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By Lauren Katz > Sophomore > Journalism and Mass Communication > The George Washington University

Its finally spring. The flowers are blossoming, the sun is shining and everyone is in a generally better mood. As if being in college weren’t enough of an excuse to drink, the nice weather certainly allows people to let loose and be a little more care free, especially when it comes to day drinking.

If I went to any state school, day drinking would be more of a regular event for me. Tailgates, homecoming and spring fling are regularly used words in any State-er’s vocabulary, but for us city folk, these words are only expressed in times of wishful thinking.While we certainly may know how to Darty, the event only occurs but once or twice a year.

Enter: the happy hour. It is our favorite time of the day because on Friday it usually means classes are over for the week and we can get drunk to “celebrate” (because the end of a week is such a rare, special occasion, right?). Happy hours are meant to be, well, happy, but with so many great choices for restaurants, how can one know just the right happy hour to choose?

While there are many great happy hours in and around D.C. I think there is a little more of a science to choosing which venue, and a good amount of thought should go in to making the right decision. Its not just about the cheap, strong drinks anymore. Its about the atmosphere and the food too!

In my opinion, (it may just be because I am a huge foodie) one of the greatest things about happy hour is that you can go to more upscale restaurants and try their most popular dishes for a lesser price. The happy hour at BLT Steak, for example, offers $5 cocktails and snacks, including their truffled grilled cheese sandwich and friend oysters. Similarly, Zengo, a Latin-Asian fusion restaurant, offers $5 Asian Tapas and $5 Latin-Asian cocktails. Once you try their home made mango mojito, you will understand why $5 is such a great deal on an amazing drink that is regularly $11.

Besides having good food and drinks, happy hour is meant to be fun. Dupont Circle’s Sign of the Whale offers drawings for VIP Happy Hours. They are relatively easy to win, surprisingly, and it is a great way to get your friends together for a night of drinking. Bar 19, “smack in the middle of the financial district,” offers great specials every day of the week and also hosts beer pong and flip cup tournaments on their patio when the weather is nice (like..now!).

Whether you’ve had a rough week of class or are simply too anxious to wait until the sun goes down, happy hour is the perfect way to unwind.

For a full list of daily DC happy hours go to http://www.dchappyhours.com/

By Lauren Katz > Sophomore > Journalism & Mass Communication > The George Washington University

“…Yo I got a fake ID though”

You may know this classic line from J-Kwon’s Tipsy, and you may have even used it to quote your actual night every now and then. But what about the ones that didn’t get away?

If you are reading this, you probably have had or have a friend that has had a fake ID. You’ve seen kids walk in and out of liquor stores, bars and clubs with success clearly under the age of 21. You’ve also probably heard horror stories of kids getting caught. Whether it is getting turned down in line, getting your ID taken, or getting pulled out to the side by the cops, I’ve seen it all. How these would-be-law-breakers are identified is one matter, but how one handles the situation is another. I’ve categorized their reactions.

The One Who Pregamed a Little Too Hard

I’m sure you have seen her. I say ‘her’ to avoid any masculinity issues, but that is not to say that this cannot or does not happen with guys. This is the drunk girl in line who can barely stand straight in her stilettos. As she goes to reach for her ID she fumbles around through her bag for a good minute before her friends help get the card out of her wallet. As she hands her card to the bouncer, he laughs and tells her friends, “this girl is too drunk. She can’t come in.” The girl’s face goes blank. She is scared, upset, threatened. She starts to cry and is brushed out of line by her friends. She is a H-O-T-T M-E-S-S. Better luck next time, sweetie.

The Unlucky, Less Than Look-a-Like

This particular individual has two defining characteristics. 1) he or she has a sub-par fake ID. It is either extremely counterfeit or the picture is of someone else altogether. 2) he or she has not properly memorized all of the information on the card. The two tend to go hand in hand, and I have seen this happen on various occasions. Individuals using someone else’s ID are questioned about their graduation year, address, birthday, etc. They do not know the answer and the ID is immediately thrown out or taken away. Do not be this person!!!! This is by far the most avoidable situation, if I do say so myself. Either get your facts straight or get a good ID. And by good I mean one that it is actually you and you are actually 21.

The Hit and Runner

This is the person that I would consider both smart and dumb. He or she patiently waits in line with a slight expectation that the bouncer will take their ID away. Upon rejection, he or she grabs their ID and flees the scene. Yes, it can work, but if you’re not at Forrest Gump status you’re more than likely to get caught and/or arrested.

The One That Got Away

Ah, my favorite, most daring and entertaining friend. This is the friend who comes completely unprepared to the bar, finds some way to sneak around the back and makes it in safely. He or she may not even own a fake ID and tends to wing it in life in general. I have seen this done before but full disclaimer: I am not encouraging such behavior.

So, which one are you? If you’re a good Samaritan the answer is none of them. You are either 21, you don’t go out, or you know how to not get caught. Whatever your evening endeavors may entail, I can tell say to you two things- good luck, and don’t try to use the alias McLovin.

By Lauren Katz > Sophomore > Journalism & Mass Communication > The George Washington University

Its 7:00 on Saturday night. You and your friends are trying to figure out the evening’s plans when tragedy strikes: There is nothing going on!

“But its Saturday, there must be something to do,” you think to yourself. Still, as the text messages are exchanged, you realize your night might be doomed to be uneventful.

Why is it that people think just because their favorite bar isn’t open or just because no fraternity is throwing a party, that they can’t have fun on the weekend? So much of our social lives is dedicated to drinking, dancing and fraternizing (no pun intended) with the opposite sex that we forget how to have fun without these things. I am here to remind you that indeed, it can be done.

So I know I’ve praised the hidden gem-type restaurants, but what about taking the time to cook your own dinner? Granted, you need a kitchen, but cooking is both resourceful and fun. For the amount that you pay for dinner at a nice restaurant, you can usually get two to three meals out of that same amount worth of groceries. Throw in a cheap bottle of wine (no, I’m not talking about Franzia, there are quality wines for a reasonable price) and you’re all set for an enjoyable night. Cook with friends or cook for a loved one. The end result is satisfying for both you and your guests. For inspiration, try What the F*ck Should I Make for Dinner? as it is both entertaining and valuable for recipes, levels of difficulty, and preparation times.

When you live in a big city like me, you tend to skip over doing the touristy things because, really, who wants to look like a tourist? But when you switch up the activities a bit they can actually be really enjoyable and you can learn something about the glorious city in which you reside. For example, Washington D.C. has monuments (Did you know that?!?! I bet you did) and they are lit up at night and really quite beautiful. Take a late night tour of your city and discover why so many people choose to spend an enjoyable weekend there. What’s even more fun? Taking a Segway tour of your magnificent city. Yes you may be touristy, but at least you’re trendy too.

How about a sports game? Such a revolutionary concept, I know (insert sarcasm here), but you don’t think to go out and support the team of your college town like you do of your home town. A lot of venues have an annual College Night, where you have the chance of getting cheaper tickets, free food and giveaways, and meeting a lot of kids from other schools around your city. Go Team!

Finally, relive your childhood by spending the night at the bowling alley. You’d be surprised that many alleys these days cater to college-aged kids and older, have lavish menus and fully stocked bars. Whether you’re watching a sports game, having a night out with friends, or down for some friendly competition, bowling provides entertainment and activity that you probably aren’t used to.

So now that you have a First-Aid kit full of weekend plans, do not be afraid of the “ambiguous Saturday.” The weekend is your chance to escape your during-the-week routine of class, homework and anything else you may be involved in. Don’t defeat the purpose by creating a routine out of that, too. Having a good time doing something that shies away from your usual Saturday night plans is what keeps nightlife interesting. So go, my well seasoned night owls, do something different for a change! You won’t regret it.