Places to study around Boulder

Here’s a tip to college studying that may double, triple or even quadruple your productivity: leave the dorms.

Get out. Find another location to take on your studies. A dorm room only allows you to be vulnerable to such distractions as hallway squirt gun fights, your neighbor’s band practices, or the not-so-inconspicuous party going on in room 311. While there is a rare breed of students who can study despite the dorm chaos, many must venture elsewhere to concentrate. Here are a few spots that you can escape to.

Allison Boutique, 1521 Pearl St.

Free Wi-Fi

Allison’s Pearl Street location sets it off the beaten path, but has the atmosphere of a home away from home. Set up as a spacious breakfast nook in the front, with a hidden living room area complete with a couch and a table lamp in the back, this antique-themed coffee shop has plenty of room for you and your laptop to settle in for that study marathon. The large storefront window and retractable garage-like window let in a significant amount of sunlight to offset the feeling of studying in a cave-or a library.

“I really like the atmosphere here; (Allison) has decent light,” said Lauren Neher, a junior MCD biological science major, “And it’s not Starbucks.”

Allison is the antithesis of Starbucks. A locally owned business, Allison Boutique is a patron to local farmers. Clearly stated on the menu board, Allison promises that they “use only 100 percent natural hormone-free milk from local cows” and boasts 100 percent organic coffee and espresso. Allison Boutique is a match for those who prefer a cozy, low-key, environmentally friendly study place.

Bookend Caf