Lawrence University
- Nightlife

Route 66

Route 66 is actually a renovated movie theatre made into a nightclub. It is completely dry and usually stays in the shadows of Park Central, which is a much larger establishment. Route 66 is open to those under 21 every Saturday and Sunday.

Park Central

Although this is the only standard club on the avenue and it is so close to campus, students rarely venture to Park Central. The club has decent drink specials and a different theme for each night of the week, but students would much rather hit the bars than go to Park Central. However, it does offer those under 21 a place to go downtown. Depending on the day of the week, the club could be heard playing hip hop, top 40, or songs from the ‘70s, ‘80s, or ‘90s. There are even open mic hours three times a week.

The Speakeasy

The Speakeasy, its name a reference to illegal bars during Prohibition, is decked out in memorabilia from the roaring ‘20s. There are live DJs on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and the food is very dependable.

Mill Creek Blues Café

Mill Creek is one of the best places to go for live music and food. Groups are always playing on the weekend, but you will find most Lawrence students there on Wednesday for ‘80s night.

Wooden Nickel

Strangely enough, with the owner being one of the security guards on campus, the Nickel is a frequent stop for the students. There is great food, and the outdoor seating is nice when the weather is warm. Mondays are pretty popular because of $1 beer specials and trivia night.

Tom’s Garage

The music is what draws in the crowds at Tom’s Garage. Live bands will play everything, including country, folk, jazz, rock, and bluegrass. Students from Lawrence perform there regularly. There is also a great menu, a separate bar, and a game room. There may be an admission charge at the door, but the money always goes to the artists.

Jim’s Place

Jim’s is the best bet for finding fellow Lawrence students on the avenue. It is one of the closest bars to campus, making it extremely convenient during cold winter nights. The drinks are cheap as well, a plus for college students low on cash.

Cleo’s Brown Beam Tavern

This bar usually attracts more of a middle-aged local crowd, but students love their specialty drinks, especially the Suffering Bastard and the Dirty Snowball. The place is always in the mood for the holidays, with lights, jack-o’-lanterns, and plastic Santas around. The crowd and the decorations are erratic, but the drinks are always dependable.

The Bar on the Avenue

As one of the most popular sports bars on the avenue, students love heading down to The Bar to visit Lawrence students that work there and partake in the great food they serve. The Bar is famous for its great wings.

Dr. Jekyll’s

One of the closest bars to campus, Jekyll’s used to be the most popular bar for students. It has a ‘70s-era motif with red and white floor tiles and a key-shaped bar. But once they started asking for two forms of ID at the door, students moved just a few feet down on the avenue for a drink.

Déjà Vu Martini Lounge

Students can find live jazz on Wednesday and Saturday evenings in a relaxed bar setting. Fewer students tend to go to Déjà Vu because of their expensive drinks, but their martinis are a great indulgence. They serve more than 70 varieties of martinis, including the chocolate martini and the Cosmopolitan.

Without being over 21 in some form or another, nightlife is rather restricted. Students falling into this unfortunate category usually stay on campus and stick to frat parties and the scattered dorm and theme-house parties. Downtown, Park Central and Route 66 are options, but are rarely taken advantage of. Tom’s Garage draws in a considerable younger crowd when Lawrence students play there, though.