An Adventure Down The Hill | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

An Adventure Down The Hill

To the bars! To the bars!

32
An Adventure Down The Hill
Cedar Falls Tourism

If you're familiar with the University of Northern Iowa, you know that our drinking establishments reside just a few steps off campus. The Hill. An actual hill with several bars and random shops down it. There's a few sub shops and pizza places, an Insomnia Cookies, some barber shops, hot yoga studio, and a coffee shop. But what does the Hill have the most of? (Not pizza places, even through there's three.) Bars.

To the bars! To the bars!

Now, I've gone on two "tours" of the Hill. One when I was freshly 21, and one when my roommate turned 21. You should at least visit all the Hill has to offer at some point in your UNI experience, but some places you don't need to return to or ones become "your place."

Sharky's

"Sharky's," "Shark Tank," whatever you call it, it's probably the last place I'd choose to go. It's got a bit of a reputation on campus for numerous reasons, but bless 'em, they've had quite a loyal crowd.

Suds

If you like the "small town" bar vibe Suds is for you. If you can find it. In a way, it's a bit of an adventure to actually get into Suds, as you have to go up some stairs, up and down some more little steps as you walk around the building. And if signed bras hanging on the ceiling is your thing, you'll love the bar area. There's also a little outdoor beer garden on the roof of Sharky's. But good luck finding the bathroom. That's an adventure all its own.

The Hydrant

The Hydrant is alright. But the downside of the Hydrant is that it's a bit removed from the rest of the Hill's (drinking) establishments. If you're down to walk the length of the Hill, go for it- they have Jell-O shots served in plastic syringes and a nice atmosphere, just be prepared to have your shoes sink a little into the thick carpet at the end of the night.

Octopus

The Octopus is geared toward a very specific crowd. It's got a bit of a hipster vibe, which is okay, especially if that's your thing. It brings in a lot of live bands and, even though they don't have a dartboard (like everywhere else) they have a pinball machine. AND there's free popcorn, which is pretty lit. (They probably wouldn't appreciate the use of the word "lit.")

The Other Place

The Other Place not only has good pizza, but they've got a bar. Now, I haven't spent a lot of time at The Other Place on a Friday or Saturday night. Granted, I don't think a lot of students have, especially since it's kind of passed by, nestled in with the Hill's storefronts. But it's a good place to meet up with people, especially for pizza and beer, on any given day.

The Library

The Library is rarely packed, which is nice. And it serves a lot of the grad student/community member crowd. Often it gets confused with the actual campus library, Rod Library. So, people might get confused when you say "I'm going to the library." You going to the bar or Rod fam?

Little Bigs

Little Bigs is the successor to Beck's. At first, Little Bigs didn't really have a "wow" factor to me. It was okay at first, but as my group of friends and I kept returning, it grew on us. Though there's a wall between the sit-down area and the dance floor, it's spacious enough and the staff is great.

Social House

Social House is my favorite bar on the Hill. I love the atmosphere (and the specials). The interior is nice too, with a section of booths and plenty of standing room. There's also an upstairs bar as well (which isn't as hard to get to as Suds' outdoor beer garden).

RIP:

Beck's

Beck's was the predecessor to Little Bigs. Now, I never went to Beck's during bar time, but wow I miss their burgers.

Gingers

Gingers was a bar a step to the left of the Hill. They had skee ball and they used to hold Gradfest there. And It was nestled behind what used to be Great Wall.

"Used to?" you say. Well, I'll regale you with the story of Spring 2016. Great Wall, the best drunk Chinese food the Hill could offer, caught fire one fine day close to finals. Campus reeked of fried rice as the fire department doused the flames and Gingers suffered some water damage as a result.

Like I said, these were my experiences with the bars, and y'all have your own preferences. Enjoy the Hill!

DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

183004
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

9686
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

454182
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

24304
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments