The Grind was dead. At least according to Jonah Kipnis and countless other Clarkies disappointed with the state of what was once a favorite haunt under Higgins. 

The Grind has continuously been a vexing place for individuals such as myself. One would think that the way in which it was set up would make it a more frequent hangout spot for students. But seemingly, this idea has never come to fruition, with the Grind being reduced to merely “the place where freshman and club events occasionally happen.” So it was a surprise when I first learned that there would be an event at the Grind on a Friday night with alcohol served. And alcohol was much needed for me, given I had just gotten stuck in an elevator for half an hour. 

I arrived fashionably late to the event at 8:30 p.m. (the event itself was scheduled 8:00 p.m. – 11 p.m.) and was surprised to see that there was already a sizeable amount of people there, with the bar once known as the Freudian Sip fully operational. I was curious about the drink selection, so naturally I viewed what they had (which were not free – you had to pay in cash). They had your run-of-the-mill beverages: Mike’s hard lemonade, Heineken, and my personal favorite: mango White Claw. Interestingly, they also had wine available. I didn’t have it, but now I wish I had, just out of curiosity to see what kind it was. They also had an enjoyable cocktail, the “Cape Codder” which was a simple vodka and cranberry that came with a decorative Freud toothpick. Food was also served through Harvest Table. After I showed up, the amount of people in the Grind increased exponentially, the area around the pool tables were crowded and nearly every seat was taken. I actually saw the man himself, Jonah Kipnis, and thanked him for the phenomenal event, as admittedly I was a bit skeptical over whether the Grind could truly be revitalized. But clearly, the event was a resounding success.  

After the resounding success of the event, I talked to Kipnis about how the event went. He stated, “I’m just happy everyone got to make memories and have fun.” He further added that he was going to work with the senior committee to run the event again during senior week. “We exceeded the school’s expectations, and they told us they’d be happy to host another pub night.”