Lets face it. If you are under 21 your nightly social activities are limited. Bars and clubs? basically all nightlife seems out of the question. Not to fear, we youngster have parties, 24-hour diners, movies, places that welcome loitering and South Street.

Being 20 years old I'm at a very difficult point in my life. I'm too old for skating parties and Chucky Cheese (but I will go if I get an invitation -- they have good pizza) and I?m too young for clubs and bars. I yearn for the day I turn 21, so I can go on a bar and club hopping spree. I can picture it now, just flipping out my ID to announce to the world I'VE MADE IT!! I'M 21 YEARS OLD?!!

In the meanwhile I sit up every Friday night racking my brain to figure out what to do. Currently I have it down to a science; I've developed a checklist with the most desirable evening activities to the least desirable (rather default activity).

First option: who's having a party?? On most college campus's you will find a party somewhere, in a frat house, student activities center or someone's apartment. Sometimes when we are desperate we drive around until we see a crowd of people carrying cups (we all know the contents) and follow them. We usually end up at some strange party with people we don't know and don't know us. The art of party crashing; the key to fitting in is to find ONE person you know, once you say "what's up?" to them then the evening is gold. Otherwise, we try to fit in and hope we don't get kicked out.

Second option: did someone say McDonalds?? When a party is out of the question, our thoughts turn to our stomachs. Since most of us have about two buttons, 8 dollars and a ball of lint in our pockets, we look for the cheapest place to find repast. There are many cheap 24-hour places in Philly that allow us to sit and talk even if we finished eating 2 hours ago (just keep asking for more water). IHOP on Walnut Street is our personal favorite. Who can resists a stack of pancakes, bacon and eggs two thirty in the morning?

Third option: hello and welcome to movie phone! Even though we only go to movie theatres with a student discount, which is becoming hard to do, we usually have a good time. The movies are relativity cheap (with the discount) and if you don't buy anything from the concession stands. Instead of paying $12 for popcorn and soda we save our money and go to a 24-hour diner to waste more time.

Last option: where do all the hippies meet south street, south street. If you find my crew and I strolling up and down South Street, apparently we ran out of ideas and money. South Street is a cheap thrill which usually keeps us occupied until we laugh at the last girl in the cowboy hat or the brotha with gold teeth trying to pick one of us up. The good thing about South Street is it is always packed with other bored under 21 year olds who are looking for a good time, just like you. South Street also has many coffee shops where you can sit, sip on a cup of mocha late and debate the meaning of life with friends. The cafés usually stay open until 1am and don't care if you sit there for hours, as long as you don't get out of control and at least ONE person out your group orders something.

PLACES TO VISIT

24 Hour Dining

Lil Pete's 17th and Walnut
South Street Diner - 140 South St
Broad Street Diner - 1135 S Broad St (bad food and service -- but at least its open!)

Chill Spots (loitering IS ALLOWED)

Xandos (they have great Smores)

• 215 Lombard St
• 1128 Walnut St
• 325 Chestnut St
• 3601 Walnut St Starbucks
• 1528 Walnut St
• 347 South St
• 1201 Market St
• 8515 Germantown Ave
  
  Movie theaters with student discount
• AMC, Orleans 8
• Cinemagic 3 At Penn - Between 39th And 40th Street On Walnut
• General Cinema - Franklin Mills Mall
  
  Under 21 Clubs
  
  
• New Alternatives -- off of Broad and Girard
• Many clubs have college night or ALL AGE parties, be on the look out
  
  Concerts or Sporting Events (you can always go to them) Roller Skating - with a large group of friends it could be fun
  Blockbuster Night
  South Street
  Penn's Landing
  This article appeared on philly2nite.com