Going Out on a (dun dun dun) Weekday

If you know me, then it should not be a surprise that my first post is about going out … on a weekday. Okay, I don’t go out on the weekday THAT much. But when I do...

Everyone knows the joys of Saturday, Friday, even Thursday nights out on the town. Maybe even the glorious and more elusive “Sunday Funday.” But think back… WAY back... to college. Remember the joys of the mythical Wednesday nights? Monday Night Football parties? Tuesday nights playing Land Mines or Chandeliers? Things were different then, sure. We had fewer responsibilities; we had fried food awaiting us at the d-hall; we had naps.

But why should we have stopped after college? (Did you stop after college?) I know most of us grow up, slow down, get corporate. But did our desire to go out as much really go out the window with the handing of a diploma? Here is a little listicle of why going out during the week is STILL the bee’s knees.

1. Happy Hour. The best part of weeknights is happy hour. I’ve found numerous 1-dollar drink bars lately. 1 DOLLAR! The dollar menu! For beer! It’s magical. The best weeknights build from the happy hour, which acts as a foundation for the best, most economical nights. Also, tuesday nights at Happy Ending have free vodka drinks. FREE. Jeez. Please drink responsibly.

2. The Element of the Unexpected. No one goes out on a weekday as an adult (or at least none of my cohorts) and says, “I’m going to have the best time ever, drink too much, get a kebab at 3:30 am, sleep fully clothed.” These plans are generally reserved for a weekend mentality. Which brings me to my point: You’re low expectations on a weeknight make everything seem that much more fun. Fridays and Saturdays are bloated with high expectations, resulting in disappointment, no kebabs, tears, etc.

3. Play the Odds. If you go out during the week, this puts so much less pressure to have all your fun on weekends. I mean a 5 to 2 weeknight to weekend ratio is just bad odds. Might as well spread it out. And then, also, if on those rare weekends you don’t feel like going out, you get to say, “Oh I had a really wild week.” Automatic cool points. A whole other kind of odds: I've noted, single lady friends, that the girl to guy ratio is very much in your favor during the week. Just sayin.

4. You Can Get In Anywhere. Okay, I don’t love clubs. I generally hate everyone IN da clubs. (I DO like dancing on platforms at clubs, though, Shaun). But I’d rather go to a down and dirty bar, have some cheap beers, and listen to music that doesn’t make me want to weep for our generation (and which consequently makes me feel like my mom). BUT there is something to be said for clubs on a weekday. First of all, it’s much easier to get in. They need your cash (there’s a recession, people). Little do they know you don’t plan on spending a dime (girl power!), but that’s beside the point. Also, celeb sightings are much more likely during the weekday. I saw Joe Jackson, Lil Jon, and Mickey Rourke all on different nights, all during the week (two-thirds of those are terrible, but still). Third, it’s sometimes cool to tell people later that you’ve been to those clubs, especially when you go back on a Friday or Saturday and the doormen laugh in your face. When you get rejected you get to say: “Um, last time I was in 1oak I just walked right in like I owned the place.” Then you get to feel cool and you’re friends will wonder why they aren’t as cool as you! Maybe that’s harsh, but I bet it was their idea to go to a lame club to begin with. So there.

There are numerous other reasons going out on a weekday is good (easy to get cabs, e.g.). But this is all if you can balance and still be responsible at work the next day. (This, I’m guessing, will be for a future post. We can all compile our best strategies for being productive and hiding hangovers the day after an elusive weeknight boondoggle.)

So, dear friends, your humble narrator puts you to sleep with those thoughts. Next time you need a Tuesday tipple, give me a call. We can go get 1-dollar drinks, free drinks, a kebab and have a nice time. Don’t mind if ado. Now I'm going to get a drink.