I have lived in Gainesville my entire life, and I understand as much as anyone how small this city can seem. After working in the bar scene for so long, I rarely go out without running into somebody I know.
Some students who come to UF from more populous areas - cough, South Florida - say Gainesville nightlife is boring and the bar scene gets old a month after school starts.
I think they haven't been looking hard enough. Although Gainesville doesn't have an equivalent to South Beach, it manages to offer plenty of opportunities for students to experience different nighttime activities.
The downtown area of Gainesville has everything from typical clubs to Irish pubs. If you're looking for a place to get dressed up and dance, head to Boutiq or Rue Bar. They aren't the same as big-city clubs, but you'll be able to feel the bass pumping and see girls and guys breaking it down on the dance floor.
If waiting in line in stilettos and button-up shirts doesn't seem appealing, downtown has plenty of alternative venues as well. The local music scene is something I think every student should experience. Plenty of nationally known bands got their start in Gainesville, and you can still see a great band play for only about a $5 cover charge.
The Atlantic is a cool place to go out because it offers live music as well as dancing. Live shows are usually on Fridays and Saturdays, but one of the most unique weekly events is the Wednesday Soul'D Out night when a disc jockey spins Motown hits. While The Atlantic's hip atmosphere might seem intimidating - there are a lot of skinny jeans and side bangs greeting you at the door - it's a blast once you let go of mainstream college expectations.
The strip of bars along University Avenue, collectively known as Midtown, is the quintessential college bar scene. The proximity of the bars is great when you have a group of friends who can't decide exactly where they want to go. Midtown has a casual atmosphere and a practically religious group of regulars, which spawns characters known by nicknames like "Squirrel," "Wildman" and "Jukebox Hero," all of whom I've met and consider friends of mine.
The only downside to becoming a regular at one place is that if you do go a tad overboard after a long week, everybody who knows you will remind you about your wild antics while acting them out for anybody who happened to miss them.
If you're the kind of girl who puts on a full face of makeup to go to Plasma Lounge, throw on a T-shirt and jeans and see what Gator City is like. If you only go to Balls, look up the shows at Common Grounds this weekend and take in some live music.
Everybody should have a place where they only have to tell the bartender to make "the usual," but try stepping out of the box for a weekend and experience something you haven't seen. Besides, isn't that what this whole college experience is supposed to be about in the first place?
