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Hump Day Chomp: Study Space Edition

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If you’ve already started studying for finals, you know that nothing fights the study blues quite like a good snack. Here are a few off-campus locations that combine delicious food with a convenient and comfortable study space.

1. Open City

Located on the grounds of the National Cathedral, this is the sister café of popular study spot Tryst. It opened today (12/10) and offers cool tables and breakfast food, sandwiches and salads. They also have WiFi, which is such an added bonus.

2. Panera

Just a GUTS bus ride away, Panera Bread in Dupont has an entire downstairs level with booths, tables and a ton of outlets for all your charging needs. They are currently running a promotion offering any baked good for $0.99 (these usually are $2+) with the purchase of an entree and drink. 4E recommends the chicken and avocado Cobb salad or any type of soup in a bread bowl (duh). They also have an extensive breakfast menu served until 10:30 a.m.

3. Farmers Fishers Bakers

Facing the scenic Potomac waterfront and well known for a really cool (expensive) weekend brunch, Farmers Fishers Bakers also offers a really cheap weekday breakfast menu. You can order and hang out with free WiFi from 7:30 to 10:00 am. Also, the cinnamon buns are to die for.

These places will help you gently break the bubble during finals week as you discover new food and maybe a new favorite study space. Be brave and venture off campus — it’s a great way to avoid the kids you don’t like at school and quickly experience some of the D.C. culture.

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Restaurant Week Preview

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When you’re a college student, you’re pretty much broke. It’s that simple. Unfortunately, you just can’t afford to wine and dine yourself like you deserve. Good meals are hard to come by — unless your parents decide to visit — and I, for one, always take full advantage of that opportunity.

But for this week, we’re in luck! D.C. Restaurant Week of Winter 2013 begins today and lasts until Sunday! For that limited time period, you can enjoy a three-course lunch or dinner for a reduced price. The fixed price for lunch is $20.13 and $35.13 for dinner. A number of Georgetown restaurants are participating in Restaurant Week including Café Milano, Clyde’s, Filomena, Il Canale, Nick’s Riverside Grill, and Farmers Fishers Bakers. A quick side note. I went to Farmers Fishers Bakers last weekend, and it is by far my favorite restaurant in Georgetown. If you’re going to go anywhere for Restaurant Week, go here. But make reservations well in advance because this place is always booked.

For those of you who have never been to a restaurant during Restaurant Week, here are some tips to make the most out of your experience.

Make Reservations. This isn’t the kind of thing where you can just stroll into a restaurant and expect to be seated immediately. Restaurants are packed during Restaurant Week regardless of where you go, so you have to be prepared. Your friends might think you’re crazy for making reservations five days in advance, but they will thank you later.

Read Menus and Reviews.  You want to find the restaurant that is going to give you the best deal, but you need to actually like the type of food that the restaurant serves. Try to do some research beforehand so that you aren’t disappointed when you get there.

Check the List of Participating Restaurants.  Not every restaurant in D.C. has fixed prices for Restaurant Week. You should always ask if the restaurant is participating in Restaurant Week when you call to make reservations.

This week is also a great opportunity to explore some cool neighborhoods in D.C. But, wherever you go, food will be involved so that’s an automatic win. Have fun eating!

Photo: OpenTable