Dead week is here again. It’s time to slave over the books and put last minute touches on final papers and presentations. But dead week and the coming weeks of exams are about balance. Undoubtedly, dead week requires focus and hard work; but at times it may be vital to catch a break. Among students’ favorite places to relax after a long day spent in D.H. Hill or in front of their computers are Cody’s, Cantina, Around the Corner and the Blue Martini.Cantina has become one of the best spots on Hillsborough Street mainly do to its porch, which offers a more laid-back setting than many other Hillsborough Street spots. Although this locale is limited to those 21 and up normal week nights, Saturday night is college night, so underclassmen 18 and up have a chance to join in on the fun and dance those dead week blues away on the packed dance floor upstairs. “I enjoy going to Cantina because it’s close by and it’s a place where I can find all of my friends,” Mark Stiver, a senior in business management, said. “It’s also fun because you can hang out inside or outside, at the bar or on the dance floor.” Cantina is one of the close-by spots that is most enjoyed by students looking to relax during this hectic time of year.”The atmosphere, variety and the people who go there make it a great place to get away from all the school work,” Stiver said.But sometimes being a short stride away from campus does nothing to ward off dead week worries, and so many students choose to head downtown instead. Lucky B’s Around the Corner is located off the main Glenwood strip on Tucker Street. According to Lindsay Parina, a junior in textile and apparel management, “Around the Corner is yet another place that is hidden off of Glenwood that students frequent.” Students like Parina also enjoy the retro feel and the relaxed dress code of the location. “Fast service at the bar is a plus to the area adorned with pool tables and leather couches.” Parina said. Another plus is that this bar truly offers something for everyone — there are a variety of drinks, a great mix of music, video games and pool to play.Another option that is literally “around the corner” is Cody’s Bistro Chinese and Thai. Located on the south end of Glenwood Avenue, Cody’s offers a menu packed with gourmet Chinese and Thai options and even turns into an upbeat karaoke bar nightly after 9:30 p.m. Oliver Brooks, a junior in business management, loves to head to Cody’s for a good meal such as the house specialty, “Cody’s Duck” or the Szechuan Fish. In Brooks’ eyes, the reason that it’s a great place to kick back after a long day during dead week or exams is because of its excellent food and fun nightlife. “Cody’s is a great place to go downtown for a date, a late night dinner or a round of karaoke,” Brooks said. “Since it’s rarely crowded, it’s always a good place to take large groups as well.” And if nothing else, Cody’s offers students some stress relief through a good laugh at the individuals who choose to participate in karaoke. “Though it can be embarrassing, you can sing karaoke ranging from Paula Abdul to 98 Degrees,” Brooks said.And one more Raleigh location that allows one to cool off with a martini in hand and good music in the background is the Blue Martini on North West Street. The various jazz groups and Motown-styled bands that frequent this location are a major draw for students who just need to dance it off. According to Brittany Blair, a junior in textile and apparel management, the Blue Martini is a nice change of pace because it has the ambience of a “swanky lounge” as opposed to a typical college bar. Students who find themselves at the Blue Martini are in for a treat with over 20 specialty martinis and the classics, too. “My favorite is the cosmopolitan, which is half priced on Ladies’ Night,” Blair said. “The bar has specials every day of the week — there really is something for everyone.” Even if a tasty appetizer and a seat on the patio is all that a burned-out student needs, the Blue Martini can certainly provide that option.All of which means dead week really doesn’t have to be just a time for putting the final touches on a paper or hitting the notes for the last time. It also can be an excuse for a little fun and decompression — with balance, of course, the critical factor.