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Northern Illinois University
- Nightlife

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Northern Illinois University - Nightlife - Nightlife - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.46

Nightlife

B
Where does this grade come from?View all Nightlife rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Nightlife Grades:

Quick Stats

Primary Areas with Nightlife
  • Greek Row
  • Lincoln Highway
  • Pappas Drive
Student Favorites
  • Fatty’s Bar & Grill
  • Molly’s
  • Starbusters Bar & Grill
Other Places to Check Out Eduardo’s
Local Specialties The Barbwire:
Favorite Drinking Games
  • Beer pong
  • Card games (A$$hole)
  • Circle of Death
  • Flippy Cup
  • The OC Drinking Game
  • Power Hour
  • Quarters
Useful Resources for Nightlife
  • The Northern Star
  • www.dekalbcounty-il.com/nitelife.html

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

There are 10 or so decent bars in the area, most of which are within reasonable walking distance if you live anywhere near the school. Starbusters is probably the best of the bunch because of its capacity, frequent live music, and beer garden. Molly’s, Fatty’s, and Lord Stanley’s are also popular. Local bar owners have been hit hard with citations and fines in recent years for allowing underage drinking, so fake IDs aren’t effective or recommended. If you’re under 21 and unwilling to commit fraud, your options are pretty sparse, with the House Café serving as DeKalb’s haven for minors. Bottom line: If you are looking for an exotic club-going lifestyle, don’t come to NIU—or else be prepared to make the hour-and-a-half trek down I-88 to Chicago every weekend. Otherwise, there are a variety of bars and on-campus parties to fill up your Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights with. Sunday through Wednesday? That’s probably asking too much out of this quiet farm town.

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Northern Illinois Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Nightlife at Northern Illinois University

therealkwa

Hospitality and Tourism Management '13

3.8
B+

Nightlife

Nightlife is for students who are 21 or older. House parties are free for the ladies but the men pay between 5-10 bucks, the music is better, and you don’t have to pay for a cab back to campus.

May 26, 2012

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Nightlife at Northern Illinois University

glitzybby

Fashion and Apparel Design '17

4.6
A

IT'S A PARTAY!

There is ALWAYS a party at Northern ! Our weekends are Thursday- Sunday. But even on weekdays there is always something going on. Parties are generally by ear on any college campus so some may go off of that but at NIU you can literally walk down by the 7-eleven and find parties just that easy. People are so friendly and easy to get along with. Friday is one of my favorite party days ! It's always nice to let all the stress from the school week go and just kick it.

Jan 02, 2012

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Nightlife at Northern Illinois University

stargirl21

Liberal Arts and Humanities '13

3.1
B-

Nightlife

there are many bars around campus and the frats and sorority houses sometimes have parties which is great nightlife entertainment for those of age, another great place for entertainment for those who arent of age is the NIU convocation center and the NIU stadium for sports events and concerts.

Dec 20, 2011

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Page 1 of 8
User rating for Northern Illinois University - Nightlife is 4.6 out of 5 based on 23 user reviews.

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

There is a real scarcity of nightclubs in DeKalb as most business owners choose to go the bar route.

Bar Prowler

Clubs aren’t for everyone, especially those who are more laid back and like earning their headaches by drinking a lot, instead of standing next to pounding speakers. DeKalb has several bars to support the large student population. Here are some of the favorites:

Closing Time

1 a.m. Sunday–Wednesday

2 a.m. Thursday–Saturday

Cheapest Place to Get a Drink

Molly’s

Organization Parties

Many clubs at NIU will often rent out restaurants or facilities at NIU and throw private parties. These parties are usually a lot of fun and are thrown by cultural groups interested in touting their way of life via food and spirits.

Club ListingsWhat's This?

Otto’s Niteclub & Underground

Since 1985, Otto’s has been the definitive place to watch live music in DeKalb at an affordable price. Bands such as Wilco, George Clinton & P-Funk, the Violent Femmes, and Ted Nugent have played the expansive venue, which has a solid sound system and an excellent ambiance. Music geeks flock to it, but it doesn’t get overtly crowded. The downstairs area has pool tables that see a lot of use.

118 N. Lincoln Hwy.

(815) 758-2715

Bar ListingsWhat's This?

Molly’s

Simply put, Molly’s is a hell of a good time. It has a very festive atmosphere and nice décor. It really makes an effort to pack in the students even on slow days with theme nights and good specials. The waitresses are usually friendly and attractive, as well. Molly’s also has the distinction of throwing the definitive end of the year tent party.

1022 W. Lincoln Hwy.

(815) 758-2120

Starbusters Bar & Grill

A large capacity, expansive seating area and wide stage with an excellent sound system are just some of the reasons that many consider this DeKalb’s best bar. Almost every Saturday, some notable regional act or cover band plays to a packed house. It also has the best beer garden in DeKalb with full bar and comfortable lawn chairs. Cover can get pricey and the crowds can be suffocating, but the atmosphere is worth it.

930 Pappas Dr.

(815) 756-3438

Lord Stanley’s

Lord Stanley’s is the consummate townie bar. It draws older patrons than most bars and doesn’t make an effort to be flashy. Nothing is better here than a pitcher of beer and a large sausage pizza to soak it up.

142 E. Lincoln Hwy.

(815) 756-8718

Andy’s Lounge

Andy’s is nothing special, but therein lies its charm. It’s just a nice, quaint little place to get a drink at a reasonable price. It’s farther away from campus than most bars, but worth the trip on Wednesdays, which is a karaoke night.

317 E. Lincoln Hwy.

(815) 748-3314

Fatty’s Bar & Grill

Most bars attempt to assault your senses with loud, blaring music and end up silencing conversation and fun. Not Fatty’s. It has a rather subdued atmosphere that makes for a comfortable gathering spot for friends after a tough day or week. Fatty’s also has the best bar food in the city, which might be the reason that it often draws large crowds after events at the Convocation Center.

1312 W. Lincoln Hwy.

(412) 681-5656

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

The House

The House had been home to some wild shows over the years, but it looked like it was curtains for this haven for minors and alcohol-phobes after it shut down for several months. That is, until an NIU music professor purchased and reopened the quaint, cozy establishment. The House now rocks once again with multiple acts visiting it every week. It serves as an excellent showcase for local talent.

263 E. Lincoln Hwy.

(815) 787-9547

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How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
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