Last Tuesday night (Sept. 25) I saw a confusing and astonishing sight and soon after I was shown the door.

At just after 11 p.m., Mad Hatter’s Tea had a crowd – a big one at that, perhaps even a record crowd.

The actual bar itself was lined with patrons. In some spots the line was two or three patrons deep.

My friends and I were a bit perplexed, but nonetheless we made our way toward the bar in search of refreshments. The Blue Moon drafts sounded mighty tempting.

At the same time, the background music sounded quite peculiar. It wasn’t classic rock or some new-age jam band. It was much more “urban” and it wasn’t really background music either. It was in the foreground, set at a level high enough to impede any meaningful conversation.

I turned around in an attempt to better understand my atmosphere. Had my friends and I mistakenly wondered into Stu’s?

The familiar faces of the bartenders told me I was in the right place, but where had all the women dressed in constrictive clothing come from?

As I began to survey the male crowd, I noticed several tell-tale signs of greek inhabitancy. The backward visors and frosted tips told me I was in the midst of some sort of greek invasion.

While I began to wonder why they had descended on the sleepy bar, I thought my friends and I might still be able to secure some pints and return to our respective booths.

Apparently I was wrong. We had waited more than five minutes and had yet to be served a drink. This was very uncharacteristic of the establishment, but then so was the crowd.

As we waited, a fraternity member approached. He had words to share with us above the bump of the music.

“I don’t want to be a Dick, but we would appreciate it if you guys would leave,” he said.

I wasn’t sure what kicking us out had to do with Richard Nixon, but from the greek’s eyes, which were bulging from his skull, I could tell it was probably time to exit.

I also noted that he said “we” would appreciate it if you guys would leave. The use of the plural form seemed to indicate that he had been nominated spokesperson for the group. Perhaps a mini-chapter meeting was held after my friends and I entered the bar.

The spokesperson explained to us that his frat had paid extra to rent out the bar for the evening. No mention of this was made as my friends and I entered the bar.

I figured the greek either wasn’t telling the truth or didn’t embarrass very easily.

How else could he admit to paying extra to rent out a bar that is consistently empty?

Without being served, my friends and I left in search of a kinder establishment.

However, the whole incident made me question the certainty of my favorite watering holes.

Should I anticipate such strange crowds?

Usually when you go to a bar you know what to expect.

When I go to Stix for an afternoon burger and beer, should I be on the lookout for an invasion of local church groups?

If I visit the Uptowner, should I bring a silver necklace, Nike visor and a strong sense of entitlement to fit in if the greeks march there as well?

Maybe one Tuesday night my friends and I should rent out disco Stu’s. I’d ask the establishment to turn the lights up and the music down and we might even have conversation with our pints.

n Pat Guinane is a senior journalism major and a guest columnist for The Daily Eastern News. His e-mail address is