Sidelines Sports Bar

Many of the other reviews for Sidelines are right. Sidelines is the closest you can get to a sports bar/night club in Arcata. They have a great electronic jukebox, but the downside is that its $1 per song. Certain nights, especially Thursdays, they have DJs playing Top 40's and popular bumpin' tunes. Lots of people dance and get down.

I enjoy going to Sidelines during the daytime or early evening because my friends and I are pretty much guaranteed a table to sit at, and the happy hour prices are great. I believe their happy hour is from 3-6 on the weekdays. However, Thursday night is their pint night. It's a super popular night, especially when Humboldt State is in session, so come before 10pm to get in for free and a stool to sit at. Otherwise, it's $2 for a cover charge after 10pm. $1 for cheap beer like PBR, Budweiser and the like. It's $2 a pint for the good stuff. It's a deal you can't beat if you can stand the sweaty crowds, loud people, and the cover charge.

All in all, I enjoy going in the early evening when I can get a $5 pitcher of PBR to share with friends, and when the crowds are very minimal. The bartenders are pretty cool, and even kinder when they recognize you. However, it reminds me a little too much of the bars down south- bright neon lights, TVs surrounding the seating area showing sports games, and loud (sometimes terrible) DJ-ed music.

I worked here as a bar tender in 1981-82 and also the Alibi.  Our rugby team also had many a party here too.  Nobody was violent as described in earlier posts. We sang along with the jukebox, ate pickled eggs from the bar, and drank way too much beer as was expected from college men from Humboldt State. Plenty of wholesome fun.

When I go I go on Thursday Pint Night. $2 for Micro brews, $1 for Domestic. It was great until they started charging $2 at the door on Thursdays as well as every other day,

The places gets super packed and the doorman is a douche. The bartenders are cool though. The selection of beers are great and the are even cheaper than the breweries themselves on Thurs.

Don's Pizza & Donuts is 24 hrs and super close which is a plus as well.

Prepare for panhandlers and weed dealers bugging you whe  you go outside for a smoke.

Beware of sluts/skanks because remember this is Humboldt Co.

Mix Drinks are expensive ($7-$14) so avoid. This is the college people's bar so be prepared for immaturity and drama surrounding you.

For the more refined individual, go to Mad River or Redwood Curtain Breweries.