In those dog days of summer far from Saint Louis University, it’s not the monotonous organic chemistry lectures or late nights at Pius Library that most students thirst for; rather, it’s the famous smoothies of the Simon Recreation Center they crave.
One of the most welcome additions of the 2006-2007 renovation and expansion of Simon Recreation Center was the Juice Bar and surrounding lounge area. It gives students a place to relax after a strenuous workout before returning to the grind of college. It gives them a place to slowly sip the picayune parcels of pleasure doled out to loyal customers.
“I remember my first smoothie at Simon Rec Center. It was ‘Midnight at the Rec’, [and] they had free smoothies. I got coconut banana. From that moment on, I knew I belonged at SLU,” junior Maureen Brady said.
Of course, every campus tour makes the prescribed stop at the Juice Bar as student ambassadors gush over the succulent morsels to drooling prospective students.
To be a juicer, one must complete a few hours of intense training and shadowing shifts in which the trades’ deeply guarded secrets are transmitted. It’s not all berries and bananas at the Juice Bar though; workers seldom have a free moment between serving up their famous smoothies and keeping the bar clean and stocked.
Many students complain about the high price points: four dollars for a smoothie, another 75 cents for a scoop of protein. You get what you pay for; in this case, it’s 20 ounces of pure jubilation. More than a few students have been heard on campus uttering various budgeting strategies so they can afford more of these scrumptious treats.
“I’ve passed on more than a few Fusz wraps to have another strawberries ‘n cream smoothie,” junior Karena Nguyen said, expressing the sentiments of many a student.
The Juice Bar is open from 12:30 to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays, and until 7:30 p.m. on weekends. Students circle around the bar from open to close, waiting patiently for their own personal sip of heaven. The Juice Bar serves a variety of purees and smoothies; the purees leaning towards the healthy and less caloric side of the spectrum.
Some of the smoothies do top out at over 400 calories. Looking for a healthier option? Try the intense green apple, which is just 300 calories, the least on the menu.
According to juicers, strawberry banana is the most popular flavor. Personal favorites among juicers vary, from peachy banana to green tea honeydew. For those who walk to Simon Rec. with no intention of pumping iron, no judgment is passed, the juicers say, just a wink and a nod of understanding.
So enjoy that smoothie while you can, SLU, because before you know it, you’ll be sitting at home far away, licking your lips and wondering how long until that familiar tang comes screaming up the straw again, zeroing in on your taste buds.
