probably the closer option. Walk past Gateway and up the street past CVS. It’s a little bit of a trek, but if you love boba, you’ll power through. Cup o’ Joy has a menu very similar to Boba Time, however boba costs extra. The good thing about Cup o’ Joy is that it’s surrounded by other food options. Nearby you have, Subway, Ono’s, and Blaze, to name a few. If boba isn’t enough to satisfy your hunger, you can easily go to another restaurant. However, there’s really no need. Cup o’ Joy, in addition to its many choices in beverage, has food to. You can get a meal set consisting of rice and Chinese fried chicken or just a snack of takoyaki. But if you’re just in the mood for a drink, compared to Boba Time, Cup o’ Joy costs just a little more money, a little more than $4.

Which place is more worth it to visit? That’s really up to you and your taste. If you’re a boba connoisseur, then neither of these places will please you. But if you want something cheap and nearby, you have these two great options.

Photo by Jocelyn & Cathy on Instagram

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