FSU: capital-izing on fun

Best place to eat on campus:
With two setups on campus Mom and Pop's is a great place if you are in a hurry and need to grab a quick bite and keep moving, this is also the best place on campus to grab a good hot dog (there you go dad). Both of Mom and Pop's locations are open weekdays from 9 -5 to satisfy the student body all day long. My choice for best place to sit and eat on campus has got to be the Chili's on campus. I know it is a chain restaurant, but it's setting in the student union and the availability of two for one drinks all day make it tough to pass on.

Best place to eat off campus:
If sushi is what you crave on gameday then the Jasmine Cafe is the place for you. It is located very close to campus and offers student friendly prices. If you don't crave raw fish before or after tailgating then hit The Loop. So close to campus I considered putting it in the on campus section. They do all american food and specialty pizzas and do it right. More importantly it was always one of the first places every student I talked to mentioned so you know it is good, fast and inexpensive.

Best places to drink the night away:
No matter what bar you choose to imbibe at, most likely you will find yourself on or close to Tennessee St. located right across the street from campus. One exception to this rule is Potbelly's, which is located on College Ave, and offers a change for partygoers. With live music that often features talented, but undiscovered musicians it is the place to be if you are tired of hearing the same songs blasted over and over again at other places. Back on Tennessee St. there are plenty of great options such as Bullwinkles or my personal favorite Ken's. Ken's offers great drink prices and has free beer from 9 til the kegs run dry on Thursdays, coupled with all you can drink for the ladies. A very relaxed, friendly environment Ken's is the place to be if you want to drink cheap and in mass quantities. I learned a new way to drink beer quickly with their, "birthday drink", which is simply a full draft beer in a solo cup that has a hole burned in the side, simply slide your thumb over and it is the same as shotgunning from a can, very cool but also very messy. Ken's also has a tradition of offering students a chance once a semester to earn a mug on the wall by being in the bar from noon-2am. If you can do it you earn a cool numbered mug which entitles you to half off beers whenever you fill it.


Athletic venues:
I was struck by how great every stadium on campus was. From the softball stadium to the football field every venue echoes the campus trend of exposed brick that offers a clean, uniform, aesthetically pleasing experience. Doak Campbell stadium is not only home to Bobby Bowden field but also houses classrooms and other facilities. It is located right on campus so it is easy to get to and can seat over 84,000 so you know it can get loud. Students said that getting tickets can require waiting in line to enter a raffle but that not getting a ticket is normally not a problem. Students get in free to all athletic events and are well represented at almost all sporting events. Getting a ticket as a non student can be tough, but is possible if you plan your trip early or pick a game against a lesser opponent.
There softball stadium was intimate and was located right next to their equally pristine soccer field. The stadium the impressed me the most though was Dick Howser stadium home to Mike Martin field and the FSU baseball team. The stadium itself could rival or top most AAA teams can hold over 6,700 people and offers cheap tickets, ideal for a family looking for a weekend activity.


Other activities:
If you are looking to get off campus try going to St. Teresa beach to relax or get a tan while in the Tallahassee area. My choice for entertainment around FSU won't even require you to leave campus. Located in the student union Crenshaw Lanes is the on campus bowling alley. Offering reasonable prices and plenty of beer, this should be considered a must do for anyone visiting Florida State.

Miscellaneous:
One of the best things I found on campus was a rock garden located by the geological studies building, I took some time to build a few structures and I thought it was a unique option for a place to kill time on a school's campus. Another thing that should be noted is that FSU isn't regularly listed among Playboy's top 10 party schools for no reason. The girls are beautiful and it seems like everyone is relaxed and wanting to have a good time.