Some background. I grew up and lived in California up until about 5 years ago, when, due to the cost of living, my ex and I moved to Texas. We landed in a city known for George Bush Sr, maroon, and.... not much else. It's a college town. Just one, and a community college.
Okay, right, many big cities area have three or more.
(No offense if you are a member of this particular universities cultish fan base. It's a university. Get over it.)
This particular university has one of the biggest drinking cultures around, the main bar area is right across the street from campus.
Underage drinking is a MAJOR problem.
Many of the student life events revolve around drinks, which happens mainly in the bar district or at peoples homes.
Last Friday my boyfriend and I arrived to some fancy pants Italian restaurant for a date night/birthday dinner. We had made reservations two weeks in advance. They called and confirmed so no issues there. We'd heard that the food was good, so we made reservations for during their Happy Hour, which is always fun, and just before the live music was supposed to start.
The hostess takes us to our table, hands our menus and leaves.
We look at the menu, no happy hours items as advertised online. Hmm. We figure maybe she forgot. All good, so we ask the server when he shows.
VioliaV: Can we see the Happy Hour menu?
Server: Oh no, we cancelled that tonight because of ring.
VV (confused, looking at my boyfriend who has lived here longer): I'm sorry?
Server: Ring day.
BF: That's today? We're not students.
I look at my boyfriend and look around expecting to see hordes of students. No, mainly people in the 60+ crowd.
Server: I'm sorry, it's been cancelled today.
Server leaves. MY boyfriend and I look at the menu, look at each other.
VV: What's ring day?
BF: It's when seniors get their rings, then they party afterwards. Although, not here.
VV: Is there, like, a ceremony?
BF: No one goes.
Server (arriving with water): Is there anything I can get for you?
VV: Okay, an appetizer. Fried calamari.
Server: We are not serving that tonight.
BF: Because of ring day...?
Server: Yes. Nor are we serving (he lists several more appetizers, half the soups, and a salad) .
VV (looks at BF, who's getting frustrated at this point): Because of ring...?
Server: Yes.
VV: How about the entrees? It there anything else that's you're not serving?
Server: Actually there are quite a few more things we are not serving tonight because of ring day.
--------------
We left. Went to the new sushi place next door instead, who had their entire menu available. And after talking to other people who went out to eat that night, no other place reduced their menu in any way.
I later learned that one of the things students do, after they get their class ring, is drop it in a pitcher of beer and chug said beer. They do this at home with their underage friends.
It's not like there was a sign, or the hostess actually told us on the way to the table. Or the server told us when he showed up.
It was just weird.
Okay, right, many big cities area have three or more.
(No offense if you are a member of this particular universities cultish fan base. It's a university. Get over it.)
This particular university has one of the biggest drinking cultures around, the main bar area is right across the street from campus.
Underage drinking is a MAJOR problem.
Many of the student life events revolve around drinks, which happens mainly in the bar district or at peoples homes.
Last Friday my boyfriend and I arrived to some fancy pants Italian restaurant for a date night/birthday dinner. We had made reservations two weeks in advance. They called and confirmed so no issues there. We'd heard that the food was good, so we made reservations for during their Happy Hour, which is always fun, and just before the live music was supposed to start.
The hostess takes us to our table, hands our menus and leaves.
We look at the menu, no happy hours items as advertised online. Hmm. We figure maybe she forgot. All good, so we ask the server when he shows.
VioliaV: Can we see the Happy Hour menu?
Server: Oh no, we cancelled that tonight because of ring.
VV (confused, looking at my boyfriend who has lived here longer): I'm sorry?
Server: Ring day.
BF: That's today? We're not students.
I look at my boyfriend and look around expecting to see hordes of students. No, mainly people in the 60+ crowd.
Server: I'm sorry, it's been cancelled today.
Server leaves. MY boyfriend and I look at the menu, look at each other.
VV: What's ring day?
BF: It's when seniors get their rings, then they party afterwards. Although, not here.
VV: Is there, like, a ceremony?
BF: No one goes.
Server (arriving with water): Is there anything I can get for you?
VV: Okay, an appetizer. Fried calamari.
Server: We are not serving that tonight.
BF: Because of ring day...?
Server: Yes. Nor are we serving (he lists several more appetizers, half the soups, and a salad) .
VV (looks at BF, who's getting frustrated at this point): Because of ring...?
Server: Yes.
VV: How about the entrees? It there anything else that's you're not serving?
Server: Actually there are quite a few more things we are not serving tonight because of ring day.
--------------
We left. Went to the new sushi place next door instead, who had their entire menu available. And after talking to other people who went out to eat that night, no other place reduced their menu in any way.
I later learned that one of the things students do, after they get their class ring, is drop it in a pitcher of beer and chug said beer. They do this at home with their underage friends.
It's not like there was a sign, or the hostess actually told us on the way to the table. Or the server told us when he showed up.
It was just weird.
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