Turning 21 at Sligo's

Turning 21 is one of the greatest (and last) coming-of-age events in life -- no longer is your nightlife restricted to frat basements, no more "hoping" you'll get a bracelet or not get carded, and no more memorizing addresses and birthdays that are not your own. After this, there aren't many birthdays left to look forward to, but on the upside, you never have to give a second thought when a bouncer asks for your ID.

Although we had planned a joint-celebration with one of my friends for that weekend, the actual night of my 21st birthday was unplanned -- an impromptu decision to leave the house at midnight -- but that night lives on as one of my top five nights out at Tufts. So, let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we? Imagine yourself in a warm place, where homework is a distant memory, and luckily, work isn't until 11 a.m. the next day.

Imagine that it is summer -- June 11, 2003 to be exact, 12:15 a.m. After visiting friends (and getting silly) on College Ave., I wander into Davis Square with my two partners-in-crime. (From this night on, I can never walk into Davis Square without remembering -- and laughing at -- certain episodes of this evening.) Stumbling across the street, my cell phone vibrates. I jump. It's my dad.

"Mr. Muuuuunnoooooz!!!" my friend screams. "Can I talk to him? Your dad is funny!"

"Nooooo!" I retort. I may be silly, but I'm not stupid: Dad doesn't need to hear his little girl tanked. Dramatically, I hang up the phone over my head. We make it to Sligo's in one piece (barely), where I readily shove my ID into the bartender's face.

"It's my birfday!" I say with a huge grin.

It's the bartender's birthday too. He makes my friends and me free shots of Surfer on Acid (now my favorite), and we are handed pieces of cake. I am loving this place. And I still do.

People give Sligo's a bad rap. Sure, it's small and gets cramped, but hey, if you wanted more room you would've paid the $3 cover at the Burren only to wait in line a second time for the back room. Sligo's is a neighborhood, no-frills pub at its best -- and with the most reasonable prices to boot (or rather not to boot, as no one got sick.)

That night, I ordered two shots and two beers and was told, "That's $13." Thirteen dollars?!! I paid $13 for just two of the same shots at Joshua Tree 30 minutes before. (And, I know what you're thinking, no, these drinks weren't all for me.) Hands down, Sligo's offers the most affordable selection of beers, mixed drinks, and shots in Davis Square -- it is very college student friendly.

The crowd at Sligo's depends on the night and the season. During the summer, Sligo's is a mixture of Somerville locals and a few Tufts kids enjoying life at school without the actual school part. Sligo's is also authentic enough that you may meet an Irishman or two. During the year, expect to see more Jumbos, especially those who don't want to shell out a lot of cash or wait in line at the Burren. Contrasting with the youngins' and their sparkling new IDs are the old men. For some reason, Sligo's attracts them, and they, for some reason, think you like being hit on by people old enough to be your grandfather.

The atmosphere can be anywhere from chill -- just you and your friends drinking beers at the bar -- to raucous -- you, your friends, kids from your "Intro to Mass Media" class, the baseball team, and even that girl you haven't seen since freshman year crammed between the chairs and small tables that line its corridor.

All in all, Sligo's presented a wonderful outlet for my much-anticipated birthday, and in many ways, I think it is underrated. Sure, the floor there is probably as sticky as in 123, but it doesn't try to pretend it is anything but an Irish divebar that caters to college students. The night of my 21st birthday is a lot like Sligo's -- on the surface, possibly just another night out, but turns out to be a fun and memorable time. It probably isn't a story to tell the kids later (and I have spared you most of the details of debauchery), yet it certainly is one of those nights you look back on and laugh.