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    July 5, 2024

    The Best of Calgary 2024 Edition: Hear it from students!

    As a prospective student, knowing all the best spots for hanging out, eating, and even napping, can take time. If you are going to be new to the city or campus, you might not even know where to start. That’s why we’ve created a guide for you – hear it from Arista, Nicole, Samara, Nghi, Ryan, and Paulina! 

    Left to right: Arista, Ryan, Nghi, Rex, Nicole, Samara and Paulina! 

    Arista 

    Best place to study: The Taylor Family Digital Library (TFDL) is always a great spot for me! I usually like finding a desk on the first floor, near Good Earth, but you can also book study rooms if you want a quieter space or have a group project. TFDL also has designated quiet floors at the top for studying. 

    Best place to eat: My go to is the Stor or Fresh Eats! The Stor has small snacks like chips and candy, and energy drinks or soda to help me stay motivated and on task while studying. Fresh Eats always has a healthier option that is also quick and easy to grab, they have soup and chili for less than $4.00, which is always the perfect comfort food or way to get warm in the winter. 

    Best Place to live: I think either Brentwood or on Campus because it is so easy for commuting, and you have a lot of food and shopping options as well.   

    Best place for a nap: The 6th floor of the arts building has the best couches, and it is a decently quiet area with low traffic, so it is perfect for a quiet break.   

    Best place to go for a day off: I love driving to Banff National Park. The mountains are perfect for a day trip when I have a day off. In Calgary there are also lots of trails around the Bow River or even downtown.   



    Nicole 

    Best place to study: The Gallagher Library! It’s not a very well-known space on campus but it has both the opportunity to study with your friends on the main floor, or study silently in the basement! 

    Best place to eat: Hands down, Bake Chef! They have lots of options for Vietnamese subs, and any other snacks to get you through a long day. I recommend the cheese bun! 

    Best Place to live: I would say Kensington, because there is a lot that you can do in the neighborhood, and it's also close to campus! 

    Best place for a nap: In MacEwan Hall, the cubicles in the speaker's corner are a personal favorite! 
     


    Samara 

    Best place to study: The Taylor Institute for teaching and learning. It’s a quiet spot with a lot of cool features. Check out the floating study pods! 

    Best place to eat: I always recommend Alumni Sandwiches on 17th Avenue. I love their chorizo torta.  

    Best Place to live: Bridgeland. It's a bustling neighborhood with a ton of events and cafés to explore.  

    Best place for a nap: The Lobby of University Theatre. The secluded couches make for a great nap spot.  

    Best view of the city: Tom Campbell's Hill Natural Park. 



    Nghi 

    Best place to study: Either one of the desks in the ICT Building close to Good Earth, or the tables in front of the social stairs in the EEEL Building. But when I need to concentrate, I prefer the basement of Gallagher Library in Earth Sciences or a private room in the TFDL. 

    Best place to eat: FuwaFuwa, in the heart of the University District. Their fluffy pancakes with hot chocolate sauce and topped with fresh strawberries will make you want to come back for a seconds.  

    Best Place to live: Kensington and Sunnyside. This area is surrounded by so many magnificent stores, restaurants, and coffee shops. “Wow” was literally the word that I used when I was walking along the streets.  

    Best place for a nap: Definitely my room because I live on campus! 

    Best supermarket to go to: T&T supermarket at Harvest Hill! They sell all sorts of ingredients and different kinds of groceries for Asian dishes. I also love their handmade bread.  

     

    Ryan 

    Best place to study: The best place to study is the fifth floor of TFDL, it is nice and quiet there and you can get so much work done. 

    Best place to eat: Without a doubt, it is the Last Defense Lounge. Their prices are very good, their food is fantastic, there is always an open table, and they have great service. 

    Best Place to live: When I lived on campus I lived in Olympus Hall, which was an amazing place to stay. 

    Best place for a nap: The best place would be the Neurodivergent Centre, it is very comfy with low lighting and quiet. 



    Paulina 

    Best place to study: My favorite place to study is Hunter Student Commons (HSNC). I love all the natural light from the big windows and the subtle breeze of fresh air from time to time. There are also a lot of unique features and different seating options like quiet, cozy booths, long wooden desks, and even sound-proofed pods! I like that I get the option to study in quiet spaces, work and chat with friends comfortably and even play a game of life-size chess with my group project members during our breaks.  

    Best place to eat: One of my favorites is The Den and Black Lounge in MacEwan Hall. With its very relaxed atmosphere and a casual-fusion menu, this spot is sure to bring good times and great meals.  

    Best Place to live: Kensington, due to its proximity to the campus and Sunnyside CTrain Station. Located on the outskirts of the city center, most roads connect to local shopping malls, plazas, parks, river walks, and scenic pathways. The perfect combination of a peaceful community and being in the middle of all the downtown action.   

    Best place for a nap: I would say that the best place to take a nap is located in Science Theaters and that is the Science Collaborative Space. It is super quiet, discreet, and has some very cozy armchairs and futons to doze off on. All students, regardless of their faculty, are welcome to use this space, but it can be closed for faculty-specific events sometimes, so just watch out for those postings.  

    Best place to buy school merch and school supplies: Definitely the Campus Bookstore located in MacEwan Student Centre. From hoodies and travel mugs to lab coats and textbooks, you can find just about anything there. Show off your school spirit by getting a Dinos sweatshirt!  



    For the ones that we agreed upon.... 

    Weirdest UCalgary tradition: 

    Definitely the tradition with the sculpture in Science Theatres, called the Zipper. According to university legend, giving the Zipper a spin before an exam brings forth a successful grade. However, spinning the Zipper is said to be bad luck only for engineering students. Sign up for a campus tour to hear the rest of the legend! 

    Best UCalgary event:  

    Any event where we get lots of students to participate! Orientation, during your first week, is always a blast with games and the chance to meet other students in your faculty. The sporting events are also a lot of fun from the kick-off football game to the Crowchild Classic Hockey game! These events really showcase school spirit and bring our student body together.  

    Best Food on Campus:  

    Bake Chef! Located in MacEwan Hall, you really cannot go wrong with anything you get from there.  

    Best off-campus activity: 

    The Rocky Mountains are so close making this a great option and all our walking paths downtown and around the Bow River allow many options for off campus activities both with and without a car!  


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