On West State Street directly across the road from the edge of Purdue’s campus is Harry’s Chocolate Shop. Originally opened in 1919 as a soda fountain, Harry’s later converted into a bar in the 1920s making it the oldest bar at Purdue. Since then Harry’s has transformed into the number one Alumni bar for Boilermakers in West Lafayette. The inside of Harry’s is filled with all kinds of Purdue memorabilia, which gives the atmosphere a relaxing vintage vibe. If you are looking for food instead of a drink, then Harry’s is also a great choice. The menu has many options ranging from pizza to quesadillas to chicken wings. To beat the rush try to arrive early in the afternoon on weekdays and close to 5 p.m. on weekends, as the bar is normally very packed. If you plan on visiting West Lafayette, then be sure to make a stop at Harry’s Chocolate Shop while you’re in town.
Sight Information:
Address: 329 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47906
As I sit on the hard concrete block seat placed beside a stone table, I look across Purdue Memorial Mall while students pass by on their way to class. I tilt my head up to gaze at the beautiful orange leaves beginning to fall on the ground. This outdoor study spot placed between two buildings is often crowded by individuals when the weather is warm and space is available. It’s a wonderful location to observe Purdue’s lively campus and peacefully enjoy the atmosphere.
Down the street from the campus entrance of Purdue University is the Purdue Memorial Union. It was originally built in 1924 as a memorial to Purdue students who had previously fought in World War I. Today it is used as a common space for students and visitors. The building is full of restaurants, lounges, offices, a hotel, and even a bowling alley. The Purdue Memorial Union is a beautiful space for students to hang out, study, and enjoy a meal. Many alumni events and parties are also hosted at the Purdue Memorial Union in the array of ballrooms throughout the building. If you plan on visiting a great first stop on campus would be to the Purdue Welcome Center, which is located on the main floor of the Purdue Memorial Union. They can provide you will all sorts of information to enure you have a pleasant visit to Purdue University.
Purdue has quite a few bars near campus, each offering its own unique atmosphere and array of various drinks and food. Depending on what type of night you are looking to have, whether it be a laid back conversation with some friends while drinking a beer or a night full of dancing and rave music, Purdue has many places on campus that are able to provide you with whatever kind of night out you are looking for.
Harry’s: Harry’s Chocolate Shop has been around since 1919 when Harry J. Marack opened its doors to the public, thus making it the oldest bar at Purdue. Initially it was a soda fountain until Harry’s obtained a liquor license later in the 1920s. With so much history it’s no wonder Harry’s has established itself as a staple near Purdue’s campus. Alumni also tend to favor Harry’s as their hang out spot when they return to campus to catch up with friends. The atmosphere at Harry’s is very relaxed and not as chaotic as most people might imagine a college bar to be (until around 9 p.m. when the college students begin their late night festivities.) There are lots of tables to sit down at and enjoy a drink, burger, as well as engage in a great conversation with your friends.
The famous wall outside of Harry’s where many students, alumni, and visitors take photos in front of. #Harry’sChocolateShop #Purdue #Photogenicwall
Harry’s has an array of specialty drinks, as well as some delicious meals to choose from. One of the most popular drinks among students is the “Grasshopper.” This sweet cocktail has a mint flavor and is made with green creme de menthe that gives the drink its signature color. A “John Daly” is another highly requested mixed drink at Harry’s. It is a combination of iced tea, lemonade, and vodka.
The “grasshopper” is a popular cocktail ordered by many students. This delightful drink tastes like you’re drinking melted mint chip ice cream. What could be better than that?! #grasshopper #mintchip #icecreamcocktail #Harry’sChocolateShop
Ordering food at Harry’s is also a must. Their quesadillas, chicken wings, and burgers are sensational and loved around campus. The prices are also very reasonable, with the average meal price staying at about $7.50. When making a visit to Harry’s be sure to plan ahead and arrive before 8 p.m. or you might have trouble finding an open table.
Location: 329 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN
A glimpse at the vintage aesthetic inside Harry’s Chocolate Shop. The popular bar near Purdue’s campus has an old time look and feel, as well as many stylish signs. #Vintage #Harry’sChocolateShop #StylishAesthetic
Brothers: If you’re looking for a step up from Harry’s in terms of a more exuberant atmosphere, then Brothers is the best option. There are still plenty of tables to hang out with friends, but the addition of pop music and space to dance around, if you choose to do so, creates the typical college-esque bar experience. Brothers is known for its great deals throughout the week on both drinks and food. With $1 double wells on Mondays and 25 cent wings every Wednesday, it’s hard to resist making a weekly visit to Brothers. The deals are also great for students who are looking to have a night out but need to stick to a budget.
Location: 306 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN
Brothers bar provides a great atmosphere for students and visitors to enjoy a drink and a riveting conversation with peers. #BrothersBar #Purdue #placetobe
Don’t worry about missing the big game while enjoying a drink at Brothers. The bar is stocked with many TVs and lots of your favorite beer. #BrothersBar #BigGame #BeerFan
Where Else: Where else would you rather be on a night out at Purdue? The answer is in the question. Where Else! This bar has been near Purdue’s campus since 1997 and is one of the most energetic bars on campus. With a live DJ set most nights and a sizable dance floor, Where Else is the perfect place to bust a move while dancing the night away with your friends. Earlier in May it was announced that Chauncey Hill Mall will be going under some major reconstruction, but do not worry because Where Else plans to stay open and wait out the storm.
Looking for a place to enjoy a drink and get your groove on? How about Where Else! The dance floor and drink deals are waiting for you. #WhereElse #getyourgrooveon #drinkdeals
Where Else also offers 50 cent beers every Monday night, which is the cheapest drink offer on campus and very popular among students. Don’t skip out on deals like this and make a visit to Where Else next Monday night.
Students enjoying a night out at Where Else, while dancing with friends and relishing their drinks. #WhereElse #dancethenightaway #PurdueNightlife
Neon Cactus: Neon Cactus, called “the Cactus” for short, is the closest thing Purdue has to a club. With a ginormous lit up dance floor and constant upbeat rave music playing, it’s no surprise the Neon Cactus is perhaps the most popular bar on campus. Every Thursday the Cactus hosts “Thirsty Thursday,” which offers students the chance to get a 32oz mixed drink for $3.50. You can pick from many different options but the fan favorite is the “Long Island Iced Tea.” This deal is extremely popular and more often than not creates a line out the door, which can take hours to get inside. Make sure to show up no later than 10 p.m. on a Thursday night if you want to make it inside first.
The best place to party in West Lafayette is the Neon Cactus. With their amazing drink deals on “Thirsty Thursday” and fabulous dance music, it is hard to resist. #NeonCactus #ThirstyThursday #dancemusicThe Neon Cactus packed on a “Thirsty Thursday.” Everyone is having a great time dancing and savoring their $3.50 cocktails! #NeonCactus #cheapdrinks #bustamove
Neon Cactus is also known for the Piano Man, who performs classic hits on his piano in a separate room of the bar. Students sit down and sing along while they take a break from dancing around for hours. If you’re ever free on a Thursday night and in the area, then you definitely need to make a stop at the Neon Cactus.
Location: 360 Brown Street, Unit 15, West Lafayette, IN
All that dancing calls for a break and there is no better place to go than to the Piano Bar to hear the Piano Man play some classic tunes. #NeonCactus #PianoBar #singusasong
For more information to plan your perfect night out check out HomeofPurdue.com to find additional articles on these bars and other nightlife options.
Pappy’s Picture: Got Milk…SHAKE! Come visit us today @pappys in the Purdue Memorial Union for some delicious burgers, fries, and yes milkshakes. #pappys #PMU #Purdue #burgers #gotmilk #milkshake
John Purdue Statue: The Man. The Myth. The Legend. John Purdue. Without this man’s determination and generosity the campus of Purdue would cease to exist and for that we are eternally grateful. To learn more about John Purdue and Purdue University come take a campus tour or check out our website purdue.edu. #Purdue #JohnPurdue #GOAT #guidedtours
The Home of Purdue Blog has various different articles ranging from restaurants to outdoor sports to weekend festivals. The posts range in length depending on the topic but none of them are too wordy. Each post includes at least one photo if not more. In my opinion the writing style has an engaging opening line and then follows up with an encouraging phrase in order to engage with readers. The posts also include lots of descriptive language, especially in the dining category, to help readers create a mental image of what to expect.
Other websites such as Trip Advisor and Yelp also have descriptions and reviews on some of the various restaurants and activities to do in West Lafayette, so Home of Purdue is not the only site to write about these specific topics.
Some of the posts include history about the event but I didn’t notice that much detail about historical facts regarding West Lafayette. Most of the numbers included in the posts are for dates of upcoming events. I only noticed a few that were used for statistics.
I noticed many posts with testimonies in the Contest category but not many in other categories. The Contest interviews consisted of words from the winners and what they would be doing with the prize they won. Some of the restaurant posts included interviews from customers but there were not too many that I noticed.
Overall the blog seems like a useful tool for visitors or even residents of West Lafayette to use when looking for something to do. With the hundreds of posts on the Home of Purdue Blog, it seems impossible to run out of things to do in West Lafayette.
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