The Brown & White

For Lehigh students over the age of 21, the expanding bar scene provides an abundance of options for nights out.

While Leon's Restaurant and Bar has been a South Side mainstay for 23 years, the openings of The Firehouse and The Lehigh Pub have also added to the dynamic of Lehigh's bar culture.

Other frequently visited places on the current roster of bars and restaurants include the Tally Ho, J.P. MacGrady's, Starters, Sotto Santi, Looper's and the Funhouse.

When deciding which of these places to choose, elements such as proximity, atmosphere and hype come into play.

Many off-campus upperclassmen live on or in the surrounding area near East Fifth Street and tend to gravitate toward bars within a reasonable walking distance.

In addition, factors such as bad weather, poor shoe choice, intoxication level, police presence or lack of energy can be a deterrent from traveling far.

The diminishing number of off-campus parties may be attributed to the increased level of police presence. Kailyn Finnegan, '10, who lives off campus, avoids hosting parties to eliminate potential entanglements with the police.

"I don't want to be responsible for dealing with noise complaints or underage students getting in trouble in my house," she said. "I'd rather go to a bar where it's a safe haven to have fun with my friends who are of age."

Aside from location, the bar's atmosphere is a major determinant in where to go depending on what kind of a mood you're in.

While you can find a dance floor and music at most bars, the ample dance space and loud music from the DJ booth at the Lehigh Pub tends to create a sweaty, swaying crowd of dancing students by the end of the night.

On Thursdays through Saturdays, the combination of the live DJ, an upstairs dance floor and the common desire to dance around the fire pole makes The Firehouse grow to maximum capacity.

But, if you're not in the mood to weed through the dance crowd to find your friends and want a more intimate and "comfortable" setting, as Leon's owner, Joe Bianco, would describe it, then a place like Leon's would be your choice.

Andrew Hermalyn, '10, who lives off campus, enjoys being able to sit down and not be knocked around while trying to get a drink.

"I'm not a big fan of a bar six people deep where it's not easy to get a drink," he said. "If I want to enjoy the company of my friends, McGrady's is cool because you can sit and talk and have a great time. Firehouse is solid too; they have a nice lounge on the second floor where you can chill."

While every bar has its attractions, the specials offered on weeknights provide students with even more incentive to venture out.

Some of the most attractive events include dollar wells on Tuesdays and Saturdays at Leon's, 50 cent drafts and $2 pitchers on Tuesday's college night at The Firehouse, trivia night at McGrady's on Wednesday and half-priced appetizers on Fridays, and karaoke night at Sotto Santi on Sundays.

Although many of the bar-restaurants in South Bethlehem offer both dining and drinking menus, there has been some shifting in emphasis between food and drinks as a result of the financial strains in the current economy.

"We've definitely had a change in food since we opened," said Jennifer Hollinger, Lehigh Pub bartender. "We used to focus on our dinner menu a lot more, but now we cater more towards late night for college kids."

On the other hand, according to bartender Matt Underwood, MacGrady's is a pub that has stuck to its menu routine and experienced little effects of the changing economy.

"The economy has had some effect on our business, but we're the last ones to feel it," Underwood said. "People still like to come out, drink and eat food, and socialize with their friends."

Brooke Wiener, '10, said the current economic conditions haven't impacted the bar scene.

"It's not necessarily about the economy," she said. "It's just being smart about your money."

Despite the change in bar nightlife and the increase in the number of bars, it seems that the student desire to go out to bars overcomes the possible drawbacks of increased competition among the venues.

Bianco said, if anything, the business newcomers helped keep Leon's busy by attracting people out.

"More bars opening helps our business because more people go out," he said. "They eventually come back here on the way home because it's in close proximity and we have a friendly atmosphere."

As far as the Lehigh Pub goes, Hollinger does not think there is any competition among the bars in the area because places such as Leon's and the Funhouse have a "totally different atmosphere."

While their bar increases weekend competition and steals some business, it also helps bars nearby, said server Mika Crandall, who works at The Firehouse.

"When we're at max capacity and there's a long line out the door, sometimes people will wander over to the Tally Ho if they don't feel like waiting," Crandall said.

But, while each bar offers something unique and attracts a certain crowd, there is one thing the bars all have in common - Lehigh students are always there until closing, or as Crandall described it, "always ready to stay."