Exploring the local nightlife scene is a great way to enjoy your travel nursing assignment.
After the physical and mental exhaustion of grueling week in the hospital, a night on the town is an appealing thought for a travel nurse. But as a new resident to the area, how do you go about finding the best restaurants, trendiest bars or most popular entertainment venues when you have only just recently mastered public transportation and household errands? Travel nurses are faced with stressful situations on the job everyday, finding a place to socialize and meet new people should not be one of them. Here are some tips and links to help you navigate your new city’s nightlife:
Listen to the radio
Regardless of music taste, stations are likely to promote establishments that play the same genres of music and appeal to similar listeners.
Tip: When seeking a neighborhood hang-out, keep in mind that radio-advertised events may be popular to tourists or one-time listeners; for a true representation of an unfamiliar nightspot, try going on a weeknight.
Talk to coworkers
Leaving home for a travel nursing assignment is an adventurous decision, so don’t hesitate to be equally as daring when inquiring about the weekend plans, favorite restaurants, or nearby hotspots of other nurses on your shift.
Tip: Be sure to select someone whose opinion you value: either as a friend or an experienced bar hopper.
Take a walk
Explore your neighborhood in the daylight when you can best navigate and when bustling nighttime businesses may be able to answer questions about their busiest times, clientele, and surrounding neighborhood.
Tip: Ask the bartender where he or she likes to spend free time when not working.
Read the newspaper
For those travel RNs who are not attracted to the bar scene, or are simply looking for alternative entertainment, one-time events are often advertised in local publications. Readers can gain information about activities such as street festivals, poetry readings, sample sales, cooking classes, and live performances.
Tip: Most publications will advertise weekend events in their Thursday or Friday editions.
Be touristy
While sightseeing is more of a day activity, utilizing the resources that are available to tourists is a great way to find evening attractions. Hotel concierges, city centers, and chambers of commerce strive to promote the attractive aspects of their cities and thrive in helping people utilize their time in a new place.
Tip: In case of bad weather or busy schedules, visit your city’s chamber of commerce online or http://www.concierge.com for similar information.
Search the internet
The internet can be your best resource if you specific with your search and take writers’ target audiences and biases into account before accepting their opinions.
Tip: Here are some informative sites to make your search easier:
Esquire’s “Best Bars in America; the Complete List”
http://www.esquire.com/bestbars/complete-list/
DailyCandy- restaurant openings, sample sales, & events
http://www.DailyCandy.com
Live Music, Concerts, and Festivals
http://www.going.com
OpenTable’s “2009 Annual Winners – Best American Cuisine” & “The Nightlife; Clubs, Lounges, and Late-Night Dining”
http://www.opentable.com
The Night Life Scene
http://www.nightclubs.com
Yelp- reviews of top shopping, nightlife, and entertainment
http://www.yelp.com
