Hunkering down off-campus
By: Beth Barr
The hunt for the ever-elusive perfect study spot is ongoing and exhausting. It begins with your first assignment or midterm. You venture to libraries on campus; your eyes become heat-seeking lasers for electrical outlets. Eventually you move to unusual places on campus – that tiny tutorial room in BSB or that study room you booked three weeks in advance – until finally you explore outside the Mac bubble.
Williams and My Dog Joe are great, but they’re far too well known – their policy of free wi-fi and refilling your tea water all day are amazing – but they lack outlets and crowds can be a real issue. So I’ve ventured further out of the Mac bubble and found a few student-friendly and versatile study spots. All of the following are along a bus route (with a bit of a walk) and didn’t object to me hunkering down with my laptop and a re-fillable tea.
My first adventure was to The Brain at 199 James Street North. Though probably more of a bar than a café, The Brain seems to tick all the boxes; outlets abound in the back half, board games and interesting art to keep a light atmosphere, as well as food and drink galore. Unfortunately, being a bar means they open at noon – but stay open til 2 a.m. Though I didn’t stay beyond mid-afternoon and I can’t speak to the atmosphere of this “bar scene,” I can speak to the awesome staff and incredibly chill music they supply. They also sport a rocking assortment of rotating taps, just in case you need an adult-style study break.
The second amazing location was Homegrown – located at 27 King William, just off of James. Here I found an interesting set of hours: from the early a.m. til 6 p.m. everyday, yet they’re open until 2 a.m. on nights with events (live local music, karaoke). The walls are covered in local art, and the stage in the front corner screams of rocking shows and brings with it a multitude of extension cords. All food and beverages can be made vegan and/or gluten free by request, and the drink preparation station offers composting options. Again, refilling your tea water is completely acceptable, and the wi-fi password is clearly posted on a wall. My only complaint was the music – while sitting through a staff change, I was startled to go from the smooth crooning of the Strokes to jarring horns.
My final stop on this rapid-fire exploration was The Radius (151 James Street South). I found myself floored by the mile-high ceilings and huge amount number of communal tables – a concept I truly enjoy, especially with group studies in mind. The atmosphere was open and airy, and the music was low key enough that studying without headphones would likely be easy. They offer brunch until 3 p.m., though I found locating the menu to be difficult. Additionally, I was very politely informed that due to a private event that night, we’d all be asked to leave by 5:30.
Downtown Hamilton most definitely has a multitude of options – many of which are open to the student population and are willing to cater to our low budgets and large time commitments. At these café-bar-restaurants I found a dazzling selection of eclectic art and mugs, friendly staff, calm atmospheres and new music. These places – and those I’m sure I’ve not yet stumbled across – make the bus ride more than worth it.
