It was way too long ago when I first set foot on the ISU campus as a freshman. But from what I can remember, the first few weeks of school were a blur, and they have been every year since.

The entertainment scene is always rocking this time of year, mostly because there are so many new faces and everyone is busy meeting and checking out everyone else, while attending parties and/or going to the bars.

As the year drags on, this will change drastically and Ames will soon begin to resemble a town that is here just for getting an education, as opposed to being the party town that, say, Iowa City is known as.

With four years, six residences and 11 roommates under my belt as a fifth-year senior, I wanted to give out some ideas for entertainment in the coming months as the weeks get longer and longer and the weekends come and go faster and faster.

Don’t get me wrong. I do enjoy Ames and wouldn’t have chosen another school in this state if I had to choose again. But that’s because I’ve learned some key ways to keep myself sane, while at the same time experiencing things I won’t be able to do when it comes time to enter the “real world.”

A few years back, I complained that Ames’ music scene was struggling badly, from the smallest clubs all the way up to Hilton Coliseum.

This year, though, I’ve been impressed with the effort Hilton and others have made to bring in some music more conducive to this demographic.

Bands like Tool and Incubus and even ‘N Sync coming through town is a far cry from such acts as Tina Turner, Billy Joel and the umpteenth Kiss reunion tour that Ames has seen in the past.

Which brings me to my first suggestion; tap all of Ames’ entertainment resources before labeling it as “Lames.”

Hilton and Stephens Auditorium will occasionally bring in something worth checking out so keep an eye out. Also in the vicinity, Fisher Theater rarely fails to bring quality entertainment with its array of productions.

The Maintenance Shop, the only club that allows 18-year-olds and up, is always bringing in fine acts as well. Even if you’ve never heard of them, give it a try anyway. You have a better chance of walking away satisfied than not.

Another suggestion I have is leaving Ames for a night. This is a very underrated option, especially during the week. But I assure you, when it’s all said and done, this option is many times the favorite.

One key point you must apply to all of the following is that it’s OK if you only get four hours of sleep every now and then. Fun shouldn’t be reserved for just weekends.

If you’re 21, then hop on Highway 30 and don’t stop until you reach Meskwaki Casino – roughly an hour’s drive. Bring $20 or so, leave your ATM card at home and you’ll have a night of entertainment, stress relief and relaxation.

And if you’re really lucky, you might even make some money. Just don’t get addicted and bring home five grand one night, and negative eight grand the next – I’ve seen it happen.

Another option I’ve always favored is heading to a big city for a night. Minneapolis, Omaha and Kansas City all hover around a three-hour drive, which is no big deal after you’ve driven to Chicago and back in one night.

These cities tend to get a lot more of the concerts that you would like to see come to Ames or Des Moines but don’t. Take a road trip with some friends to see some good music or hit up some clubs, be back in time for class and you’ve got yourself another good time.

Maybe you’re not into driving that far and you’ve only got about $15 to spend. The perfect destination is straight down Highway 69 into Ankeny, where you will find the Lumber Yard – one of the finest gentlemen’s clubs in Iowa.

I won’t elaborate too much on this one, but you can get it in if you’re 18, you can bring your own beverages, they offer built-in mini refrigerators to keep things cold and there is a stage with a shower on it.

So I’ve heard.

There is even entertainment for the ladies on the occasional Sunday night as well. Don’t say I’m not looking out for you.

A final suggestion is more of a reminder to make sure you hit up Iowa City and Northern Iowa every now and then. Find a friend who lives there, and reserve a spot on the floor for a night.

You may not want to go to school there, but both may provide lots of fun on any given night so you might as well take advantage.

These are merely suggestions for you to base your own ideas off of when it comes to getting out of Ames for a while. You will appreciate this town much more if you’re able to keep things as fresh as possible.

These will come in especially handy if you’re here for five years or longer.

Kyle

Moss

is a senior in journalism

and mass communication from Urbandale.