Turn that “not” spot into a night of fun

By: Erica Johnson
Posted In: Entertainment

It’s a Friday night and you’ve decided to step outside your safety box, you are going to be daring and try that new place someone suggested. There is an anxious feeling in your stomach and you are running on an adrenaline high when you reach the restaurant door. You walk in and your hopes deflate, the room is half empty and worse than that, these people just are not “your” people.

There are two options in a situation like this: go through the trouble of leaving after a few minutes and hunting down another spot (which might end up being just as bad or even worse), or you can pick out a corner in a restaurant booth or bar stool and have an unexpectedly great time at this “Not” spot.

First, how can you tell if this spot is “Hot” or “Not”?

An easy way to gauge the popularity is by simply driving or walking by the front windows or the parking lot. Somewhere “Hot” will have a full front room or lot. If there is a line waiting to get in, then the place must be popular. Other quick checks include overhearing the volume and type of music, disco-style rather than neon lights, and decor (country western saloon versus tight dance club). However, at first glance a bar might seem like a “Hot” spot but after a few minutes inside you might get a different vibe. Perhaps the place is a local’s hangout or the ratio of young-old or male-female makes you uncomfortable.

Secondly, after surveying the place make your decision.

Do you want to zip out the nearest exit or be adventurous with a great story to tell your friends? Remember even if a spot isn’t “Hot” right now doesn’t mean it won’t be later so use your comfort level as a good rule for judging.

Now that you’ve made the decision to stay, here is a list of ways to make this snoozer kickin’.

1. Familiarize yourself with the bar or restaurant.

This is the first piece of advice offered by Erin Moriarity, a self-proclaimed socialite who has been to many a “Not” spot. “Know where the bathrooms are and all the counter exits, in case it’s really that bad,” she said. This is also important for emergency safety since you are unfamiliar with this particular place.

Being familiar also includes knowledge of cuisine and cocktails. Take a good look at the restaurant’s menu and specials list before ordering your usual. A “Not” restaurant will most likely have a limited menu or a bartender may be unfamiliar with your request. This isn’t always bad. “Sometimes you order a Cosmo that comes on the rocks in a beer glass, and it’s still good,” said Moriarity.

2. Check out the games

Most places will have at least one form of gaming entertainment such as pool, darts, or pinball. It’s even better if you are not a great shot and can provide opportunities to laugh at yourself, another one of the tips for survival.

3. Bring your own crowd

If the people at this spot are not your crowd, then call your friends and tell them to come join you. They will probably laugh to hear where you are and may even be curious enough to come check it out.

“If you’re with a bunch of friends it doesn’t matter where you are,” said Julia Hall, a cocktail waitress at POP: kitchen + cocktails on Broadway in Newport, R.I. She sees all different types of people come into the lounge and prefers a steady night when she can talk to customers. This leads us to the next tip – meeting new people.

4. Meet new people

To feel more comfortable, get to know the people on your side of the restaurant or bar. This way you’ll blend into the group that’s there and not stick out as someone who feels out of place. Moriarity said if you’re near the pool table then give “high fives” to those who make their shot.

5. Laugh

Nothing makes a night like a good chuckle about others, about yourself, about old times, or about future times. Have a back-up laugh plan before you go out, whether it’s a known “Hot” spot or not. This could be retelling your favorite stories or quoting a popular movie. Moriarity said her foolproof plan for a good time “is good company, bad pickup lines, good mood, and a sense of humor.”

Most importantly if you’re going to a “Not” spot don’t expect it to be the place of your dreams. The best advice is “Don’t care how you look and don’t have any expectations, you just go and have a good time,” said Moriarity.

So the next time you pass by that interesting out-of-the-way nightclub or wacky restaurant and wonder what it might be like inside…go in and find out.

Erica Johnson is a senior communications student at Salve Regina University, who is adventurous enough to try new bars and restaurants and survived those that were “Not” spots.