In Union Room 3102, those 21 and over find the Clubhouse Pub. It seems as of late, however, the patronage has dwindled. Before the drinking age was changed, alcohol was freely available in the Rathskeller. But with that change in age, some of those 21 and over would pass beer to underage students, causing beer sales to be prohibited. A safe approach was utilizing the balcony of the Union as a pub; the funds were donated by the Class of 1990.
Over the years, each night of the week has obtained its own individual special event. On Friday nights, the Pub is packed full, yet other nights it is beyond empty, having a mere 10-12 patrons. Some people see the Pub only as a place to acquire drinks and free food. Others, like me, see it as a place to relax and do homework while enjoying the atmosphere and possibly a beverage of choice—there are sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages.
Trivia Night on Tuesdays brings in a crowd, which dwindles to only a few by the last question. However, the Brainstormer Pub Quiz this past weekend brought only one person. The Dart League, which takes place after trivia on Tuesday nights and is usually a major pub event, has attracted only a few teams as of yet.
Canadian Night on Thursdays tends to get a fair showing with its Canadian beer for a discount. Wednesday’s Mug Night brings in a decent crowd exhibited by the appearance of the “Mug Wall” inside the Happy Hour room. Mug Night is rather attractive due to its economical deal—after you buy the mug, every refill for it is discounted.
The past three years, I have walked by the Pub on Fridays and observed a line of patrons, sometimes reaching as far as the Student Government Suite, waiting to enter the pub for Happy Hour. This year, it seems to be more of a steady flow, with a stable crowd, yet seats still readily available for those who arrive before 5 pm.
In the time I spent writing this in the Pub, only a handful of people paid a visit: one RPI staff member, a group of three friends who each stayed for approximately an hour, a group of two, who were discussing what appeared to be an assignment, and another twosome just sitting and enjoying the Guiness mix during Guiness Night, all alongside two rather bored bartenders. Where are those faithful Pub-goers, wanting to relax after a day of classes before they buckle down to get all of their work done?
