You’re sitting in a lecture. John Kupetz stands at the front of Fisk auditorium, ranting about exclamation points. Your roommate sits next to you, setting up a game of dots. Then it hits you, and you don’t know where to go. More than anything else in the world, you need…
Chinese food: Ask any cherub where to go to get the cheapest, greasiest pan-Asian cuisine, and the answer will always be Joy Yee’s Noodles. This cherub hotspot is three and a half blocks away from Jones Residential Hall. With more than 200 items on the menu, if you can’t find it at Joy Yee’s, it probably doesn’t exist. Cherubs swear by the sesame chicken, but just make sure to take a shower when you get back, as the smell will invade your clothing.
A voice recorder: Man-on-the-street interviews are a crucial part of almost every story. Head to RadioShack and pick up a digital voice recorder for $30. Feel free to wave it in your sources’ faces as they attempt to answer your nonsensical questions, as per the advanced interviewing techniques lecture. When you transcribe it later, you’ll be able to cut out the frightened screams.
Shampoo: Within the first two days of your stay in Evanston, you will come to value one store above all others: CVS. Whatever brand of shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream or facial cleanser you prefer, CVS can provide it. And if you need batteries, candy, birthday cards or portable speakers, this shopper’s emporium has those as well. They do lack desk lamps, however, so bring your own if you want one.
AP Lit books: Another overachieving English student, eh? Welcome to cherubs. Barnes & Noble has a two-story building, complete with an extensive selection of books, music and movies as well as a Starbucks café. In the unlikely event that you can’t find what you need there, Borders Books is only a few blocks away.
Something to drink: For tea and tea-like concoctions, head straight to Argo Tea. Order the Carolina Honey Tea, iced or hot, depending on the ever-changing Evanston weather patterns. If you need something large and fruity, Jamba Juice across the street has smoothies in 16, 24, and 30 oz. sizes. At least once during your time here, you should experience a Joy Yee’s bubble freeze: chewy tapioca balls covered with a blend of fresh fruit and ice. They have 140 flavors, and if you’re lazy, you can order in.
Energy boost: Evanston has several coffee shops, including Unicorn Café, Café Ambrosiaand Peet’s Coffee. But for something a little out of the ordinary, try Kafein. Its clever menu has all the regular coffee items as well as some specialties, including a drink with eight shots of espresso for the seriously courageous or the deliriously stupid.
Cheap Stuff: So you’ve spent all your money buying $8 memberships at SPAC, and you decide it’s time to conserve. For clothing, go to Crossroads, a resale clothing store. Rummage through the overstocked racks of pants and you might just find a $25 pair of 7 For All Mankind jeans. If you’re hungry, Giordano’s has 30 percent off stuffed pizza on Mondays, and Bar Louie offers $1 burgers on Tuesdays. Alternatively, scope out the free samples at Whole Foods – if you make a loop around the entire store, you can usually gather an entire meal without paying a dime.
To Escape: After the 30th story about, “Well, at my newspaper we…” you know that if you don’t get away soon, you might have to drown yourself in fro yo. Century Theaters shows most current movies, and boasts a well-stocked snack section. For a chocolate fix, Ethel’s Chocolate Lounge has several plush purple couches that you can sit on, provided you order one of their pricey yet tasty desserts.
Press play to see a virtual tour of downtown Evanston. Producer Elise Brown.
