If you haven’t heard already by word of mouth, Saint John’s has been continuously recognized for its ongoing academic achievements. Whether it’s because of their strong Catholic Vincentian mission, their diverse student melting pot, to the education their graduates receive to drive down the road called “success,” they are being raved about.
Although the public’s opinion is highly respectable and very much true, the statements that haven’t been asked have been the ones of the students attending the university. So, as a current student, I took it upon myself to ask my peers their opinions. Student after student, question after question, I received the same response, “the social scene is dry.”
Although they mentioned to me a couple local spots around campus, constant involvement of Greek life, and many attempts with the activities center, they discussed with me their concerns that although they live in an upbeat state, nothing about the social scene seems very upbeat here. I had to agree.
Therefore, I created a list of four locations in Queens that a Saint John’s student can easily discover and enjoy with any transportation through the MTA. As a student at Saint John’s for four years, I enjoyed events at all these locations myself and hope these venues will allow the same experience for you.
BELL BOULEVARD
Johnny Famous
If you haven’t received the proper etiquette on how to party like an adult, then head down to Johnny Famous. My experience there was a typical Long Island experience. You head in (no cover charge because it was ladies’ night), and enter a drunken crowd of men feigning like piranhas and girls dressed like they should be on the streets of Atlantic City. Of course if you haven’t heard already, Johnny Famous has a mechanical bull. But don’t get too excited because all you see is people spending $5 dollars on a 60 second ride that consists of girls giving crotch shots like Britney Spears. If you haven’t had enough yet, then stick around for a fight to break out until ultimately you’re kicked out by the “I never made it big” bouncers. If you do end up going, they do have decent priced drinks; However, that isn’t enough to make me want to go back there.
Cue Bar
Located on the other side of Northern Boulevard, Cue bar is in a place of its own, far away from the kiddy bar scene. First thing I should mention is that after 9 PM, the bouncers start scanning ID’s, so there is no doubt that you will be babysitting on your night out. My experience at Cue Bar was fun. You walk in and you have the choice of sitting at their large bar on the left (where a lightweight like me is happy after one drink,) or enjoying a couple cheap games of billiards on the lower level. Designated drivers don’t be alarmed; Cue sells awesome bar food and these delicious smoothies. The one thing I appreciated about Cue was the large venue space it holds, therefore you never feel like it is too packed. Also, check out Cue bar for their promotional nights: Wednesdays you have 25 cent wings and of course as always, Thursday night is ladies’ night.
ASTORIA
The best beer garden I have been to yet! I think that out of everything on my list, Studio Square is my favorite venue. Let me start off by saying that this is a beer lover’s dream. They offer you a large selection of beers to choose from on tap, and they have these great deals when buying pitchers. If you’re not a beer person, I urge you to still go because they serve great mixed drinks. The scene here is casual with picnic like seating areas outside (with heat lamps for the winter), inside seating, and an awesome grill and sushi bar. I know sushi lovers, you’re hesitant to try a sushi roll at a beer garden, but they were delicious here! They have large flat-screens everywhere, all running sports for the NFL special promotions they have going on right now, with some of the nicest staff I have met. I went here on several occasions, one being a friend’s birthday party, and we had a blast. The only downfall about Studio Square is the parking, but hey, you’re in Queens. What do you expect!
Let me start off by saying I love Grand Café. I don’t know if it’s the European blood in me talking or if it’s because every time I have gone there I’ve had a downright memorable experience. Grand café is located on the corner of 30th avenue, where you will find all the cutest cafes. Although Grand does tend to let their DJ play music like he is performing at a concert, their trendy and sleek atmosphere makes up for it all. I recommend that when you go to Grand in the summer, wait on their list to get a seat outside; you’re bound to always meet sexy people out there and enjoy your cigarettes and lattes. They have the nicest waiters there that are always willing to make you whatever you want, the way you want. I haven’t made it there for their latest promotion of a $12 dollar brunch, but have heard only good things about it. If you’re in Astoria and are looking to enjoy a relaxed night that doesn’t tend to be around drinking, then go to Grand!
Melody Café
So you’re headed to Steinway and you don’t know which Hookah lounge to go to because they’re all over the place and they all serve the same purpose, right? Well, head down to Melody’s where not only can you enjoy a hookah, but (unlike the rest of the places on Steinway) also dancing, live music, fresh smoothies, good Mediterranean food, and a quaint little bar right in the middle. Melody’s was the biggest hookah bar I experienced, with a large selection of seating areas; good for little gatherings or birthday parties, even for their New Years Eve party, or their VIP section full of large couches, full of plush pillows that make you feel like Cleopatra on her throne. If you do go, try the fresh smoothie they make with their delicious Hummus, and finish off by paying extra and trying their fresh fruit hookah; Orange is my favorite. However, one thing you should be warned about, especially on Weekends or when there are live bands playing, you are always charged at the door, and be careful when you read the bill at the end of the night because they always like to add a sharing charge to milk money out of you.
QUEENS BOULEVARD
Play Lounge
In my eyes, Queens Boulevard use to have so many options for young people to go to, I guess in a way it’s become a ghost strip in Queens. However, there are still a couple places that survived, one being Play lounge. Play lounge gives people a variety of options to do when inside. You have the choice of getting a drink at their large bar; bowling on the 4 lanes they fit in, playing pool, dancing to their live DJ, and even participating in their events they hold every first Thursday of the first month (sometimes being Hulkamania for all the ladies looking for a good time.) A couple things you should be warned about, the bartenders are all rude and inattentive, they are overpriced on their drinks, and if you’re a Red Bull drinker good luck, they serve you a replica caffeine drink of Red Bull.
NEW YORK CITY
Turtle Bay’s
Every time I hear the name Turtle Bay’s, my decision on my experience there is indecisive. It wasn’t a horrible bar, but it wasn’t somewhere that I would go to willingly. It is full of students from Colleges all over the tri-state New York area, all looking to get belligerently drunk on Bud Lights and hit on girls who think their too good for anybody else. HELLO, you’re at a trashy bar, what do you expect?! They are located in the heart of 2nd avenue with two floors, a DJ, cheap drinks, ironically a friendly wait staff, and constant promotions seen online or on Facebook. I don’t have much to say about this place considering it wasn’t anything special, but of course when you have nothing better to do on a Friday night, baggers can’t be choosers.
Greenwich Village
I had to add in Greenwich Village. I know your probably wondering why I didn’t mention a certain location like I did with the rest before, but the Village is so diverse with locations that it’s better for me to state it in a whole. You will find so many NYU students here that dress like their poor meanwhile they probably come from a rich mommy and daddy. It’s really obnoxious to see people dress like their hippies when there’s nothing attractive about it! The Village does offer you a wide variety of dive bars, crappy dance clubs, underground hookah lounges to ethnic fast food joints open late. If you do end up there, you must try to foods there, especially the Crepe place that looks like a closet, run by a family of three, yet full of people. The one good thing about Greenwich Village is their Halloween parade that will be held, like every year, on October 31st. You see the wildest costumes and the friendliest New Yorkers; how unlikely right? Keep up with me in order to read my experience this year in one of my next articles.
