The typical Wake Forest freshman is doomed to spend the entire first year without a car. This leaves them stuck on campus and unable to experience the wonderful world that exists outside of the bubble. Don’t worry freshmen; we have all been there. Your first experience off campus will probably be a trip planned by your wonderful RA to one of the many restaurants in Winston-Salem. You will all pile into the few cars that lucky freshmen on your hall have managed to bring. At this point, you learn who will become your friends. You must make friends with someone who has a car. With your new friend, you can begin to experience Winston-Salem and the exciting entertainment options it offers. Unfortunately, if you are that freshmen with a car you will become everyone’s best friend. The friendships may not be completely genuine at first, but hey, your car will always be filled with gas and you will be one of the most popular people on your hall.

One of the first trips you and your friends should plan as a result of your newly acquired mode of transportation is ZIGGY’s. By the time you are a senior you will have visited this place more times than you can remember, especially since by that time you will be a very legal 21. Ziggy’s is a concert venue unlike any other. This is the kind of hole in the wall place that artists come to begin a career. Sometimes, Ziggy’s gets lucky and books a group shortly before they become stars and patrons enjoy amazing concerts. Sometimes, the groups will never get any further than Ziggy’s. But for the audience, all shows regardless of the popularity of the act are an exciting experience. Ziggy’s is the type of place where artists talk to the audience throughout the show, stray from their original schedule of songs, and often hang around afterwards to sign autographs. Ziggy’s is dirty and small but the most wonderful place to see a concert in Winston-Salem.

Drawing college students from all over North Carolina, as well as a bunch of crazy townies, Ziggy’s is a great place to spend any night of the week. Almost every night of the week Ziggy's has something going on. From incredible cover bands to local acts to popular hits, Ziggy’s is a great place to see talented artists and hang out with friends. Over the years I have seen such popular acts such as LifeHouse, the Calling, O.A.R., Pat Green, and Sister Hazel. The atmosphere screams Rock and Roll as stickers and posters cover all the walls boasting the history of Ziggy’s past acts. An array of beers are offered for the over 21 crowd making the night even more eventful.

A trip to Ziggy’s is exactly what freshmen need in order to experience life outside of the bubble. Tickets are cheap and can be bought ahead of time. Check out this website to access the calendar of events and to buy a ticket. Remember, no Wake Forest experience is complete without a trip to Ziggy’s!