With a tight budget it is still easy to have a strong social life when you know the right deals. Depaul’s Lincoln Park neighborhood is full of margarita deals just waiting to be found.
With four classes, two jobs, and the looming idea that they are a few jobs in the market today, enjoying a drink from time to time is understandable. But what do you do when you live in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Chicago and your budget looks as bleak as the sky on a rainy day?
Drinking Specials are not a rarity, even in wealthy college neighborhoods like DePaul University, located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. With websites like DePaul Drinks or yelp, the internet has made is easier for the average drinking college student to find a deal on beers or liquor, but what about a margarita?
For some students, having the option to walk away from beers not only feels good, but is something necessary.
“I always try to find restaurants with good margarita deals because they taste delicious and are much classier and more efficient than going out and drinking beers at dive bars,” says Nina Falcone, current Journalism Senior of DePaul. Falcone says that she gets tired of DePaul bars like Kelly’s and McGees, and sometimes just wants a little taste of “vacation” during the week. But with a tight budget and margaritas pricing over $8, this proves to be quite the task.
DePaul University currently has the hefty tuition of $30,000 without room and board. The average college student makes about 14 thousand dollars a year, and apartments in the DePaul area range from $650 to $2,000 a month. But for many college students, drinking is not only something that is enjoyable, but essential to allot for in a budget.
“Drinking culture is a big part of college in the US, and it is kind of expected and normal to spend a lot of money at bars on the weekends, especially in the city. Drinking specials allow us to stay a part of the culture while still staying students,” said Jessica Simmons, current Sociology student at DePaul.
And not all college students want to drink irresponsibly. “I think going out and drinking allows you to let loose and forget about work, school, and any other responsibilities you have. It’s nice to just be able to let go of the stress and enjoy the people you’ve developed relationships with at college,” said Falcone. Rather than a noisy bar, a quaint restaurant could provide a legitimate alternative for a social gathering.
Multiple Mexican restaurants in the DePaul area offer margarita deals throughout the week, both on the rocks and frozen. So whether you want to sit down and enjoy some authentic Mexican with a lime salted margarita, or simply sit down with a few friends for a couple of hours to talk, here are a few places to consider:
- Zapatista Restaurant – Fullerton/Clark
- Fiesta Mexicana – Lincoln/Fullerton
- Mi Tierra – Belmont/Seminary
- The Twisted Lizard – Sheffield/Armitage
- Mayan Palace – Halstead/Diversey
With drinks in the $4-5 range on special nights it is now easy to go out with worrying about a dent on your wallet. And with a different restaurant for each night of the week, you can enjoy a tasty piece of Mexican culture any night you want before hitting the bars on the weekend.
So remember: drink safe, have fun, and enjoy not denting your wallet.
Check out the addresses of the places below:
Talk Avenue 