Krista Tschetter & Hallie Thomas
What better way is there to welcome back spring breakers than to remind them of what Brookings has to offer? We’re giving you the best of the best, the brightest of the bright. Hey, it’s only our opinion.
Best Breakfast
Cook’s Kitchen. With prices as cheap as a weekend at grandma’s and the ambiance to match, it’s the best place to go eat with a case of the bed-head and a serious appetite. Everything’s hot, everything’s fried and nobody asks questions. And they open seriously early, so die-hards can hit it up post-party and still sneak in a little shut-eye before class at 9 a.m.
Best Coffee
Our friend three-pots-a-day-John says Artworks frame gallery (next to Brost’s Aquarium & Hobby on Main St.) is the best place to get your fix of caffeine and culture. They serve coffee in the back, and you can sip while you browse. Not many students seem to know about this place, so check it out on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Come on kids, it’s a stimulant, and it’s legal!
Best Book Store
The Brookings Book Company. Stop by, sort through the stacks and shelves, if only to find your lit class books at cheaper prices then the university book store. They also sell records and comic books and have a book search service. Best of all, they have a cat. Seriously, right in the store.
Best Music Store
Sound Station 7 in the University Mall. Two words: used CDs. Lot’s of ‘em. Hopefully used by people that treat them better than you do. And they’re super cheap. That, and the indie atmosphere and essence of patchouli plays to your inner-hippie. Even if you’re looking for a copy of Air Supply’s Hearts in Motion. Plus, they have a great selection of posters to adorn the cold plaster of any dorm room.
What’s more American than eating a juicy burger in the glow of multiple TVs simultaneously broadcasting sporting events from around the world (and the occasional episode of 7th Heaven)? Cubby’s Sports Bar and Grill offers 1/2 pound burgers prepared a variety of ways, including cajun, mushroom and swiss, barbecue and bacon cheeseburger. They come with a mound of criss-cross seasoned fries or a salad and are reasonably priced at around $6.
Best Gifts
The South Dakota Art Museum on Medary Avenue. Y’all know where it’s at, you just never stop in. The gift shop offers everything from baubles to tapestries, posters to books. And many of them are crafted by local artisans who remind you that something beautiful can come from the frozen South Dakota tundra. Check out the Hot & Twisted handmade glass bead jewelry. Crafted by Amy Fill from Volin, SD, it’s high-quality and something you can’t get any where else.
Best Video Rental
Movie Gallery. They have a large selection of old movies, and they sell a lot of previously viewed tapes for under $10. Plus, deals, deals, deals. On Tuesdays, old releases are two for $1.49. Also, all rentals are seven days. We also like the service. Ask for a recommendation, we haven’t gone wrong yet (Amelie, Donnie Darko, those are just a few). P.S. Dare your friends to check out the adult film section. It’s in a back room, for the discretionary among you. Naughty!
Best Fountain Pop
GUZZLERS! BOZIED AMOCO AT 6TH AND MEDARY! FORTY-FIVE CENTS FOR 42 OUNCES! THAT’S AMAZING! YEAH!
Best Street
Harvey Dunn. Where it snakes around just past Sexaur Park. Every house in that section looks straight out of Leave it to Beaver (on technicolor crack). It’s best if you slow way down and whistle any innocuous TV theme song from the 1950s. It’ll trip ya out.
Best Mixed Drinks
Jim’s Tap. These little puppies sure give you the bang for your buck. But they’re not for the weak of heart (or stomach). The bartenders at Jim’s show affection for their patrons by burning their drinks. A whole lot. But we’re poor and we like cost effective. And by effective, we mean REALLY effective. Try a backpacker.
Best Day (Night) Trip
It’s about a two hour drive if you don’t know how to get there, but once you find it, the movie theater in Milbank is great for a night out. It sounds odd, but the tiny theater often features indie films even before Sioux Falls get them. Bowling for Columbine and Frida are two of the recent features. It’s also under five bucks and the concession stand is atrociously cheap for this day and age of nine-dollar boxes of popcorn.
Best Pizza
We have a tie between George’s and Papa John’s. Papa John’s has great dipping sauces and hot peppers (plus speedy delivery) but George’s sells by the slice from the window. And you can’t get it anywhere but Brookings. We leave this one up to you.
Best Place to Buy Smokes
We are not condoning this habit, but smokers are people too. Hey, we could be condoning ax murdering or something. Anyway, the cheapest cigs are at Ampride on 6th Street. At least they seem cheapest. Not that we smoke. Really.
Best Live Entertainment
We have to give a shout out to our compatriots on the University Program Council. They have a part in bringing most live entertainment to campus, and it’s often educational as well as entertaining (and free). We liked the Vibe’n'Verse and comedian Zach Galifianakis. Honorable mention goes to Max at the Jackalope Lounge. It’s consistently been a hot spot for live music, especially local artists. Kudos.
Best New Building
The Performing Arts Center. The building is amazing, the acoustics are astounding and its all very state-of-the-art. And for anyone who’s ever done a show in Doner, it’s a well-deserved facility for the theater department folk.
Best Bartender
Lora Zeng from The Lantern Lounge. This girl is a marvel to watch in action. Often flying solo behind the bar, she ping-pongs from one end to the other, magically producing your favorite drink almost before you have time to order. She remembers who you are, she remembers what you like and she always has time to smile and say hi. Observe the subtle art of bartending at its best before she graduates in May with a double major in Biology and Horticulture and a double minor in Zoology and Chemistry. Tip her well, kiddies.
Best Bar
After months of research, the numbers have been crunched and the votes have been tabulated. And on the basis of pure numbers, the award goes to (drumroll please) Skinner’s Pub. They have the most pool tables, the most bathroom stalls and the most room in general. The waitresses are friendly and eager to rush you drinks and Tobasco-spiked popcorn. They also play great music (i.e. Bowie and Queen’s Under Pressure and all the Ryan Adams you can handle).
Thomas and Tschetter are barely qualified to tie their own shoes. Dissenting opinions can be posted on the Collegian message boards at http://www.sdsucollegian.com.
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