It’s rare to find a student who doesn’t see the weekend as an opportunity to blow off steam after a rigorous week of schoolwork.
In Chapel Hill, some look to Franklin Street to cut loose. Its sometimes boisterous bars and rowdy nightlife make it the perfect outlet for those who unwind by revving up.
Nearby, on Carrboro’s Main Street, is a place that offers a different atmosphere for those who seek a more laid-back social environment. This place is Orange County Social Club, a Carrboro staple that celebrates its tenth anniversary this month.
The music is loud enough to enjoy but quiet enough to hear yourself think over. Seating options include a stool along the curvy bar, a standard chair at a table or a spot on the warmly lit back patio.
Tricia Mesigian opened the bar in 2001 after wanting a place for her and her friends to hang out, especially earlier in the evening.
“Local and national and globally — be it pop culture or politics — I wanted it to be a place where there wasn’t a live band in your ear, and there wasn’t this thing or that event,” Mesigian said.
“We come in here and we know what’s happening. Unless there’s a basketball game, pretty much you’re not interfered with. You can sit down with your friends and talk about what you met to talk about.”
Tracy Swain came on board just a few months after the bar’s opening, first holding a door position before becoming a bartender.
In her nine and a half years behind the bar, she has seen OCSC grow to include more students.