Some seniors might vaguely recall being a newly braces-free freshman, walking past University Square and staring longingly at the 21+ crowd who packed Madhatters every Friday afternoon for their famed Friday After Class drink special.
Madhatter's FAC special made Fridays what Sundays are for devout Catholics: A sacred weekly ritual, including plenty of cheap booze, shots and drunken flirting. This old favorite was forced to close in spring of 2005 due to new construction plans for University Square.
The new Madhatters has returned to the campus scene with a new spot at 328 W. Gorham St., across the street from Quinton's Bar and Deli and right next to Silver Mine Subs.
Their sign is small and easy to miss, but if last weekend's crowd keeps coming back, the long line will lead you to this watering hole.
Now that Madhatters is back, there are some cool new additions. There are plans to install an ice bar on the lower level in the next few weeks. The bar's edge would have a slab of dry ice installed on its surface to keep everyone's drinks ice cold and keep drawing in patrons looking for some novelty for their night out.
But right now the standout feature of Madhatters is the upstairs level. This floor boasts a gigantic bar in the center of a large room lined with tons of tables and chairs. The room is big enough to comfortably house the herds of people that flood State Street on game day Saturdays for a night on the town.
The second floor is also a premier place to watch a game. With its generous seating, you might actually just land a table for you and your friends. Plus there is some eye candy - there are nine gorgeous flat screen TVs on the second floor, and four on the lower level.
The bar itself is a place where collegiate meets corporate. The clientele is a mixture of 21+ college kids and young professionals looking to let loose after a day of hard work.
Think of it like Wando's cleaner, sophisticated sister with a full-time job and a Blackberry, who just had the paneling in her basement removed and had a new sleek bar installed - sans fishbowls, bacon and other tacky delights.
Madhatters is still a college bar in the sense that it is welcoming, has a casual sports bar feeling and is decorated with everything from Miller Light mirrors to Jack Daniels posters and even has a moose head hung near the front entrance.
But the bar has a more refined side. Its exposed high ceilings, iron details and large windows give the bar a finished look. The fact that it's actually clean makes the bar stand out - at least for now.
While the new digs are certainly clean, they aren't quite ideal if you plan on hopping to old standby college bars like Wando's and State Street Brats.
It is conveniently located right next to Silver Mine Subs for your late night eating pleasure. If it's food you're looking for skip Madhatters, because they don't serve any.
But extremely hungry patrons, or those too drunk to walk, can ask bartenders for a Silver Mine menu and order food for delivery. While delivery might seem lazy, the weekend lines are long enough to make this sound like an excellent idea.
The long lines during the extended Thursday to Saturday weekend are the bar's biggest downside. And once inside, you might decide the line wasn't worth the wait, if you're looking for something special.
Still, Madhatters is a great new addition to the State Street area for people looking to change things up a bit, without having to make the trek to the Square. The atmosphere is relaxed, but not so much that frat boys would show up in sweat pants or pjs.
Plus , the bartenders are extremely friendly and recommended some new drinks, so patrons can try an alternative to their standard vodka cranberry. Try vanilla vodka with orange juice and cream for a dreamsicle delight.
The bottom line: Don't go to Madhatters on an empty stomach or if you expect the unique charm of capitol area pubs. But if you're tired of going to the same sports bars near campus weekend after weekend, Madhatters will be a cool alternative - once its ice bar is installed.
