Sarah Carrillo & Tracy Domingo
Living Editor & Assistant Living Editor
OK, so you’ve moved in, your dorm room is unpacked and you’re sitting with your new suite mates wondering what to do next. You’re already sick of the Caf food and you’ve only explored Malibu as far as Ralphs. Where do you go? What do you do?
Luckily, some seasoned professionals are here to help. We’ll share our secrets of exploring Malibu that we only wish we knew as freshman. (And for some upperclassmen who have been out of the loop, this may help you out too.)
You’ve probably already found Jack in the Box and the ocean is pretty hard to miss, so we’ll skip those basics and tell you some of the less-obvious ins and outs that every Pepperdine student should know.
As you will come to find, getting off campus to eat will become one of your favorite pastimes. One of the closest and best places for Mexican food is Howdy’s Taqueria. This restaurant, in the Malibu Country Mart, is not only a good place for celebrity sightings but also offers several discounts for Pepperdine students.
Venture a little further down Pacific Coast Highway for “Taco Tuesdays” at Duke’s Malibu restaurant and you’ll find another local hot spot. The ever-popular “Taco Tuesday” event allows you to sit outside in the Barefoot Bar, hang out with half of Pepperdine’s student body and munch on some discounted fish tacos. A word to the wise: Get there early to grab a table, because it fills up fast.
Other popular and relatively cheap local eateries that are worth a try include Malibu Seafood and the famed Neptune’s Net, both serving up delicious seafood favorites in a casual beach setting.
If you’re craving breakfast and the Caf’s cold cheese omelets aren’t doing the trick, try Marmalade Café in the Malibu Country Mart. The popular Cross Creek Breakfast and to-die-for French toast have made this spot a local favorite and another great place for celebrity watching.
Speaking of celebrities, Malibu Yogurt in the Malibu Colony needs no introduction thanks to its role in “Malibu’s Most Wanted” and its superstar reputation with Pepperdine students. Affectionately known as “Malibu Yo,” this small yogurt and ice cream shop boasts many different flavors on a daily basis. Call (310) I-LOVE-YO to get the flavors of the day.
Something a little farther than Malibu Yo but definitely worth the drive is the famed Diddy Riese. This small shop in Westwood, near UCLA, serves up ice cream sandwiches made from freshly baked cookies and Dreyer’s ice cream for only — gasp — $1!
Also, besides the cheap sweets, the Westwood area is packed with funky stores, restaurants, movie theaters and hookah bars that are definitely worth checking out.
Besides eating, the second most popular reason to get off campus is a study break. If all your studying has kept you from basking in the Malibu sun, get your tan the synthetic way and make a midnight run to Supertans in Northridge. This tanning salon offers sessions up to 20 minutes for just $3 after midnight. Beware, the tanning beds are often occupied by fellow students … and not just girls.
Besides the tanning beds, another place to run into a herd of Pepperdine guys is Men’s Bowling Night. This fun Thursday night tradition takes place at Corbin Bowling Center in Tarzana.
In time, you will undoubtedly find your own favorite hot spots to frequent during your years in and around Malibu. In the meantime we hope our tips will help you venture beyond the Oasis and the HAWC, however good their smoothies may be.
So … where exactly can I find these places?
1. Neptune’s Net
42505 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu
2. Malibu Seafood
25653 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu
3. Howdy’s Taqueria
3835 Cross Creek Road
Malibu
4. Malibu Yogurt and Ice Cream
23755 Malibu Road
Malibu
5. Marmalade Café
3894 Cross Creek Road
Malibu
6. Malibu Inn
22878 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu
7. Duke’s of Malibu
21150 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu
8. Diddy Riese
926 Broxton Ave.
Los Angeles
9. Costco
5700 Lindero Canyon Road
Westlake Village
10. Numero Uno Pizza Pasta & More
28860 Roadside Dr
Agoura Hills
11-15. The Commons Calabasas
4799 Commons Way
Calabasas
16. Trader Joe’s
6751 Fallbrook Center
West Hills
17. Krispy Kreme
6841 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Canoga Park
18. Supertans
18431 Nordhoff St.
Northridge
19. Target
20801 Ventura Blvd.
Woodland Hills
20. In-N-Out
19920 Ventura Blvd.
Woodland Hills
21. Corbin Bowling Center
19616 Ventura Blvd.
Tarzana
22. Albertsons Food and Pharmacy
26521 Agoura Road
Calabasas
Submitted 08-30-2004