Best Thing to Do on Friday: Go out/party

The streets of Oakland are just as busy on Friday at midnight as they are at lunchtime. There are countless options for things to do late into the evening: go to a party, frequent a bar or even grab a $5 pizza from the restaurants still open early into the morning.

Editors’ Pick: Go to the bar

Best Bar: Hemingway’s Cafe

Located in the middle of campus on Forbes Avenue, Hemingway’s serves more than 22 types of draft beer and a variety of foods, which are served at half price from 11-11:45 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. Hem’s is the perfect place to meet up with friends.

Editors’ Pick: Hemingway’s Cafe 

Best Happy Hour: Mad Mex

This Mexican restaurant offers great deals on food and beverages during Happy Hora, which takes place weekdays 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and features half-priced drafts and regular wings. Students can receive half-priced food Monday through Thursday between 2 and 4 p.m. Every night from 9 p.m. to midnight, there are $7 margaritas and half-priced food after 11 p.m.

Best Happy Hour: Mad Mex

Best Drink Special: Hofbrauhaus

Located in the South Side, the Hofbrauhaus has college night every Thursday, during which students can purchase a liter of beer for only $6 from 9 to 11 p.m. While enjoying a liter of your choice from one of four house beers, you can sing, dance and enjoy music from the Haus Band Trio.

Editors’ Pick: Pizza Sola

Best Place for Birthdays: Peter’s Pub

Whether you are turning 21 or celebrating any other birthday, Peter’s Pub is the place to be. You can even receive your set of sought-after Viking horns when it’s your special day.

Editors’ Pick: Peter’s Pub

Best Place for Karaoke: Garage Door Saloon

If you are looking to go out and sing with friends, head to Garage Door. Tuesdays from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., G-Door has open mic night.

Editors’ Pick: Garage Door Saloon

Best LGBT-Friendly Bar: 5801 Video Lounge and Cafe

5801 Video Lounge and Cafe is a newly remodeled and friendly bar in Shadyside that welcomes everybody to come and watch TV shows and sporting events. This spacious, multi-room bar has a diverse clientele that caters both to people who want to come and relax and people who want to hit the dance floor.

Editors’ Pick: 5801

Best Bar Crawl: South Side

What other area is better to spend a nice night out on the bar scene? Less than two miles from Oakland, South Side is the home of more than 80 bars along the historic East Carson Street. Through the years, more and more students have used South Side as their go-to destination for nightlife entertainment.

Editors’ Pick: South Side 

Best Club: Diesel Lounge

Located on East Carson Street, Diesel Lounge is a multi-level live music venue. For the past six years, Diesel Lounge has become a prime destination for Pittsburgh nightlife, providing the best DJs, local events and national acts.

Editors’ Pick: Whim 

Best Beer Distributor: Mellinger’s

Mellinger’s, located in the heart of Central Oakland on Semple Street, is a fixture in the Pittsburgh beer industry. The distributor, which was one of Pittsburgh’s first distributors to carry imports and micros, will order anything and everything for its customers.

Editors’ Pick: Mellinger’s

Best Draft: Blue Moon

There’s nothing better than kicking back with a nice draft of Blue Moon. The Belgian-style white beer has more of a pronounced sweet orange flavor than other beers of its kind.

Editors’ Pick: Straub 

Best Bottle: Yuengling

It is best to sip some Yuengling from the bottle. Yuengling, which ranks among the world’s largest brewing companies, has a dark, heavy taste that can relieve the stress from a long day of studying.

Editors’ Pick: Yuengling

Best Keg: Natural Light

Need a lot of beer? Natty Light will be the cheapest deal to fill a keg. It is the perfect match for college students, as they can purchase a significant amount of alcohol for the cheapest price possible.

Editors’ Pick: Pabst Blue Ribbon

Best Adult Entertainment: Cheerleaders Gentlemen’s Club

Editors’ Pick: Blush

A previous version of this article stated that Blush was the reader’s choice for best gentlemen’s club. This was incorrect. Cheerleaders Gentlemen’s Club was the winner.