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Penn State - NightlifeCollege Prowler3.46
Comparable Schools'
Nightlife Grades:
Quick StatsUseful Resources for Nightlife
- Thursday’s Venues section of The Daily Collegian
- www.lionbars.com for nightly specials
- www.statecollegemusic.com
- statecollege.com/bartour
- The Bar Tour at 9 p.m. on radio 101.1FM
- The Weekender (published Fridays by the Centre Daily Times)
- www.latenight.psu.edu
Primary Areas with Nightlife
- The most popular bars are located on or directly off of College Avenue.
Local Specialties
- Café 210’s Long Island Iced Teas
- Fish Bowls from Bar Bleu
- Monkey Boys from the Saloon
- The Tavern’s Original Sin
Other Places to Check Out
- Otto’s Pub & Brewery
- Shandygaff Saloon
Favorite Drinking Games
- King’s Cup/Circle of Death
Cheapest Place to Get a Drink
Cellblock
The Lion’s Den
College Prowler Take
“State College: A Drinking Town with a Football Problem.” That’s the slogan posted on many T-shirts in the downtown shops. The fall semester is dominated by activities surrounding football Saturdays. Visitors come in from across the country and double the population of State College. During the spring, as more people turn 21 through out the year, the bars become the place to be seen. Indigo and Cellblock are the premier dance clubs in town. Most students enjoy the feeling of drinking outside at Café 210 and the Gingerbread Man. Smaller bars like the Rathskeller and the Phyrst have a strong cult following. Penn State tries to compensate for the local atmosphere by offering a lot of different activities through the HUB late at night. Many students do take advantage of what the HUB has to offer. However, the University simply can’t offer enough for a large student population crammed into a small area. The lack of nightlife accounts for the large drinking problem at Penn State, and, while the town is mostly safe, it is impossible to avoid roving groups of drunken students after 10 p.m. The best advice for finding things to do around State College is to find a group of friends and be creative—everyone is in the same situation, and many choose not to drink. As a result, some of the best times can be had outside of bars and large parties. Students Speak Out
Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:
amm5331 says: Penn State 2010 Business  |
Nightlife
A-
Big party school. You cannot go to the bars until 21 because they scan IDs, but they're very fun once you're able to go. Despite only 21+ allowed at bars there are plenty of opportunities for under 21 to party. There are apartment, house, and frat parties to attend all the time. Some bars also have 18 and over nights so that's another option. State Patty's Day is always fun along with football games. They're trying to cut down on the drinking so that's annoying. All in all it's a pretty good nightlife
Nightlife: January 21, 2010
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Anonymous says: |
Apartment parties are the best,...
Apartment parties are the best, and on any given weekend they can be found, quite literally, in the hundreds. Bars off-campus are alright but, overall, pretty sketchy. Places like Café 210 West let you drink outside. Others, like the Phyrst, Rathskeller, and Chumley’s, let you pack yourself into a small room and drink yourself stupid. |
Anonymous says: |
The bars here are a must once you...
The bars here are a must once you turn 21. Try Adam’s Apple for an Original Sin or the Big Easy (a.k.a. the Big Sleazy) for late-nights when you’re too drunk to care how much you’re spending on a drink. You have to be 21, though, unless you have an amazing fake ID. The bouncers at local bars get paid for confiscating fake IDs, and most bars have a scanner. |
qtpiektw says: Penn State 2012 Communication and Journalism |
#1 in the Country for a Reason.
A
There are plenty of parties for underagers to attend. Hit up frat row wednesday through saturday...there's bound to be something. When you start to know a few upperclassmen with apartments, apartment parties are another option for you. Keep all of your fake IDs at home! Downtown bars are very strict with checking IDs, so don't waste your time unless your of age. Both the White Loop and the Blue Loop take you from downtown to the dorms on weekends and run until 2am. There's always a way home, and ALWAYS use the buddy system!
Nightlife: December 11, 2009
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Anonymous says: |
On-campus parties? When you find...
On-campus parties? When you find one, let me know. Bars off campus are great—there’s one for every type of student. |
FactsClub Crawler
There are only two clubs in State College: Players is the DJ dance club, and the Crowbar is the live music club. Both are pretty cool, within easy walking (or stumbling) distance from campus, and host special events occasionally. However, these two clubs are nowhere near enough to keep the large student population interested weekend after weekend. Expect long waiting lines no matter when you go, and no matter what temperature it is outside!
Bar Prowler
Unlike clubs, bars are plentiful in State College. Some are sports oriented (the Sports Café), others have an Irish theme (the Phyrst), and some are just cool, trendy places to hang out (Café 210 West). The bar scene is probably of more interest to students simply because there are enough bars to constitute a “scene.” Most students learn the bars pretty quickly, as 21st birthdays are carried out in a grand bar tour tradition.
Club Listings
Indigo is the most popular dance club in State College. The line regularly stretches a full block down College Avenue. The drinks are cheap, and the girls look good. Club Indigo 112 W. College Ave. (814) 234-1031
Wednesdays are actually Cellblock’s most popular night because it is the only place in town which promotes an under-21 night. Dollar shots and 25 cent drafts attract a nice crowd to Cellblock.
Lulu’s is the premier hip-hop club in State College. It features many live bands during the week, but on Friday and Saturday nights the DJs take over for one big dance party. Lulu’s 131 S. Pugh St. (814) 867-5683
Bar Listings
For many Penn State students, the Café is a frat away from frat. Known as “the place to be” on Friday nights in many circles, the Café is also known for less-than-wonderful service and large waiting lines during peak hours. Nevertheless, the outdoor patio seating (except for the worst winter months, of course) is a great draw, and many feel comfortable within the packed atmosphere and large student population. The Café also offers an extensive food menu for late night munchies or midday meals.
Located across from campus, the Darkhorse has a low-key atmosphere similar to the Brewery and the Phyrst. The Darkhorse has a reasonably large menu and hosts live music from local bands throughout the week.
Overall, it’s a very small joint, and it doesn’t have the best ventilation—definitely a place to avoid if you don’t like smoke-filled rooms. Home to frequent live performances and open-mic nights, you can also find frequent drink specials throughout the week. The fair variety of on-tap beer is served in mason jars, and there are also bottles available for take-out.
The Big Easy is the place to go for martinis, mojitos, and sophisticated drinks. This place caters to the more upscale crowd, though it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Nightly drink specials and an evening menu keep students frequenting this campus bar.
The Saloon has more of a “party” atmosphere than many of the area bars; it plays host to live music, karaoke, and DJs during the week, and offers a variety of special mixed drinks. These drinks, including “Monkey Boys,” are big sellers and a great way to start the night. Monkey Boys are available in many flavors and served in pitchers topped with a handful of alcohol-soaked cherries. The Saloon 101 Heister St. (814) 234-0845
The Rathskeller is located in a dark basement and known for cheap drinks and an electric atmosphere. Thanks to Spats Café upstairs, the Skeller is also home to some great food.
The ‘Gaff is a long-standing PSU tradition. On football weekends, the Shandygaff is filled with a mix of young and old. The wooden floors and benches show the bar’s age.
Zeno’s carries what is probably the largest selection of beer in the entire region. This bar is known for its friendly atmosphere, and it offers live music most weekends; these make for an interesting contrast with the dark, smoky basement atmosphere. Zeno’s is located right across from campus, and the food comes straight from the Corner Room! Zeno’s 100 W. College Ave. (814) 237-2857
The Phyrst is State College’s second-oldest bar, with 15 beers on tap and live entertainment nearly every night. Conveniently located on Beaver Avenue, it’s only a few blocks from campus and centrally located in downtown State College. Phyrst’s unique, Irish themed atmosphere has given it a strong following throughout the region. The Phyrst 111 E. Beaver Ave. (814) 238-1406
What to Do if You're Not 21
Not being 21 is usually not a deterrent for drinking at Penn State. But for those that want to obey the law and stay sober on the weekends, there are many alternatives. Movie theaters and bowling alleys are spread through the area. LateNight-PennState organizes sports and gaming tournaments in the HUB and White Building. Cellblock offers an under-21 night on Wednesdays, which is very popular. For a list of upcoming events, check out www.latenight.psu.edu.
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