Yet another Friday night and you’re stuck wondering what to do. You’re sick of frat parties and you’re dying to use those gorgeous high heels you bought a few weeks ago. You’ve wanted to check out the hype on 6th street for a while now, but you’re discouraged by the fact that most of the fun seems to be reserved for those privileged juniors and seniors. Even if there were other options out there, you have no idea where to start, much less the time or energy to look for them (who does?). Well fab, underage Collegiettes™, look no further because I have done that research for you! Visit any of these 18 and up clubs and music venues this weekend and it will surely be one to remember.
Midnight Rodeo– For all you Colliegiettes™ who are country girls at heart, put on your cowgirl boots and get ready to two-step! If you don’t mind a crowded dance floor, check out college night on Thursdays. Who knows, maybe you’ll meet your next southern gentleman there! On Fridays, they generally have live country music acts, and Saturdays are ladies’ nights where cover is a bit cheaper and there’s usually more room to dance. If you need a night off from stressful studying, party it up at Midnight Rodeo!
Kiss n Fly– One of student’s favorite dance clubs to go to is gay nightclub Kiss n Fly on 404 Colorado (just look for the waving rainbow flags). With its mix of people and raging dance floor, it promises a night of endless entertainment.
“I really liked the energy of Kiss n Fly. The music playing was really good and you just can’t go wrong with a packed dance floor,” said Jessica Barrera, a freshman here at UT.
Fridays and Saturdays are the best nights to go, so you can sweat it all out to Lady Gaga and other Top 40 dance hits.
Rain- Another hip gay nightclub is Rain, which defines itself as Austin’s Upscale Gay Lounge, located on 4th. It’s not as well known as Kiss n Fly, but it should be. Leslie Olmos, a senior Latin American Studies major, advises Austin newbies to frequent Kiss n Fly and Rain. Minors are welcome Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at Rain. The best days are Wednesdays when they have house music and karaoke, and Fridays when they have tons of dance music remixes.
Elysium– For a more alternative experience, Elysium is the place to be. Its atmosphere is described as darker, out of the mainstream. They’re known for their 80s nights and special events ranging from a Gothic Dress Up Ball to live music. Be sure to check requirements on their website beforehand because some events are 21 and up only.
Graham Central Station – If you’re willing to take an adventure a little bit outside of Austin, head to Graham Central Station in Pflugerville off of I-35. It is known for some of the best people watching, and has a little something for everyone. Say you want to dance a little hip-hop, and then switch to some country hip swingin’; well you can. They have “six nightclubs”, or rooms, under one roof including a country room, hip-hop room, and even a karaoke room just to name a few. They have different specials on different nights like free dance lessons. Wednesday is ladies’ night, so enjoy the perks of being a fabulous female!
Of course, with Austin being the city that it is, there is always an opportunity to hear some live music somewhere. For a more chill night out, students weighed in on their favorite music venues that are friendly to all ages, and the winner is:
Stubbs- If you’ve lived in Austin for more than a few weeks, you’re bound to have heard of Stubb’s Barbecue on Red River Street. Freshman Brittany Graham grew up near Austin around the music scene before coming to UT.
“Stubbs outdoor has the best acoustics to hear a concert in Austin,” Graham says.
Jessica Lund, a freshman at UT remarks an almost “spiritual experience” while watching a concert at Stubbs.
“Listening to your favorite band and looking up at the stars, immersed in the crowd…it’s just a great atmosphere,” says Lund.
I won’t forget to mention, of course, that the barbecue is fantastic.