East Carolina University - Nightlife

PB’s has a strict dress code and often hosts private parties, lingerie contests, and foam parties, as well as live music acts. Unpleasantly large crowds of underclassmen, especially wide-eyed freshmen, frequent PB’s, which features an outdoor deck where patrons can cool off between dances.

Phoenix, formerly the Cavern, has an entrance that is easy to miss, but many people feel it is worth the search to go there and enjoy the packed dance floor and chill atmosphere. Ladies always get in for free, which can be a good deal for college students with limited funds. Phoenix features a variety of music each night.

The Red Rooster, formerly Corrigan’s, has good service and the atmosphere is comfortable. There is live music, which seems to attract many of the same people who used to go to Peasants (now Club Aqua). Some of the local music favorites, like Mac and Juice and Valiant Thorr, have played there.  

Boli’s offers scrumptious pizza and other dishes all day, and almost all night, too. The appetizers are yummy, and so are the BLTs. The couch area is comfy, and there is a large round booth, perfect for larger groups feasting on pizza and beer.

BW3’s has pretty good food, especially the catfish nuggets and killer hot sauce, but the smoke is unbearable for non-smokers. After 30 seconds inside at night, even non-smokers reek like they have just smoked a whole pack of cigarettes. People who like something other than Budweiser and are seeking a place that is larger than Christy’s Euro Pub can partake of Guinness, Bass, and Harp.

Christy’s (or “the Euro Pub”) is the best place for people who like an intimate atmosphere for socializing, not just drinking and looking for hookups. It is certainly a hangout for more mature customers, usually upperclassmen, grad students, and faculty. Halloween and St. Patrick’s Day are huge events at the Euro Pub, especially St. Patrick’s Day—green beer and everything.

Dr. Unk’s, the name of which purposely looks like “Drunks” from a distance, has replaced the former Main Street Beer Company, which was a popular Greek hangout because of its proximity to several Greek houses.

El Ranchito is a favorite student and faculty hangout at lunchtime, but morphs into an active restaurant and bar at night. The nachos and the chicken soup are scrumptious at El Ranchito, and the margaritas are popular too.

Ham’s is located in a former funeral parlor and is rumored to be haunted—just ask anyone who has had the model train fall off the track onto their head. Ham’s features various drink and food specials and has a wide range of beers.

Just across Reade Street from Fletcher, Clement, and White dorms, Chico’s is popular for lunch, dinner, and late-night celebrations among students and faculty. The bar is on the end of the restaurant closest to the clubs on Cotanche Street. Fried ice cream is the dish of choice for many customers, and it is massive, so more than one person could share it. Overall, the food is more American with a Southwestern flavor than it is authentic Mexican food.

Marathon, a Greek restaurant right across the street from Ham’s, is a long-time favorite of students, faculty, and community members. The bar is small, size-wise, but the selection of beer and wine is certainly decent. The food is wonderful and the prices are good, too. Athenian chicken is yummy, and vegetarians must try the Agean Grilled Cheese and the Spinach Plunge.  

Barnes & Noble is a popular study hangout for students who want a change from their dorms or apartments and the library. The hot tea is good, as is the hot chocolate and coffee, and of course, the Barnes & Noble stock is slightly more pop-culture related than the bulk of the titles at Joyner Library.

Hendrix Theater offers several film nights, and the films change every week. Film flyers are posted in Mendenhall Student Center, and show times are usually sent out via e-mail.

Just across the street from Krispy Kreme, the McDonald’s-turned-McCafé is a new phenomenon near ECU. The pastry items and new coffee concoctions, both of which are generally a lot better than the ones from Java City on campus, are strong attractions for students, as is the wireless Internet.

Krispy Kreme is a local favorite and a great place for coffee and conversation in the middle of the night. The doughnuts are pretty irresistible, especially when the hot sign is on and the aroma of fresh doughnuts wafts across West Neighborhood of East Campus into the dorms.

Like Mudslinger’s, Parker-Kennybrook Books and the Tipsy Teapot are part of Greenville’s Downtown Revitalization efforts. Parker-Kennybrook is one of the few independent bookshops in town and is supportive of campus organizations that want to host dramatic and literary events. The tea is certainly tasty at the Tipsy Teapot, perfect with a good book on the couches there.

Most clubs downtown are 18+

The Willis Building is actually the Regional Development Services office for ECU, but almost every weekend of the month, Willis also serves as the venue for various kinds of dancing, including ballroom, salsa, swing, and contra dancing. Lessons always precede the dances, which are open to all skill levels and ages.