Spring Break
Take me out tonight
Lara Oliver
Issue date: 3/31/09 Section: Opinion
It's a Friday night. You've spent the week worrying about getting those good grades to send home to Mom and Dad, making rent so you don't get kicked out of your apartment and trying to make it through the week without having too many casualties. Time to kick back and enjoy the weekend. But how do you plan to kick back?
When it comes to weekend activities, Greenville really puts itself on the map. From clubs and bars to festivals and ECU events, and everything in between, it seems like there's always something going on to keep your mind off of the looming week, and that terrible Monday we all dread.
When it comes to deciding on what you're going to do that night, it can be surprisingly more important than just about what will make a good Facebook photo album. For many people in the area, your contribution on a Friday or Saturday night means a lot more than you realize.
Take local bands, for example. Instead of going to one of the clubs downtown that spins songs you've already heard a hundred times on the radio, why not check out one of the local acts that make their rounds downtown. More than likely, you'll end up spending less than you'd spend getting into a club and you'll get a more fun experience out of it. Since many bands rely simply on donations for their shows, you're not nearly as obligated to spend as much as you would at one of the more popular clubs.
If music and clubbing isn't your thing, why not check out an art show instead of another "Blockbuster" that just leaves you longing for something better? The Emerge gallery downtown is constantly offering different shows that appeal to any market, even if you don't consider yourself an "art person." The events at Emerge and many of the local art museums and galleries offer patrons a chance at expanding their horizons and a chance to learn about interesting artists and performers in town.
At the risk of sounding like a brochure, which I'm sure I already have, I really encourage breaking out of the standard "clubbing" scene that dominates the Greenville social life. Even as a freshman, I always found something lacking in the typical club culture that most of my friends fell in love with. It wasn't until I discovered the live music and art scene in town that I really felt that I was doing something worthwhile with my weekends.
And it's not just your own social life that your weekend decisions impacts. Like I said before, many of the local artists, performers and musicians in town rely on the donations and support that only students and other young people can provide. While Beyonce and Britney are probably still going to be able to afford rent next month, many of the locals in town make their living off being able to entertain us while still making a little bit of change.
When the weekend rolls around, keep in mind that there are always other options besides clubs. And the drinks are usually cheaper in live venues.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
When it comes to weekend activities, Greenville really puts itself on the map. From clubs and bars to festivals and ECU events, and everything in between, it seems like there's always something going on to keep your mind off of the looming week, and that terrible Monday we all dread.
When it comes to deciding on what you're going to do that night, it can be surprisingly more important than just about what will make a good Facebook photo album. For many people in the area, your contribution on a Friday or Saturday night means a lot more than you realize.
Take local bands, for example. Instead of going to one of the clubs downtown that spins songs you've already heard a hundred times on the radio, why not check out one of the local acts that make their rounds downtown. More than likely, you'll end up spending less than you'd spend getting into a club and you'll get a more fun experience out of it. Since many bands rely simply on donations for their shows, you're not nearly as obligated to spend as much as you would at one of the more popular clubs.
If music and clubbing isn't your thing, why not check out an art show instead of another "Blockbuster" that just leaves you longing for something better? The Emerge gallery downtown is constantly offering different shows that appeal to any market, even if you don't consider yourself an "art person." The events at Emerge and many of the local art museums and galleries offer patrons a chance at expanding their horizons and a chance to learn about interesting artists and performers in town.
At the risk of sounding like a brochure, which I'm sure I already have, I really encourage breaking out of the standard "clubbing" scene that dominates the Greenville social life. Even as a freshman, I always found something lacking in the typical club culture that most of my friends fell in love with. It wasn't until I discovered the live music and art scene in town that I really felt that I was doing something worthwhile with my weekends.
And it's not just your own social life that your weekend decisions impacts. Like I said before, many of the local artists, performers and musicians in town rely on the donations and support that only students and other young people can provide. While Beyonce and Britney are probably still going to be able to afford rent next month, many of the locals in town make their living off being able to entertain us while still making a little bit of change.
When the weekend rolls around, keep in mind that there are always other options besides clubs. And the drinks are usually cheaper in live venues.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
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