I know exactly what you were thinking.
The second your parents left, you instantly started daydreaming about all of the drunken escapades you can go on now that you're in college.
Goodbye curfew; hello raging your face off.
But before you go out for your first night on the town, it'd be a good idea to know which bars and clubs allow underagers to bask in the legally and gloriously drunk upperclassmen.
There are two popular bar districts here in Gaines-Vegas: downtown and midtown. We'll begin with the midtown spots.
The Swamp
It's legendary, it's big and it's usually packed to the brim on a Monday night. And when I say packed, I mean it's impossible to walk unless you crawl or shove drunk people out of the way to make a temporary path. But it's always fun, you'll usually see a bunch of people you know, and they usually have someone jamming out an acoustic set. Nice and chill.
Go here if: It's a Monday, you're in Greek life (because you'll see literally everyone you know), before a football game, or if you feel like dressing more casual.
101 Cantina
The first thing you should know is that it's pretty much all outside, so don't go during our typical summer evening monsoons. These guys might be the most creative when it comes to unique ways to get people to drink tons of alcohol. There's Sunday Funday with absurd drink specials and free shots on the hour, and now they have "Get Tanked Thursday," where all those wearing tank tops get free shots every hour.
Go here if: It's not raining, or it's Sunday and you're wearing flip-flops, a frat tank or both.
Gator City/XS
This place is unusual, because it's a big bar on one side and a big club on the other. The same people manage both of them, and you can go back and forth between the two without having to go outside. They've got comedy on Monday nights in XS and "80s for the Ladies" on Friday nights. Who doesn't want to dance around in a sweatband and leggings?
Go here if: There's a game you want to catch, you want to dance, you can't decide between going to a bar or club, or if you like being Rick-Rolled on Friday nights.
Downtown is dressier than midtown, probably because it is crawling with clubs instead of bars. You'll want to go to the clubs here if you want to dress up a little nicer and dance until you are a sweaty mess.
101 Downtown
This is home of the infamous Techno Tuesday and the clubby cousin of 101 Cantina. Aside from Techno Tuesday, it has a Sunday brunch you could bring your parents to. Ragetastic and parent-pleasing.
Go here if: It's Tuesday, you feel like dressing in more than just a T-shirt or if you like loud music.
The Atlantic
This is probably the most well-known indie venue downtown. It has a ton of live bands play, but it also has house DJs play some sweet tunes. Thursdays they play indie hits, punk and other music you've probably never heard of.
Go here if: You're riding a sweet fixed-gear bike, you don't mind cigarettes, you wear deep V-necks or you have a mustache.
Spannk
This one is kind of hard to find because it's off tiny, one-way Southwest Second Street, but it has a ton of DJs come to play. The club throws Neon Liger dance parties on Saturdays, which I've heard get pretty wild.
Go here if: You want to dance your face off and wear awesome clothes or if it's Saturday.
