FINALS: Finals mean lots of food for U. studiers

You have to eat some time. With finals approaching, students have enough on their minds without having to worry about where to go when they are hungry. Fortunately, there is a seemingly limitless number of places to get food from on and around the University campus. College and pizza! The two words just go together like bread and butter. Pizza is a staple of many college students' diets and at the University this is no exception. Engineering sophomore Brian Nolan said he will be ordering "lots of pizza" during reading days and finals. He mentioned Allegro's and Powelton Pizza among his favorite pizzerias. Nolan added that during study breaks the snack food of choice is Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream, a treat worth making the trip to Wawa or Unimart for. For those who have had enough pizza, there are several Chinese food trucks in front of the Annenberg School between 36th and 37th streets on Walnut Street. The Houston Hall Mall is also a popular spot, offering Skolniks, Burger King, Muffins and More and Wawa Hoagie Time. Houston Hall will be open 24 hours during reading days and exams and free coffee will be provided for weary studiers. College sophomore Peter Seo said he prefers to go to Houston Hall. "The Food Court is always too crowded," said Seo. "At Houston Hall, even at lunchtime there's a place to sit down." Seating problems aside, if you're not sure what to eat then the Food Court at the Shops at Penn is the location for you. The Food Court has everything. Students can choose from pizza, burgers, Chinese and deli food and, of course, cheese steaks. Final examinations also mean increased business for eating establishments in the area, especially those specializing in Philly cheese steaks. Employees at Abner's, Lee's Hoagies House and Billybob's all said that they expect more students coming in and taking out their food. At Billybob's, which is open 24 hours a day, employees said that more students come in at the late hours of the night and early hours in the morning for study breaks during finals. But, for those who are less adventurous and lack culinary expertise, there is a simple solution. "My microwave is open 24 hours," said College sophomore Jamie Tesler, "and I won't get mugged on the way to it either."