Whether you are a first year or otherwise, navigating nights out in Montreal can prove to be quite tricky and an honest testament to one’s patience. Home to infamous locations such as Tokyo, Suwu, and Cafe Campus, Saint Laurent tends to be an obvious choice for many McGillians on any given night of the week. While this bustling street’s close proximity to campus seems to fuel a constant flow of students, becoming a Saint Laurent pro takes time and practice. Apart from the obvious must-brings: ID (definitely), money (probaby), friends (hopefully), The McGill Tribune has also compiled a list of the essentials that will make any night out on Saint Laurent a success.
A good pair of shoes
Going out at night sometimes inclines students to get out of their school clothes and put on something they deem more appropriate for dancing. Think twice before grabbing those chunky platforms and go instead for a reliable pair of shoes. The floors of Saint Laurent bars, clubs, and restaurants are flooded with substances ranging from garbage to spilled drinks. Not to mention the fact that no venue seems to actually have enough room for its supposed capacity, so consider stepped toes a rite of passage. Advice: Opt for a darker pair of closed toe shoes that are already slightly beaten up. Your feet and bank account will thank you.
Hand sanitizer
See the above description of club floors. There are about five million billion trillion bacteria in the world and this city at night is no exception.
A toonie for 2Chow
2Chow noodles have sustained students on St.–Laurent since the dawn of time—or, for however long it has been a clubbing hot-spot. There’s nothing more distressing than having a nagging feeling of hunger magnify immediately upon exiting a club. Suddenly, the overpriced and undercooked pizza joints seem like a delectable four-course meal. However, there’s absolutely no need to break the bank to satisfy hunger cravings. Head on over to the multiple 2Chow stands nestled along the street and get your dose of a delicious and debatably nutritious snack.
GPS tracker on your phone
A downside to a night out in a bustling student town is the unavoidable likelihood that at some point a phone will be misplaced or taken. To avoid having to whine to parents or make the unappealing trek to Best Buy to purchase another costly device, use your phone’s GPS tracker. iPhone and Android users have the luxury of being able to rely on a built-in GPS, namely Find iPhone and Find My Device, respectively. Other phone users might find it useful to download an external GPS tracker so that in the unfortunate case where a phone does goes missing, you can locate it within a matter of a few clicks.
Your dignity
Last but certainly not least, this final essential for a night out is applicable to both first years discovering their limits and fourth years attempting to retread familiar mistakes. In an age where social media is as accessible and widespread as it is, one would imagine that people would be more conscious of their actions. However, everyone has made mistakes, and a big part of being at university is learning to confront those mistakes head on, hopefully with an eventual laugh. I recommend following the 75-15-10 method: Keep it 75 per cent classy, 15 per cent sassy, and 10 per cent trashy.
