So I haven’t wrote in a while, and that’s because my nightlife has been far from experimental. I don’t mean to bore anyone with the usual antics of the same crowd that hangs out at the same bars I’ve previously mentioned. I figure this is a good opportunity to talk about the drones of monotony that come with the comfort of your hometown.

While everyone likes to have his or her own bar, where “everybody knows your name” and the bartenders can have your drink ready when they see you walk in the door, and I can admit that I enjoy this to some extent, there is one glaring problem. It’s fucking boring.

Perhaps Champaign isn’t the biggest, or most metropolitan area with a vast array of bars, clubs and other fabulous establishments. But there is enough of a variety to sample the different places that offer the chance to shake my booty, see a good show, find my new favorite drink, or at the very least, hang out with a different group of people.

I’ve heard that there are usually crazy things happening in the upstairs level of Highdive. I’ve heard that I will be stabbed if I go to either the Brass Rail, or the Phoenix. Is this true? I have no idea. I’m thinking no, but I would at least like to go see for myself!

I hope to have something truly exciting for my next blog, but in the meantime, here is what I’ve been up to.

If given the opportunity, try the Sangria at Bread Co. Not only is it oh so cute and pretty with its sprinkled layer of fresh cut fruit, it is really delicious, and goes great with one of their signature pizzas (I had the ricotta: artichoke hearts, mushrooms, and green and black olives with ricotta cheese in place of sauce).

I went to Jupiter’s II last night, and it was the first time I had entered that place on a weekend when it was relatively dead inside. I normally have a longer wait at the bars on any three levels of the massive facility. I haven’t drank beer in a while, but last night I reaffirmed my love for Red Stripe. It’s so damn good: light and sweet.

Other than that? A few stints at some of the same old places, and what do you know! Guido’s! Again! Sigh.

Actually, I had a pretty good time. I guess there’s a reason I’m always there. But now I’m more in the mood for Boltini for a good drink, or maybe somewhere to dance. I haven’t seen a show in a while either. Oh the places I’ll go.

I closed my spring break with trips to Guido’s, Murphy’s, and Tumble Inn (or how it is commonly referred to: T.I.). In my previous blog I mentioned that I wanted to feel fabulous as I did on my trip to Miami. This definitely didn’t happen, and wasn’t really attempted. I realized that once I was in CU, I should accommodate back to my native surroundings.

I haven’t been to Tumble Inn in quite some time, but I have to admit, it is a great place to end your night. Some of you may be familiar with the expression, “Tumble Inn, stumble out”? There is definitely some truth in this phrase. I’ve never been there to begin my night, only after we’ve already done the bulk of our drinking. This always makes for interesting times and conversations.

For instance, sitting next to a couple making-out, only for them to pause and wink at my friend. Luckily she had enough to drink so she wasn’t completely uncomfortable. It’s not everyday you get invited into a threesome. Also, watching couples in long-term relationships get touchy-feely with other people. I’m always praying a fight doesn’t erupt.

The perks about T.I.?

1. The scratch-off lotto ticket machine where I once won $40.

2. Quick service at the bar—the place can be packed, and there are always enough
people working to get your drink relatively fast

3. A mixed crowd full of “townies.” The ages range from 20 and 30-somethings to the
few 50, 60+ peeps hanging by the bar. A great alternative to campus without going all
the way downtown.

Guido’s always makes for an interesting night. One observation to be made about the seating in the back: do not sit in the seats directly next to the darts. They are a lot closer than you think. Thankfully, they are plastic tips and not the classic metal rods flying through the air. I’m starting to get into their martini’s. So far, the key lime and pineapple upside down cake are my favorite.

So yummy. It is $8, but you have to think that if you savor your martini, which you probably should for the price and alcohol content, you aren’t spending that much more than when you have to buy beers for $3 or $4.

It was a logo night at Murphy’s, and this time they had Miller Lite Chief cups. I am not pro-chief, so I bought the glass for the refills and gave it to my friend.

It’s a nice glass. I gave it to someone who appreciated it.

I’m back home from Miami, and it was incredible…to say the least. I am, however, still feeling pretty fabulous from my vacation. So tonight, I am going to attempt to extend this feeling while in CU. It may be hard. But I think it can be done….

I must be honest; I am so freakin’ excited to be leaving CU. I have a love/hate relationship with this place—I love it because it’s my home, but I’m so bored. I’ll miss the fun I could have had if I stayed here for spring break; we usually enjoy going to campus bars when it’s so slow, with no lines to wait in and from time to time I’ll run into someone I haven’t seen since high school. But I won’t miss it too much because as I’m looking at the dreary, bleak picture outside my window of bare maple trees drooping underneath a gray sky, I’m thinking about palm trees, lying on the beach sipping on some fruity concoction when I arrive in Miami.

[Do you love the title? I’ve been singing Will Smith all day as I pack up my things: “…party in the city where the heat is on….”]

For those of you staying in CU, go have fun on campus. It’s kind of eerie to be on the deserted grounds of spring break, but you may find it freeing to have the bar entirely to you and your friends. For you other “townies,” it may be a great chance to catch up with old friends you haven’t seen since your high school graduation.

So it’s Wednesday night. Usually this means that I leave my Buzz meeting around 9-9:30ish, and head out to meet some friends. I usually end up at Murphy’s for logo night, where the purchase of a beer with the glass of the chosen logo of the night (for a slightly higher price) results with refills at a discounted rate. It is a great idea, and seems to bring a lot of business to the bar.

Yet tonight is different. It is the week before spring break—midterms, papers and projects …bleh. I don’t have time to go out, but even if I did, my friends don’t and I prefer not to drink alone. Oh, how I wish I could be sitting in that dimly light bar that smells kind of like a pool, sitting at tables with the names of my peers and those that came before me etched into the wood. I love watching the groups of people that hang at Murphy’s instead of the more chaotic scene down Sixth and Daniel Streets—the hippis, the intellectuals, the environmentalists, the journalism students walking over from Illini Media, a fairly even mix of men and women, gays and straights, I love it. But alas, not tonight. I must write about newspaper bias, and then F. Scott Fitzgerald.

5 reasons I use to justify my usual Wednesday night outings:

1. It’s a reward for making it through the first half of the week (hump day!).

2. Logo night. Already been explained. Too hard to resist.

3. It’s my last semester of school, and I’m not sure how often I’ll be able to get drunk in the middle of the week when I’ve graduated.

4. My friends are out, and they are too much fun.

5. I love meeting new, interesting, and/or fun people. I find these qualities more frequently at bars on Wednesdays. There’s something special about those who drink during the week.

First of all, I don’t really like being referred to as a “townie.” I feel that this city is more mine than the students who live here temporarily, and this reference ostracizes me as something foreign in my own domain. Yet, while on campus, it is a term I have succumbed to as it is universally understood and makes it easier for people to place me into a category.
That being said, this weekend was a night celebrated without many other students besides those who were out with me. It was my friend’s second celebration of her 22nd birthday, and another dear friend, Sarah, from ISU was with us for the night. She doesn’t really dig the campus bar scene—but prefers the more laid-back, occasional shithole bars primarily filled with locals.

Stop #1…Guidos
A favorite local hangout that I see more students at than other downtown bars. Guidos is a regular spot for me. I think it’s the mix of people, dim lighting, and comfortable seating that creates the inviting atmosphere I prefer when I go out. The prices aren’t awful compared to other downtown spots; I drank Goose Island 312 on tap for $3.50 a glass.
(Note: bad times can be had—such as my last experience with a creepy regular named “Patrick.” This middle-aged drunk not only continually leaned in between my friend and I while we sat at the bar, uncomfortably and inappropriately close to both of us, but bit into the fur on the hood of my coat when I turned my back to him. Needless to say I was super-pissed, causing a scene as one bartender chastised him and the others looked over in confusion. He didn’t give two shits, and just spit the fur from his mouth onto the bar. Disgusting.)
They’re menu isn’t huge, but I had a good dinner: crab cakes with a side salad (with standard tomatoes, cucumbers and red onions), a good portion at around $8. This night, however, wasn’t ideal because their downstairs was reserved for a private party, leaving the main floor packed with people, flustering the waitresses and making the wait for drinks that much longer at the bar. It was perhaps too nice, too expensive, or too crowded, but Sarah wasn’t into it. So here we began our decline from what’s nice or trendy, and delved into the gritty, seedy side of Champaign that is well-enjoyed from time to time.

Stop #2…Rocks
The crowds are smaller, the drinks are cheaper, and we had lots of them ($2.75 for domestic bottles, $1 bottles on Wednesdays, and the shots are always BIG). We met a nice guy that bought shots for all 7 of us—twice. Although it’s pretty much on campus, you’ll find mostly locals hanging out at this spot; I see a lot of people I went to high school with who chose to work instead of go college hanging out here, but the crowd can vary quite a bit.
We spent a lot of time at Rocks, and needless to say, a good time was had by all. Sarah invented a new form of the Hokey Pokey—a bit nastier than the original. We had our usual moment when we realize how much we love each other, “You are my BEST friend! You know?” And I was able to leave my car in the parking lot without fear of being towed (kudos to you Rocks!) so we could catch a safe ride.

Stop #3…DR Diggers
We were probably the only people who weren’t regulars and under the age of 40. It was quite fun, and cheap ($2.25 for a domestic draft). We had a great time sitting around, playing pool, and hitting around beach balls that were available for reasons unknown to me still (this part of the night isn’t quite as clear, but I think they must have had a beach themed party or something).
We left Diggers at around 2:30, happy, inebriated, and laughing about our night. Sarah made a new friend, who she repeatedly called “Jeff” although that was not his name. He responded to it anyway. I think he was into her Hokey Pokey.

This will be relatively short, but I thought I should introduce myself. First and foremost, I must emphasize that my life is certainly not centered on campus nightlife. In fact, I must admit that I have steered clear of much of the campus scene since my 21st birthday. While it is undeniably easier to get drunk for much cheaper, walking through the concoction of spilled drinks, vomit, urine, and other unknown liquids that dry and crust on the bottom of my jeans isn’t quite worth the experience I get at the bar (lines to get in, lines to get a drink, fighting your way through the crowd to get to the bathroom, standing shoulder to shoulder against strangers who have bad B.O. or fart, and strangers bumping into you while they dry-hump).
Yes, I know that this description is inevitable in MANY cases and is unavoidable at times. Yet, there are so many places to go in CU where groups of friends can just hang out, listen to good music or eat great food. The weirdos do get a little weirder, a little older, and creepier once you venture into downtown Champaign or Urbana—yet they only ad to the flavor the sister-cities have to offer.
Hopefully this weekend will be fruitful with entertaining stories of my expedition into the night in CU.

P.S. If there is ever an interesting club or hole-in-the-wall bar anywhere near CU, I’d love to hear about it. I’ll check it out and let you know what I think.