Here at The Torch, we want to do our part in aiding the success of LCC’s students and have created this official off-campus study-place guide in an effort to do so. Now, we all have to study. There’s no doubt about that, but not all of us can – or want – to study on campus. Thankfully, we live in a college town and there are plenty of options.
These student- and study-friendly locations were all graded out of forty points based on four criteria:
- Comfort
- Drink/food accessibility
- Help/tutoring
- Quietness
Continued on page 4 are our eight picks ranked from the best to the not-as-great.
<33/40 Points> Townshend’s Tea House | 41 W Broadway Ave, Eugene, Oregon | Open Daily 9am – 10pm
Between the Broadway Metro independent movie theater and Starbucks Coffee in the midst of all the hustle and bustle downtown lies this gem of a study-spot which also doubles as a rotating art gallery. Open daily and, more importantly, closing late, Townshend’s comfy couches and lounge chairs make for a more-than-ideal situation. When not studying or doing homework, you can take a break and order a tea, a kombucha or delicious munchies. What makes this spot even more accomodating is that it wouldn’t be too hard to find another student or professor sitting nearby that could be of some help. For those who may be dual enrolled, there’s also a location in the EMU at the University of Oregon.
Comfort: 9
Drink/Food Accessibility: 10
Help/Tutoring: 6
Quietness: 8
<31/40 Points> Eugene Public Library | 100 W 10th Ave, Eugene, OR | Monday – Thursday 10am – 8pm; Friday – Sunday 10-6 ; First Friday: 10am – 8pm
Located downtown is the Eugene Public Library. If you haven’t visited it yet, you really should. It’s conveniently across the street from Titan Court and the Downtown LCC campus. They will almost always have that book you’re so desperately wanting to read in stock and, more importantly, is an excellent place to catch some study time. There are dedicated silent areas and plenty of comfortable seating. The library also hosts a variety of workshops and classes which can certainly be informative. Oh, and if you get those study-munchies, you’re within a few minutes walk away from Townshend’s Teahouse or Sizzle Pie.
Comfort: 8
Drink/Food Accessibility: 7
Help/Tutoring: 8
Quietness: 8
<31/40 Points> Public House | 418 A Street, Springfield, OR | Beer Hall 11am-10pm; Whisk(e)y Lab Daily 4pm-10pm; Arbor Bar Daily 4pm-10pm, open until 11pm Friday-Saturday
Located in Downtown Springfield and occupying the building that used to be the First Christian Church is Public House, a large beer hall and eatery. Inside, there is a beer hall with 20+ rotating taps and several eateries, including a bakery, a German restaurant, a Mexican restaurant and BBQ. You can sit wherever you want and it’ll be brought to you. Also making this spot an ideal one for studying is that it’s not that loud even when busy and you can often find someone already studying or doing homework nearby.
Comfort: 7
Drink/Food Accessibility: 10
Help/Tutoring: 7
Quietness: 7
<30/40 Points> Vero Espresso House | 205 E 14th Ave, Eugene, OR | Open Daily 7am – 7pm
Downtown and near campus, located in an old home, is the appropriately named Vero Espresso House. Inside there are counters you can sit at and also plenty of tables and chairs. There’s outside seating, too! Plenty of coffee and tea choices are on the menu to choose from for that caffeine fix. College students have already claimed this spot, so help won’t be too far away.
Comfort: 7
Drink/Food Accessibility: 8
Help/Tutoring: 7
Quietness: 8
<26/40 Points> Bier Stein | 1591 Willamette Street, Eugene, OR | Monday-Saturday 11am-midnight, Sunday 12pm-10pm
The Bier Stein, located downtown, is another great late-closing study spot. Not only are there 30 taps and more than 1,000 bottles of beer, cider and craft sodas, there is also ample tables and chairs. Conveniently, food can be ordered from your phone and brought to your table. In terms of noise, it can get a little loud during the busier hours, but it’s pretty quiet otherwise. Fortunately, the Bier Stein is already known among many University students, so finding someone to study with is certainly a possibility.
Comfort: 5
Drink/Food Accessibility: 10
Help/Tutoring: 6
Quietness: 5
<25/40 Points> 5th St. Public Market | Corner of 5th and High, Eugene, OR | Most places open daily 7am – 7pm
The 5th St. Public Market is a great place to drop in, grab a quick bite from one of the many eateries – ranging from Greek to burgers – located inside the indoor courtyard and get some studying done. There are plenty of tables and chairs to be found inside and it’s hardly ever loud. However, while it has all of these accommodations, you’ll be hard pressed to find someone around to help or study with.
Comfort: 5
Drink/Food Accessibility: 10
Help/Tutoring: 3
Quietness: 7
<24/40 Points> Elk Horn Brewery | 686 E Broadway St., Eugene, OR | Monday 11am – 9pm; Tuesday – Thursday 11am – 10pm; Friday 11am-11pm; Saturday 9am – 11pm; Sunday 9am – 9pm
Just down the street from the University of Oregon is Elk Horn Brewery, a known college student-friendly spot. They’ve got a wide selection of beers and ciders on tap, and a decent amount of southern-themed items on the menu – such as the huge Bavarian Pretzel, a favorite among many. Making this place even more appealing to students is their popular “student deal” – a burger and a beer for $9.95, or a burger and a cider for $11.95. When there isn’t a major sports game on, it’s pretty quiet and can be a good spot to get some studying done whether sitting inside or outside on the patio.
Comfort: 6
Drink/Food Accessibility: 10
Help/Tutoring: 1
Quietness: 7
<21/40 Points> Elevation Bouldering Gym | 348 Lincoln Street, Eugene, OR | Daily 9 am – 11 pm
Need to get a fun workout in and some studying? Look no further than purchasing a Day Pass – $13 for students, $15 for adults – to the Elevation Bouldering Gym off of Lincoln Street. Better yet, if you find that it’s a good fit for you, there are monthly passes available for $65. There, you can visit many of the amenities they have to offer, including more than 9,000 square feet of climbing terrain, a separate fitness area, coffee, shower rooms and, most importantly for us students, there is an upstairs lounge to study at. One Yelp reviewer commented that this area is especially “fabulous” and that “you’re likely to see someone on a laptop at a table.”
Comfort: 6
Drink/Food Accessibility: 6
Help/Tutoring: 6
Quietness: 3
<20/40 Points> Ninkasi Brewing Tasting Room | 272 Van Buren St., Eugene, OR | Monday – Wednesday 12pm – 9pm; Thursday – Saturday 12pm – 10pm; Sunday: 12pm – 9pm
Whenever one hears of Ninkasi Brewing, they picture Eugene. Their Total Domination IPA has become a hit nationwide and can be found in almost every beer-carrying store you can think of. Open relatively late hours daily, this mainly outdoor venue can be a refreshing place to catch up on some work. Food can also be ordered from nearby restaurants.
Comfort: 5
Drink/Food Accessibility: 8
Help/Tutoring: 1
Quietness: 6
