Let Us Explore

In the new neighborhood of dorms on Highland sits a quaint little restaurant. Innocent in the daylight and to the untrained eye, but Highland Market is one of the most popular student hang out spots on the whole University of Arizona campus at 2 A.M. Why is this so? Beautifully wrapped foil packages called "Breakfast Burritos" draw in the party hopping crowd from a weekend night of fun. Highland Market is different than any other place on campus due to its personal touches that are made for students. Music blaring, delicious carb filled food, and lots of snacks help an intoxicated and excited student calm down just in time to walk back to their dorms. Meet the epicenter where UofA freshmen dwell.

Outside Looking In

Oh Highland, sweet Highland. So many of my freshman year memories have occurred at this very place. After a long night of binge drinking and creating all kinds of new friends the obvious after party is at Highland. Who ever constructed this building made it very easy for an intoxicated college student to find their way to the palace of greasy food. Conveniently located on the corner of two extremely popular roads in Tucson, taxi drivers know exactly where to go without attacking the passengers with questions about where the location is. Surrounded by windows, Highland is very much like a snow globe that one looks in to. The windows show outsiders what they are missing. Students want to be in with the popular places to go and be where the party is. The first time I discovered  Highland was a Thursday night and when I first looked into the restaurant I saw people laughing, hugging, and enjoying massive burritos and other greasy delicacies. Catcards permits who gets in and who doesn’t.  Swipe of the Catcard, click of the door, and an instant excitement rushed over me. I was no longer on the outside looking in, I was with all of the intoxicated students having a jolly good time laughing at a bag of chips or something ridiculous. That glass that separates the outside world from Highland, separates a true college experience from a plain one. Ending a night on the inside of that glass not only means I had a successful night, but fuels the excitement to do it all over again next weekend once that first bite of burrito is inhaled. 

"THE" Slip

Here is the scene. 2 A.M on a Saturday morning. One hundred plus students who are slightly intoxicated, to say the least , make their way to Highland Market. Sound of heels clacking on the concrete floor, laughing, cheering and blaring music is a sure sign of the weekend. Why this mass rush of people at his time? One word, burritos! Highland is famous for their breakfast burritos. There is something so comforting about a big fluffy tortilla filled with meat, cheese, potatoes and eggs at 2 A.M. This is really the only time you can actually get these delicious creations because Highland only serves their burritos from 10 P.M. to 3 A.M. Good thing that I am usually intoxicated while enjoying, since it’s not as painful when realizing I just digested 2,500 plus calories in one sitting. Many have said that the carb loaded bundle of joy has been the main source of the freshman fifteen. That little orange slip opens up burrito heaven at my finger tips. It has a place to write my name making the whole process extremely personal. Checking and circling the ingredients that I believe holds the recipe to a perfect burrito makes the mouth water before I can even get to the cash register.  It all starts at that little slip. The first footsteps into Highland and the first and only thing to be accomplished is to fill out that bright orange piece of paper. Such a small object, such a massive job.

Cookin' Up Some Fun

The grill is the heart of Highland. With fellow college students behind the stainless steel and glass wall, the atmosphere of Highland feels like a hot hang out spot. All the parties that were attended that night by all the various people, most likely had music. Exciting dance music that got people interacting, and that is what Highland wants. Depending on who is working behind the counter depends on the mood of highland. The cooks get to play their own music through a huge speaker system to set the mood. They deserve a lot of credit because they have to scream over the music, and the crowd to get someones attention. So while I am waiting for my burrito and hanging out with my friends, I can tap my foot along with the beat, or belt out lyrics with my girlfriends. Music is such a large part of all students lives and it’s almost uncomfortable when there is no music playing. When the place is packed there are often songs by Lady Gaga, Eminem, or other top 40 artists that are extremely popular. People will start dancing, singing, and then singing with other people who are complete strangers, just because that is an okay thing to do at Highland. Highland is a safe haven so I can act like a complete fool at the wee hours of the morning with out people judging me. Truth is all of the people who are there on Friday and Saturday nights love walking in to a music filled environment. Its comfortable and its what this generation knows.  

Thirsty? What's The Occasion?

Chasers anyone? I am not going to candy coat it or act like it doesn’t happen. Before the partying begins many rush over to Highland Market and stand marveling at the wall to wall selection of beverages. With its bright lights and ridiculous amounts of colors it is hard not to walk over there. The array of sugary soda selections is perfect for students who are heading out for a night on the town. Let’s get real, no one wants to drink the cheap stuff at the frat houses. Ew. The drink selected on that wall depicts what the night will shape up to be. If one does not plan on drinking much, a diet drink, or a not so sweet drink is selected. Grape soda, orange soda, Dr. Pepper, and Coke are some obvious signs that the night is about to get crazy. Besides fueling the newly found alcoholism, Highland is a great place for students to resort to during finals week. Since many do not party during “Hell Week”, the student body keeps Highland in business by purchasing all of the overly caffeinated drinks that are beautifully displayed behind one glass door. The wall of beverages is located right around where all rows of snacks are. A great sale tactic since students  are not only about to commit caffeine suicide but also feel it is necessary to add a heaping dose of sugary candy to the mix. The pretty lights draw students over to the rows of sugary doom and the next thing they know its a thirty dollar bill for all of that junk. Smooth move Highland, smooth.  

Thank God For Highland.

After examining the main points that I like about Highland, it has come to the conclusion that the students of UofA are so grateful to have someplace like this. A carefree area where students do not have to worry about MIP's and can just enjoy eating and sobering up to go back and get a good nights rest and begin recovery. The people who keep Highland Market up and running see, hear, and deal with things that are probably so out of the ordinary. College students are already outrageous and Highland has to deal with hundreds of them a night. It is a magical little place that keeps the student body happy all the way until 3 A.M.