STAY CLASSY KIDS

Who ever said that college kids couldn’t keep things classy? Well quite honestly, I don’t think that’s ever been said; even still, I feel it’s a fairly accurate conviction. As a second semester senior, I’ve pulled and witnessed some terribly mindless stunts after bar close–like the time I walked almost 2 miles with only a handful of napkins as shoes in a full-blown, snow storm. Or the time my roommate scaled a brick wall up to our second-floor apartment balcony only to walk into the wrong unit (we actually live on the third floor). Put simply, in the past four years I can cite numerous times when I have given the Iowa City community good reason to question a college student’s sophistication. In a last stitch effort to mitigate this off-putting perception, I’m beginning to take steps in a more grown-up direction.

That said, my girlfriend and I decided to spend Saturday night eating and sipping wine at Atlas World Grill. We requested a seat downstairs owing mostly to plain curiosity; I was glad we did too. The environment downstairs was cozy and pleasantly old-fashioned. Brick-and-stone walls, subtle scented candles and a fashionable menu made for a very tasteful experience. After spending much of the night eating and “casually drinking” (a concept still “in diapers” for me), I was happy with the night’s selection.

Unfortunately, keeping things classy isn’t cheap. Just as it costs $8 for a full bag of wine at Liquor Downtown, you’ll pay between $7-10 for one glass at Atlas. Dinner portions are however large enough to feed a small town, and so splitting an entre is an excellent way to rationalize your new, mature ways. While not as expensive as wine, you still won’t find $2 pints at Atlas. On the other hand, you’ll be able to sit down and have a conversation without heavy techno blazing at a rate that the floor starts quaking. Also worth noting, Atlas is a lovely place to show that special someone how much you appreciate their company. Even if it means picking up a few extra shifts in the Burge cafeteria to make up for your lofty night of spending, Atlas is well worth the extra man hours. It’s a must see before leaving Iowa City as it serves excellent food & drink, but also makes the idea of becoming ‘an adult’ not so uninviting.