University Star

When the weather creates nostalgia for river diving and chute-riding, local San Marcos businesses provide a means for students to cope with their lack of warm waters and sunshine.

From nights of dancing, drum beats and didgeridoo at Tantra Coffee House to jazz-filled afternoons at Wake the Dead, San Marcos has a bit of culture for every taste. Cedar’s Mediterranean Cafe on North Edward Gary exhibits the showcased culture with a hookah bar offering over 40 flavors of shisha, authetic dishes, Moroccan tea and Turkish coffee.

Stratosphere Lounge, another hookah bar, has a BYOB policy and provides group games and comfortable couches.

Wake the Dead Coffee House on Ranch Road 12 gives residents Tim Burton flavor with striped walls, skulls decorating the room and a large skeleton-and-flowers sculpture in the garden. Wake the Dead offers a variety of food and beverages next to a warm fireplace along with a variety of entertainment, art galleries and live music. Information about their Sunday chair massage events is posted on their Facebook site.

“Wake the Dead has good beer and a back porch,” said Eric Mathis, studio art senior. “It’s off the beaten path.”

The Taproom offers burgers and choices from the 42 different beers on tap for those of age. The Taproom has six televisions for viewing the latest games, and Tuesday nights are trivia nights.

“It’s a nice place to bring your gal on a first or last date,” said Mandeep Rangi, broadcast journalism junior. “(The Taproom has) more beers than you have ever heard of and the best burgers in San Marcos.”

The Taproom offers the ‘hell burger,’ a good option for cold weather.

The Coffee Pot is a local business that strives to entertain. The shop hosts different live music on weekends and jazz bands Wednesday nights.

The Coffee Pot offers an extensive food menu consisting of specialty sandwiches, cheesecakes and salads.

“It’s really laid back and mellow,” said Leslie Tolbert, communication design junior. 

Fifty-cent movie nights at Showplace 3 on Tuesdays keeps students busy when the weather prevents late-night swims. Sunset Bowling offers student specials Monday nights with a student ID, and Sunday nights are poker nights at Tantra.

“Tantra is good people, good environment and good music,” said Adrian Zamora, political science senior.

Tantra hosts Gypsy Jazz Night Mondays, open mic night Thursdays and live music Friday and Saturday nights. The coffee house features a farmer’s market from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

“I think it’s great because it’s outdoors,” said Heather Anastasiu, literature graduate student. “For live outdoor music you usually have to go to Austin.”