Students go bar hopping, Spring Weekend style
Charlie Specht
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: Features
"You wanna go to the bars?"
This statement has probably been uttered numerous times each weekend this school year. Students and bar owners alike say that during Spring Weekend, the phrase just gets uttered a lot earlier.
"During the day it's much more prevalent," Neil Harrington, 28, employee at Mangia's Pizza on Main Street in Allegany, said. "(It's busy) from 2 p.m. on."
"It's the last party of the year," Lou Ruby, owner of the Hickey Tavern at 96 W. Main Street, Allegany, said. He said while St. Bonaventure's biggest party weekend may officially start with the first games of the annual Rick Farina softball tournament at 4 p.m. Thursday, students, in true Bonaventure tradition, like to start the party a day earlier.
Danny Gleason, owner of Allegany's The Other Place at 91 W. Main Street, said the combination of nice weather, subsequent dehydration from the sun, looming final exams and the end of many senior years causes Bona's students to party more during Spring Weekend.
"This time of year, they drink a little more," Gleason said.
He said The Other Place, commonly known as "The OP," is popular with upperclassmen because of its strict carding policy at the door.
Still, Gleason said he is forced to turn away more students at the door during Spring Weekend for being too intoxicated.
"We turn down a lot more kids," Gleason said. "If they're stumbling at the door, I don't want them in here. (They're) trouble waiting to happen."
Gleason said his bar attracts most of its customers because of "Club OP" nights: Thursday or Saturday nights featuring student disc jockeys where the main floor of the bar turns into a dance floor.
"Music is a big deal when you're young," Gleason said. "I'm trying to communicate with the kids. Everybody wants to dance."
Gleason said current students have a different relationship with him than those in past years. He said because of Club OP's loud music, his bar fills up quickly and he sometimes has little time to chat with students.
This statement has probably been uttered numerous times each weekend this school year. Students and bar owners alike say that during Spring Weekend, the phrase just gets uttered a lot earlier.
"During the day it's much more prevalent," Neil Harrington, 28, employee at Mangia's Pizza on Main Street in Allegany, said. "(It's busy) from 2 p.m. on."
"It's the last party of the year," Lou Ruby, owner of the Hickey Tavern at 96 W. Main Street, Allegany, said. He said while St. Bonaventure's biggest party weekend may officially start with the first games of the annual Rick Farina softball tournament at 4 p.m. Thursday, students, in true Bonaventure tradition, like to start the party a day earlier.
Danny Gleason, owner of Allegany's The Other Place at 91 W. Main Street, said the combination of nice weather, subsequent dehydration from the sun, looming final exams and the end of many senior years causes Bona's students to party more during Spring Weekend.
"This time of year, they drink a little more," Gleason said.
He said The Other Place, commonly known as "The OP," is popular with upperclassmen because of its strict carding policy at the door.
Still, Gleason said he is forced to turn away more students at the door during Spring Weekend for being too intoxicated.
"We turn down a lot more kids," Gleason said. "If they're stumbling at the door, I don't want them in here. (They're) trouble waiting to happen."
Gleason said his bar attracts most of its customers because of "Club OP" nights: Thursday or Saturday nights featuring student disc jockeys where the main floor of the bar turns into a dance floor.
"Music is a big deal when you're young," Gleason said. "I'm trying to communicate with the kids. Everybody wants to dance."
Gleason said current students have a different relationship with him than those in past years. He said because of Club OP's loud music, his bar fills up quickly and he sometimes has little time to chat with students.
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