Cute, clean, and welcoming spot…read more We try to support local so we frequent Red Cedar every couple of months or so. The live music is nice as are the crowds the free entertainment brings. However, it seems the drinks have gotten a bit more expensive and for seemingly less quantity. The lite food options pair well with the cocktail menu, they are perfect for a happy hour situation or a galavanting night or out!

Local craft distillery that creates a unique blend of vodkas, bitters, etc. Literally everything at…read morethe bar is home made. We visited late and really just stopped in to get a drink but the owner was there and gave us a quick tour. We explored the machines, barrels and containers used to make all spirits and learned about the process of creating their unique blend of spirits. The history of this place is very compelling and our drinks (flamingo) were crafted with perfection. We left with their Apple vodka and that bottle didn't make it through the weekend. The night we visited, no events occurred but the owner did mention they have live music and other events regularly. An overall cute spot I'd return to.

The Riv was always one of the most popular bars in East Lansing when I was in college. They're…read moreknown for Burgerama on Thursdays, with cheap burgers and pitchers of beer. Lines would wrap all the way around the block at times on Thursdays. Nate and I were in town recently and decided to stop in and catch part of the Lions game. I laughed out loud when they asked for our IDs to enter - but glad to see they're enforcing this for all patrons. They have Truly on tap, which I don't see very often. With the help of the bartender we ordered a pitcher of Truly to share - their pitchers are small, and this one was full of ice. I think they're about 30 ounces or so. There are a lot of TVs and fun neon signs for all your Instagram needs. There are two areas of the bar - a main seating area with the stage and pool tables (which were converted to water pong tables) and the side room with the bar. It was pretty early on a Sunday afternoon, so it was quiet with only a handful of other people at the bar, which was nice. I'm sure The Riv is still a busy place on evenings and weekends.

Good service great vibe!! Good amount of girls to guys if that's wat ur keepin an eye out for…read more Can't refill our water. Not cool. Cool ducks madi loved the ducks she wanted 2 tho wudve made it a 10/10 2 ducks not drinks I didn't even say drink I shud delete that but I'm not gonna. Perky period purrrr Riv Rizz gods in here. Purr Riv Thank you for everything period

Views, comfort, service and atmosphere is top notch! Just a great spot to hang out, relax and…read moreunwind. Great views of East Lansing and enjoying views of the trees and MSU across the street. The drinks were great and the people were amazing. We ordered the French onion dip, the meats and cheeses along with the pretzel bites with beer cheese. They were all very good. Nice little menu of tasty bites. The vibe and energy here is really relaxing and comfortable.

Friendly service and with some scenic views of East Lansing and MSU campus. The food was delightful…read more- my wife and I enjoyed some light afternoon snacks. However, the drink prices are nothing short of obscene. I recommend checking out the views and finding somewhere more affordable to dine and imbibe.

Being new to the area, I wanted (and still want) to like the exchange, queer spaces are so…read moreimportant for the community. They describe themself as gay/queer bar in their own description, however, I (a man) was kissing another man and was told by the bouncer (who was wearing a pride bracelet) that we had to stop because it was making people uncomfortable. With the dance bar vibes and being a 'gay bar', it's wildly confusing that someone in leadership must be homophobic and could direct the bouncer to tell two gay men to stop kissing. For what it's worth, I've enjoyed the drinks that I've had here. But the bar clearly doesn't know what it wants to be...and based upon my experience, it certainly isn't a safe space for the queer community.

Challenge accepted!…read more You want me to try all the different Martini's---sure why not? Great for the Lusho's at heart. Was in town for work and decided to go here with some co-workers since it wasn't too far from the office and because it was Tini Tuesdays--$5 martinis--yes please--hooray for discounted drinks! Ok----so the sketchy meter was kinda high---considering it's next to a strip club---but meh---such is life. Didn't have any of the food, none of it looked that interesting---regular bar stuff. I wouldn't go here for food or ambiance...but discounted drinks...I'll take that!

The following is a text from my best friend and former roommate, Shoe. We've known each other since…read morewe were six, so she's allowed to hit me with my most embarrassing moments of all time without needing forgiveness. Shoe: "I saw a TikTok yesterday where someone talked about getting so drunk that they peed in their closet at 3 AM, and it reminded me of that time you got drunk, woke up in the middle of the night, and relieved yourself on that pile of clothes on your floor at Stormy Garcia (the name we gave our apartment based on its previous occupant). Oh, good times. Anywho, happy holidays!" Oddly, this story has been coming up a lot lately. Before you hear it from someone else, I'd like to go on record. This is my 8 Mile B. Rabbit vs. Papa Doc final rap battle story. The prelude is a little foggy, as this happened nearly twenty years ago and there was alcohol involved. I came home trashed from whatever Wicker Park hipster dive bar I chose to be over-served at that particular night and immediately passed out in my twin bed. I remember having a very vivid dream about needing to pee, but being far too tired to walk the five steps across the narrow hallway to the bathroom right outside my room. I had the brilliant idea to just go on the floor, squatting off the side of my bed. This is genius. I should do this more often. Great idea. I'll just give it a quick Swiffer in the morning. Everyone's gonna be doing this. Zzzzz. When I woke up, I was dry, fully clothed, but something was suspiciously off. I never have dreams that are as clear as that. It's normally an H.R. Pufnstuf bowling-alley strike-screen jumble--. I had, in fact, gone off the side of my bed but into a laundry basket full of my clothes. Not just any clothes. Clothes that had been recently laundered, folded, and had just been minding their own business, waiting to be put away. I remembered this godawful moment for the next nineteen years with a shiver of mild embarrassment. One day, absolutely out of the blue, I reconnect with an old friend. The kind with benefits, backdoor privileges, and a copy of my apartment key at the time. He recounts the exact same story with vivid details, not because I had shared this with him previously, but because he was a primary source. He was in the bed with me, trying (feebly) to dissuade me, and then forced to watch while this all transpired. How the hell did I block that part out? "But I know something about you. You went to Cranbrook. That's a private school." I still don't know what this information was meant to accomplish. As if private education was going to un-do the laundry basket. The Avenue in downtown Lansing reminds me of this moment and of being twenty-three years old again. It's messy, it's weird, it's a bit skanky, it's mixing every spirit behind the bar with reckless abandon, and it couldn't possibly be more fun. I've only been there twice, but it always seems to be "Ratchet Night," which I respect deeply. There was an amateur drag show the last time I was there, so I found myself hobnobbing with the who's-who of the Lansing-area LGBTQIA+ scene. This included a girl in a gimp mask and a bartender dressed as a literal clown. Face paint. Lavender pigtails. A polka-dotted hat with a pom-pom on top. Whatever. It doesn't really matter, because this clown made me one of the best drinks I've had in a very long time. It was a pistachio espresso martini, and it was a work of art. Real pistachios. Whipped cream. It took at least five minutes to assemble. I wanted to order ten more, but on a busy Saturday night, I could not bring myself to be that person with a high-maintenance drink order. After I mixed many exotic drinks together, I took to the dance floor and absolutely destroyed it to I'm Lookin' for the Hoes by Sexyy Red, followed by that seminal work on big jugs, Tia Tamera by Doja Cat. The rest is kind of a blur, but I do remember getting a shoutout from the emcee before I left. They said, "Judith hit so sticky." I said, "Thank you very much." Bent the whole world over and said, "Spank you very much." Nah, I'm just playin'. I went home and got sick in a sink that night. At least I didn't ruin a hamper, though.

Tasty food with a variety of heat on the noodles or rice dishes depending on a person's tolerance…read morefor spicy. The bartender was working double duty waiting tables though kept up with our needs at the table. Prices are on par with other places that are bar meets food options. Be aware music can be on the loud side however for a place with a great variety of pinball machines, pool tables, and a few other game machine this is a given. This is a bar with food not a traditional sit down so it aligns. Fun time as a fan of pinball and ramen.

Walked in at 9:10 hoping to get drinks and some food, and the bartender yells "welcome to the B&I…read morehahaha" I asked if they were still serving food. She replies with a loud laugh and yells no. Won't be returning anytime soon.

The ultimate dive bar. Great burgers…read moreTons of beer neon and beer signs. Beautiful bartender! Unpretentious, come as you are and leave better than you came. (Don't t piss outside)

Met some friends at Esquire Bar last night and had the best time. It was our first time in a gay…read morebar, and the people were so friendly. The exterior doesn't look like much, but the interior was inviting, the ambience was great, and the decorations were fantastic! Great place to gather, and it definitely has a "Cheers" feel to it.

Great place for a crazy night, especially during the weekends, the crowd is always very fun and…read morelively. One of my all time favorite spots

Decent place for drinks on the river. Very knowledgeable bartender. Nice wine list. Only downside…read moreis the lights were too bright which gave it a cafeteria/last call vibe.

I have been to anti-social twice, neither time was the bar open…read more The first time the door was wide open so we walked in, looking for a stiff drink at noon on a Sunday, as is protocol. It appeared as if the untended restaurant wished we serve ourselves, and so we did. Best price I've ever (not) paid for brunch. Seriously, brilliant.