By: Elizabeth Aquino & Joanne Guintu
Though most of our days as students are spent inside classrooms, it doesn’t mean our Instagram accounts should suffer. If you’re looking for things to do near campus that are fun, affordable and worth photographing, here’s a list of places to check out.
Glass House Record Store
248 W. Second St. Pomona, 91766
Concertgoers make their way to downtown Pomona to attend concerts at the Glass House, but the real music gems can be found inside the record store next door.
The Glass House Record Store has stood to the right of the Glass House for 13 years. You can come in to trade, sell and purchase vinyl records.
Decorated in a hipster-styled fashion, shoppers are welcomed by a bright, red neon sign that reads “Records.” A couch lies in front of a brick wall displaying posters of famous artists, which can serve as a cool photo opportunity.
The aisles of the stores are filled with boxes for shoppers to search through and find vinyl records from a variety of music genres. Beverages and snacks are also sold in the store.
“The store is definitely a hangout spot,” said Muzette Alvarez, Glass House Record Store sales associate. “There’s an art school right across the street and a lot of the students like to come into our store and hangout.”
With college students being their main customers, Glass House Record Store also hosts meet and greets, small concerts and local artists signings.
Café con Libros Press
280 W. Second St., Pomona, 91766
Café con Libros Press is a nonprofit bookstore and community space in the heart of downtown Pomona. It’s the perfect place to grab a book, chat with friends and snap a picture of its vibrant, artsy atmosphere.
“It is a bookstore, library and gallery space. We strive to make this a place where everyone feels welcomed,” said Robert Turner, Café con Libros sales associate.
The layout of the store is divided into three sections. The front of the store is where they sell new books. The middle part of the store contains tables for people to study or meet up to chat. At the very back of the store is the library section where people can check out books.
The walls of the store follow the interior trend of exposed brick walls and string lights that droop across the ceiling.
The community space celebrates traditional stories and the experiences of people of color, and also encourages visitors to embrace literature and art.
DeeLux
224 N. Yale Ave., Claremont, 91711
Just like in Macklemore’s hit song “Thrift Shop,” more and more people are popping tags.
DeeLux is a small thrift shop in the Claremont Village, squeezed in between boutiques and cafes.
If you are looking for a unique picture, nothing screams hipster like a thrift store. Inside DeeLux, it feels like taking a step back in time. Vintage fashion items and current brands can be found within the store’s racks.
“The front of the store is new stuff that we buy from local vendors. The back is where you will find all our thrifted items,” said Amy Robles, DeeLux store manager.
What sets DeeLux apart from other thrift stores is its great selection of modern name brands and vintage gems. You never know what you might find.
Augie’s Coffee Roasters
536 W. First St., Claremont, 91711
For college students, looking for a chic and minimalist space to get some work done, Augie’s Coffee House is the place you’ve been searching for.
It is the perfect spot for the shameless “studying” photo we all love to post on Instagram. The interior of the coffee shop has a clean design, with its color scheme of white, gray, cream and black.
Augie’s Coffee Roasters is also buzzing on Instagram, with over 27,000 followers and hundreds of photos on its geotag location. The coffee shop is known for serving drinks in cute Augie’s Coffee mugs, topped with delicate, photogenic latte art.
It is also well-lit and spacious with multiple tables and benches, fit for enjoying a caffeinated beverage as you study.
Lost Levels
530 W. First St., Claremont, 91711
Hidden in the Claremont Packing District is Lost Levels, a neon, two-floor arcade designed to hit you with a wave of nostalgia.
The lighting in the arcade is dimly lit with bright red, green, blue and purple neon lights, with classic machine games bordering the arcade space. Painted on the walls are well-known video game characters.
This retro-style arcade opened last year in October and is already an affordable, go-to spot for dates, photoshoots and friendly hangouts. The price to play is $5 for 30 minutes and $10 all day.
The arcade feels like an underground hidden basement, making this the ultimate photo spot for all your retro Instagram photoshoots.
When trying to step up your Instagram game, downtown Pomona and Claremont Village are your go-to local places to capture the best photos.
