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Photograph by George Sakkestad Making the Grade: Carolina Sanchez cracks the books at the Ugly Mug. Get Smart Study Hangouts By Jessica Lyons POP QUIZ: Name three criteria for a respectable study hangout. Time's up. Put down those pencils. Half-credit for the following: late-night hours, laptop-friendly tables and electric sockets. Full credit for caffeine, tasty victuals (preferably chocolate, pastries or any combination of the two), flirting and sufficient distractions to ensure no real studying is accomplished. Of course, it's unrealistic to expect any studying to take place before 8pm--and even that's generous. Hence, the need for caffeine. It's safe to say that coffeehouses are always a best bet. Factor in time to decide between an icy drink or a hot drink, chocolate or vanilla, coffee or tea--and would you like a biscotti or chocolate-chip cookie with that espresso? That puts us at 9. But once sufficiently settled in, studying may lose its appeal. Distractions are a must. Either bring some--magazines or trashy novels are always a nice substitute for the history of ancient Rome--or plan accordingly. Study hot-spots along Pacific Avenue, like Lulu Carpenter's and the Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company, for example, offer a virtual cornucopia of distractions, from nearby bookstores to window shopping and people watching. Textbooks and computer screens will wreak havoc on the eyes, so remember to give 'em plenty of study breaks. Why not go strike up a conversation? When it comes to weighing the pros and cons of a potential date for Friday night or a potential A on the O-Chem midterm, there's really no contest. Now the coffeehouse is closing. Time to retire for the night. Isn't studying fun? Aptos Coffee Roasting Company 19 Rancho del Mar Shopping Center, Aptos, 685.0100 Cafe Pergolesi 418 Cedar St., SC, 426.1775 Lulu Carpenter's 1545 Pacific Ave., SC, 429.9804 Mr. Toots 221 Esplanade, Capitola, 475.3679 Pacific Coffee Roasting Company 7554 Soquel Dr., Aptos, 685.2520 Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company 1330 Pacific Ave., SC, 459.0100 Surf City Coffee Company 9105 Soquel Dr., Aptos, 684.2750 3070 Porter St., Soquel, 465.0106 The Ugly Mug 4640 Soquel Dr., Soquel, 477.1341 Borders Books 1220 Pacific Ave., SC, 466.9644 [ Santa Cruz | MetroActive Central | Archives ]