Paralleling the temperatures falling below Los Angeles’ typical 70 degrees, winter quarter often marks a slump in mood, grades and activities for many UCLA students.
Although leaving hibernation – also known as a bed and Netflix account – seems daunting, the winter season does bring reasons to brave the outdoors.
Here are a few A&E-filled;, yet frugal, ideas to get students through the mid-school year hump while providing Instagram-worthy moments of #2015 #newyearnewme to make any and all couch potato friends jealous.
Food
After the restaurant openings of Ike’s Place, Jimmy John’s, Garlo’s Aussie Pie Shop and Open Oven Pizza, the Westwood eatery scene quieted down after the beginning of the school year. Hopefully, that will all begin to change in the weeks to come.
Along with the much anticipated “coming soon” notices for Panera Bread and Tender Greens, The Boiling Crab in Westwood is now accepting applications for employment.
The Boiling Crab’s messy meals make wearing a bib necessary, as the establishment’s championed slogan is “Eat with your hands.” Rather than facing the drive or bus trip to the Koreatown location, students will soon be able to experience affordable bags full of shelled and seasoned shrimp, crab and corn all on the comfort of Glendon Avenue.
Theater
Productions from the theater department, Hooligan Theatre Company and other student groups will typically run toward the end of the quarter, but for those looking for an evening of theater earlier in the new year, try the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, which offers discounted student ticket prices.
“The Night Alive” will start its run Feb. 3 in its west coast premiere. Set in Dublin, Conor McPherson’s play tells the story of a man able to find hope even when down on his luck. The play won the New York Drama Critics Circle’s award for best play of 2013-2014.
Art
While both the Fowler Museum and the Hammer Museum have free admission and ongoing exhibitions throughout the winter season, students also have the opportunity to check out their peers’ work early on this quarter.
On Monday, “Currents: Fall 2014” – an exhibition highlighting the best of the Architecture and Urban Design department’s students’ work from fall quarter – will open in the Perloff Gallery on campus. Then, on Jan. 15 the Design | Media Arts department will showcase its students’ work in “Half & Half,” the on-campus undergraduate exhibition in the New Wight Gallery.
Another upcoming free event is LACMA’s annual College Night on Jan. 29, an evening of food and art-making after public hours.
Dance
For students disappointed by the fairly nonexistent dance scene in Westwood, more events are happening closer to home, on-campus.
In addition to the frequent dance team performances and dance workshops organized by and involving students, the Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA periodically brings professional dance performances to Royce Hall. The first this quarter will be “So Blue,” $15 for UCLA students, on Jan. 16.
Produced by Fou Glorieux, “So Blue” is an intense duet by Louise Lecavalier and Frédéric Tavernini set to the music of Mercan Dede.
Books
In looking for events to do this winter, first allow some time to snuggle up under a blanket with a book before emerging to talk about it with others.
That’s right, a book club. The Hammer Museum will host the Libros Schmibros Book Club on Feb. 8, which, like all of their programs, is free to the public.
The club will discuss Carlos Fuentes’ novel “Where the Air Is Clear,” the book that some say spurred the rise of Latin-American literature.
Bonus
For students looking to explore outside the limits of UCLA’s campus and surrounding Westwood bubble this quarter, download a free app called “5 Every Day.”
Started by indie pop band members Claire Evans and Jona Bechtolt, “5 Every Day,” as promised, features five new A&E-geared; adventures to be had around the greater Los Angeles area, from food, to art, to music, to city to a daily wildcard.
Together, UCLA students can get out of winter hibernation and enjoy the advantages Los Angeles has to offer.
– Natalie Green, A&E; senior staff