I use to hate the city of Grand Junction. I thought it was the worst town. But as a student who’s been at this campus for all of its’ changes, the town has grown on me. I thought it was the town that was boring. It seems like everything closes at eight and is dead by nine. But then I noticed how fun a couple of the bars were and the good deals on drink specials were despite how dead the place was. That’s when I realized that it wasn’t the town that wasn’t fun, but it was the people that stay in that makes it so slow after the sun goes down.
Obviously, Grand Junction has under 50,000 people and half of those people are eating dinner at 5:00 p.m. I am not talking about those people. If you are studying for a big test, finishing a big project, or taking care of your kid, I’m not looking at you. I’m talking about the people who go to CMU or just graduated that leave the dance floors deserted.
There are a few places that have the making to be a lot of fun, but no one goes out and takes advantage of the fun out there.
No, I am not a drunk and I don’t worry about just nightlife. I have a full slate of classes and I am heavily involved in many campus clubs and organizations. To me, I deserve a night out every night, but I don’t celebrate a successful day in the office every night. That being said, there are nights that I do want to go out and relieve some stress. I can’t, however, because I can’t get anyone to come out with me. I don’t like going out and being one of five people there.
Places like Whiskey River and Red Room have improved for the better, yet not as many people go there now. It doesn’t make any sense to me. At Whiskey you get drinks all night for a couple bucks. After six bucks you’re having a good night.
At Red Room, you have the chance to drink for free two nights of the week. Unless you have extremely bad luck, you’ll get the flips that you want and won’t pay much of a tab when the night is over. That alone should drive the people to the bars and dance floors.
I know this isn’t New York City or Los Angeles or even Denver, but we have the places and the entertainment to have at least a good showing each night. If you compare this college town to any other, it’s pretty sad. If it’s Saturday night, it should not be so dead in this town.
I want to think that Grand Junction is a fun town. I see Facebook statuses and tweets all the time saying how they love to party or have fun every night, yet I never see those people. Ever. I know it’s cold outside, but let’s not stay in every single night. Go out and make things fun. I should never look forward to bed time on the weekends.