Food and frolic: Prospect Avenue from dusk 'til dawn

With most area bars off limits to those under 21, students can turn to the New York-Philadelphia circuit for kicks, but most opt to take the short walk out to the 'Street.'

Officially named Prospect Avenue — but too many syllables become confusing around 3 a.m. — the 'Street' is the home of Princeton's 11 answers to fraternities and sororities: eating clubs.

Three-quarters of Princeton's juniors and seniors wine and dine at the eating clubs. And despite the campus' myriad of other attractions, the clubs serve as the focal point of weekend entertainment.

On a typical weekend night — Thursdays included — clubs often feature bands and always alcohol. A PUID is often your ticket to admission, but some clubs — especially Bicker clubs — limit attendance to members and those with passes.

A word of warning: The bouncers — called safeguards — are there with a purpose, and on a busy night, they do a fair amount of "bouncing," especially after the legal problems the clubs have encountered in recent years.

In 1995, Cottage Club paid $100,000 and Campus Club paid $600,000 to B.J. Miller '94 — a student who, after becoming inebriated, climbed on top of the Dinky train and lost an arm and both legs. In the aftermath, the graduate boards of the clubs, which are legally responsible for their operations, have urged the current officers to limit access to the clubs.

When sophomore year rolls around, students begin to think about which club they want to join.

In preparation for this decision — which takes place during the first week of spring semester — clubs begin to woo sophomores late every fall by giving them no-hassle entry at night and occasionally inviting them to attend meals.

Six of the 11 clubs are non-selective, or "open," which means their membership is determined by a lottery known as "sign-ins" held during the spring of sophomore year.

Five clubs are selective and choose their members via the controversial Bicker process. Bicker — supposedly so named because of the bickering that occurs among members while deciding who gets into their club — involves a series of short interviews, games or other activities between prospective and current members.

Members deliver bids to those who are accepted, and reject, or "hose," the rest.

Once you're in, what should you expect? The clubs are diverse and easily lend themselves to stereotypes, and many seek to outlive time-honored descriptions. Knowing that, here we go. The Prospect 11 in a nutshell:

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CAMPÜS — Non-selective. While Camps members pride themselves on the umlaut topping their u, it is irritating, so we'll stop using it.

Though an unfortunate sign-ins left Campus with a dearth of members this year, the club is renowned for its entertainment, which included sharing Giza from the Wu Tang Clan with Terrace at last year's Houseparties. The year before, the two clubs collaborated to host Run DMC.

The club also boasts the best pool room on the 'Street' and desserts that draw a stampede at every dinner. Its proximity to the center of campus — it's the closest — is also a plus.

CAP AND GOWN — Selective. Don't be intimidated by this club's removed location, set far back from the 'Street,' or the imposing size of some of its members.

If you're an athlete — or an athlete-wanna-be — this may very well be your club.

Boasting a newly remodeled taproom with enlarged bar, Cap often draws healthy crowds with kickin' DJs. Its '70s night is one of the best on the 'Street.'

And the membership boasts an illustrious past, as both Brooke Shields '87 and Superman Dean Cain '88 were members.

CHARTER — Non-selective. In recent years, Charter has drawn consistently high sign-ins numbers. The club boasts a rich graduate board that has endowed the remarkable building with tremendous chandeliers and hardwood floors.

With its large taproom area, Charter often forks over cash for big-name bands for Dean's Date and Lawnparties.

One downside is that the club's members face as long a walk to the center of campus as residents of Forbes College. Charter's proximity to the E-Quad is a plus for engineers, however.

CLOISTER INN — Non-selective. Dominated by "crewbies" and swimmers from both the men's and women's teams, the Cloister membership has perhaps the lowest collective percentage of body fat on the 'Street.' This proclivity for water sports may explain why the club's members often are found in its infamous hot tub.

The full membership and regular Saturday night crowds attest to its popularity. Though it has one of the smallest buildings — and taprooms — on the 'Street,' Cloister has been especially popular with freshmen during the past few years. But a more rigid enforcement of checking students' IDs at the doors has cut down on the club's allure.

COLONIAL — Non-selective. After several years of low sign-ins numbers, Colonial seemed primed for a takeover last spring by sophomores ready to infuse the club with energy and a new image. Though the takeover per se didn't materialize, the club drew a robust sign-in class and has regained legitimacy on the 'Street.'

On Thursday and Saturday nights, the splendid building — complete with Greek pillars — often pulsates to the tunes of "YMCA," "I Will Survive" and other retro-classics.

COTTAGE — Selective. The atmosphere of Cottage has changed somewhat since the club began accepting women in 1986. Previously known as the "gentleman's club," the club still retains a conservative, Southern feel with a large portion of its membership composed of football players and sorority girls.

The club hosts its fair share of theme nights, with "Gatsby Night" and "Catholic School Girl Night" among the most renowned. Lawnparties on the beautifully landscaped back lawn are a must.

Cottage is a consistently popular club in gathering crowds and members. But don't expect to just walk in as a freshman — doors are almost always open only to members and those with passes.

IVY — Selective. Ivy is the oldest of the clubs on the 'Street,' and its "breathlessly aristocratic" atmosphere, as F. Scott Fitzgerald '17 put it, remains a distinguishing feature.

The club, which admitted its first female members nine years ago, seems to be getting somewhat more relaxed as the membership alternately bucks and embraces its age-old image.

Ivy maintains a reputation on campus and around the nation as a bastion of elitism, however. Dinners epitomize the Ivy experience, as members are served by waiters at candle-lit tables.

After hours, Ivy's unique first-floor taproom frequently is packed with revelers.

QUADRANGLE — Non-selective. After a few difficult years, Quad has bounced back stronger than ever with large sign-in classes and an enthusiastic membership.

Quad features decent food, a huge backyard and serves bottled beer with dinner on Friday nights. The club, which has become an increasingly popular weekend destination, recently launched a new tradition of all-night two-story DJ parties.

Accessible to all with PUID, Quad's only drawback is its taproom policy — only members and students over 21 can gain entrance.

TERRACE — Non-selective. Known as the artsy club, Terrace is often considered the last bastion of liberalism on campus, and the club's avant-garde bands sometimes make this painfully obvious. Indeed, the club's location — just off of Prospect Avenue — may serve as a metaphor for its off-center role on the 'Street.'

Aside from the alternative atmosphere, members enjoy the best food on the 'Street,' though the building itself leaves something to be desired.

In general, Terrace is a place uniquely tolerant of diversity. It is known as the home of the Pride Alliance on the 'Street,' flying an LGB awareness flag.

TIGER INN — Selective. TI is Princeton's answer to "Animal House" — rowdy, unpretentious and proud of it. Popular among athletes and those who just wish Princeton's party scene was more hard core, TI was the last club to accept women.

Consistently packed and on-tap later than any club on the 'Street,' TI justifiably has earned the reputation of being the best place to hang out and get trashed. Warm springtime temperatures draw members onto the club's front lawn for outdoor games of beer friz and Beirut.

Expect to find yourself passed out on that very lawn some random Sunday morning at 4 a.m., though tight security makes gaining entrance to the club a challenge for non-members.

TOWER — Selective. Tower members aren't known for being particularly charismatic or outlandish, but that may be because so many of them huddle within the Wilson School confines, earning the club the nickname, "The Tool-shed."

Bicker at Tower isn't standard either. No negative comments can be made during the bid sessions.

With a high percentage of a cappella singers and Triangle Club members on its roster, Tower likely has the best cumulative pitch on the 'Street.' The club features good food, a nice — though small — tap room and a great porch behind the club.