The first two weeks back from winter break can prove to be full of excitement. You get to reunite with your friends whom you haven’t seen in a month, you can go out every weeknight because professors are still easing you back into school mode, and best of all, you come back to the world of those coveted $1 drinks! With approximately 12,000 undergraduates on campus you might classify UNH as a moderately large university, but then you realize “I go to the same places and see the same people every time I go out“. While there may be three bars on campus, we all have that ONE bar we go to every Saturday night, or that ONE frat/athletic team that we have our allegiance to and ultimately whose party we attend. Before you fall back into that mundane pattern of predictable nights out- know your options!
Portsmouth is a quaint city on the seacoast of New Hampshire and just 15 minutes away. You can easily access Portsmouth via the Wildcat transit or by car. Whether you are looking for a great meal or a fun night out, there are plenty of options to explore!
Start the day off right by exploring the plethora of boutiques that Portsmouth offers. Don’t forget your campus special discount book to receive offers from many shops! For dinner head to Jumpin’ Jays Fish Café. Jumpin’ Jays has fresh local fish brought in every day, and for those on a budget they host “shuck a buck” with $1 oysters every Tuesday. Not interested in Seafood? That’s fine! Portsmouth has restaurants that boast everything from Steakhouses to Mexican and Thai restaurants. Agave Mexican Bistro has great guacamole as well as over 71 different kinds of Tequila. I recommend the jalapeno and mango infused margarita. Make sure to take advantage of Restaurant Week April 4-13 in order to experience each restaurants prix fixe menu and decide for yourself which is best!
In Portsmouth the night does not end after dinner. Make sure you head over to some of the local bars. Ri Ra Irish Pub is located in a historical bank which still has some of the original décor and hosts live music. Swing by Red Door Lounge and Martini Bar to listen to the local bands they showcase, and get there before 10 to grab a delicious $5 martini. Thirsty Moose Tap House is probably the most age appropriate bar that Portsmouth has, check their website for upcoming events or stop in and try one of their 116 beers on tap. Catch the game at Fat Belly’s Grill and Bar or The Page Sports Restaurant and Bar.
A night of drinking and dancing is inevitable at The Gaslight, and when the weather warms up make sure to enjoy a great big rum bucket on their deck. When the bars close at 1 am Safe rides is more than happy to pick drive you back to campus at no charge!
Do you have a designated driver all lined up and want to venture a little further off campus? Try heading to Manchester! Located around 45 minutes away from campus, Manchester offers plenty of restaurants, bars and a couple Boston-style clubs. Want to throw on your party dress and dance the night away with your girls? Check out Drynk in Manchester. They have some great deals on drinks and martinis; check out their Facebook page for exact deals. Another club, Social 24, is located one street over. You can’t get more convenient than that.
So we don’t want to hear you complaining that there is “nothing going on tonight on campus”. Jump on Wildcat Transit or take a short road trip and get out of that going-out-on-campus rut!
A special thanks to Laura Tentas (Our former Campus Correspondent) for her help with this article!