Author: aleclivney

As an avid sports fan, I can officially say that we have entered what I would label as “Sports Heaven.” Imagine any semi-major sport and chances are, it’s currently ongoing and viewable in some capacity. Between the back-and-forth battle between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies that closed out the MLB season, the start of the NBA and NHL, the progression of this year’s turbulent NFL season (congratulations to all my New York Giants fans, it finally seems like this team has figured it out), the ongoing and frequent tennis and golf tournaments and of course, the approaching start date of the 2022 World Cup, it feels overwhelming trying to keep up with everything! 

Genuinely, we are living in a time of an unprecedented sports climate, and we, the viewers, fans, and maybe even firsthand spectators, have the privilege of watching as much of it as we can. 

I’m a bit biased in my sports preferences, so I apologize for my excessive discussion about the Chicago Bulls’ shaky start to the 2022-23 season and the unusual emergence of competitive teams that were initially thought to be perceived as “bottom-tier” teams. Unfortunately, it seems that our starting point guard Lonzo Ball has shown no signs of improvement from his knee injury. Thus, he will remain sidelined for an extended period of time. With that said, our young core looks awesome, so I guess the future might be bright. 

Anyways, all of you from Milwaukee and Boston, assuming you have followed the NBA’s start, must be happy, considering each of these teams look healthy and dominant. To everyone from Atlanta and Cleveland, it’s hard to say where I see these teams in the future. For right now, they both appear extremely competitive and determined to prove their worth in a cutthroat Eastern Conference. For my Philly fans, more to come later in the post, but the James Harden injury is very concerning and may ruin the team’s season. 

The Western Conference has me more confused than my multivariable calculus class. With the defending champion Golden State Warriors off to a slow start, both the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers reeling early, and the continuous high level of play from a Utah team, which the league assumed would be near the worst team, it’s hard to gauge where I see these teams in the future. 

Consistent with the NBA’s recent beginning, is the NHL’s daily slate of regular season games. Truthfully, I am not a hockey fan whatsoever, so I cannot speak on how the season has progressed and who has emerged as early championship contenders. With that said, I hope the Chicago Blackhawks are playing well— though I couldn’t tell you their record if you asked me. 

Sadly, the 2021-2022 MLB season has come to a close. For my Phillies fans and, more importantly, Astros fans, this World Series was nothing short of epic — solely because of the lingering threat that if the Phillies were to win, the country would enter another recession (seriously, look it up if you don’t believe me). From the back-and-forth battle between each team, Bryce Harper’s heroic postseason run, and Jeremy Peña’s record-breaking rookie World Series performance, the Astros slowly wore out the Phillies with their depth, experience, and talent. 

With that said, if there were a city that can will a team to victory, it most definitely would have been Philadelphia. I’m not even that big of a baseball fan, and I watched nearly every pitch of this series, oftentimes switching up who I rooted for based on who’s winning. Nonetheless, I watched almost the entirety of this series. As of Nov. 5, the Houston Astros are the newest team to be crowned World Series champions, hopefully pushing aside their cheating scandal a few years prior. 

Not much has changed with the NFL. Concussions remain at the forefront of the league’s focus, the Buffalo Bills are getting better every year and yet again, the city of Philadelphia is shining brightest amongst all 32 teams in the league as their Eagles remain undefeated. On a more somber note, unless you’re a New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers or Atlanta Falcons fan, Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are struggling. Simply put, the team seems disorganized and unmotivated, and combine that with Brady’s recent divorce of his longtime wife Gisele Bündchen, it appears that this team isn’t going anywhere far. The Brady fan within me is deeply saddened this season is most likely his final with the league, regardless of my distaste for Brady’s former team where he won six Super Bowl titles, the New England Patriots.

Ah, the best for last (one might say): The World Cup. Perhaps the only sporting event other than the Olympics that can bring the entire world together, the World Cup is slated to start on Sunday, Nov. 20. Prior to this year, I was not the biggest follower of soccer, or fútbol for my non-Americans, so my overwhelming amount of excitement for Nov. 20 has definitely been a recent development. 

For my fellow Americans, it appears that the United States might be another early exit for the sole purpose of us just being a younger and less experienced team than our competitors; a rather depressing sentiment, but a true one I must say. The United States is scheduled to play Wales on Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. and England, one of the heavy favorites, on Nov. 25 at 2 p.m. With this tournament being Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup, supporters of both Argentina and Portugal will make sure to tune into each team’s first game. Viewers should also make sure to look out for France and Belgium, both of whom are expected to make a deep run, as they will surely be in the early headlines of the tournament. 

Sports fan or not, I cannot encourage all of you enough to tune into the World Series, World Cup or whatever sporting event you prefer. Please put the books down, leave the office early or skip that night out, and take some time to enjoy yourself! Sports have the power to demand our emotional and physical support, send us through a whirlwind of emotions and entertain us in ways a movie or book cannot. Who knows, you might even learn a thing or two while watching! 

If you’re behind on your work (like me), you must be looking for a place to lock in, grind and study. Assuming the chaos of Lau 2, the awkwardness of Lau 3, the silent cubicles of Lau 4 and 5, and of course, the morbid nature of Lau 1, are becoming overbearing, you’re left with no place to go … considering the HFSC has reached maximum capacity prior to 8 a.m. and the breakout rooms of MSB, well, they’re never open. 

In times of desperation and much needed solitude, I turn to my off-campus staples — places I journey to for the fantastic food, beverage, ambiance and yes, maybe some work. Don’t worry, every single place I have included on this list offers a wide variety of caffeinated drinks. With that said, studying off campus does not mean that you must purchase food or drinks — there are times when I simply go to a coffee shop solely to work and end up buying nothing. 

Until I find a summer job, I probably need to cut back on my off-campus studying trips. But if you’re feeling adventurous or have a few bucks to spare, by all means please consider my personal favorites at each store!

LINK TO GIF

Saxbys – 3500 O Street NW

Ah, Saxbys — one of the most convenient and tasty off-campus study spots Georgetown has to offer. When I come to Saxbys, it’s for one of (or a combination of) three reasons: I’m lazy and don’t want to walk that far, The Daily Grind or the bacon, egg, and cheese (BAC). 

The Daily Grind is undoubtedly my favorite drink between any of these four locations I recommend. It is an incredible blend of peanut butter, bananas, almond milk, and coffee, making for a great breakfast and serving as fuel for the work I’m attempting to complete. When I get their BAC (and this is relatively infrequent), it’s indefinitely the highlight of my day and exponentially better than Leo’s (sorry not sorry). 

In terms of pricing, both the daily grind and BAC are roughly the same at about $6 each. Most medium sized coffee beverages hover around the price range of $4-6 as well. 

All the food and drink is fairly cheap and the service is awesome, which helps contribute to a more positive experience. Finding a seat or table is never a problem, but the real sweet spot is the big couch they have near the back. However, I will say that at times, I do find myself putting headphones in to avoid distraction from my noisy surroundings. 

Also, if you’re antisocial like I am (sometimes), you definitely run the risk of seeing one, if not more, of your friends from school, which can sometimes make getting work done a bit harder. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a fun and easy spot close to campus, I recommend Saxbys and their Daily Grind and/or their BAC. 

9/10. A phenomenal option. 

Foxtrot – 1267 Wisconsin Avenue NW

My personal favorite. Foxtrot is a place where I can escape the “Georgetown bubble” while enjoying the plethora of amenities they offer. Even before you enter Foxtrot, the walk over is beautiful — headphones in, sunglasses on, letting your eyes wander aimlessly around the beautiful town we call home. What can beat that? 

While locating a spot to work might be difficult at times and, quite frankly, is the one underlying flaw of Foxtrot, I’m willing to overlook it considering how delicious their seasonal couscous bowl is. Not to mention that if you’re feeling in a snacky mood, you can explore their Bodega or mini supermarket. If I don’t go the bowl route, I make sure to order either my iced coffee or mixed berry smoothie. You can’t go wrong with either. 

Sadly, Foxtrot happens to be the most expensive … so I make sure to enjoy every trip here. For the bowl, we’re looking at about $10 with tax, and if you choose to purchase the smoothie as well, it will cost you another $9 (don’t purchase the smoothie unless you really want it … $9 is crazy for a smoothie). Most coffee-oriented drinks are slightly less costly, but still on the more expensive side in comparison to other options. 

Now that we’re all settled in with our food and drinks, let me explain why Foxtrot is really my second home. Between the absolute vibe of a playlist that Foxtrot boasts, the variety of seating options and general ambience of the store, I always find myself at ease and ready to work. I rarely put my headphones in to block out surrounding noise and disruptions, but I will admit that I sometimes stare aimlessly at the passing traffic on Wisconsin. 

9.5/10 – highly recommended. 

Compass – 1351 Wisconsin Avenue NW

In all honesty, Compass is typically my default option if I cannot find space at Foxtrot. But don’t get me wrong — Compass is an absolute mood for vibing, drinking some coffee and getting work done. Like Foxtrot, the walk over is quite relaxing and mentally prepares you to dial in and get your stuff done … and by that, I mean stare at your computer screen for a few hours and occasionally type some words. 

The coffee at Compass is superior to both Saxby’s and Foxtrot, which makes it easier to drink three cups if you’re there on a Sunday with an assignment due at midnight that you haven’t even looked at. Coffee here is one of the cheaper options on this list and will run you about $4-5 on most drinks. While the drinks here are top notch, the food is definitely lacking and I would recommend bringing a snack or two with you on your journey. 

PSA: If you go to Foxtrot and cannot find a table, grab food from there and bring it to Compass — but you might need to hide it from the employees. Perhaps my favorite aspect of Compass is the dynamic of the space. There are a ton of tables and chairs, so finding space to work is never an issue. Noise is never a problem and very rarely do I run into someone from school, so it’s an excellent space for some alone time. 

8/10 – An easy and accessible work environment \

Blue Bottle Coffee – 1046 Potomac Street NW

So, I’ve only gone to Blue Bottle once … but I can promise you that I will most definitely be making many more trips here next semester. Without a doubt, the best component of Blue Bottle is the outdoor seating they offer. Whether that be at the tablesright outside or the swinging benches in the area below their space, there is just something about doing work outside that makes it more enjoyable. 

Although I didn’t purchase a coffee during my one trip to Blue Bottle, I have heard great things about their products. Pricing fluctuates here, with most coffee beverages costing anywhere from $6-8. This is definitely a more expensive option, but keep in mind that your only purchase here will most likely be that one drink. 

The walk over is definitely longer than most options, but entirely worth it on a beautiful day. Not to mention that you’re in the middle of town and can explore some other delicious food options (Chipotle always) if you’re really that hungry. I can’t provide too much insight into the likelihood of being productive at Blue Bottle … but at the end of the day, we all know it’s about the food and drink anyway. 

8/10 recommended – A spot that needs more recognition 

I’m all for the Lau 5 grind or the MSB breakout room. Let’s be real though. Working in the same environment continuously is not sustainable and quite frankly really boring. I’m not saying that studying at Saxby’s or walking to do work at Foxtrot will guarantee you better grades, but I can promise you that a change of scenery will help both the efficiency and quality of your work. 

Not to mention that studying off-campus offers you the opportunity to indulge in some delicious foods and tasty beverages. Even better is the chance to escape the newly reinstated mask police within Georgetown buildings (if you want to remain unmasked). Regardless of studying or not, if you’re just looking for a nice walk and some cheaper food, any of these places will surely satisfy your needs.