With the weather going through its yearly spell of bi-polar mania—deviously teasing glorious warmth and sunshine, only to be viciously assaulted by a blitzkrieg of frigidity—we must look forward to the impending bacchanal of summer. With its great weather, copious sunshine, gradual absence of clothes, and general lack of inhibition: summer is the premiere season for outdoor shenanigans! While summer brings with it the prospect of rooftop bars, outdoor happy hours, and beachside clubbing; there exists an alternative to the ravenous summer night scene—keeping the party local!
Unfettered from the tethering confines of boreal winter winds, all one needs to start their own fiesta is some quality booze, a rowdy crew, and a little imagination. Here are 5 alternatives to the summer club grind—guaranteed to inject some wildness into the home front.
5) Beer BBQ
While spring typically heralds the return of life and mild weather, it also marks the reemergence of the “universal totem of masculinity," aka, the barbeque. Utilizing man’s “true best friend," one can find an occasion to rage by simply exploiting the warmth and sunshine. Go procure some quality meats, wrangle up that keg of sexy brew, and invite the crew over for a diurnal bash of boozing and meat appreciation! What better way to seize the day than by slopping it up with your compadres?
4) Bonfire
For those in the market for a more intimate soiree a la firelight, grab some companions and wile the night away in a smoky haze and dance of flames! Whether you create a blazing beachside inferno, or tame the flame via a backyard fire pit—give in to those incendiary desires! There’s a unique place in the American psyche for the fireside gathering—friends huddled close, stories exchanged, the sweet haze of booze buoying camaraderie—that acts as a quaint alternative to the thundering tunes, sweaty bodies, and steady wallet rape you’ll experience at your token club.
3) Pool Party
A perfect compliment to the earlier mentioned Beer BBQ, the pool party is the quintessential party medium for the summer. For those fortunate enough to have a receptacle of aquatic revelry—or better yet, know someone who does—gather the riot poolside and let the madness begin. Scantily clad bodies gyrating madly both in and around water—what’s not to like?
2) Block Party
Perhaps it’s due to a stern, life-long inculcation of the American legal system, but there truly is something majestic about being legally-permitted to get publicly intoxicated. While block parties may carry with it associations of being “family-oriented affairs that promote a sense of neighborly community," let's deviate from the norm and accept it as an opportune vehicle for day-long ossification! While perhaps not as widely accessible within the confines of the city—why not take the opportunity to rough it up in the wilds of the suburbs and experience a classic slice of Americana?
For those select, opportunistic few that view the summer as season-long study in decadence: the options for rampant hedonism are truly limitless! One need only channel their inner frat/sorority impulses and commence the drinking games—outdoor style. Personal favorites include: Slip n’ Flip (a variation on flip cups that incorporates slip n’ slides to create a relay race of sorts); (Outdoor) Beer Pong (excluding the “wind factor," it’s a beautiful way to get your daily doses of vitamin D and intoxication); and last, but not least, The Boat Race (a team chugging relay race that mimics the real deal by having competing teams sit single file). Fresh off our yearly winter incarceration, the only remedy is to rage volatile in the fleeting majesty of the summer months!
Get the RSS Feed
