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- Nightlife

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California Institute of Technology - Nightlife - College ProwlerCollege Prowler2.31

Nightlife

C
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Quick Stats

Primary Areas with Nightlife Not Pasadena. Pasadena only has a few bars, but LA, Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, and other nearby areas have many more.
Student Favorites
  • The Colorado
  • Moose McGillycuddy’s
Favorite Drinking Games
  • Beer pong
  • Card games
  • Drunk Poker
  • Power Hour

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

At Caltech, the nightlife generally involves doing calculus homework until sunrise one night and doing it againg for physics the next night. Generally, the nightlife is nonexistent. Pasadena is a small city with mostly older residents. Though it is close to the LA party scene geographically, it in no way resembles an LA atmosphere at night. There are a few bars in Old Pasadena and some in neighboring Alhambra, but no clubs within close walking distance. For students who are intent on going out and clubbing, LA is the closest place, though sometimes transportation can be an issue. Another problem with going clubbing is finding other students interested in going with you on any given night. Also, coordinating schedules can, at times, seem impossible. Pasadena is not a lively place at night.

The nightlife on campus on non-homework days can be amusing from time to time. Students will get together to drink and play cards, or just drink. There are not very many parties on campus. Sometimes, there will be parties at off-campus houses where students live, but these are few and far between. Besides these parties, each of the seven houses has a party once a year. These parties often involve constructing a club-type scene with a theme, and the parties resemble a nightclub, except that they are on Caltech’s campus and that they happen infrequently. Drinking games and such happen within the houses and amongst friends. Some houses even have special nights allotted to it, but the campus is usually quiet like the city of Pasadena itself.

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Caltech Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Nightlife at California Institute of Technology

Anonymous

Student

The parties here generally sport...

The parties here generally sport alcohol and the same old pop/rap music. While some houses have a clue and play music other than pop and rap, those two genres are embarrassingly prevalent at parties. While a lot of drinking occurs at parties here, you don’t need alcohol to fit in. One thing that is cool is that a lot of work goes into these parties, so at least they are presented well. As for the clubs, we’re close to LA. The clubs are world class, but you have to be 21 to get into most of them.

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Nightlife at California Institute of Technology

Anonymous

Student

Nightlife in Pasadena is pricey;...

Nightlife in Pasadena is pricey; go to Manhattan Beach or LA for a cheaper, younger crowd.

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Nightlife at California Institute of Technology

Anonymous

Student

You’re only a 20-minute drive from...

You’re only a 20-minute drive from Hollywood, so the clubs are great. Bars are good. There is something for everyone.

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Page 1 of 4

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the off-campus bar and club scene on the following topics

What is the party scene like on campus?

What’s the best way to get to the popular nightlife spots?

Facts

Club Crawler

For clubbing , areas outside of Pasadena are recommended.

Bar Prowler

There are not many bars in Pasadena. A few bars are attached to restaurants and most bars close fairly early.

Closing Time

2 a.m.

Cheapest Place to Get a Drink

The Colorado

Organization Parties

Once a year, every one of the seven houses at Caltech throws a large interhouse party. These parties usually involve construction and decorations around some theme. Some houses alter the theme yearly, and other houses keep the same theme as a tradition. These parties usually last until the wee hours of the morning and have professional DJs and bartenders. There are also smaller parties thrown by some of the houses during the year, but those are more spontaneous.

Bar ListingsWhat's This?

Moose McGillycuddy’s

Look for drink specials during happy hour between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

119 E. Colorado Blvd.

(626) 304-9955

The Colorado

The dark atmosphere makes this bar feel like a dive, attracting Caltech students on a regular basis with the cheap drinks.

2640 E. Colorado Blvd.

(626) 449-3485

What to Do if You're Not 21What's This?

If you’re under 21, there are a few coffee shops or juice bars in the area, but not too much else. Going out to eat or to the movies is the preferred mode of entertainment. A Starbucks, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Peet’s Coffee, and Jamba Juice are located within two blocks of campus on Lake Avenue. There is also a Starbucks and Juice It Up shop in the Paseo Colorado Shopping Center.

Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at Caltech

Name: Mayra Sheikh

Hometown: San Fernando Valley, Calif.

Major: Chemistry

see all student author bios >

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