GRAPEVINEeditor-in-chief WHITNEY SLIGHTHAM

news editor ADAM SCHWARTZarts editor BRENT HOLMES

opinons editor ANGELA EASBYlocal issues editor RACHAEL BELL

copy editor CAROLINE DIEZYN, JORDAN SOWUMNIcreative design: WHITNEY SLIGHTHAM

contributing staff

ANDREW PEL, ANGELA EASBY, SARAH TOWNSEND, KATRINA LAT, ROSS LINDEN-FRASER, PATRICK BARFOOT, ANGELA HERRING-LAUZON, ADAM SCHWARTZ, BRENT HOLMES, ANDREW SERCOMBE, RACHAEL BELL, SHAUN NUGENT, JORDAN SOWUMNI, BRITTANY LINTON, BEN FORD, NICOLE

GOODBRAND, HILLETE WARNER, CONNOR HILL, SHANNON CHARNOOK, COURTNEY HUMPHREY, KATHERINE HOPE

layout designers

WHITNEY SLIGHTHAM, KATRINA LAT

photographers

DANIEL ORCHARD, SHAWN TRON, AISTIS CEPINSKAS, KATRINA LAT, ROSS LINDEN-FRASER

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GRAPEVINE MAGAZINEHURON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

WESTERN ROAD 1349LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADA

N6G 1H3

FUNDED BY HURON STUDENTS’ COUNCIL

GRAPEVINE MAGAZINE • JAN 2012 • FREE PUBLICATION

INSIDE

BEST FOOD 5-14BEST VEGETARIAN-ORIENTED RESTAURANTS IN LONDONKatherine Hope

BEST GLOBALLY-INSPIRED CUISINE IN TOWNWhitney Slightham

THE BEST FOOD ON CAMPUSBrent Holmes

THE BEST BREAKFAST & HANG-OVER FOOD IN TOWNAngela Easby

THE BEST LATE-NIGHT FOOD JOINTSAndrew Sercombe

TOP PUBS 15-22Whitney Slightham

CEEPS

MOLLY BLOOMS

CHAUCERS

JOE COOLS

WINKS

BEST CLUBS 23-34Whitney Slightham

TAP HOUSE

JACKS

JBRS

BARKING FROG

COWBOYS

ROUGE

LAVISH

MANSION

LIVE MUSIC 34-38Katherine Hope

APK LIVE

CALL THE OFFICE

LONDON MUSIC HALL

JOHN LABATT CENTER

12 30

11

12

11

26

08 38 32

34 14

BEST VEGETARIANVeg Out is London’s only all veg-an restaurant. It’s warm, homey atmosphere and delicious menu make it a place everyone should pop into at least once while liv-ing in London, vegan or not. The staff is always pleasant and wel-coming. Exciting cupcakes and cookies can always be found on the dessert menu as well as interest-ing daily specials and soups. Ask anyone who has eaten at VegOut and they’re sure to rave about the incredible tempeh “wings” or world famous “fish” and chips. The restaurant is small – so it would be a good idea to call ahead of time and make a reservation. If you are celiac or have any other allergies you can feel safe eating at VegOut. The staff is very accommodating and will do their best to cook you something fabulous while catering to your dietary needs.

“LONDON’S ONLY ALL VEGAN

RESTAURANT”

How to get tHere: Hop on the 6 bus (heading South) at Alumni Hall or Nat Sci and get off at Rich-mond and Mill. Walk up the street to the closest set of lights and cross over. Walk just a bit further up Richmond as if you’re going even deeper into the down town core. Keep your eye to the left and you should stumble right into VegOut at 646 Richmond Street.

VEG OUT646 Richmond Street

ZEN GARDENS344 Dundas Street

Zen Gardens is a vegetarian and vegan restaurant that prides it-self on providing the healthiest of Asian-inspired food choices. Don’t let the word “healthy” discourage you however, because the food on Zen Gardens’ menu is exciting and full of amazing flavor. Their creative kitchen brings you a very wide variety of dishes ranging from crispy soy fritters (the veg-an/healthy version of “popcorn chicken”) to curry fried rice. All meat substitutes are made from natural ingredients containing absolutely no chemicals or preser-vatives. The staff is always very friendly and ready to fill you in on just why the entrée you’re order-ing is so healthy! To boot – Zen Gardens offers an enormous tea menu which will blow you away.

“A RESTAURANT THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON PROVIDING THE HEALTHIEST OF

ASIAN-INSPIRED FOOD CHOICES”

How to get tHere: Walk over to Alumni Hall or Natural Science and hop on the 2 heading East. Once you hit Dundas street, con-tinue riding until you reach Wa-terloo. On the North side of Dun-das at Waterloo you’ll find Zen Gardens.

UNDER THE VOLCANO

717 Richmond Street

EAST SIDE MARIOS

94 Fanshawe Park Road

This Mexican restaurant is the closest of all five top vegetarian restaurants to the university. It has a great vegetarian and vegan selection as well as several non-vegetarian dishes – in other words, there is something at Under the Volcano to please almost every lifestyle, including gluten free! Under the Volcano also features daily promotions such as Mexican Mondays (25% off Mexican bev-erages), $13.99 All You Can Eat Taco Tuesdays, Fajita Wednes-days ($10 off double fajitas), and Nacho Thursdays (half price na-chos). In addition they offer a large tequila menu serving brands that even the LCBO doesn’t carry!

“THERE IS SOMETHINg aT UNDER THE VOL-

CaNO TO PLEaSE aL-MOST EVERY LIFESTYLE,

INCLUDINg gLUTEN-FREE!”

How to get tHere: Head over to Alumni Hall or Nat Sci and hop on the 6 bus heading South. Ride the bus down Richmond Street until you find yourself at Rich-mond and Piccadilly. The moment you get off the bus, turn to your left you’ll see a sign for Under the Volcano on the right side of the street.

Now, you’ve all likely heard about this delicious Italian food chain, but what you may not have heard is that they has a great vegetarian selection on their menu! East Side Mario’s atmosphere is fun and energetic; a great place to get together with large groups of friends. Their menu is full of flavor and Italian variety – plus all you can eat soup or salad and garlic home-loaf.

How to get tHere: Hop on the 13 bus heading North until you reach Masonville Mall. Walk North from the bus stop and cross the street into the Loblaws parking lot. Walk East until you pass the Swiss Chalet and East Side Mario’s will be on your left.

BEN THANH344 Dundas Street

Ben Thanh is one of the best Thai restaurants in all of London. Its atmosphere is pleasant and wel-coming, starting off every meal very nicely with a hot pot of tea. The menu consists of several Thai dishes, many of vegetarian and vegan variety. Ben Thanh also of-fers many different fancy drinks including smoothies and bubble tea. Anyone who is not incred-ibly familiar with Thai food – have no fear. The staff is always very friendly and there to offer opinions and answer any cuisine-related questions.

How to get tHere: Head over to Alumni Hall or Nat Sci and hop on the 6 bus heading South until you reach York Street. Walk West less

WORDS: Katherine Hope, PHOTO: Katrina Lat

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BEST VEGETARIAN

GLOBALLY INSPIREDTHE TOP

EATERIESWORDS: Whitney Slightham, PHOTOS: Yadang Budget-Travel, Katrina Lat, Katherine Hope

Bertoldis not only offers authentic Italian entrees, an extensive wine list, and a delicious signature fea-ture dish each day, but also offers a decadent atmosphere. With high ceilings, beautiful wooden décor, a sheek and spacious bar area, com-fortable seating, and tall windows – Bertoldis’ stunning interior de-sign reflects the perfected flavours and textures of the food they of-fer. They attribute their delicious dishes to the fact that their food is rooted in Italian traditions. All bread, pastas, and sauces are pre-pared fresh in the kitchen daily, as opposed to being shipped and fro-zen. In the winter time, Bertoldis is the perfect place to retreat from the snow with a glass of wine and good company.

How to get tHere: Take the 6 or 13 South from campus on Rich-mond until you reach Pall Mall Street. Bertoldis will be on the Southeast corner.

This quaint restaurant not only offers affordable dishes, all-you-can-eat East Indian buffet between 11:00am-2:30pm seven days a week, and mouth-watering entrees that are sure to satisfy the palate, but you have the option of dining in, taking it to-go, or ordering de-livery. Rated one of the top East Indian restaurants in the country, Curry Gardens has a wonderful staff of helpful servers as well as a talented kitchen staff. Their menu is also conveniently separated into meat, vegetarian, and dishes prepared in their tandoori – a cy-lindrical clay oven that marinates meats and spices for 24-hours prior to serving. As a testament to their freshness and consideration for the customer’s needs, they even have a section that delineates all of the ingredients they use to pre-pare their food. The onion bhaji dish, in particular, is a delicious and flavourful appetizer to start off the meal. If you’re looking to get some nutrients, try the Sag Paneer – a dish of fresh leaf spin-ach mixed with chunks of home-made Indian cheeses. The staff is also very friendly and helpful. If you’re an Indian food fan, this is definitely a place to check out.

How to get tHere: Take the 6 from Alumni or 13 South from Delaware on campus along Rich-mond until you reach Dundas. Walk on the East side of the road for half a block and Curry Gar-dens will be on your left. If you’re not in the mood to commute, order delivery at 519 870 5678.

INDIANCURRY gaRDENS

374 Richmond Street

Have a hankering for Sushi? Most Japanese restaurants offer an all-you-can-eat menu, which means that although their chefs are tal-ented and quick – they do not focus on the food as much as the upcoming order. At Gozen each piece of sushi is hand-crafted with care, as they strive to make each dish as authentic and tasty as pos-sible. They not only offer an ex-tensive menu of options ranging from a long list of appetizers and sashimi, to innovative maki rolls, fresh sushi a la carte, special rolls (with more complex combinations of ingredients), udon noodle dish-es, and ramen noodle dishes. Not only is the service terrific, but the newly renovated location offers a stunning modern and clean atmo-sphere. With soft sticky rice, fresh ingredients, and a variety of gar-nishes to make each dish look like its fit for a king, the Bistro serves up some of the most delicious su-shi rolls in the city! So, before you head to an all-you-can-eat place, consider spending less money and getting more bang, and flavour, for your buck at Gozen Bistro.

Want to eat at home? Gozen has a convenient ordering system built into their website. Select the items you wish to order, when you want it to be ready for you to pick up and, voila – you’ve got a tasty din-ner for you and your housemates!

How to get tHere: Take the 6 South on Richmond to Queens. Walk East on Queens and Gozen will be on your right.

JAPANeSegOzEN BISTRO

219 Queens Avenue

ItALIANBERTOLDIS

650 Richmond Street

greeKMYkONOS

572 Adelaide Street N

If you’re looking for genuine Greek food, head to Mykonos on Adelaide Street. From moussaka, dolmathes, and chicken and pork souvlaki, to spanakopitakis and saganaki – they’ve got all of the traditional bases covered. With delicious and authentic Greek fla-vors, their dishes are innovative, appetizing, and tasty. At Mykonos you have the option of dining-in at their quaint and cozy restaurant, or ordering take-out at 519-434-6736.

How to get tHere: Take the 6 South on Richmond until you reach Oxford Street. Then, head to the South East corner of the intersection and wait for the 17 bus heading East on Oxford. Ride the 17 until you hit Adelaide. Walk South a few blocks on Adelaide un-til you pass Central. Mykonos will be located on the East side of the road the corner of Elias and Ad-elaide – you can’t miss it!

Foo

DGLOBALLY INSPIRED

08 GV

Conveniently located in the heart of Richmond Row, Barakat is the best venue to grab some Middle Eastern delicacies. Each meal combines a variety of delicious flavors and fresh ingredients. The vegetarian platter, for example, is a large dish of falafels, hum-mus, baba gannouge, fattoush or tabbouli, garlic, cabbage, pita, and pickled beets. They also offer perfectly cooked chicken and beef shawarma, shish kabobs, and a de-licious array of salads.

“EaCH MEaL COMBINES a VaRIETY OF DELICIOUS FLa-

VORS aND FRESH INgREDIENTS”

How to get tHere: Take the 6 or 13 South on Richmond from campus until you reach Albert Street. You will find Barakat at 551 Richmond on the Southwest corner of Albert and Richmond.

MID eASterNBaRakaT

551 Richmond Street

With an extensive menu, includ-ing rare and authentic dishes, Chi-nese BBQ has some of the best chow mein, chicken fried rice, and sizzling meat and seafood dishes in town. They not only dish up large portions of carefully prepared food, but also offer an affordable menu, with each entrée ranging from 7-12 dollars. They offer a va-riety of noodles, soup, rice, pork, duck, chicken, beef, shrimp, and fish; all of which can be sautéed, barbequed, or grilled.

How to get tHere: Walk or bus to Huron and Richmond, just south of the University main gates, and hope on the 1. Ride the 1 East on Huron. It will loop up on Adelaide, across Kipps, and back down to Huron. Once you be-gin heading West on Huron, pre-pare to get off at Briarhill Road, and Chinese BBQ will be on the north side of the road at 994 Hu-ron Street. Call 519 963 0375 to deliver.

CHINeSeCHINESE BBQ

994 Huron Street

Under the Volcano is not only one of the best restaurants to satisfy those with alternative diets, such as gluten-free, vegan, and vegetar-ian; but also is known to dish up some of the tastiest traditional Mexican entrees in the city. Each guest is started off with a gen-erous bowl of complimentary tortilla chips and fresh, house-prepared salsa. Don’t fill up on chips though, because Under the Volcano has got a long list of authentic menu options includ-ing enchiladas, flautas, quesadil-las, chimichangas, gourmet tacos, burritos, chonitas, and fajitas. If you’ve brought an appetite, try the Big One. Appropriately named, the Big One is a humongous burrito stuffed with fresh veggies, cheese, rice, and your choice of veggies or meat filling. A delicious and filling vegetarian dish is the four layer dip: sour cream, fresh salsa, beans, and flavorful guacamole. With one of the largest tequila collections in London, Under the Volcano has an impressive list of alcoholic bev-erages. Margarita Mondays are a great way to take the edge off be-ginning the long week ahead. So, grab your girls, or guys, and head to Under the Volcano for some drinks and delicious dips!

“MaRgaRITa MONDaYS aRE a gREaT waY TO TakE THE EDgE

OFF BEgINNINg THE LONg wEEk aHEaD”

How to get tHere: Take the 6 from Alumni or the 13 from Dela-ware south on Richmond until you reach Oxford Street. Walk south on Richmond for one block on the west (right) side of the road, and you will find Under the Volcano to your right at 717 Richmond

MeXICANUNDER THE VOLCaNO

717 Richmond Street

toP photographer: KATHERINE HOPE; type of food: ITAlIAN location: bERTOldIs. MIDDLe photographer: KATHERINE HOPE; type of food: mId EAsTERN location: bARAKAT. bot-toM photographer: KATRINA lAT; type of food: jAPANEsE location: gOzEN bIsTRO. bACK PAge LeFt photographer: yAdANg - budgET-RAvEl.cOm; image: INdIAN sPIcEs location: NEw dElHI bACK PAge rIgHt photographer: KATRINA lAT; image: susHI dIsH location: gOzEN bIsTRO

Located in Middle Sex, the Grad Club is not frequented by undergrad students as often as The Spoke or The Wave. Furnished with large wooden tables, the Grad Club serves delicious buffets between 11:30-1:30 PM from Wednes-day through Friday. Enjoy all-you-can-eat In-dian food on Wednesday, an open pasta bar on Thursdays, and a mystery theme buffet each Friday that ranges from BBQ to Mexican. At night, the pub is a hotspot for live music and en-tertainment. Catch an acoustic performance by Chris Norley every Friday on the patio between 6-10:00 PM, or grab a pint and enjoy local tal-ent on Wednesdays for the Mill Street Open Mic night from 8-11:00 PM. Know a lot of random facts? Test your knowledge on Trivia Tuesdays for your chance to win a variety of prizes and gift certificates. Need a place to park? After 8:00PM there is free parking on the lot behind the Club.

How to get tHere: Enter Middle Sex through the doors on the far left side and take the stairs directly in front of you down one flight. Follow the hallway and the Grad Club will be located through the doors on your left hand side.

grAD CLUbMiddle Sex College, Main Campus

The Spoke is the most pub-like of the bars on campus. Located in the UCC, The Spoke features a comfortable, homey atmosphere with wooden booths and large television screens. Swing by The Spoke after your evening classes for live music, karaoke, or simply grab a pitcher and na-chos with some friends to celebrate finally sub-mitting that 20-page paper. Is the Tim Horton’s line too long? Swing by The Spoke Cafe for a hot cup of free-trade coffee and a mushroom and Swiss bagel smothered with delicious roasted red pepper cream cheese. During the day, the pub opens up its grill area where students can purchase the infamous CLT Wrap, grilled cheese and fries, wings, pizza, or a fresh Caesar salad. Whether its breakfast or a late-night snack con-sisting, The Spoke always provides a comfort-able atmosphere where students can enjoy great food, delicious brews, and live music.

How to get tHere: Enter the main doors of the UCC and make an immediate left to find the entrance to The Spoke.

tHe SPoKeUCC, Main Campus

In contrast to its downstairs neighbour, the Wave is a classy and more refined dining experience. Frequently used for various University Clubs’ shows and other formal events, such as the UWO Film Festival, this bar is aesthetically sleek and modern. Try the Buffalo Wrap, for an interest-ing combination of buffalo wing sauce, chicken, lettuce, and Caesar dressing, or the infamous desert entitled ‘The Wave.’ This monstrous dish consists of warm cookies, ice cream, whipped cream, and caramel and chocolate sauce. Veg-etarian? Order a burger, like the Sublime, which comes garnished with fresh guacamole, pico de gallo, and ranch dressing on a vegetarian patty, instead of beef. The food is always fresh, fla-vourful, and filling.

How to get tHere: Enter the UCC doors and take the stairs directly in front of you to the second floor. The Wave will be on the opposite wall of the stairwell, conveniently located beside Western Film.

tHe wAVeUCC, Main Campus

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grAD CLUbMiddle Sex College, Main Campus

THE BEST OF

CAMPUSWORDS: Brent Holmes, PHOTO: Ross Linden-Fraser

10 GV

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tHe beSt breAKFASt& HANgoVer FooD IN towN

Your momma was right- breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It’s even more im-portant when the memories of last night’s beers are coming back to haunt you -- which is why anyone nursing a hangover should hobble to Christina’s Pub, to cure your pounding headache and grumbling stomach. With a $3.60 breakfast from Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 12:30, you re-ally can’t find anything cheaper in the city. The service is good, the prices are more than reason-able, and the BLT is a work of art. Most items are around $5 to $8, making it a very student friendly venue.

How to get tHere: Christina’s is within walk-ing distance at 1131 Richmond Street, just South of the University Main Gates, but if it’s a really rough morning you can always take the 6 or 13.

CHrIStINA’S PUb1131 Richmond Street

A breakfast for the classy egg lovers! Open 8 am to 1 am, Symposium is comfortably spacious and the low lighting is perfect for mornings. Plus, it’s an all-day breakfast so you can take your time crawling out of bed. The highlight is defi-nitely the wide selection of delicious omelettes at about $9 each. If you really want to go all out, there are Eggs Benedict for $9.95. But the best deal is surely the Breakfast of Champions, aptly named since it includes 3 eggs made to order, choice of bacon or ham and a banana waffle. A great reason to get out of bed in the morning, right?

How to get tHere: Symposium Cafe is lo-cated at 620 Richmond Street, just North of Vic Park, so ride the 6 or 13 South from campus to Central.

SYMPoSIUM CAFe620 Richmond Street

Oh, Prince Al’s. Unmistakeable and unequalled for its vast array of greasy, delicious options. One of the few places in London you can go af-ter the bar, as well as in the harsh light of day - it’s open from 10 am to 3 am. Thestaff is as colourful as the diner itself, and the food is the stuff university students dream of. With nothing over $10 and big portions, it’s an easy favourite. Although it’s probably nutritionally questionable as breakfast food, the Loaded Perogies ($6.49) and Garlic Chicken Burrito ($6.75) are stellar options. The $2.75 massive milkshakes are ex-tremely delicious – but maybe save those for the afternoon if you’re not in the best condition.

How to get tHere: Al’s is located at 565 Richmond Street, so take the 6 from Alumni, or the 13 from Delaware South on Richmond until you reach Kent Street.

PrINCe AL’S DINer565 Richmond Street

The hidden gem of London’s breakfasts! The Bag Lady is off the beaten path, but the fresh homemade food and offbeat atmosphere make it more than worth the while. The breakfast bur-rito ($8.95) is hearty, delicious, and everything you could ever want in a burrito that is still good for you. If you have any love for your stomach, try the Cinnamon Swirl French toast ($7.95). Re-serve a weekend morning and check this place out!

How to get tHere: Take the 6 or 13 South from campus to Oxford and Richmond. Then hop on the Oxford 17 bus heading East until you reach Maitland. Walk South on Maitland for 2 and a half blocks and the Bag Lady can be found on your left at the corner of Pall Mall and Maitland.

tHe bAg LADY474 Pall Mall Street

WORDS: Angela Easby, PHOTOS: Ross Linden-Fraser, OPHMN.com

12 GV

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Delivering Pizza to UWO for more than forty years, Tony’s Famous Italian is the best Lon-don alternative to conventional pizza chains. Choose from a selection of gourmet pizzas like the Napoletana or create your own. Of-fering a unique taste and character, Tony’s is located on Wonderland, Southdale, Spring-bank, and Dundas and is your best option to nourish late night pizza cravings. $11-$25 per person.

How to get tHere: To reach the Dundas location, take the #2 Dundas bus southbound from Alumni to Dundas Street and Quebec Street. Not feeling like trekking out there? Call 519-474-1900 for delivery.

toNY’S FAMoUS ItALIAN980 Dundas Street

The most popular late night 1950’s themed diner in London, Prince Al’s, is often a hot spot on Richmond Row. A little greasy, small, and busy, yet still a clear attraction on Rich-mond. Prince Al’s serves peanut butter on its famous Wally Burger, and has one of the best chocolate milkshakes you’ll find in town. Open 10am to 3am, come in for a classic din-ner experience. $5 - $15 per person.

How to get tHere: From Alumni Hall, take the #6 Richmond bus southbound to Richmond Street and Albert Street.

PrINCe AL’S DINer565 Richmond Street

Cold drinks, nachos, and wings bring late night crowds to Joe Kools on Richmond Street. Across from Victoria Park, it is one of the many bars downtown, and, in the sum-mer, opens up a huge patio. Joe Kool’s offers over twenty five different options on tap as well as free wi-fi. Open 11am to 2am, catch the Leaf game here, go for lunch, or walk in to share some late night food with friends after dancing up an appetite at Jack’s or Tap House. $8 - $25 per person.

How to get tHere: From Alumni Hall, take the #6 Richmond bus southbound to Richmond Street and Central Ave.

Joe KooLS1131 Richmond Street

wHere to FIND A

LAte NIgHt SNACK

For those who thought poutine was just gravy, cheese curds and french fries - you’re truly in for a treat. Open until 4am on Friday and Sat-urday nights, Smoke’s is one of the best places to pick up some post-bar grub. The menu is split up into five different sections: Chicken, Beef, Traditional, Pork, and Vegetarian; and each menu item combines a variety of deli-cious ingredients. In addition to providing a large menu full of meat and vegetarian op-tions, Smoke’s also lets you customize your poutine with add-ons and sauces. $6 - $10.

How to get tHere: Hop on the 6 South from Campus, and get off at Richmond and Albert Street. It’s conveniently located right between Jacks and Tap House.

SMoKe’S PoUtINerIe551 Richmond Street

AFTER THE BARLATE DINNER

A late night café open as late as 2am, Sym-posium offers beautiful restaurant décor and an alluring lounge atmosphere. Located on Richmond Street across from Victoria Park, Symposium, with a casual, yet upscale din-ning experience is an alternative to the Rich-mond Row bars. Aside from the coffee and free wi-fi, Symposium offers popular menu items like their chicken pesto pizza on flat bred crust. Open Sunday – Thursday 8am to 1am and Friday & Saturday 8am to 2am. $8 - $22 per person.

How to get tHere: From Alumni Hall, take the #6 Richmond bus southbound to Richmond Street and Central Ave.

SYMPoSIUM CAFe620 Richmond Street

ANdREw sERcOmbE, jOuRNAlIsT

14 GV

BEST PUBSwORds: wHITNEy slIgHTHAm; PHOTOs: dANIAl ORcHARd, KATRINA lAT, ROss lINdEN-FRAsER

ceeps

CoMe Here IF YoU wANt to:Drink, dance, watch the game, fraternize with football players, and be merry.

MeNU oPtIoNSThe Ceeps offers typical deep fried bar food – great for combining with a, or four, beer and the football game.

LoCAtIoN671 Richmond Street.

wHAt tHeY oFFer: Ceeps is an old Western favourite, and a great sports bar. You have not fulfilled your experience at Western until you’ve had a Satur-day night at Ceeps. After Mustang football home games, fans and players alike flood to the bar to both celebrate wins and party off losses. During the playoff season, the bar is packed with students decked out in their UWO gear. With large wooden booths lining the bar area, Ceeps is comfortable, casual, and a reliable watering hole for real mustangs. On Tuesday nights they offer Sledgeham-mer Bingo. You guessed it – beer and bingo just had a love baby, and it is awesome.

Photos: Danial Orchard

molly blooms

CoMe Here IF YoU wANt to:Enjoy live music, dance, or watch the game.

MeNU oPtIoNSMolly’s menu offers all of your pub favourites. From Salads and Soup to Nachos and Burgers – they’ve got it all. Try the Bloomin’ Burger, which comes loaded with Peameal Bacon, smoked bacon, cheddar and swiss, sautéed mushrooms, mayo, onion rings, and BBQ sauce. If you’re coming with a group of friends, the Ultimate Platter always delivers. Stacked with chicken fingers, beer-battered onion rings, fried pickles, sweet potato fries, fresh veggies, and a selection of delicious dipping sauces; this dish never fails to hit the spot.

wHAt tHeY oFFer: A homey, spacious, and comfortable pub lined with large booths and TV screens. Located in the centre of the pub, the bar area has an extensive drink list with several draught beers. There is also a small dance area where guests can jam out to the local bands, cover bands, and acoustic artists who frequent Molly’s. In the summer, the patio becomes a popular venue and is a great place to catch up with friends. By contrast, the cozy demeanour of the pub makes Molly’s the perfect place to grab a brew, some hot wings, and catch the hockey game when the weather gets cold.

LoCAtIoN700 Richmond Street.

18 GV

CoMe Here IF YoU wANt to:Have an intellectual conversation with your philosophy study group over a few delicious, and obscure pints.

MeNU oPtIoNSThey prepare a variety of foods including pasta, fish dishes, pizza, and delicious appetizers. More impressive than the food, however, is the 4-page long beer list.

LoCAtIoN122 Carling, just West of Richmond.

wHAt tHeY oFFer: Nestled beside Marienbad, a restaurant with deep European influ-ences, Chaucers is located in a building that dates back to 1854. At one point, this building was also home to the Queen while she stayed briefly in London. Due to the antiquity of the building, the pub has a very refined, British, yet comfortable atmosphere. With wood panels covering the walls, and a large fire place that warms the room during the winter, the bar’s decor is cozy and authentic. It’s a great place to relax with friends, or read a book on a week-end with your iPod. Chaucers also has an annual Beer Passport competition. Buy a beer from every country, and you’ll get two large draft glasses of your choice. They also often host live music performances throughout the week.

Photos: Katrina Lat

chaucers

CoMe Here IF YoU wANt to:Enjoy great food and fresh brews with your friends in the heart of Richmond Row.

MeNU oPtIoNSWhether you want it greasy and fried or light and nutritious, Joe Kools has an extensive menu with a variety of flavours. Share the Asian Shrimp and Lobster Nachos, garnished with smoked moz-zarella, pico de gallo, red chilli Thai and cucumber wasabi; or order their pan-fried fillets of fresh perch and sweet potato fries. The Tuscan Flatbread pizza is also a flavourful dish to share with others. It’s topped with pesto, asiago cheese, spinach, artichoke, roasted red peppers, black olives, and feta cheese. Pair any of the menu options with a couple pitchers of cool draft beer, grab a few friends and you’ve got yourself a party!

wHAt tHeY oFFer: If the delicious menu options aren’t enough, Joe Kools also has free wi-fi! Drop by during the day to grab a Tree Hugger Quesa-dilla – a tomato tortilla packed with spinach, roasted red peppers, pico de gallo, guacamole, herb cream cheese, artichokes, smoked mozzarella, and black olives – and finish off your readings in a casual, comfortable, setting.

LoCAtIoN595 Richmond Street.

Photo: Ross Philip-Linden Fraser

joe kools

winks

CoMe Here IF YoU wANt to:Sing karaoke, watch the game, or have a guys’ night.

MeNU oPtIoNSUnlike most of the other pubs in the area, Winks serves breakfast! They’ve got an array of omelettes, pancakes, French toast, eggs, and even breakfast poutine. During the day and evening they offer a full menu with delicious meal items ranging from South-western steak salads and garlic chicken paninis to pork souvlaki. Their late night menu offers the pub favourites, as well as olive bruschetta, calamari, garden nachos, and lobster dip with fresh pitas.

wHAt tHeY oFFer: A casual atmosphere, patio, lots of televisions, live entertainment on certain nights, lots of seating areas, and great food. On Mon-days they offer Big Winks, which are monstrous draft beers, for only $7.00. Winks always draws in a large crowd, as it’s located in the heart of downtown on Richmond Row.

LoCAtIoN12-551 Richmond Street, right beside Barakat at Richmond and Albert.

Photo: Danial Orchard

22 GV

BEST CLUBSwORds: wHITNEy slIgHTHAm; PHOTOs: dANIAl ORcHARd, KATRINA lAT, sHAwN TRON

BEST CLUBS

tap house

CoMe Here IF YoU wANt to:Let loose in a classy, clean, and fun environment.

tYPe oF MUSICTop 40’s.

beSt DAYFriday

wHY?It’s Ladies Night – free cover for women. This night always delivers a large turn-out of positive, well-dressed individuals looking to have a good time. Thursdays are also a very popular night at Tap House because it is Student Night. Bring your stu-dent card and you get free cover!

wHAt tHeY oFFerA sophisticated atmosphere, pool tables, classy leather seating areas, a spacious dance floor with poles, and a complete appetizer menu for those who want to make a smooth transition from dining to dancing on their evening out. Grab a group of friends, head to the club early and have a classy pre-drink with a pitcher of your favourite draft, to pair with a few appetizers ranging from sliced pepper sir-loin and root vegetables to hot crispy wings and yam fries – bon appetite!

tYPICAL AttIreSexy and smart. Guys: Dress shirt and jeans or slacks and a nice tee. Top it with a casual blazer in the winter. Girls: It’s your chance to go all out. Grab your favourite lacy dress from the summer, throw on a pair of sexy heels, and accessorize with a vi-brant clutch to hold the essentials – cash, ID, house or dorm key, and bus pass.

LoCAtIoN545.5 Richmond Street at the corner of Richmond and Kent.

Photo: Danial Orchard

jacks

CoMe Here IF YoU wANt to:Dance your heart out and get drunk without break-ing your budget.

tYPe oF MUSICJacks offers two different musical experiences. On the main floor you can always expect the current Top 40 hits. Upstairs, however, the music varies from Live DJ mixes of Electro and Dub-step to Acoustic performances.

beSt DAYMonday

wHY?They only charge $1.50 for domestic draft beers. Need I say more? During the day they also offer wings for 29 cents apiece. If you need a break from Lady Gaga and Rihanna downstairs, there are al-ways talented musicians performing Acoustic sets upstairs all night long.

wHAt tHeY oFFerA casual outing that always delivers. Whether you are looking to have a wild night with your friends, Jacks is ye’ old faithful amongst the Richmond Row bars.

tYPICAL AttIreSimple, comfortable and sexy. Guys: Tee and Jeans. Dress comfortably, and remember to keep your shirt on. Girls: Tank top, jeans, and sneak-ers. Unless you’re bar-hopping from Tap House or Rouge, there is no need to be overly glammed up with spiky heels and a tight mini-dress at Jacks. So, whip out your converse and get rowdy!

LoCAtIoN539 Richmond Street at the corner of Richmond and Kent.

Photos: TOP Danial Orchard, MID Shawn Tron, BOT Danial Orchard

26 GV

jim bob’s

CoMe Here IF YoU wANt to:Get rowdy in a casual atmosphere with great music.

tYPe oF MUSICTop 40’s.

beSt DAYWednesday

wHY?Cabin Fever Wednesdays at JBR’s features $2.50 cocktails and $2.75 big mug beers all night long. In addition, local DJs, such as DJ Chaos and DJ Hush play consistent gigs there every Wednesday. For a different feel, check out Footwork Fridays to see live dance groups perform to your favourite Hip-Hop, RnB, and Dance music.

wHAt tHeY oFFerInspired by a log cabin, the club has a very com-fortable atmosphere consisting of homey wooden booths, Christmas lights hanging around the bars and ceiling, and large spacious dance floors. This welcoming demeanour paired with affordable drinks, great music, and a consistently large turn-out makes JBRs an ideal bar if you want to have an unforget-table night of debauchery and fun.

tYPICAL AttIreSimilarly to Jacks, the dress code is comfortable, yet sexy. Guys: Jeans and a button-down or tee. Girls: It’s all about comfort. Wear a fun, flattering dress that you can dance up a storm in, shorts jeans or a skirt paired with a cute tank, and heels. JBR, as most bars on Richmond row, is often home to bar-hoppers, so expect a variety of styles.

LoCAtIoN585 Richmond Street.

Photo: Katrina Lat

the barking frog

CoMe Here IF YoU wANt to:Have a fun night out with the girls, or guys.

tYPe oF MUSICSimilarly to Jacks, the musical experience at the Frog shifts depending on your location in the bar when partying in Jacks. In the sports lounge area to the left of the main entrance, expect more rock and pop influences, as well as the occasional live band performance. By contrast, the spacious dance floor on the right of the entrance and the back house both feature live DJs, top 40s music, electro, and techno mixes. They also host weekly headphone parties on their, newly renovated, patio.

beSt DAYThursday

wHY?Thirsty Thursdays at the Frog feature free cover and are the busiest nights at Jacks. If you’re looking for a big crowd of tipsy students to party with, this is the place to be on a Thursday. Sundays at the Frog also offer $3.00 domestic beers and live performances.

wHAt tHeY oFFerA newly renovated patio complete with heating lamps for chilly winter nights, large dance areas, pool tables, multiple bars, great booths for birthday parties, and frequent live performances featuring lo-cal talent.

tYPICAL AttIreDress to impress. Guys: Button-down and jeans or slacks and a collared shirt. Girls: Streamlined, flat-tering dress that you can move in and comfortable heels.

LoCAtIoN209 John Street.

Photos: TOP Danial Orchard, MID Shawn Tron, BOTTOM Shawn Tron

28 GV

cowboys

CoMe Here IF YoU wANt to:Dance, meet, and mingle.

tYPe oF MUSICThe best of Country. If you’re not a huge fan of country, a night at Cowboys may be enough to change your mind.

beSt DAYFriday

wHY?It’s not only Ladies night, but there is free cover be-fore 10pm for all guests. There is also a bull-riding competition every Friday, and free line dancing les-sons between 8-10pm. If you ride the bull for the longest period of time, you will win a complimen-tary t-shirt!

wHAt tHeY oFFerA spacious dance-floor, good energy, a mechanical bull, line dancing, a fun crowd, large bars encom-passing the dance floor, and a stage for live perfor-mances. It is certainly a great venue to go to if you’re bored of the conventional top 40 of Richmond Row.

tYPICAL AttIreCasual / Country. Grab your favourite ripped jeans or jean skirt, sneakers, and a plaid button down.This is also probably one of the only bars in town where cowboy hats not frowned upon.

LoCAtIoN60 Wharncliffe Road.

rouge

CoMe Here IF YoU wANt to:Have a fun night out with the girls, or guys.

tYPe oF MUSICHouse, Top 40 Mixes, and Electro

beSt DAYThursday

wHY?Rouge Thursdays are certainly the busiest and most affordable nights at the club. Not only do the first 100 guests get in for free, but they offer $2.00 beers and vodka cranberry cocktails, $3.50 jager bombs, and $5.00 cover charge. Rouge is always packed on Thursdays and the venue has a great vibe.

wHAt tHeY oFFerA fresh, modern, and sexy atmosphere inspired by the European nightlife scene. The red lighting is sultry and modern, and there are two stages lo-cated in the bar where live performances take place. Members of the Jersey Shore gang have also made appearances at Rouge. There is also a pole on the dance floor where guys and girls alike can flaunt their skills.

tYPICAL AttIreDefinitely dress to impress. Rouge will probably not let you in if you look like you crawled out of a dumpster. Guys: Button-down or crisp collared shirt and jeans with a nice wash or slacks. Girls: Dress or a skirt and top with heels.

LoCAtIoN50 Piccadilly Street, between Richmond and Wharn-cliffe on Oxford.

32 GV

lavish

CoMe Here IF YoU wANt to:Dance, meet, and mingle.

tYPe oF MUSICIt varies depending on the night. Thursday nights are live karaoke nights, so expect to hear a variety of genres. On Friday and Saturday nights they usually play top 40 re-mixes, house, electro and retro music.

beSt DAYThursday, Friday, Saturday

wHY?The club is only open three days a week, and every night is busy. On Thursdays there is live karaoke, Fridays retail $4.00 cocktails and drafts all night long, and Saturdays offer free cover until 11pm. With every night being busy, you really can’t go wrong.

wHAt tHeY oFFerA modern, clean, and classy venue that welcomes indi-viduals of all sexual orientations. Expect the off-hand Drag Queen performance, and occasional stripping – this club can get very wild. Remember – what happens in Lavish, stays in Lavish!

tYPICAL AttIreAnything goes. Express yourself, and have fun.

LoCAtIoN238 Dundas Street, just East of Richmond on the North side of the street.

mansion

CoMe Here IF YoU wANt to:Party in style.

tYPe oF MUSICTop 40s.

beSt DAYSaturday

wHY?Live Saturdays at Mansion not only feature popu-lar London DJs, but also draw in large crowds. If you’re looking for a good crowd on a Sunday, In-dustry Sundays are also very popular at Mansion.

wHAt tHeY oFFerA sheek, sophisticated, and modern atmosphere, gigantic dance floors and seating areas; and non-stop top 40 remixes, electro and techno music. Gar-nished with velvet and leather, the club provides an upscale environment where students can let loose in style.

tYPICAL AttIreGo all out. Guys: Button-down and nice jeans or slacks. Jacket or blazer also acceptable. Girls: Glam up. Grab your mini-dress, heels, and have a sophis-ticated night in the city.

LoCAtIoN89 King, just West of Talbot.

BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUES

wORds: KATHERINE HOPE; PHOTOs: AIsTIs cEPINsKAs

CALL tHe oFFICe

Call the Office is an intimate venue showcasing new live music almost every night of the week. “CTO” is always an exciting place to be and because of this many have named the venue the best in London. If you’re into music genre’s like indie, folk, alternative, rock, or metal you’ll likely find yourself at CTO a few times this year if not more. CTO also hosts “Retro Night” every Sunday and “Funk Night” every Wednesday.

How to get tHere: Walk over to Alumni Hall or Nat Sci and hop on the 6 bus (heading South). Ride the bus all the way to Richmond and York where you’ll hop off and begin walking East down York Street towards the Via Rail station. Keep your eye to the left side of the street and walk for about a block. In no time you should find CTO.

APK Live is a great place to go with a big group of friends to have a good time. This venue is known for energetic karaoke nights and is the place to go if you love dancing. From funk nights to music trivia nights to hip-hop karaoke – APK Live is always a great time. In ad-dition to all of this – they also book great artists for us all to enjoy.

How to get tHere: Walk over to Delaware hall and hop on the 13 bus (heading South). Ride the bus all the way to Wellington and York where you’ll get off and bump right into APK Live. The address for the venue is 340 Wellington Street but the entrance is found just off to the side on York Street.

APK LIVe

The John Labatt Centre is a multi-purpose facility who focuses on providing both entertainment and sports for the city. It is the largest centre of it’s kind in South-Western Ontario. The “JLC” is struc-tured as a large arena which hosts many different sporting events such as hockey, basketball, ice skating and wrestling, as well as en-tertainment, including concerts, theatre and even monster truck shows. The JLC is the place to catch big name acts passing through the city as the facility seats over 10,000 for concerts.

How to get tHere: Walk over to Alumni Hall or Nat Sci and hop on the 6 bus (heading South). When you reach Richmond and King, get off the bus and begin walking West. You’ll walk for just over a block and bump right into JLC on the corner of Talbot and King.

The London Music Hall is one of the best places in the city to really let loose. From foam parties with live DJs to blasting metal concerts “LMH” is the place to hear loud music. The London Music Hall is known for booking some of the biggest names in the techno scene such as Steve Aoki, Deadmau5, and MSTRKRFT. The live music scene at the LMH certainly isn’t limited to electronic music though – this place has been known to book major acts in all genres. If you’re into catching live music it would be a good idea to bookmark the LHM’s website and stay up-to-date.

How to get tHere: The LMH is a little tricky to find. Walk over to Alumni Hall or Nat Sci and hop on the 6 bus (heading South). When you reach Richmond and Queens Ave get off the bus. From here cross over Richmond Street and start heading East down Queens. If you look to your right (after walking about half a block) you’ll see a big parking lot with a sign for London Music Hall tucked back in the corner at 185 Queens Ave.

JoHN LAbAtt CeNtre

LoNDoN MUSIC HALL

“FROM foam parties WITH LIVE DJS TO BLaSTINg metal concerts,

THE LONDON MUSIC HALL IS THE best place TO HEAR LOUD

MUSIC.”

38 GV