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| Rigo Perdomo |
If you’re thinking that Rochester is a rather dull city with a night life on life support, then you probably haven’t ventured too far away from RIT’s Henrietta campus. What RIT knows as home is the farthest thing from the heart of the city. It’s more like the appendix you had removed last year. That isn’t to say there’s nothing to do and nowhere to go nearby, but eventually you’re going to tire of T.C. Riley’s and MacGregors’. So, we at Reporter have decided to take you out of your routine, drag you out of your room, and take you with us on our journey to discover where the happy hour’s at. Kick and scream all you want.
On The Rocks
1551 Mount Hope Avenue
Age Group: 25 — 45
Male to Female Ratio: 4:0
Drank: Bud Light ($4 — draft), a blue fruity vodka drink ($3)
Andy: “On The Rocks is a quaint little joint with a few tables and a small bar. When we showed up, the bar was completely deserted, save for a couple of guys who looked like they were regulars. Granted, it was a Tuesday, but for a bar down the street from Strong Memorial and University of Rochester, it seemed conspicuously empty. The place has seen better days, back when it operated a cigar shop. All that being said, if you’re looking for a nice quiet place to grab a drink and wind down after a hard day, you might try On The Rocks.”
Mady: “The last time I was at On The Rocks, my friend and I ended up attempting to walk to the University of Rochester, only to stop at Domino’s to purchase a pie and request that they ‘deliver’ us to the riverside campus. My (rather spotty) memories of a packed bar didn’t hold true on this Tuesday night as there were only four other people there — and I’m pretty sure three of them worked there. The moment we walked in, the sound of pop music drifted from the speakers (and I’m fairly certain Taylor Swift invaded the airwaves at one point), and shortly afterward, the bartender informed us that it was supposed to be “Ladies Night.” Whether this was true or not, it did get me a $3 flavored vodka mixed drink. Just don’t ask me what was in it.”
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| Patrons enjoy food and drinks at the Distillery on Mt. Hope. |
| Rigo Perdomo |
The Distillery
1142 Mt Hope Ave
Age Group: 21 — 50
Male to Female Ratio: 3:2
Drank: Beer of the Month — Shocktop ($3 — draft), Heineken ($2.50 — bottle)
Andy: “The Distillery on Mt. Hope sports a large bar, lots of tables, and a great selection of beers on tap. There are a number of TV screens around the bar area, and the wooden construction gives it a sort of lodge-feel. Despite the size of the bar, it’s often difficult to find a seat, let alone two seats together. The crowd here is an eclectic mix of college students, sports fans, nurses and doctors. Between the half-off appetizers after 9 p.m. and two for one margaritas, it’s definitely a nice place to stop in and have a drink. If you didn’t bring anyone to talk to, don’t expect to be chatted up by strangers.”
Mady: “The Distillery is where you’d go to grab a drink (and maybe a bite to eat) at the end of the day. Looking around, the place was packed with people of all shapes, sizes and ages, from fresh-faced students to members of the working class to old locals. But if there was one thing I’d say about the Distillery, it’s that they’re perfectly equipped to keep you preoccupied ― even if you don’t take anyone with you. If people-watching and taking note of the room’s décor isn’t your cup of tea, then they have enough classic bar games, arcade games and television screens to distract you all night long. A word of advice: do not, under any circumstance, sit near one of those touch screen game machines unless you want to spend the night stuffing your change into it.”
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| Rigo Perdomo |
Lux Lounge
666 South Ave.
Age Group: 21 — 40
Male to Female Ratio: 2:1
Drank: Pabst Blue Ribbon ($1 — can), Rootbeer Vodka Straight Up ($4.50)
Andy: “If you’re into the artsy scene, Lux is the bar for you. Decorated (I use the term loosely) in a way that gives you the impression of a yard-sale-gone-wrong, Lux is unique. During the winter, Lux consists of a medium sized bar, a number of tables and a single pool table. However, during the summer is when Lux really shines. In warmer months, the backyard (which has a hammock, a campfire, and several picnic tables) is a hotspot for Rochester’s youthful bohemian scene. What Lux does well is price point. For $3 you can order a Pabst Smear, i.e. a PBR and a shot. This means you can get pleasantly inebriated for pennies on the dollar.”
Mady: “Lux is one of those places you have to see to understand. It’s kind of like walking in a bar off of St. Mark’s Place or Greenwich Village in New York City, except a little higher on the strange scale. There’s something very crazed-cartoonist-meets-punk-rock about the place. (Whatever that means.) With the lights turned down low and enough drunk for your buck — Tuesdays are PBR/PBJ nights featuring $1 PBR cans — just don’t confuse that table with legs for a real person.”
The Old Toad
277 Alexander St.
Age Group: 30 — 50
Male to Female Ratio: 3:2
Drank: Fuller’s London Pride ($5 — draft), Ottercreek Raspberry Brown ($5 — draft)
Andy: “The Old Toad is an experience worth having. In an attempt to recreate a traditional English pub, the Toad regularly imports its wait-staff from the United Kingdom. Maybe it’s because I’ve been watching a lot of British TV lately, but The Old Toad is the coolest thing since sliced bread. It is a little pricey, but the atmosphere is worth it. So go order a pint of bitter and toast to our sovereign. God save the queen!”
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| Rigo Perdomo |
Mady: “Stepping into the Old Toad is like teleporting into a completely different world, but one thing’s for certain: everything’s classier. Maybe it’s the James Bond effect; maybe it’s the fact that the Old Toad also doubles as a restaurant. Whatever it is, sitting at the bar and knocking back a smooth brown ale served to you by an authentic English barkeep is a great way to end a long hard week — nevermind the fact that you’re likely to be surrounded by mostly older folks. If it’s any consolation, a member of this wiser generation did give me some good advice: ‘This is your time to play around and have fun.’ And that’s what I intend to do.”
Tap and Mallet
381 Gregory St.
Age Group: 25 — 45
Male to Female Ratio: 3:2
Drank: Märzen Amber Lager ($4.75 — draft), Lindeman’s Framboise ($4.75 — draft)
Andy: “This is a classy place and the prices reflect that. Tap and Mallet fashions itself as a tap room, with a fairly large selection of draft beer (though, it’s no MacGregors’). If you’re looking for a place to sit down and enjoy a quality brew and a good conversation, then Tap and Mallet is the place for you. We were able to get served and find a table within two minutes of arriving, despite the bar being full. You don’t see too many college students hanging around, but if you throw on a sweater vest, you’d fit right in.”
Mady: “If you’re looking for that one laid back venue where you can just sit and converse for hours over a few drinks, then the Tap and Mallet is it. The atmosphere and ambience has the perfect mix of glass clinks, chatter and room noise that can only be highlighted by the lack of overwhelming loud music that many bars are known for. They offer a variety of beers on tap and just as good a wine collection, bringing a level of sophistication to your average nightcap.”
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| Rigo Perdomo |
Salinger’s Bar and Grill
107 East Avenue
Age Group: 25 — 50
Male to Female Ratio: 6:1
Drank: Newcastle Brown Ale ($4 — draft), Woodchuck Draft Cider ($3 — draft)
Andy: “I picked this bar out because its name reminded me of J.D. Salinger; turns out there’s no relation. For a Friday evening, Salinger’s was noticeably empty, but it seemed to work. The floor is covered in peanut shells (which must not be swept up very often). After a couple days of happy-hour-hunting, Salinger’s was just the right fit to end the endeavor. It was just the right mix of noise and music to enjoy a lively conversation and take some cliché Facebook pics.”
Mady: “Salinger’s was the last stop on our circuit, and it certainly felt like it. Although the night was still young, the experience was very much like what it would’ve been like had we stayed until closing. The bar was pretty empty but busy enough to create the scene, a perfect backdrop for a night out with your best buds. My only regret is that I didn’t pose with the moose head hanging above the bar.”
