Written by Jeffrey Keenan
Like most rural towns in Wisconsin, there are more bars than needed, and, in Menomonie, there happens to be a bar for everyone’s taste. There are places to dance, shoot pool and play darts, watch a live band, and watch sports. The best thing is that, for most students, the bars are within walking distance. Most venues offer great prices and specials. Thursday night is the big "going out" night, while Friday and Saturday nights are not too far behind in popularity. There is always a house party going on somewhere, but, for the under-21 crowd, there are also a few other options worth recommending. The Acoustic Café is open late and often hosts an open mic night and live bands. They serve a few beers on tap and decent espresso drinks. Zanzibar, a restaurant in town known for great martinis and exotic cuisine, is a good place to go for underclassmen and upperclassmen alike. You only get carded if you drink, and the venue is a perfect place to chat with a group of close friends in a smoke-free and less noisy environment. Finally, the Underground in the Memorial Student Center is open until midnight most nights for bowling and billiards. Blue Devil Productions often hosts great shows at the Underground on Thursday nights.
The downside to the nightlife in Menomonie is that there are no real “clubs,” and most of the bars are filled with smoke. A general rule of thumb: the clothes that you wear to the bars will smell like cigarette smoke for a few days. All the bars, for the most part, are clustered together. Log Jam is fun and has good music, and there are booths and tables so you can go and relax with a beer and friends and have a good chat. Zanzibar is fun, not as busy, and more for a mellow night with some martinis. There's pretty much a bar for everyone in Menomonie.