Go fountain hopping and kiss at full moon on the quad

	The mascot is a tree. Deal with it. Robert Beck/SI

AFTER 2 A.M.: There's virtually nothing open in downtown Palo Alto after 2 a.m., so most students make late-night runs to Jack in the Box if they're so inclined. A new place, Flaco's Tacos, started by a couple of Stanford students to remedy the problem of the lack of late-night dining options, has become a favorite for those who live on campus.

MUST-EAT: The Oasis. Though not as popular as it once was with Stanford students, the O is the perfect place to catch a game and grab a greasy burger while throwing back a few pitchers. (No wine or hard liquor here.) While you're there, etch your initials or a message into one of the wooden booths or tables as other students and locals have been doing for decades.

DOSE OF CULTURE: Forget Paris. The Rodin Sculpture Garden outside the Cantor Arts Center on campus features 20 bronzes by Auguste Rodin, including the Gates of Hell, Walking Man and Meditation with Arms. Take an afternoon stroll through the garden or bring a book and admire the sculptures from afar. There's no need to bring your wallet, as admission is free.

RULE #86: It's a cardinal sin to refer to Stanford's athletic teams as the Cardinals. They are the color, not the bird. And yes, the mascot is a tree.

MUSIC MUST-STOP: For the big names, your best bet is to hitch a 45-minute ride on the Caltrain into San Francisco and head for the historic Fillmore, which opened in 1912. On campus, student bands perform at the CoHo (that's Coffee House) regularly.

GETTING AROUND: The free Marguerite Shuttle service makes over 135 stops on and around campus, including two Caltrain stations that provide easy access to San Jose and San Francisco.

TICKETMASTER: Tickets to men's basketball games are hard to come by. If you can't find a good deal online or from a Sixth Man Club member willing to part with his/her ticket and shirt, scalpers can be found looking to unload tickets outside of recently renovated Maples Pavilion. For every other sport, especially football (save for the Big Game), there are plenty of tickets available at the gate.

ONLY AT STANFORD: There's no better way to spend a chilly autumn night or warm spring day than fountain-hopping through any or all of the at least 16 fountains located on campus.

PREGAME: There's no hiding the fact that Stanford's tailgating scene is lacking. Campus police issued two minor-in-possession citations at a student tailgate outside of Stanford Stadium last year, prompting then senior Alberto Mann to tell The Stanford Daily, "There's going to be even less people out here next time," gesturing toward a crowd of about 30 student tailgaters. "Either that, or next time they're just going to come here more drunk already." Your best bet is to sleep in until an hour before game time and fire up a grill with friends.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Cal at Stanford, Nov. 19. Is this the year Stanford puts an end to Cal's three-game winning streak in the Big Game and takes back the Axe?

PACK YOUR: Frisbee. The weather is beautiful almost year-round, and there's an unofficial Frisbee golf course that weaves throughout campus, not to mention plenty of pickup Ultimate games on any given day.

RITE OF PASSAGE: Full Moon on the Quad. In this annual Stanford tradition, freshmen kiss seniors and vice versa in Main Quad on evenings of a full moon.

Check out No. 9 Washington State