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Comparable Schools'
Nightlife Grades:
Quick StatsUseful Resources for Nightlife
- Event listings from the calendar pages in Static magazine (www.freestaticonline.com)
- Word of mouth from Collegiate Fellows (CFs—similar to RAs) or upperclassmen
Student Favorites
- Blue Bricks
- Flame Bar
- Patrick’s on Third
- TJ Finnegan’s
- Willy’s Tavern
Primary Areas with Nightlife
- “The Bermuda Triangle” in Mankato
- Directly beneath “the Hill
Other Places to Check Out
- Bowlero Lanes (student discount on Monday nights)
- Whiskey River (karaoke)
Favorite Drinking Games
- Beer pong
- Caps
- Card games (P&A)
- Power Hour
- Ride the Bus
- Tippy Cup
Cheapest Place to Get a Drink
Good luck finding cheap drink specials in St. Peter—there simply isn’t competition. The best deal in town is on trivia nights at Patrick’s when Schell’s is offered for $2 a glass.
College Prowler Take
The Nightlife in St. Peter is nothing to write home about, but it is much loved by the over-21 crowd. The three most popular bars in town, Patrick’s, Willy’s, and the Flame, all have a distinct crowd of students who hang out there, but it’s common to “do the rounds” at all three on Friday and Saturday nights. Though drink specials aren’t the greatest, all the bars in St. Peter provide something that you can’t find in a bigger city: a place where you will always know somebody. Bars are almost completely dominated by the college students on weekends, with only a few townies who are willing to brave the drunken college scene. For a more intense bar scene where you can do wild and crazy things and not necessarily have people talking about it on Monday morning, you have to head to Mankato and check out the college scene provided by Minnesota State University. Though there are certainly perks of traveling the distance to drink up better specials, the disadvantages and organizational aspects that must accompany the trip are hardly worth the hassle. Even after graduation, Gusties become nostalgic for the times they spent at “their” bar, because, like Cheers, everybody always knew their names. Students Speak Out
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Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:
Anonymous says:  |
Parties on campus can be a great...
Parties on campus can be a great time, especially when you are underage or an underclassman. They can also suck big-time—it depends on certain factors not to be discussed in a survey. Patrick’s is the bar of choice, although there are a few other ones in St. Peter. Each location has certain regulars there, depending on sororities and fraternities, athletics, and so forth. The all-inclusive place is Patrick’s, where you can be a member of the Mug Club, which I might say is a much-desired feat. |
Anonymous says: |
Go to Patrick’s on Third on...
Go to Patrick’s on Third on Tuesday nights for trivia. You don’t even need to be 21 to go! |
Anonymous says: |
I always tell people I am friends...
I always tell people I am friends with from other schools that Gustavus is perfect for going out. You can go to the small-time bars where you know you’ll always see someone you know, but Mankato is so close that you can go out there and not feel like you know everyone and get away sometimes. |
Anonymous says: |
If you want to get a minor in...
If you want to get a minor in possession, go to a house party. The St. Peter police have really cracked down on underage drinking and partying in the St. Peter community. This also goes for sober drivers. Always have a designated driver, but it’s been said that St. Peter police pay close attention to those GAC parking permits and are more likely to pull you over. |
Anonymous says: |
Parties are plentiful off campus....
Parties are plentiful off campus. Due to the alcohol policy that GAC has, it pays to drink off campus, then try to either stay off campus or be really quiet when returning. Every year there’s different places to party, but one staple party place is the Barn. They always have a party, and it’s always a good place to meet people—just be careful of the big guys. |
FactsClub Crawler
Unless you count Friday nights at the Dive, there are only clubs available after a drive to Mankato.
Organization Parties
While many organizations on campus, such as the College Democrats and CAB, throw parties with live music during the school year, events hosted on campus remain alcohol-free. While many of the Greek organizations used to host social events at local establishments in town, bad rapport and underage drinking has curtailed many of those events in recent years. If you want to find off-campus parties that involve alcohol, they will likely not be hosted by Gustavus-sponsored organizations.
Bar Listings
A popular college bar, Blue Bricks is trafficked by MSU students and Gusties looking for cheap drinks. Dark and smokey, with a wide selection of domestics and imports (usually cheapest on Thursdays), Blue Bricks has become a hangout for students in the mood to relax and chat over a beer with friends. Blue Bricks 424 S. Front St. Mankato (507) 386-1700
Another common hangout for many of the Greeks and jocks, Willy’s is larger than the Flame and also boasts the only dance floor in St. Peter. Willy’s Tavern 220 S. Minnesota Ave. St. Peter (507) 934-4355
Another popular hangout in Mankato, TJ’s is best known for their excellent brick oven pizza and outstanding drink specials. With two drink counters on opposite ends of the bar, patrons who wish to hang out and relax with friends can mostly steer clear of those who wish to let loose on the dance floor. TJ Finnegan’s is a popular hangout for the Minnesota Vikings when they are in town for their summer training camp. TJ Finnegan’s 520 S. Front St. Mankato (507) 388-3664
As the largest bar in St. Peter, Patrick’s is also one of the busiest and is a frequent hangout for students, faculty, and townspeople other than just on the weekend because of their delicious and reasonably priced bar food. Tuesdays are one of Patrick’s busiest nights, with weekly trivia (the season’s winner is provided with an all-expense-paid tour of the Schell’s Brewery in nearby New Ulm). Trivia nights also have cheap Schell’s beer and free pitchers for teams who are savvy enough to answer specific trivia questions correctly. Drink specials are available every night of the week, though they aren’t necessarily such a steal. Patrick’s on Third 125 S. 3rd St. St. Peter (507) 931-9051
Situated right in the heart of St. Peter’s main drag, the Embassy isn’t usually frequented by students other than on Bar Crawl Night during Senior Week. Usually, both the locals and the students who choose to spend an evening at the Embassy are there for the same reason—avoiding the crowd of college students. Embassy Bar 325 S. Minnesota Ave. St. Peter (507) 931-3903
Though narrowly shaped and not ideal for the truly claustrophobic, the Flame has become a requisite hangout for many of the Greek organizations and sports teams at Gustavus. Cheap drink specials are offered almost every night of the week, and free popcorn is a definite plus. Flame Bar 225 Nassau St. St. Peter (507) 931-9277
What to Do if You're Not 21
Check out the table tents that are placed on tables in the Market Place each week—they have an entire listing of all campus-sponsored activities for the weekend.
Did You Know?Plan ahead! Liquor stores in Minnesota close at 10 p.m. and are not open on Sundays.
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