UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
STUDENT BLOG

Trojans360 Articles
24th Annual Festival of Books at USC
By: Alexis M Peters ‘20
ATTENTION BOOK LOVERS EVERYWHERE: It’s that time of the year again! The time when the sun is hot and the books are hotter! You guessed it! It’s the 24th annual LA Times Festival of Books! You may have wondered what all those white tents popping up across campus were for. Well, everyone is gearing up for what’s sure to be an amazing fun-filled literary weekend. The LA Times Festival of Books is huge 2-day extravaganza; it’s the world’s largest literary festival, all right on USC’s campus! There will be panels featuring a plethora of authors and writers, book signings, pop up book shops, musical performances, and the celebration of all things bookish!
USC Takes On The Disney Hall
By: Camila Grases ‘21
In celebration of one USC’s most distinguished professors, Dr. Morten Lauridsen, the USC Choral Artists and Symphonic Orchestra will be performing one of his major works, the Lux Aeterna, this Sunday, April 14th, in the Walt Disney Concert Hall. It will be an incredible send off to one of the most iconic composers of the choral world.
Video Diary: Chinatown
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
Are you interested in going to Chinatown, but don’t really know what to expect? Here are some snippets from my own trip to get a taste of what Chinatown has to offer!
Nature in LA: More of an adventure finding than experiencing (but that’s fun too)
By: Lindsey Hamilton ‘22
You read that right…nature in LA! Who knew? I wasn’t being sarcastic either — half of the fun of the nature that exists in this metropolis is finding it. Because, well, it’s LA. In a city with stars seemingly everywhere but in the sky, green space is one of the last things I think of. Lucky for you all, I’ve done the intrepid (internet) exploring for you. For those brave enough to venture where the paths are dirt and there’s a little more wildlife than rats and roaches, here are the best places in the LA area to catch a breath of fresh air.
Explore LA: Smorgasburg
By: Sophia Pei ‘22
Every Sunday there is a food festival with hundreds of vendors hosted in Downtown LA and New York City. Smorgasburg in LA is hosted from 10AM to 4PM at 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021. This is the perfect place for open-minded people willing to try LA’s signature food fusions as well as a great place to just browse the latest food trends and enjoy aesthetic lifestyle stands (after all, admissions is free!). This Sunday, some friends and I decided to explore. Here are some highlights and breakdown on the biggest open-air food market in America.
A Recap of USC FIA’s 15th Annual Fashion Show: Made in LA
By: Karla Leung ‘22
Fashion Industry Association, most often abbreviated as FIA, is a Marshall School of Business based club and is the only fashion focused club on USC’s campus. Hosting a fashion show for the past fifteen years, this year’s theme was Made in LA, meaning every brand and designer featured is based and made in Los Angeles. Not only is it supporting local brands (including USC student designers), but also ensuring that the clothing is ethically sourced. Los Angeles is known for being one of the fashion capitals of the world for its innovation and fashion startups, and the USC fashion show highlighted some of the great talent coming out of LA.
Explore LA: Sawtelle
By: Sophia Pei ‘22
Looking for great Japanese food and cute plushies but don’t want to deal with Little Tokyo tourist traps? Visit Sawtelle instead. Just 10 stops heading west on the Metro Expo line from USC is West LA’s “Little Japantown.” This mini center of East Asian food and novelties is located on Sawtelle Blvd. As a West LA resident, this was one of my go-to spots growing up. Here are some of my favorite things to do at Sawtelle.
Stuck at USC? 5 Tips for Spring Break on a Budget
By: Antonia Le ‘22
After a month of midterms, rainy days, and late nights, spring break is finally here! Your best friend is headed to Cancun, the girl you sit next to is going to London, and your roommate has a plane ticket home for the next week! Meanwhile, you’re still here at USC. But don’t worry, whether you’re stuck here because of work, money, or because you simply don’t want to go home, here are some ways to make the most of your week at USC without emptying your wallet!
Cheap Makeup For Us Broke College Kids
By: Natalie Oganesyan ‘22
We all know the struggle of trying to look good in college, especially when we’re low on funds and can’t afford Sephora brand products. I’m here to let you know that there are good makeup and skincare products that are effective, inclusive, and cheap! Here’s a go-to guide on affordable makeup when you’re balling on a budget.
Things to Do on a Rainy LA Day
By: Ann Nguyen ‘22
“It’s Los Angeles. It won’t rain in Los Angeles!”
…And now it’s raining. So, aside from giving in and buying an umbrella, are you at a loss on what to do? Well, as the band TOTO tells us, “take some time to do the things you never had.”
A College Student’s Guide to Amusement Parks around LA
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
I’m a Los Angeles native, so I’m not sure what other people think about when they think of Los Angeles, but amusement parks should at least come to mind. The LA area houses a lot of great theme parks, but it can be confusing to know which one is right for you if you are not familiar with them. That is where I, an amusement park junkie, come in. I am here to shed light on the logistics of each park and to help you decide which one is right for you!
Griffith Museum
By: Sophia Pei ‘22
Just 12 miles north and 1,273ft up (in elevation) from USC is the Griffith Observatory. The museum, though small, hosts an extensive display of astronomy related exhibits. Free for all and an easy two Metro rides away, it’s a place every student should frequent at least once in their four years at USC.