Out and About: The Blue Room

Welcome to Statesboro, Georgia, where the nights are just as lively as the sunny days that grace our charming little town.

Weather you go here or are visiting and are considering a night out, The Blue Room is the ultimate destination for a night out with friends as it is unlike other college bars and will show you what Statesboro nightlife is all about. 

Be prepared for the morning debrief and anticipate immaculate vibes with an ever-changing lineup of events, as every visit promises unforgettable memories and experiences that are monumental to your college experience.  

Like clockwork, as the school day comes to a close and the sun dips below the horizon, students from Georgia Southern University, just like you and me, gear up for an evening filled with promise and possibility.

 When you're gearing up for a night Out and About in the Boro, you'll often find yourself and crew in need of a ride.

Around 7-8pm, which is the normal going out time, cue the abundance of notifications flooding your GroupMe "Burke to Blue, Aspen to Blue, Del Sur to Blue, Gnats to Blue—can I get a ride for seven, preferably in a truck?" These messages, a staple of our local student-led group chats, signal the beginning of another adventure in the Boro.

The Blue Room, stands as a local hotspot and a cornerstone of our nightlife scene.

Situated across from Axis, Parkers, and adjacent to Row and our favorite little Stadium - Paulson. 

Here, you'll often find your friends or classmates working, because Blue is staffed by your student body. Upon entering, there is an instant sense of belonging as you're greeted by familiar faces, hellos, and the occasional hug from your favorite bouncers and bartenders.

The atmosphere

At The Blue Room the atmosphere is truly unparalleled. Depending on the night of the week or the event theme, the vibe can shift dramatically. Tuesday and Thursdays, in particular, after 10pm, have recently garnered a reputation as the new Fridays and Saturdays, especially since football season isn't in full swing right now. But truth be told, every night offers something unique and exciting, ensuring you'll never grow tired of your visits to The Blue Room. 

A local Hot take is that Blue Room is superior as underclassman have taken over Social and Fifth Quarter. 

Ladies and Gentlemen

The Blue Room is strictly 21 and up, with a cover charge at the door and will check your Eagle ID’s. Be sure you abide by their strict dress code or be asked to leave and change. This applies to the guys too. Remember your collard shirts, sports coats and no rips in your jeans. 

  We’re all college students, balling on a budget so before embarking on your night check out The Blue Room’s social media and look out for their post about what deals and performers they are running and having that night and or week.

So, let's talk about the incredible deals—because who doesn't love a good bargain? "Tourney Tuesdays" offer the chance bragging rights and to take home winnings from cornhole or pong victories. Some nights, if you arrive early or snag a spot in line before 9 pm, and you might just score free cover. And don't miss out on "Power Hour", this is when they have deals for an allotted hour or two of the night. Occasionally, to name a few they will run other deals such as BOGO High Noons, pitcher night, dollar wells, mojitos and house margs- wsl, the first 100 people in line; get free cover, during the holidays - bring can goods or an un-opened toy for ‘Toys4Tots’ you can get free cover.

A beloved favorite

Among many eagles and alumni, including myself, is their offer of Bottomless Mimosas and Keg Beer on game days. So, if you are not tailgating or at the game I hope to see you at Blue. Beyond the deals and behind the bar are the skilled bartenders who can craft all of your favorite drinks.

Offering a wide array of liquors, from bottom to top shelf, along with a diverse selection of seltzers, alcoholic beverages, wells and beers, there’s something for everyone. You can play it safe and order a vodka cran, Lemon Drop, peach nooner, Long drink or a Ultra. Although, if you are seeking something new, I have you covered. Try the iconic “GATA Bomb” or even the iconic “Julyan” named after a past employee. If you are feeling daring and bold, and like you do not want to make it to class tomorrow order a round of rumple, o&vegas-bombs with a side of a shot tower or two for you and your friends and embrace the thrill?

Perhaps, if alcohol isn't your thing, fear not; you do not need alcohol to enjoy a night at Blue as they do offer complimentary sodas, red bull and water all night long.

With Blue being such a dynamic and diverse space, always keep in mind safey, do not to get separated from your group. If you are in need of help, or find yourself introuble; locate a Bouncer. They can be pointed out by their uniform and are normally roam around or are located on either a lifeguard stand or by an exit door.

Did you come on an empty stomach? Did not get a chance to eat dinner?

Do not freight, remember, The Blue Room has a full- service kitchen. They serve many different options. A good go to, you can get a bacon-ranch quesadilla, wings, or a good ole basket of chicken tenders and fries with house made ranch.

Ever wondered where the performers and bands get ready or how to access the stage?

Look no further than The Green Room, tucked behind the inside stage and kitchen—a sanctuary for artists to relax before showtime, ensuring every performance is truly unforgettable. 

Blue is categorized into three sections: Inside, Outside, and Dance Floor.

If you want to be more precise, there’s Inside upstairs, Inside main bar, the Bathroom, Dance Floor, and Outside, as students commonly describe it, each boasting it’s own environment.  

When you first walk inside, you get your band and you can grab a drink or food. It might be crowded so you might wander around and take a “walk around”. The term a “walk around”  is where you take a full lap of the entire place to scope out who you know, where you want to hang and where you want to steer clear of.

Inside, you can stand in a circle with friends and chat, you could sit at the upstairs bar at the booths or at the bar stools that are all around. If you are not sitting, you will find yourself and friends either gathering talking to one another or talking to the one person they said they wouldn’t talk to if they saw out. 

If you are elite, and know the right people you can find yourself in VIP. In VIP you can have a birds eye view of the main bar and dance floor. You can find the workers, their significant others, plus one’s, friends and the ones that go to Blue so often they should have a season pass sharing good times and a shot tower there. 

Inside

The energy is electric, there is normally either a band preforming or a DJ on the stage. Either way the music is pretty loud inside, so when you are going through those double doors to the outside it feels like you are being brought into a whole new environment. The vibe is completely the polar opposite than inside. There are palm trees, turf, strung lights and more. You can likely find more softer, country music being played outside over the speakers. You can hear more people talking than music on a busy night. 

The “outside”

Is a place to essentially cool off and wind-down from all the commotion inside. Outside is the place you can chill and chat with your friends and tune into the games on the screens. You can grab a drink from the outside bar and grab a seat at one of the many picnic benches, or sit in one of the fun chairs. It is totally fine if you choose to stay standing up too! This is the place for mingling, conversing and making new friends.

On a cold chilly night in the boro, you might of left your jacket because you didn't want to carry it around all night but do not worry there are heaters that you can stand by to warm up. On a nice clear sky night,  you can always resort to playing ring toss, or corn hole with your friends. Heck! You can even ride the bull, beer ball, throw axes, hit the punching bag, even play basketball sometimes. 

On occasion, they have live music outside on the stage preformed by a up and coming country music artist. If there is a concert, like Hardy, Dylan Marlowe, Bryce Leatherwood, Cole Goodwin, The Stews, they will set up a huge stage in the parking lot - block party style, or host inside concerts.

I assure you the night isn’t over, when you hear Semisonic's classic hit "Closing Time" and the lights flicker on, know that the night is far from over. You can bet your phone will light up with notifications like, "Blue to Burke, Blue to Aspen, Blue to Row, Blue to Langley, Blue to Talons, Can I get a ride from Blue to Burke for seven - preferably a truck." If your phone still has some juice left by the end of the night, that is.

As the night winds down, you can go home or go with the flow, but there is always another adventure or memory to be made into the early hours of the next day. 

Eagles have fun and stay safe eagles.

Remember to drink responsibly, respect others' boundaries, arrange a safe ride home  and know all actions have respected corresponding consequences, so arrange a safe ride home and always remember, to call your friends when you get where you are going.

Every night - See ya at Blue! 

XOXO Keenen Clark

P.S. - You can never go to Blue to many times. But they are closed on Wednesdays. Party Hard but Study Harder and you'll be fine.