While The University of Memphis is teeming with activities to keep incoming freshmen busy during the luminous hours of day, the area surrounding campus is a hotbed of entertainment for under aged students partial to evening endeavors.
In fact, all one needs in order to enjoy a night out around campus are a couple of bucks, two feet and the temperament of an insomniac.
"There's plenty to do around the campus area," said John Waldon, a U of M graduate. "A car is optional."
Four wheels certainly aren't necessary in order to enjoy the friendly atmosphere and inexpensive food of R.P. Tracks.
"R.P. Tracks is one of the better places to go (around campus)," said Heather Wallace, a U of M student. "The food is good and the people that work there are cool."
R.P. Tracks, which is located at 3547 Walker Ave. and open until 3 a.m. 7 days a week, has been a prominent college hangout since 1987.
"I'd say that about 35 to 40 percent of our customers are students," said Mike Oliva, a bartender at Tracks for over 10 years.
The reasons for R.P. Tracks' youthful clientele are numerous.
"We've got two pool tables, the second best jukebox in town (voted on by the Memphis Flyer), good vegetarian food and an interesting mix of customers," Oliva said.
Some of the popular items on Tracks' extensive and low-priced menu include the portabella mushroom sandwich, the R.P. Burger, 17 types of quesadillas, and then there are the nachos.
"We have black bean nachos and BBQ tofu nachos," Oliva said. "The toppings are piled on like 8 feet tall."
If pool is your bag, nothing more than a few friends and some loose change are needed in order to shoot a few games of stick at the Highland Cue.
Located at 525 Highland, the Highland Cue boasts 11 pool tables and stays open until 3 a.m. all week.
"The Highland Cue was, and still is, the place for college kids to shoot pool," said Waldon.
Voted the third best place to play pool in the city by the Memphis Flyer, the Highland Cue is a cornerstone of the campus area.
"On any given night, you'll find a crowd at (the Highland Cue)," said Waldon.
This "crowd" consists of a fair share of college students.
"About 50 percent of our customers are students," said Leah Seuerstacke, an employee at the Highland Cue.
And why do so many students frequent the Cue every night?
"Well, to shoot pool," Seuerstacke said. "And the location, of course."
If skin decoration and body piercing seem fascinating, then Trilogy is certainly worth visiting.
Located at 530 Highland, Trilogy offers tattoos and piercings to anyone over 18 years of age.
"My boyfriend had a tattoo done there," said Shannon Gates, a recent U of M graduate, "The artists were very nice and did a fantastic job."
Trilogy, which welcomed the award from the Memphis Flyer for 2nd best tattoo parlor in Memphis, has become surprisingly popular among U of M students.
"Somewhere between 70 and 80 percent of our customers are college kids," said Erica Stone, the store manager at Trilogy.
Although men and women both frequent Trilogy, the two seem to have different ideas as to where on their bodies to have their ink and piercings done.
"Men are getting the arm band (tattoos) and eyebrow piercings while women are getting tattoos done on their lower back and nostril piercings," Stone said, "and tongue piercings are popular for both."
Business hours at Trilogy are noon to midnight Monday through Thursday, noon to 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday.
Also near the campus are Garibaldi's Pizza, Newby's, CK's, and The Rally Point.
"There's an infinite number of things to do in this area," Waldon said.
