Spilling beer on the youngsters at the Marquee

I am ashamed to say that I have lived in Tempe for most of my life, yet until Friday I had never been to the Marquee Theatre. The concert that finally got me to go to the popular music venue in Tempe happened to be the Arctic Monkeys, not because I'm a huge fan but because my friend got tickets.

My friends and I parked at the Towers and walked to the concert to avoid a potentially packed parking situation, and we had some trouble right at the door. My friend had been given a receipt instead of a ticket at the box office, and he was turned away from the concert by an overzealous security guard who was convinced he was giving him attitude. Minus one, my roommate and I went into the venue anyway.

The foyer has the bar, and main room with the stage at the front is circular. The venue seems too small to hold all of the screaming fans, but there is a great view of the stage from any point in the room. This particular concert drew mostly college students who, judging from the amount of lyrics known, were like me and were only familiar with one or two of the Arctic Monkey's most famous songs.

The venue was pretty enjoyable, and was definitely one of the best places I've been to see a concert. The crowd was pretty fun, minus getting my toes stepped on and beer spilled on me, which is to be expected at any concert. Next time there is a band that I'm dying to see, I'll make sure to get tickets well in advance – and who knows, by the time I go again, maybe I'll get to the be the one spilling the beer.

— Megan Hunt

Xtreme Bowling an "xtreme" embarrassment

How "Xtreme" is Xtreme Bowling at the AMF Tempe Village Lanes? So much so that they left out the 'e', apparently. But other than that, if you're looking for something to do on a weekend night, Xtreme bowling is a lot of fun.

My friends and I were looking for something a little more low-key, so we headed to Tempe Village Lanes on Rural and the 60 at 10pm on Friday. If you have never been to any sort of midnight bowling, the alleys usually turn up the music, turn off the lights, and use black lights to give the alley a more festive feel. Despite their best efforts, it's still a bowling alley, and the food is gross. Xtreme bowling is more about having fun than bowling well, and it's a good thing too - it was a lot of fun, even though I am convinced that I am the world's worst bowler.

Getting three gutter balls in a row is somehow less embarrassing with black lights and Britney Spears' Toxic blasting in the background. The night is a great chance to chat with friends while you wait for your turn - or in my case, another chance to embarrass myself. Just be sure you don't invite anyone too serious about bowling - it's hard to concentrate when your giant bowling shoes are glowing.

— Megan Hunt

Caffeine: This 20-year-old's drug of choice

Want to beat the heat with an ice cold drink plus get your caffeine fix? Luckily there are plenty of coffee places around to catch up with friends or finish that last-minute paper.
On Mill Avenue, Coffee Plantation is a great place to hang out after dinner and grab some dessert. There are always plenty of college students around in the evenings, and there's lots of comfortable indoor seating with a good view of Mill Avenue for people-watching. Want some food with that coffee? Ejoy on Seventh Street offers breakfast sandwiches and bagels, and Mill's End Espresso off Third Street boasts a creperie.

So you need to study, but you can't handle another night in the library. Look no further than Three Roots on Mill. It has a unique atmosphere with separate rooms and cozy armchairs or dining-room style tables; it is always pretty quiet, making it a great alternative to the library.

If you love the outdoors and are willing to take a drive, Coffee Rush in Chandler is situated on the lake and has great outdoor seating — complete with misters and festive lights. It's the perfect place to enjoy a chat with friends, and the atmosphere is hip and laid-back, so feel free to order, and then stay all day.

If you'll be out all night, try Extreme Bean in Tempe and grab something to keep you up. This coffee spot is open 24 hours on the weekends and offers live music, making it much livelier than its competitors. It's not ideal for studying or quiet conversation, but it's a great place to go to get pumped up before a long night.

As always, there's Starbucks, the closest location not on campus is on Mill Avenue, but I always find the atmosphere isn't conducive to sitting with friends, and the loud elevator music makes me a little antsy. It's a great place to grab something and go, but it doesn't have the atmosphere or interesting people that you can find at a different coffee shop. So this weekend branch out, then grab your Starbucks venti caramel frappuccino on Monday morning.

— Megan Hunt

Checking out Phoenix's one cultural claim to fame

The idea of wandering around downtown Phoenix in the summer may not sound like a good time, but First Fridays is a great experience that every ASU student should check out at least once. On the first Friday of every month, as the name implies, galleries in downtown Phoenix open up from 6 to 10 p.m. for self-guided tours using free Shuttle Link buses. Visitors can choose from different sets of galleries using color-coded bus routes, all of which start at the Phoenix Public Library.

I've been to First Fridays several times now, and I love the atmosphere and the art, which is different each time. The crowds who enjoy First Fridays are pretty diverse, from college students to families to the artists selling their work. No uptight gallery owners give you evil stares if you're not looking to buy; they tend to be friendly and mingle with browsers.

Thinking of dressing up? Well don't, because these aren't cocktails-and-glitz kinds of galleries. They're all about urban art and culture, and the 90 or so galleries that are open these nights attract different crowds then you're likely to see at Scottsdale galleries. Some galleries have live music performances as well as art, and others include original comic books and postcards. Wear something comfortable, because First Fridays involves a lot of walking, and bring some cash if you're an art fan. Despite all the hype and the crowds who are just looking, this is still a place for artists to sell original pieces.

— Megan Hunt