With UIUC bars being 19+, it’s an understatement to say that the bar scene in Champaign-Urbana rules this school’s nightlife. Here’s an outline of the most popular bars on campus and what your favorite says about you.
KAM’s
Don’t let the sticky floors or impactful stench scare you away. KAM’s is definitely The Fighting Illini’s bar for students and alumni alike. KAM’s is easily characterized by country music loving, beer drinking students who are down to have a good time.
“KAMS is a place to go whether you only want a few drinks to relax after a long day, pull up a stool and chill or stand back with your group of friends, take a couple of shots and follow them with Blue Guys and party,” Danielle Ball, junior at UIUC and employee at KAM’s, said. You will always leave KAM’s asking yourself, “but really, what IS in a Blue Guy?”
Brothers
If you’re a frequent Brother’s go-er, you must either be an upperclassmen or a GDI. This two-story bar is definitely the bar to go to if you want to actually have a conversation with someone over a few drinks.
Brothers is definitely the chillest of the on-campus bars and is the most casual – you can hit up the bar in jeans and a sweater. Brothers is the temple for those who are trying to avoid the creepers on the dance floors commonly found at other on-campus bars.
Red Lion
Better known as Station to alumni, Red Lion is definitely the bar to be at if you’re down to dance or fist pump. TRL is characterized by DJ John Hahn’s booming beats and grinding (maybe even twerking) freshmen in bandage skirts.
TRL is making a name for itself in the happy hour scene. Spend your Friday afternoon drinking in the beer garden or the newly added outdoor tent.
The Clybourne
The rising popularity of The Clybourne, commonly known around campus as Clys, could be attributed to its new and improved Tuesday night wine night. This special night features specials on wine – reducing the bottles to as low as $8 a bottle. However, the low price of the bottles does come with a price: the deathly hangover.
The appeal of going to Clys on any given night is definitely its classiness factor. “With a wine bottle in their hand, you still look classy,” Hannah Rosin, sophomore and employee at Clys, said. “The people who love Clys are the perfect combination of chill and crazy.”
Joe’s
Joe’s is definitely one of the best bars if you’re looking to dance. I mean, come on, they have poles on the dance floor. Tuesday Night 8th Grade Dance Night is definitely the place to be if you’re wanting to belt out *NSync’s “Bye, Bye, Bye” or Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.”
But, the real time to visit Joe’s is on a Tuesday or Saturday when they have their half price burgers special. What could be better than sitting outside with a pitcher of beer and a burger that costs $4?
So whether you want to sit down and grab a beer with your friends or if you want to get down on the dance floor, there’s definitely a bar on campus for you! Depending on what you’re in the mood for, plan the bar you go to accordingly!
Photo Sources:
http://brewhouseblog.com/2012/10/02/a-true-college-bar/
http://www.brothersbar.com/corporate_franchise_e.cfm
http://www.projectparties.com/search_results.php?main=&sub=&cat=&name=&start=100&per_page=50
http://tourtheten.com/posts/2012/09/16/eat-drink-dance-at-joes-brewery/