PRINT25 and older
Post-grad bar scene
Rebecca C Romano
Ross DiSalvo bartends at Houlihan’s Restaurant and Bar, one popular spot for those wanting to escape the college student-dominated bar scene in Columbia. The restaurant chain recently got a hip new makeover.
May 22, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
On the teeming streets of downtown Columbia, incoming grad students and young professionals dodge stampeding frat boys and minors puking the fruits of their fake IDs. As beer sloshes over their shoes for the umpteenth time, it’s not hard to picture them wondering where older folks go for student-free nights out.
Vox’s recent three-night search for the elusive post-undergrad partier found that although older drinkers don’t mind going to establishments that attract an undergrad presence, they also want to enjoy themselves without being overwhelmed by an intoxicated student swarm. “You accept that you’re going to be around college students,” says Mike Weston, 30, manager of Flat Branch Pub & Brewing. “You feel a little older, but you also feel a little younger. It’s like you never left school.” Being part of the college action is exciting, but 30-year-olds are sometimes going out for different social reasons than the barely legal bargoers.
Tellers Gallery and Bar
The dark, calm atmosphere of Tellers at Ninth Street and Broadway invites comfortable conversation between sips of what the 26-year-old Jules Johnson, a forensic social worker, calls “the best martinis in town.”
Addison’s
Addison’s, at 709 Cherry St., is popular for its late-night happy hour featuring both appetizer and drink specials. Guys might enjoy taking in a game thanks to its multitude of TVs, but it’s also a good spot for friends looking for conversation under its soft lighting.
Houlihan’s
Houlihan’s, at 2541 Broadway Bluffs Drive, is one of a national chain of bars and restaurants. It shines with metallic, bright colors and pulses with the latest music. “It’s different, modern, and has a good mix of people 23 and up,” says Melanie Schneider, 26, a public health graduate student, who likes the happy hours, from 4 to 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close.
Klik’s
A quick drive back downtown leads to Klik’s, 205 N. Tenth St., a downscale, casual sports bar, which comes equipped with an old-fashioned jukebox and friendly bartenders. Patrons ready to display their prowess cluster around the bar’s pool tables as the arcade games lining the walls blink and buzz.
The Forge & Vine
For an elegant, slightly pricier night out, The Forge & Vine, 119 S. Seventh St., attracts many post-grads. It has bars on three floors (including one outside, and a second full of cushy couches), a den-like restaurant section, live bands once a week and charmingly rustic décor.
On the Rocks
Another spot on the radar for older crowds is On the Rocks at Broadway and Tenth streets. The narrow yet deep bar sometimes thumps with the ear-numbing beat of the band onstage and other times with selections from the jukebox. On the Rocks has a lively atmosphere that still retains its adult air despite its popularity with undergrads.
Flat Branch Brewery
Famous for home-brewed beers, Flat Branch Brewery, 115 S. Fifth St., attracts a diverse clientele. Dimly lit and framed by brewing equipment, a 360-degree bar, where employees dash back and forth gushing frothy beer into mugs, is a busy, upbeat area to sit and drink with friends. For a pleasantly shady outdoor drink, the Flat Branch patio is a popular summer choice.
The Alley Bar
To get that post-grad groove on with a group of all ages, check out the alley south of Panera on Ninth Street to find the back room of Tonic, nicknamed The Alley Bar. The cozy quarters pulse with ’80s rock and pop and gyrating bodies as the bartenders frantically try to keep up with drink orders over the din.
Fieldhouse, Harpo’s and Tonic
Post-grads were just as vocal about where to go if they do have the urge to mingle with young drunks tripping on their way to the bathroom. The three booby prizes go to Fieldhouse, Harpo’s and Tonic for the crowded, loud atmospheres and cheap drink specials, which — according to Gardell Powell, 27, a local banker — attract a “much younger, drunker crowd.”
