Unofficial java study guide

Chris Richards Arizona Daily Wildcat Evan Willner, creative writing/Russian junior gets in some quality study time in the red room at the Grill.

You're not still studying in the library are you? I mean, yeah, we all need to go there sometimes but, like, the furniture? I think its been around since before Sam Levitz was born. And, like, the food in the vending machines? It's at least 50 percent polystyrene. And, like, where's the coffee? Hello?

There are a number of places near campus with something called atmosphere - it's the stuff you need to breathe. Here is a guide to Tucson's study-friendly caf­s and diners:

Grill

Location: 100 E. Congress.

Hours: 24 hours, all week.

Coffee: $1.00 for a bottomless cup + tip.

Food: Overpriced but decent diner food.

Schtick: Remodeled 50s diner + funky 60s red room.

This downtown, remodeled 50s diner has booths that are perfect for group studying. The coffee keeps coming and large plates of fries can be shared at $2.50. The red room, which is sometimes closed late at night, sports both tables and couches under its wa ve-shaped ceiling. The never-too-loud jazz and swing music is always great (I'm still waiting for the "Grill Soundtrack"), and despite serving burgers and malt shakes, the place never takes its 50s theme too far. With its Dick Tracy color scheme, the Gril l is clearly the hippest-looking place in town.

Epic Cafe

Location: 745 N. Fourth Ave.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.

Coffee: $1.00 + 25 cent refills.

Food: Tasty and innovative, but overpriced.

Schtick: Photo gallery serves coffee.

This cafe is located on University Boulevard and Fourth Avenue, the nicest corner in town. Cars move by slowly, as a result of the four-way stop sign, and the trolley turns here on the days it runs. You used to be able to sit at one of the outside tables and watch the sun set down University Boulevard, but now they close at 6 p.m. Still a good place for the morning paper, some daytime studying, and perhaps a fancy cappuccino.

The Oy Vey! Cafe

Location: 1245 E. 2nd street.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mon. - Fri.

Coffee: None.

Food: Good, healthy, veggie food for

under $5.

Schtick: Oy.... Ah-hum: Veggie cuisine,

from around the world.

The Goy is welcome at this veggie oasis in Hillel, the Jewish student organization on campus. Ironically the cafe serves no coffee, apparently in deference to the coffee cart in front of the building. The short opening hours are obviously limiting, but it 's a peaceful place with a nice enclosed outside area, and it's located right in the middle of campus.

Cafe Quebec

Location: 121 E. Broadway Blvd.

Hours: 8 a.m. to midnight, closed

Mondays.

Coffee: 75 cents + 25 cent refills.

Food: Hearty and cheap.

Schtick: Bad local art on plain white

walls.

I've eaten an embarrassing amount of the large vegetarian burritos this place serves up, priced at $2.95. If you can tolerate the high school, gothic mod-squad that calls this cafe home, it's a good place for uninterrupted studying. Caf­ Quebec is perhaps the least UA-oriented of the cafes in this guide.

The House for Coffee

Location: 1135 N. Park Ave.

Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, closed on

weekends.

Coffee: $1.00 + 25 cent refills.

Food: Decent at a fair price.

Schtick: Cute remodeled house, porch and

back yard.

This awkwardly small cafe is frequented by a disproportionate number of UA faculty. Its main asset is its aesthetic look, convenient location and neatly arranged copies of the New York Times and Arizona Daily Star on the long coffee table by the couch. I' ve learned a thing or two about the inner-workings of our university from eavesdropping, which one is inevitably forced to do at this cafe. Note: The House for Coffee will be under new ownership as of this weekend. It will be closed from tomorrow until M on. March 24.

Bentley's

Location: 1730 E. Speedway Blvd.

Hours: 7 a.m. to Midnight Mon.-Thu.,

7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fri. & Sat., 8 a.m.

to midnight Sundays.

Coffee: 95 cents + 25 cent refills.

Food: Good soups and sandwiches at

a fair price.

Schtick: Hippies and yuppies dressed in

deep blue and orange.

Although the view of Speedway, McDonald's and 7-Eleven leaves something to be desired, Bentley's still feels very smooth and tasteful - and I'm not just talking about the food. The mocha shakes are to die for, but the lighting is just a little too dim for long study sessions.

Cafe Paraiso

Location: 820 E. University Blvd.

Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mon. - Fri.,

8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sat., food until 9 p.m.,

closed Sundays.

Coffee: 84 cents + 25 cent refills.

Food: Great sandwiches, overpriced cookies.

Schtick: Bogus southwestern exterior,

nice inside.

Along with Epic, this cafe has one of the best locations in town. Sit in the patio with a pair of shades on, and nod at friends heading down University Boulevard. But don't lean too far back on those damn plastic chairs, and make sure to sit under a paras ol if you're going to sit close to the giant palm tree. The sandwiches are the best in town (provided the birds don't supply extra toppings from above).

Cafe Latte

Location: 911 E. University Blvd.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m.

to 2 p.m. Sat., closed Sundays.

Coffee: 85 cents + 25 cent refills.

Food: Mediocre but reasonably priced.

Schtick: Bogus Southwestern.

Well, the new name is an improvement over the former "Pony Espresso," but otherwise what has the new management done? Put some strange fence thing up and tuned out N.P.R. for some loud pop music station that isn't at all conducive to studying. The lightin g is good and the tables are fairly private in this "I've got an hour between classes" cafe located half a block from campus.

Coffee Etc.

Location: 2830 N. Campbell Ave.

(northeast corner of Glenn and Campbell)

Hours: 24 hours, all week.

Coffee: $1.09 for a bottomless cup + tip.

Food: Overpriced and inconsistent.

Schtick: Phony-baloney southwestern in

pink and teal.

Although you can study here for as long as you want the perky high school staff keeps pestering you with "Can I get you anything else?" jingles. Good for its late hours, large tables and the soothing sound of chatter.

Burger King

Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Mon. - Thur.,

7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fri. & Sat., 6:30 a.m. to

12: 30 a.m. Sundays.

Coffee: 85 cents for a regular + free

refills!

Food: Cheap and awful.

Schtick: "Get your burgers worth."

The worst place to study in the known universe, yet an interesting place to be. Last time I was there some of the employees shared a joint outside the entrance doors, and later one of the guys leaned backwards over the counter to drop Visine in his eyes.