Things to do on a Friday Night at UC San Diego

As an exhausting week of lectures, labs, and exams comes to a close, most students look forward to a weekend of academic relief. Friday nights are no exception, and UC San Diego undergrads have a wide variety of enjoyable engagements right at their fingertips.

Depending on the time of year, students have the ability to attend home games for some of the athletic teams on campus. Friday nights are typically utilized for doubleheaders, where the men and women of a particular sport play back to back. If it happens to be a week teams are on the road, many athletically inclined fans visit Home Plate, a cherished sports bar on campus that not only offers wide access to professional games and ESPN networks, but also serves up a mean burger and beverage accompaniments.

For those who actively want to engage in fitness, the 44,000-square-foot RIMAC Arena keeps its doors open until 1 a.m., allowing access to weight rooms, private courts, dance rooms, and organized intramural sports.

Aside from sport-related facilities, UCSD has additional locations for students who wish to seek out alternative entertainment. Porter’s Pub has been hosting live music, performances, and celebratory events in La Jolla since 1993. The 6,000-square-foot venue happens to be located near campus, and is well known for an extensive, craft brew beer list. In addition, the Loft, located on the second floor of the Price Center, also functions as a multivariate venue that hosts live music, guest speakers, and poetic readings. Tickets are affordable; seating is provided, and a full-service kitchen allows guests to enjoy a selection of food, wine, beer and coffee.

The geographical location of University of California San Diego also lends itself to an accessible array of nightlife engagements. Many students eagerly find ways to exit campus, either by car or shuttle, and head out to explore the city. The Westfield University Town Center (UTC), located about a mile away, is a general hotspot for undergrads. This outdoor shopping mall has an extensive store directory, an eclectic food court, additional patio restaurants, and is home to ArcLight Cinemas.

The streets of Downtown La Jolla are also lined with shops and fine dining, and art galleries are often open for viewings. Additionally, a portion of the restaurants have exterior access to the La Jolla Cove, an ideal spot for breathtaking views of the ocean and perhaps a sunset. For those who are above the age of 21 and enjoy dancing, the Gaslamp District in Downtown San Diego (about twenty minutes by car) is the best place to visit for parties and clubs. However, of the nearby nightlife destinations, Pacific Beach is perhaps the most frequented. On Friday nights, the bars and draft rooms overflow with college life, and typically stay busy until the wee hours of the morning. And of course, for the exceptionally studious and academically inclined, Geisel Library remains open until midnight.

Regardless of age or interest, there are countless activities for the wide demographic of students attending University of California San Diego to pursue and enjoy, and Fridays are a celebrated night to do so.

Hannah Guthman graduated from the University of California San Diego in 2015 with a B.A. in Communication. She is currently living in Southern California while pursuing a career in writing.