The Village Dine-In

The Bistro, a full service restaurant, is making its grand debut Fall 2011 in The Strand. Currently, it's open from Monday to Thursday 11am-3pm, and after hearing it takes dining dollars I just knew I had to swing by.

My friend and I decided to pay them a spontaneous visit last Thursday and managed to secure a spot within 15-20 minutes (reservations are highly recommended though--call 858.822.4275). I loved loved the well lit restaurant and the modern decor and design. The Bistro couldn't shake off that "dining hall" feel, with the drowning chatter of diners and your close proximity to the diner next to you. The service was also blindingly fast--not that it's a bad thing!

We were started off with delicious chips and sweet chili or hummus dip. My friend and I skipped the appetizer option and went straight to the entrees. My sweet miso northern halibut arrived in probably less than five minutes and it was so juicy and flavorful. The sauce was not too thick, sweet, or overpowering, and the orange zest added a nice kick. I'm not the biggest fan of brown rice but I think it goes very well with the halibut and vegetables.

The only catch when you choose to pay The Bistro a visit--it makes a nice dent in your dining dollars. As such, it's a great place when you've got money to burn or are interested in a nice treat to a mouthwatering ahi avocado poke (9), followed by a beautifully made sweet miso northern halibut (10) and finishing with some grilled pineapple with creme anglaise (4). I'd like to say it's worth every dollar.

-Rosanne

Say Chocolate?

Meal of the week

Thai chicken lettuce wrap. $5.95. OVT. Delicious chicken in peanut sauce with veggies and two generous scoops of rice. Messy to eat but definitely worth the taste!

What better way to end the week after midterms than playing carnival games and eating all the chocolate you can get? The Sixth College's sixth annual chocolate festival was held yesterday in the Res Hall Quad, a place I've never even passed by before. My friends and I started our journey at the Sixth college Pepper Canyon Apartments and soon found a mini canyon separating us from delicious chocolate:

I really love the natural green of our campus, especially now that it's spring and all the flowers are blooming. It makes walking to a campus event so much more enjoyable. My friends and I always have this urge to get out, go on hikes, and just explore the various trails throughout UCSD.

One of three at Sixth College!

We were limited to three items that we could dip, and it's terribly difficult trying to choose between bananas, cream puffs, marshmallows and the quickly snatched up strawberries. 

Besides the main attraction, the outside festivities were perfect for a sunny, breezy Friday. You could tell when balloon animals and figures were distributed by the rush of people towards the center of the festivities. People chatted and relaxed along the grassy field, or tried to out-eat their competition at a chocolate donut eating contest. First place gets an absurd amount of amazing prizes, ranging from free raffle tickets for Apple products to a free box of chocolate donuts.

Ready...get set...eat!

(I was second to last :'( eating contests are not my thing.) -Rosanne

ID's and Architecture

This last week has been great weather wise, but for those of us with lots and lots of midterms, this point in the quarter can be pretty hectic.  Trying to keep up in your classes and find time to eat and get some exercise can be super tough.  I have a substantial amount of work, not to mention that our lacrosse team made playoffs this year so this weekend I’ll be in Arizona tearing it up.  The point is that when you’re super busy and you have no extra time, it can be tough to figure out how and when to get your ID card fixed when it decides to snap in half and you need it to get into your apartment.  

Here’s the scoop: its free to replace your ID card if it’s damaged, all you have to do is take your old card to the student services building on the third floor and the ID card office will print you another.  Then make sure you swing by the transportation office located in the Gilman Parking Structure by Sixth college to get another bus sticker for your new ID card.  

If your ID card does warp or get scratched, or bend right down the middle of the picture of your face so it looks like you’re smiling, and you do what I had to do to replace your card, check out the architecture on the student services building.  I’m no architecture enthusiast, but I enjoy an interesting building and even though I walk by the Student Services building every day, I only noticed its style when I had to climb to the third floor.  I was in a rush as usual, so I took the stairs, and that’s when i noticed its resemblance to a treehouse.  See for yourself or take my word for it, but when you climb the stairs, there is a non symmetrical form to the stairs and upper floors and a lot of space to look down (not the place for someone who’s afraid of heights) that reminds me of being in a tree, not to mention the ivy that climbs with the stairs all the way up the side of the building giving a sense of foliage.  

Ever since my visit to the Student Services building, I’ve been noticing great architecture everywhere on campus.  Most obvious to a first time visitor is Geisel library, but most of the buildings down Warren Mall are aesthetically well designed.  So if you happen to be running around campus, which most students probably will be at some point or another, check out the buildings around you because you might see something cool.