Written by Bennett Kogon
The nightlife in around Monterey definitely fails to surpass students’ expectations. As a quaint coastal community, the Monterey Peninsula prides itself with its beautiful scenery and cultural history rather than a raging party atmosphere. The nightlife at CSUMB is very quiet and does not have many exciting nighttime activities. For such a small school, CSUMB is limited in its nightlife accommodations, but if one looks hard enough, they are destined to find some kind of social gathering. With patrolling police officers and suspicious residential advisors, however, parties in the residential halls are often complicated and unrealistic. On the other hand, many students choose to head over to East Campus (upperclassman housing) and to off-campus apartments in hope of finding a decent party or kickback. These parties can get “rolled” by cops, however, so be sure to avoid parties that appear sketchy or out of hand. Campus fraternities and sororities are also known to hold dances and parties, so be sure to keep your eyes open for fliers and events on Facebook. The Black Box Cabaret, an on-campus venue, holds many of the campus dances and concerts, and it ocassionally features student music groups, DJs, and comedians.
For those in search of other forms of nightlife, there are a few options offered within a short drive away. There are several popular bars in Monterey which include the Mucky Duck, British Bulldog, Britannia Arms, and others. The bars are rather affordable and pretty accessible, especially for those traveling by car. There is also the Hippodrome, which a 21+ club located in Downtown Monterey. The club is very popular amongst the older crowds and is definitely a local hot spot. For those underage, Club Planet Gemini is an 18+ venue that holds Thursday club nights, which is always popular with the CSUMB college crowd. Another fun nighttime event includes attending a beach bonfire, which students hold rather frequently (CSUMB is conveniently located right by the beach). Regardless of its uneventful reputation, one is bound to find some kind of nightlife at CSUMB as long as they are looking in the right place.