College parties seem really exciting in movies: there’s endless laughter and dancing, it’s the perfect excuse for the main character and her friends to dress up, and everyone on screen seems to be having a good time. In reality, going to these parties every single week can start to get old after a while. When that happens, here are five activities you can do and places you can go to inject some variety into your Friday nights.
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1. Dragons After Dark
Dragons After Dark is a program run by Drexel’s Office of Campus Engagement that provides safe and alcohol-free activities to students looking to have fun on the weekend. Some of the events they’ve had in the past include late night ice-skating, movie screenings, glow-in-the-dark mini golf, and even bubble soccer! Since Drexel funds these events, tickets are either extremely cheap or completely free.
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2. Karaoke
Here’s your chance to show off just how well you know the lyrics to “Uptown Funk.” Karaoke is the perfect way to let off some steam after dealing with homework all week. No matter how terrible your singing voice is, the only way you could fail at doing karaoke is if you don’t put energy into it! There are plenty of different karaoke options in Chinatown. Some places like Tango have private karaoke rooms that you can reserve for you and your friends and a larger room open to the public if you’re comfortable belting it out in front of strangers. Some karaoke bars allow people under 21 while others don’t so make sure you do your research. Of course, you could also save yourself some money by having your own karaoke party in your apartment/dorm.
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3. World Café Live
World CafĂ© Live is a live performance venue adjacent on 31st and Walnut Streets. They have musicians and comedians grace their stage almost every Friday (and sometimes even during the week). For a rundown of their upcoming performances click here. Another bonus? Their food and ticket prices are pretty affordable. Â
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4. Bowling
For a more competitive Friday night alternative, consider getting some people together to go bowling. Not only do you get to play but you also have the chance to catch up with your friends, listen to music, eat and, depending on the venue, play arcade games. Located in Northern Liberties, North Bowl is just one of the many bowling alleys in Philadelphia. For an alternative that’s closer to Drexel’s campus you can also check out Lucky Strike in Center City. Unfortunately, after 9 p.m. Lucky Strike and North Bowl are only open to people over the age of 21.
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5. South Street
CafĂ©s, art venues, boutiques, theaters, and restaurants await visitors on South Street. The diversity of businesses means that there’s something for everyone on South Street. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all the options South Street has to offer considering it’s one of Philadelphia’s most iconic areas. Consider checking out the business directory to get an idea of the places you want to visit.
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Next time you find yourself wishing you had something to do on a Friday night, remember you live in one of America’s biggest and best cities! One of the great things about living here is that there’s always something going on, so mix it up and try one of these new ideas! And don’t forget to take pictures and let us know about your experiences!
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