Bros, Nerds, Scenesters and Hippies

Some fools might consider college a mere stepping stone—a blurred rush toward the curled piece of paper that’ll earn you a job, a paycheck, Friday nights spooning ice cream out of a pint with the love of your life, wedding bells, 2.5 kids, early retirement, and a big flashing light at the finish line.

But that mindset ignores the best part of college: the one-half of your education that takes place outside the classroom. College is more than an education; it’s a rebirth. It’s your chance to be whoever you want to be. And though we know you’re an independent spirit fully capable of crafting a unique identity for yourself, we’ve included a few inspirations. Just to let you know what Sacramento has to offer.

So you want to be a…

Hipster

Midtown is your Mecca. And a skinny-tired, fixed gear, no-brake bike from Bicycle Business (3077 Freeport Blvd.) will take you everywhere you want to be seen. Make Olipom (see page 25) your first stop, followed by a screeching halt at Cuffs Urban Apparel (2523 J St.). Both boutiques stock the salvaged vintage duds you’ll need to make a proper statement on J Street. When you finish shopping, spend the afternoon in Temple Fine Coffee and Tea (see page 23) just sitting around, being noticed. Maybe you’ll get your hair cut at Byuti (1414 H St.). Maybe you’ll scope vinyl at The Beat (see page 27). But all of this is mere filler between the hours that matter: the nightlife, when you can work that unimpressed persona you’ve so carefully crafted.

If you’re underage, don’t fret. There’s a scene to be tapped at True Love Coffee House (2315 K St.). If you’re old enough to drink in public, get your hip swerve on at Blue Lamp (1400 Alhambra Blvd.), which is the new Old Ironsides (1901 10th St.), which was the new Golden Bear (2326 K St.). Regardless of which night spot is cool by the time this issue sees print, my advice is simple: if you want to party like an indie-rock star, follow DJ Roger Carpio wherever he goes.

Radical

You can take this classic collegiate persona in one of two directions. Radical can be a consumer statement: you wear Birkenstocks (from Birkenstock Midtown, 2500 J St.) and bring your own reusable canvas bag to Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op (see page 13), where you bat lashes at the adorably dreadlocked checkout personnel. You accessorize with a bullhorn and occasionally try to rally your friends Cheech and Chong through the TV screen.

Or you snap out of it, and take radical where it truly counts: into action. Now I don’t mean burning your bra or wielding a sign about the second coming of Gandhi—though, for my enjoyment, you’re more than welcome to. I do mean volunteering. Why not link up with Planned Parenthood Mar Monte of Sacramento (www.plannedparenthood.org/mar-monte), and lend support to the health centers, the fundraising campaigns or the solicitation of legislators. Volunteer to serve the Green Party of Sacramento (www.sacgreens.org) or the Democratic Party of California (www.cadem.org) or, for the sake of being fair and balanced, the Sacramento County Republican Party (www.sacrepublicans.org). Or scrap politics altogether and contact Make-A-Wish (www.makeawish-sacto.org) to help make dreams come true for a child with a serious illness. For a more comprehensive list of Sacramento’s non-profit organizations, visit www.volunteermatch.org and search “Sacramento.”

Party Animal

This is more than a simple label for the chronically faded. You should aim above the masses and be the party royalty of your respective school. How do you achieve this revered title? By throwing the most kick-ass, off the hook, dope, crunk’d, bangin’ house parties possible. All you need are a few simple items:

1. Refreshments. Don’t ask people to bring their own beverages. Establish your home as a liquid oasis, where barrels of sweet juice never run dry.

2. Party people. Invite hot girls; they travel in packs of at least ten.

3. Music. If you know a DJ, invite him. If you don’t know a DJ, sleep with someone who does.

4. Entertainment. A ping pong table, a deck of cards, and a limbo stick inspire nights so great, you won’t even remember them.

At some point on the collegiate path, every fake-tanned, frosted-tipped student decides to think outside the house party. If you’re underage, get your awkward teen swerve on at The Rage (1890 Arden Way). If you feel like strutting with your Louis Vuitton knock off, head to posh Park Ultra Lounge (1116 15th St.) or pop your collar for an evening at Monkey Bar (2726 Capital Ave.). Don’t feel like ironing your hair? Meet up with your bros at Stingers Sports Pub on “La Riv” (7890 La Riviera Dr.) and break away once a week for Sunday night trivia at Streets of London (1804 J St.).

Over-Achiever

You were the high school Valedictorian. Or the runner up. Or you’re still bitter about the fact that you weren’t selected. In any case, you consider parties a waste of time and prefer to spend Friday and Saturday reading ahead. You won’t be cool in college. But when everyone else has sprung into the real world bemoaning the “good old days” of keg stands and all-nighters, you’ll be signing their legislation.

Don’t think you can skip life outside college. There are a bounty of internship opportunities in Sacramento that’ll educate you beyond the classroom. For the “real world” experience most unique to Sacramento, check out internship opportunities at our State Capitol. Every semester, student interns work 25-hour weeks in the offices of state legislators, legislative committees, the governor, executive branch agencies, political associations, advocacy organizations, or the news media. Visit www.csus.edu/govt/Pages/sacsemester.htm to learn more.

As an over-achiever, you’ll probably experience withdrawal symptoms if you don’t overload your free time with extracurricular activities. So sign up for a gourmet cooking class at Whole Foods (4315 Arden Way, www.wholefoodsmarket.com) or learn to make dessert from the experts at An Occasional Chocolate (633 Hanisch Dr., Roseville, www.anoccasionalchocolate.com). Cooking skills will help you avoid the dreaded “freshman fifteen” pounds that your less motivated peers might come to know. It’s just one more way to stay ahead of the learning curve.