When it comes to the nightlife scene in downtown Ogden, there are two types of people: the newcomers, who may have only ventured out a few times before, and the seasoned bar-hoppers. While I don’t by any means claim to be an avid bar-hopper, I do enjoy a night out on Historic 25th Street.
A few weeks ago, I took a friend out who has never been to a bar. The concerns she had were typical: What should I wear? How much money should I bring? How late will we be out?
I decided to answer her questions, and more, so I can share our experiences.
For the newcomers:
We can start where my friend started, with what to wear. I like to wear skirts. They make me feel girly in a way jeans don’t. If you’re going to dance, wear comfy shoes. High heels and lots of movement don’t mix well.
The bar you go to determines if you should dress casually or dress up.
Most of my adventures are on Historic 25th Street, so my favorite recommendations come from downtown Ogden.
If you want to sit down and carry on a conversation with friends, The City Club is the place for you. The Beatles-themed bar is decked out with many tables to order drinks and hang out. A great bonus: there’s no cover charge.
The food there is also phenomenal. Before you leave, you have to try the PB & John: a peanut butter and jelly bacon cheeseburger. It sounds weird, but it’s amazing.
Alleged is great because it’s three bars in one. The bottom floor is a dance club, social and loud.
The second floor has couches scattered around and the bar is in the middle, surrounded by stools. This is my place to go, because you can hang out and drink with your friends.
The third floor is the most picturesque because it’s actually the rooftop. It has a great view of the downtown area, from Union Station to Lucky Slice.
Brewski’s is a typical college dive bar. It’s filled with pool tables, lots of people and sometimes a live band. This is my favorite place to meet new people.
I haven’t been to many other bars on 25th Street because they kind of scare me, to be honest. If a hobo is standing outside a bar, I usually won’t go in that one.
For the seasoned drinkers:
Become friends with the staff, especially bartenders. They get to know your drink of choice, and you can ask for their drink recommendations.
It’s also a good idea to get to know the bouncers. I have a friend who became friends with all the bouncers so that they recognize her face. So when she loses her license (which is frequently), they remember her and let her in.
You’re used to the party scene at this point, but maybe still have some troubles getting home at night. To learn how to handle your liquor, the best advice at all is to drink water, and lots of it. Drink it along with your other drinks. Drink it after you’re done drinking. Water equals survival.
I’ve never been passed-out/blacked-out/head-in-the-toilet drunk, and I never want to be. I’ve never had a hangover, because I stop drinking an hour before I know I’m going home.
I like to sober up by going to Lucky Slice and eating a pizza before going home. The bars close at 1 a.m., and Lucky Slice is open until 2 a.m. It works out perfectly.
Finding a way home is the most important lesson of all to plan for by the end of the night. You must always have a ride home. If you don’t want to designate a driver, check out the shuttle services the bar offers.
If you can’t find a friend and your home isn’t within walking distance (like mine), make sure you plan ahead. You can take a taxi home. And even though cabs are expensive, they are not nearly as expensive as a DUI.
