Students perform at The Arbor. (Image credit: Stanford Social Project)
The Arbor opens on Friday, bringing with it opportunities for students to perform, get a job, compete in trivia nights, or just hang out.
Located in the Tresidder Memorial Union courtyard, the venue is a largely student-run outdoor bar and entertainment space. It’s open on Thursday and Friday nights during fall and spring quarters, with support from the Office of Student Engagement.
Unlike some bars, which restrict entry to those 21 and older, The Arbor is open to everyone. It offers food and nonalcoholic drinks in collaboration with two nearby restaurants, The Treehouse and the Coffee House (CoHo), as well as local draft beer and other rotating alcoholic drinks like hard seltzer for those 21 and over (who must show ID when ordering).
Trivia and live entertainment
Students came up with the idea for The Arbor, which opened in the spring of 2019, then reopened after the pandemic in spring 2021.
Students continue to plan the bar’s activities. Thursday night trivia nights have traditionally drawn 30 to 40 teams of students, who compete for gift cards to The Treehouse. Fridays feature live performers, always students. These events will return this fall.
“The team is looking forward to hiring new members and continuing the campus traditions,” said Jared Poblete, Class of 2023, a communications lead for The Arbor.
In addition to hiring students to organize the events, The Arbor is signing up student performers.
“We’re making it our goal to be the premiere place to see independent Stanford student bands,” Poblete said. “We love showcasing talent and giving a space for new student performers to grow, as well as staying in touch with campus favorites. We prioritize compensating artists equitably.”
A low-key, accessible gathering spot
The Arbor is a social space for students that is accessible and less expensive than many of the places in nearby Palo Alto.
“Coming to the Arbor is a great way to unwind after the week — grabbing a drink and enjoying the live events with good company is personally my favorite way to recharge,” Poblete said. “While we normally see more upperclassmen in the space, I think it’s a fun opportunity for underclassmen to spend an evening with their friends in an open-air, friendly space on-campus.”
The Arbor — with lights, a TV, and a fun, festive atmosphere — is available for campus groups to reserve when it’s not in use. This includes the winter quarter, when The Arbor is not open. Last year, for example, the sophomore class hosted a Super Bowl party there.