Food: yup
Dancing: negative
Pluses: cheap and way fun
Minuses: watch out kiddies – they card!

The Bar Belle, with great regret, must make a confession. It is time for her to buck up and talk about her favorite Thursday spot. Every Thursday with the ring of 5 p.m., she and a favorite friend head down the road to the University Club.

Seeing is believing during this Thursday warm-up to fun. The U Club occupies a very small space with tables and a bar. It is a pretty shady operation they have there, what with the tin box that holds the money and all. It’s reminiscent of the elementary school bake sale, except at this site they are selling better goodies.

Rail drinks, wine and beer are $2 and there are free wings . so the two ladies, warmed up with a glass of red wine that seared their veins like poison, curled up to a table and chatted about some juicy news.

Since they opened happy hour, they were alone for a few minutes, but shortly thereafter the U Club regulars showed up like clockwork. With the room abuzz with excitement for the coming weekend, the two girls switched to vodka and club sodas. You see, Shape magazine recently recommended swapping your favorite tonic for club soda because it contains less sugar.

The good news was that the club takes credit cards. So, with a newfound enthusiasm, the Belle’s friend ordered four more drinks. When asked why, she responded, “I can’t really charge two bucks to my card, now can I?” Point taken.

Along with these rock-bottom, wholesale prices, are $4 gourmet burgers (a hit with the boys and the Atkins dieting girls).

With that, the patrons stumbled outside and braved the walk home in the newly darkened sky. The Bar Belle continued partying at Garretts and then went to Lulu’s between nine and 10 for free entrance and $1 Hawaiian Punch tasting drink things. Those pretty much did her in and she almost had to call it a night, but she soon rebounded and continued on late into the evening.