By: Sophia Pei ‘22

It may be autumn but it won’t be cooling down (much). Here are some of my favorite ice cream stores in LA that are easily accessible by public transport from USC. This list is not for the weak of heart, all of these stores are known for their unique (and unconventional) flavors so explore with an open mind!

By: Danielle Collins ‘20

Do you love dogs? (The only correct answer is yes). Hundreds of dog lovers came together for Corgi Beach Day this past Saturday! I attended this magical event and wanted to keep sharing the corgi love. Read on to learn more about the event and see some ADORABLE corgi photos!

By: Alexis M Peters ‘20

So, home is too far away to justify buying a plane ticket back for only a week (or you just really don’t want to spend your break hanging out with your little brother), or your friends are all going on fun trips out of town that for whatever reason didn’t work out for you. You’re spending spring break in LA, and you have no idea what to do with your time that doesn’t include banging your head against the wall from absolute boredom. Trust me, I get it. But there are loads of fun things you can do if you’re staying in town during spring break. As USC students, we’re a little desensitized to the glamour and glory of Los Angeles. City of Angels? Yeah, yeah. Been there, studied there. But remember, LA is actually a spring break destination for other students across the country. So, if you’re thinking there’s nothing to do: think again…

By: Alexis M Peters ‘20

Okay, I know what you’re thinking, and the answer is no. I didn’t stay out too late, and I wasn’t being an irresponsible college student. I was living it up on the dance floor at 7 AM on a Wednesday for the good of my health. The fact of the matter is: I hate exercise. I hate going to the gym. I hate running. I hate movement just for the sake of movement. You will never find me doing squats at the gym. You will never find me on an elliptical or a treadmill. And if you do, check up on me to make sure I’m alright.

By: Danielle Collins ‘20

I love movies, and I love seeing movies at the theater. But in LA, too many movies nights can break the bank. Coming from my hometown where movie tickets are $7, going to the theater in LA was a shock. So I’ve done my best to figure out how to keep seeing movies without draining my bank account. My two biggest recommendations are buying tickets from the USC Ticket Office, or investing in MoviePass if you’re a serious moviegoer. Keep reading to learn about those options and a couple of other suggestions!

By: Danielle Collins ‘20

I’m sure you’ve heard someone say it before: we live in the USC bubble. Whether we like to admit it or not, there’s some truth behind that statement. I totally get it— USC is a great place and I want to spend as much time soaking it up in the 4 years I’m here as I can. But you can still soak up USC’s awesome-ness even once the bubble is popped. One of the best ways to break out of the USC bubble is getting involved with service opportunities in the LA area. And, trust me, there are a lot of them. Not only will you become more aware of the community we live in outside of USC’s campus, but you’ll be helping others and have some great experiences to grow along the way.

By: Joy Ofodu ‘18

I remember dressing up in wacky costumes every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night as a freshman (yup, throwing it back to Fall 2014, folks) jumping from house to house, looking for adventure and hiding from trouble. 28th Street and I were new to each other then: I graciously tied hair, passed out water bottles and ushered giggling floormates away from the ragers, the comforting blue glow of DPS Emergency light-posts guiding us home. Over the next three semesters, visits to The Row came fewer and farther between. I found community, meaningful (audible) conversation and good vibes in so many other places on and off campus that I didn’t need to lean on The Row anymore. As a Sober Trojan and non-Greek, we simply grew apart. If you or someone you know is looking to get away from 28th Street, I have a few ideas.

By: Terry Nguyen ‘20

On Friday, April 5, USC hosted its fifth annual FemFest, a festival dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments and promoting women within the music industry. The event was made possible through the joined efforts of various feminist organizations on campus, including the Undergraduate Student Government, USC’s Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment, and MUSE at USC. On the Facebook page, USG Program Board and USC FemFest also contributed to hosting the event. FemFest 2017 was a six-and-a-half hour event that took place in Founder’s Park, starting at 5 p.m. with a variety of female musicians headlining the show. The event was free and open to the public, featuring local community vendors, musicians, and even members of the Trojan family.

By: Anna Lipscomb ‘19

From February 22-26, the Japanese American National Museum and USC hosted the 2017 Hapa Japan Festival for the Los Angeles community. The festival featured events such as film screenings, discussions, and performances to celebrate multicultural voices and identities. I had the opportunity to attend the Hapa Japan concert featuring Kina Grannis, Marié Digby, Kris Roche, and Andy Suzuki & the Method.

By: Terry Nguyen ‘20

What originated as a snowboarding competition 21 years ago in Innsbruck, Austria has grown to be a global event that merges the latest music and the sport into an unforgettable two-day experience. From Feb. 18 to Feb. 19, Air + Style brought the world’s best snowboarders to downtown Los Angeles’ Exposition Park and rising artists, like Grammy-award winning DJ Flume and USC alumnus ZHU. Despite rain or shine, the festival went on for both days from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., and crowds gathered enthusiastically between the Winter and Summer stages throughout the course of the afternoon into late evening. Their energy did not quell between the sets, as hundreds of people bunched towards the front of the stage, anxiously awaiting their favorite artists.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

Last Saturday, millions of people around the world took to the streets to march for women’s rights, our human rights. The New York Times assembled a photo from each city’s Women’s March, from Nairobi to Lima, Tel Aviv to Sydney (and, of course, dozens of U.S. cities). I get chills each time I scroll through the images of the different demonstrations (and not just when I catch a glimpse of the Antarctica march). What a tremendous display of unity: women make up over half of the world’s population and will not be silenced.

By: Anna Lipscomb ‘19

Los Angeles is one of the best cities in the world. It has it all: endless food options, star-studded entertainment scene, vibrant nightlife, historical and modern museums - you name it. A while ago, someone asked us about the different ways to get around and explore LA. Here is my guide to exploring LA - from transportation options, recommended places to go, and other ways you can go out and experience it all.