NIGHTLIFE
Can you feel the music? What makes a great party playlist
London on a budget
Fake it ‘till you make it: A glimpse into the fake ID market
‘Our chemistry is unmatched’: Whine Problem is taking London’s music scene by storm
Mustang Mixology
The rise of country music
Science behind: Drunk cigarettes
Get caught in the brew-muda triangle
Do hangover cures work? 4 6 7 8 10 11 13 14 16 18 20 21 22 25 26 28 30
Gazette pub golf: Time to putt your studies aside…
Cheers to Western: Inside the university's drinking culture
From Lebanon to London: DJ Nader brings the beat
The revival of your mom's digicam
Head to Head: Pubs vs. Clubs
Ian Davies is helping revive London's folk roots
Science behind: The munchies
Downtown London's best late-night food spots
Can you feel the music? What makes a great party playlist
ANGWARA NILANONT
You’ve gathered together the biggest hits with the craziest beats and sprinkled in a couple of personal favourites.
Aux privileges can feel like a massive responsibility. One wrong track, and you risk losing the crowd — but with the right mix, you’ll have everyone dancing till dawn.
Paveen Singh, a fourth-year media, information and technoculture student, was entrusted with the backyard speaker at a recent Minion-themed party, where guests dressed up as characters from the movie Despicable Me. He made sure to put careful thought into his playlist.
“If you’re responsible for music at a party, you’re basically the head driver of everyone’s emotions because everyone’s going to be listening and dancing to the songs. So, you definitely
have to cater to your audience,” says Singh.
Music has always been an inherently social experience, where bopping or tapping together to the same beat with others can help build connections.
Studies have shown that the shared experience of listening to the same pulsing beat with the crowd can trick our brains into thinking that we are synchronizing with others, which can promote feelings of social bonding.
“I know from going to OWeek and some of the concerts there, like, you’ll meet people you’ve never seen before, and then all of a sudden you guys will just get along [and] start jumping up and down,” says Paul Tudose, a first-year physics student.
Western associate professor of popular music studies Jay Hodgson says much of our ex-
perience with music comes from linking certain tunes to emotions from our environment, which can be seen in any social gathering.
“A lot of our conditioning carries over from music’s function in basic ritual,” Hodgson says. “Often, a hymn is sung at a funeral, and it’s very unlikely that the hymn would be joyful and triumphant.”
For example, Hodgson points out that Christmas carols have major chords and a certain cadential formula that has been passed down from Christian ritual music.
This helps explain why music can trigger positive emotions and retrieve vivid memories typically associated with pleasant sensations.
A study found that fast frequencies activate a region of the prefrontal cortex responsible for social cognition, resulting in the retrieval of happy memories.
But aux duty can be a challenge, especially if you don’t know everyone’s music tastes. So, what’s the secret?
For Magdalena Solanki, a student in the school within a college program at Fanshawe College, nostalgia is key.
“I’d say just hit the nostalgia classic. Nothing’s wrong with Rihanna. Everyone loves Rihanna. I love a good Rihanna song,” says Solanki. “Something more in the common area where everyone, even their grandmothers, know the songs.”
Consider mixing throwbacks in your playlist, sprinkling in the best early 2000s tracks that have stood the test of time. A good rule of thumb is to go back five to 10 years from the guests’ average age and look up the top Billboard singles and albums.
While jamming to “Gangnam Style” may roll some eyes, Hodgson explains that familiarity can be presented in a novel way.
“Spend a lot of time looking at familiarity and presenting it in different ways. Just really get to know what’s out there and watch what makes people dance. Try not to have an opinion on it, and just watch,” Hodgson says.
Don’t be afraid to add an element of surprise every once in a while by leaning into soundtracks referenced in movies or video games and pairing it up with a completely different genre through a shared instrument.
For Pharrell Williams’s “Double Life” in Despicable Me 4, consider transitioning to “Owner of a Lonely Heart” by Yes, blending the two with cowbells.
“I was doing maybe three to four popular songs that people like to party to, and then I’d throw in a Minion theme song from one of the movies to get everyone hyped up,” says Singh. “Because it’s a theme. You definitely have to play to your audience in order for everyone to thrive.”
With so many genres, artists and songs, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” formula. But a little effort in picking tracks and making smooth transitions already goes a long way in setting the right vibe.
So, don’t stress. Even if a song or two misses the mark, your guests are there for the good times — not to judge your DJ skills. Just hit play, trust the music and let the party unfold.
London on a budget
Enjoy a night out for $20 or less
Oh, to be a university student — young, wild and free to roam the night away on the bustling streets of London, Ont.. That is, until reality hits: your bank account is dwindling into the double digits, and rent is due at the end of the month.
Any proper university student wouldn’t let a few low-balance warnings prevent them from having a good time. But what if there was a way to do both?
Forget about dollar beers and Wine Wednesday. Here are five new places — one for each weekday — to go for an unforgettable night out under $20.
Monday Karaoke night at Poacher’s Arms
Sing your heart out at this intimate venue tucked away amid the hustle and bustle of Richmond Row. Poacher’s Arms is a British-style pub off the corner of Richmond Street and Queens Avenue complete with a bar, pool tables, karaoke rooms and live music.
The karaoke rooms are available to book every night of the week and are perfect for group events like birthday parties. Large rooms, with a capacity of 20 people, can be booked for $50 an hour and smaller rooms, with a capacity of eight people, go for $30 per hour — which adds up to a cost of $2.50 per person for a large room or $3.75 per person for a small room when fully occupied. Add in the price of food and drinks, and you’ll likely pay under $20 per person for the night.
Tuesday
Beer and hotdogs at Storm Stayed Brewing Company
Fun Fact: London is known for its many breweries and distilleries. When it comes to high-quality craft beer, Storm Stayed Brewing Company is top of the list. A small brewery located on Wharncliffe Road, it’s about a seven-minute drive or 20-minute bus ride via the Route 93 bus from campus.
Storm Stayed serves a wide variety of craft beers and food options such as pretzels, sandwiches and hotdogs.
If you’re looking for an affordable and local venue, Tuesdays are the day to be at Storm Stayed Brewing Company. Their weekly special includes a $6 draft beer and a $4 hotdog. A chance to enjoy dinner and delicious drinks at a local gem for just $10? Sign me up!
Wednesday Wine and wings at the Black Pearl Pub
The Black Pearl Pub is a family-owned restaurant and bar known for its cozy atmosphere and traditional pub food located on Fanshawe Park Road off Wonderland Road and accessible by the Route 9 and 31 buses from campus. Once a week, they take alliteration to the next level by hosting Wine, Wings and Woodhouse Wednesdays.
If you stop in on a Wednesday, you can enjoy a 6 oz. glass of house wine for $6 or a 9 oz. glass of wine for $9, as well as wings for 99 cents each. Given that a pound of wings — about 10 wings — usually costs $17.50, getting a 10-piece order for under $10 is quite a steal.
Thursday Specials night at El Furniture Warehouse
El Furniture Warehouse, located right on Richmond Row, is a familiar name for most students. But did you know that Thursdays at Warehouse feature a tempting selection of half-price items and special deals that would make any drinker’s day?
Thursday’s menu includes $4 tequila shots, three Jägerbombs for $15 and four Coronas for $20. Pregame at Warehouse, anyone?
If you can’t make it on a Thursday, no worries! Warehouse’s daily menu includes a variety of cocktails, draft beer, shooters and non-alcoholic options — all which go for $5 to $15. In addition to drink specials, the Richmond Street restaurant also offers street and baja fish tacos, burgers and pasta.
Friday
Play your way through Tilt Arcade Bar
Arcade bars aren’t just for 12-year-old boys — they're also for students who want to have fun on a budget. With unlimited play for just $7 and a 19+ age restriction after 8 p.m., Tilt Arcade Bar, located off Talbot Street and King Street and accessible from campus via the Route 106 or 2 buses, might be the place to be.
This one-time admission fee gives you access to more than 80 games, including arcade machines, pinball and console booths. Tilt also serves food — including burgers, fries, corn dogs and desserts, and you can’t forget about the beers on tap.
So add a couple of dollars for food and drinks, and you’re unlikely to spend more than $20 on a fun night out.
MABEL ZHAO
Fake it ‘till you make it: A glimpse into the
fake ID market
TARA YANG
Just when the nerves settle and you think you’ve fooled the bouncer, you’re hit with the last question you expected: “Postal code?”
Caught off guard, you fumble — blowing your cover.
Another fake ID bites the dust, along with the hopes of another underage first-year student. But what psychopath has their postal code memorized?
University life often means partying, clubbing and the occasional drink. But unless students take a gap year or have special circumstances, most first-years likely don’t meet Ontario’s legal drinking age of 19.
This age gap fuels London’s fake ID market, with many first-years either buying fakes or borrowing IDs from older friends.
“I’d say we don’t see as many fake IDs nowadays, but we do see a lot of people using other people’s IDs,” says a Delilah’s security guard and third-year BMOS student, who the Gazette is not identifying due to concerns about potential repercussions at his job.
On a given night, he checks IDs for “upwards of a few hundred” students, turning away about 40 people for fake IDs.
While the type of fake IDs varies between years, the majority of fake IDs he’s seen lately have resembled Manitoba and British Columbia IDs.
A study from the National Library of Medicine surveyed 1,454 underage drinkers, finding 40.1 per cent own or have owned a fake ID, 38.5 per cent have used one at a bar and 27.8 per cent have used it to purchase alcohol at a store.
At Western, there seems to be an excuse to drink every day of the week — from Dollar Beers at Jack’s on Monday to Wine Wednesday at Delilah’s and the regular weekend bar festivities. For some students, nights like these can become core memories of their university experience.
No one wants to be left at home while their friends go out and stumble back at 3 a.m. with a slice of King Richie’s Pizzeria.
Third-year psychology student Rebecca Taghizadeh shares she got a fake ID in the first semester of her first year when she was 18 to join friends on a night out.
“I couldn’t get into any of the bars or the clubs, and all my friends wanted to go to them, and so that’s why I got one, so I could go with them too,” says Taghizadeh.
Taghizadeh’s fake ID got her into Lost Love Social House, worked for buying her alcohol at the LCBO and got her drinks at restaurants, but it didn’t convince the bouncers at The Ceeps or El Furniture Warehouse.
While she has only gotten her fake ID turned away, she says a bouncer once confiscated a real ID she borrowed from a friend.
Underage drinking is more common than people might think. A study in 2018 stated that 80 per cent of young Canadians 15 years and older have reported drinking alcohol during the past year.
The Delilah’s security guard explains the protocol for identifying people on a regular shift involves verifying that the ID picture matches the person. A giveaway is usually when the date of birth doesn’t match the ID holder’s appearance — stating a much older age than they look.
He says it’s pretty easy to tell a fake ID from a real ID.
“They’re usually quite flimsy, and colours don’t match up,” he says. “The letters aren’t bolded, and the colours are off.”
When he believes the holder is using a fake, he asks for a second form of ID — usually asking them to pull up a social media account or their Western student login to verify the name.
Most of the time, they don’t match, and he turns them away instead of confiscating the ID.
Despite the risk of confiscation, Taghizadeh acknowledges that fake IDs have their appeal for students.
“I’d say getting a fake ID’s really useful as a student, and I feel like a lot of students get them,” says Taghizadeh.
But for all the thrill and access a fake ID might offer, it only takes one wrong answer — or one sharp-eyed bouncer — to cut the night short.
So maybe next time, stick with the predrinks and let the rest of the night be one less thing to fake.
‘Our chemistry is unmatched’: Whine Problem is taking London’s music scene by storm
Art inspires art, and bands inspire more bands. That’s how it began for Whine Problem, who got their start after watching a show at Poacher’s Arms.
Hunter Stull, a third-year voice performance student and lead singer of Whine Problem, recounts how the band began as a spontaneous idea. Stull asked M Bourdeau, the band’s bass player, to form a riot grrrl duo. Shortly after, Bourdeau proposed expanding it into a full band.
“They weren’t fucking around,” recalls Stull. Since that spark earlier this year, Whine Problem has grown into an art-punk band of third-year music students. Stull and Bourdeau are joined by Cora Robison on drums and Lee Fidler on guitar.
“We knew that we wanted to be part of the London scene and do shows and play with all of our favourite bands, which we get to do now,” says Stull.
Formed in February, Whine Problem had their first performance just a month later at the Battle of the Bands at The Spoke. Competing alongside more experienced bands, they secured second place.
Since then, Whine Problem has played at Stompfest, house shows at Grogette’s Living Room, and venues across London, including Holy Diver.
The secret to their success? Their undeniable bond.
PANIZ VEDAVARZ
“We were together for a month, and we got up on the big Spoke stage. It was so nerve-racking, but our chemistry is unmatched,” says Stull.
Each member brings their own musical inspiration and background. From their shared love of Radiohead to Robison’s interest in postrock and classical music, Whine Problem is a synergy of diverse influences.
Before Whine Problem, the members had various musical backgrounds. Fidler had played in Avenoir, a local hard rock band, and for Sam Hansell alongside Robison. Stull had previous live performance experiences, and Bourdeau took on bass for the first time.
“They’re brilliant to work with, and they’re always forcing me to get better and try new things,” says Bourdeau.
They all describe their lyrics as socially conscious and, at times, personal. The band members often write separately and combine their work, blending their personal tastes and styles.
While they all write music, Fidler describes themself as a “songwriting addict.” The band members describe Fidler’s lyrics as the most reflective. Over the summer, they wrote 28 songs — 19 of which will be released.
“I found a lot of solace in music, and it grabbed hold of me, and it did not let me go,” says Fidler.
The band is currently recording their first EP, SLEEM, which they have been writing since February.
According to Stull, the most exciting aspect of releasing an EP is that it allows listeners to
engage with their lyrics in a way often lost in live performances’ energy.
What truly sets Whine Problem apart isn’t just their music or stage presence — it’s the safe space they’ve created for one another.
Bourdeau began playing the piano at the age of three and ultimately earned an associate diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Initially pursuing a degree focused on piano, they struggled to find joy in the instrument, eventually switching to voice.
For Bourdeau, being part of Whine Problem has brought them the most joy they have ever experienced in music.
“This might be the least toxic thing I’ve been a part of,” says Bourdeau. “If I fuck something up, Cora’s going to give a look, but the minute we get off stage, it didn’t ruin my night because mistakes happen. We do things. We love each other. We just do it and trust each other.”
Beyond the band, Stull and Fidler have recently worked on solo projects. Stull released her EP, Glory of the Spring, in September. Fidler’s project with music student Josh Matos, BULLS, released a song titled “ADVERTIZE/SYNERGIZE.”
Whine Problem continues to play at venues across London, spreading their infectious energy wherever they perform.
“You’ll never feel the amount of support anywhere else than you find in a band with people you love,” says Bourdeau.
The “Tim’s Express-O Martini”
- 1 ½ oz. vodka
- 1 oz. coffee liqueur (Kahlúa)
- 1 oz. or 1 shot espresso
- ½ oz. simple syrup
- Garnish: 3 coffee beans
Instructions: Let espresso cool, then combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake for 15 seconds. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with coffee beans.
Coffee and vodka, a Western University student’s survival kit. This is a drink perfect for students who think they need a caffeine boost for a night out, but are the first to call it quits.
The “Thames River”
- 1 oz. vodka
- 1 oz. cream liqueur (Baileys)
- 1 oz. coffee liqueur (Kahlúa)
- Ice
Instructions: Add vodka, cream liqueur and coffee liqueur to a glass with ice. Don’t bother shaking, stirring, or straining. The river can do without it, so can the drink.
Mysterious, murky and a little questionable — the same things that come to mind when you think about the Thames River. I wouldn’t swim in it if I were you. Unlike the river, this drink is safe to dive into.
“Sex on the Concrete Beach”
- 1 ½ oz. vodka
- ½ oz. peach schnapps
- 2 oz. orange juice
- 2 oz. cranberry juice
- Garnish: orange wedge and maraschino cherries
Instructions: Add all ingredients to a glass with ice. Garnish with an orange wedge and maraschino cherries, because who doesn’t love a maraschino cherry?
Named after an iconic yet ironic campus landmark, this drink will help you forget that Concrete Beach isn’t a real beach at all.
Mustang Mixology
The “Purple Pony Club”
- 2 oz. vodka
- Half grape soda
- Half lemonade
- Ice
Instructions: Add vodka, grape soda and lemonade to a glass with ice.
Show your fellow Mustangs that you’re purple and proud with this easy-to-make drink. If you’re feeling extra, then play “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan on full blast.
CHIARA WALLACE
The “J.W.”
- 2 oz. rye whiskey
- ½ oz. sweet red vermouth
- ½ oz. blue curaçao
- 2 dashes bitters
- Garnish: brandied cherry
Instructions: Add the rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, blue curaçao and bitters to a mixing glass with ice. Stir until chilled. Strain contents (without remaining ice) into a coupe glass. Garnish with brandied cherry.
A sophisticated drink dedicated to our beloved mascot. Inspired by the Manhattan cocktail, while you sip, you can think about how much cooler you are than everyone else and how many times you’ll have to explain what a Manhattan is.
The “DD”
An extremely flat, forgotten can of pop someone found at the back of the fridge — perfect for the designated driver.
A reminder of the sacrifices you make for your beloved friends. Drink responsibly — because someone has to.
The rise of country music
FINN TOPOROWSKI
Between the lengthy lines at Cowboys Ranch and the growing number of country concerts on campus, you’d think Western was a thousand miles south of London, Ont..
According to students, the appetite for country music is greater than ever.
But this phenomenon isn’t exclusive to Western University. At the time of writing, Shaboozey’s country hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is the top song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
This year, other country releases also surged in popularity, from country legends like Willie Nelson and Zach Bryan to genre newcomers like Beyoncé and Post Malone, who saw great success with their debut country albums.
The Western Country Club, ratified by the University Students’ Council in November 2023, now boasts over 100 paying members, according to club president Viktoria Brkic.
Brkic, a third-year medical sciences student, says she and her friends saw “a gap in the club space” for country music enthusiasts.
“Despite being called Western University, we didn’t have a country club,” says Brkic.
The club aims to promote country music across campus and create a community for lovers of the genre.
Brkic said the club’s biggest goal for the year was to produce a weekly radio show called “Honky Talkin’” in collaboration with Radio Western.
The show’s first episode aired on Oct. 21 at 6 p.m..
The WCC has also partnered with the USC and local venues such as London Music Hall, Centennial Hall and Canada Life Place — formerly Budweiser Gardens — to offer exclusive concert ticket giveaways to club members.
Most recently, WCC members had the chance to meet country singer and Western alum Josh Ross after his September concert in the Mustang Lounge.
According to Brkic, the club’s most popular perk is getting on the guest list at London’s popular country bar, Cowboys Ranch.
Every Friday and Saturday night from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., Cowboys Ranch on Wharncliffe Road attracts hundreds of Londoners who want to party and dance to country tunes.
“I love Cowboys. I used to get made fun of for listening to country, but now it’s hype,” says Caitlin West, a fourth-year sociology student waiting in line at Cowboys.
Mackenzie O’Brien, a fifth-year health sciences student and Cowboys patron, attributes the genre’s growing popularity to the blurring line between country and pop.
“Some country artists are moving more towards pop. Some people like pop better. It’s mixed all together now,” says O’Brien.
Country pop has become a mainstream genre in the music world, combining the storytelling and instrumentation of couwntry with the chart-topping melodies of pop. Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift are just a few artists who have made country more accessible by bringing a fresh sound to the genre.
“Artists like Morgan Wallen and Post Malone have added almost like a bit of a pop vibe into country, which has allowed more people who don’t necessarily like the deep underground country to start listening more to their music,” says Brkic.
With Nashville native Conner Smith’s upcoming December concert in London and line dancing lessons hosted by the WCC, there’s no shortage of opportunities for Western students to dust off their leather boots and sing along to songs about beer, trucks and heartbreak.
Science behind: Drunk cigarettes
SOPHIA SCHIEFLER
You’re out drinking with a group of friends, and someone suggests stepping outside for a cigarette. Suddenly, even if you’re not a smoker or have promised yourself to quit, a “drunk cigarette” starts to sound pretty good — even when you know it may not be such a good idea.
We’ve all been there.
Scientists have found a connection between the use of alcohol and nicotine, which explains why smoking can feel all the more appealing when you’re a few drinks in.
Linda Stobo, manager of social marketing and health systems partnership with the Middlesex-London Health Unit, said both alcohol and nicotine physically act on the brain’s reward system — the one involved in feelings of pleasure.
“So if an individual is consuming alcohol, it makes sense that especially if they are also then consuming a tobacco product that contains nicotine, it has this mutual effect in the brain. They reinforce each other's addictive properties,” says Stobo. Western University anatomy professor Steven Laviolette explains there is also a pharmacological effect — the science of drugs — behind why using nicotine and alcohol together can lead to a “homeostatic balance” in the brain.
Laviolette says that nicotine is a stimulant drug, activating excitatory nicotine receptors in the brain and increasing one’s heart rate. Alcohol, in contrast, acts as a depressant and counteracts some of nicotine's effects.
“You can see that they would both sort of play off each other in order to let the brain sort of reach this equilibrium,” says Laviolette.
This interaction leads to the feeling of being “crossed” that people are so drawn to when using nicotine and alcohol together.
Beyond the physical factors, both Stobo and Laviolette agree there are also significant social factors related to nicotine cravings when alcohol is in the picture.
When individuals find themselves in social environments like bars or nightclubs, they can be exposed to cues that can trigger or amplify cravings for nicotine and alcohol — like seeing others use the substances.
“They're both very much linked to social cues in the environment, and that can lead to sort of a doubling of the cue-induced cravings,” says Laviolette.
Smoking tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in Canada. Smoking is linked to numerous diseases and conditions, including lung cancer, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and more.
There is also a correlation between youth nicotine use and an increased risk of future mood or anxiety disorders. Laviolette and other researchers have found evidence that adolescent nicotine exposure can disrupt neurochemical pathways in the brain, like the dopamine system, which regulates your emotional state.
Stobo says there are strategies individuals can use to mitigate nicotine cravings as they happen. She recommends distracting yourself with other activities, drinking water, taking deep breaths and delaying the craving.
“When you're in it, it will feel longer. But know that withdrawal symptoms only last a few minutes, and so if you can put off your cravings for just a little while, that craving will go away on its own,” says Stobo.
Get caught in the
If you ever find yourself lost a little east of downtown, not quite sure how you got there with a hoppy taste on your tongue and an earthy smell in the air, you might be trapped in the brew-muda triangle.
The “brew-muda triangle” consists of three local London breweries along Dundas Street: Powerhouse Brewing Company, London Brewing Co-Operative and Anderson Craft Ales. It takes only 15 minutes to walk between the three breweries — ideal for a Saturday afternoon brewery crawl.
Each brewery proudly makes its beer inhouse, offering a unique spin on the ageold beverage.
South of Dundas Street, located deep in the old Kellogg’s factory at 100 Kellogg Lane, is Powerhouse Brewing Company. Venture inside the inner courtyard to find a brewery with
twinkling lights and crackling fires on an expansive patio surrounding the old power-generating building.
With dull red walls covered in old safety signs, Powerhouse Brewing Company has turned its industrial site into a dimly lit, casual dining space.
Craig Conn, the account and sales manager at Powerhouse Brewing Company, explains that cutting through Labatt Brewery’s legacy in London has been difficult. Despite bars buying craft beer, they still seem “married to Labatt, just because of [London] being a Labatt town.”
Unlike Labatt, which was bought by AB InBev, a multinational brewing company, the brew-muda triangle breweries are locally owned.
Craft breweries are usually a family-run business, says Conn.
“You’re helping the local economy a lot more, and helping people that live in the city and in the region,” Conn adds.
The London Brewing Co-Operative is a worker co-operative, meaning its workers own and manage it. The co-op brews organic beer from locally-sourced ingredients, with around 40 per cent of grains and 60 per cent of hops grown within a day’s drive of the brewery.
Emma Maganja, a worker-owner at London Brewing Co-Operative, says this level of locally sourced ingredients is considerably higher than a standard craft brewery.
“You’re getting something that’s actually true to the place that it’s brewed, and not just assembled locally with imported parts,” says Maganja.
OM SHANBHAG
She points out that transporting ingredients a few hundred kilometres away on a small truck has a lower environmental impact than international shipping.
London is a great place to brew beer, says Maganja, noting the city has historically been home to large breweries.
“Even our water is really well-suited to brewing,” she says.
Maganja explains the passion and care the team puts into each brew crafts a unique story for each one.
“There really is somebody putting thought into every single ingredient and the packaging, and how we name it and how we distribute it,” she says.
Less than a five-minute walk north of London Brewing Co-Operative is Anderson Craft Ales, a family-owned brewery with a welcoming patio and a wide selection of beer.
“We’ve got tons of options at the brewery, from light lagers to our award-winning cream ale to IPAs or dark beers or Belgian ones,” says Gavin Anderson, president of Anderson Craft Ales.
Anderson urges students to try new beers besides the macro-lagers you might find on the shelves of convenience stores.
According to Anderson, their business is a great place to learn about beer without judgment. The brewery is a welcoming space for all genders and orientations and is accredited as a rainbow-registered business.
“Accessibility is what we’re going for. We want everyone to come in and feel like family,” says Anderson.
The brewery’s upstairs seating in the warehouse-like building overlooks brewing equipment on the first floor, offering an uninterrupted view of the beer-making process anytime
before 4 p.m., Wednesday to Friday.
“We like to interact with people,” says Anderson, often answering questions and encouraging onlookers to throw them a snack from the upstairs seating. He sees this as a good way to engage customers, being open about where their beer comes from.
The three breweries may be in direct competition, but they work together in their industry, producing occasional collaborations and even being friendly with each other.
“I could run over to Anderson’s or London Brewing that’s down the street from us, and ask for an ingredient or something that we need, and they’ll just be like ‘absolutely’ and throw it, toss it to you,” says Conn.
Being a good neighbour is what craft brewing is all about. You, too, can share in the joy of getting lost in the brew-muda triangle and learning more about London’s beer culture.
Gazette pub golf: Time to putt your studies aside…
JESSICA KIM
If you haven’t partaken in pub golf before, the rules are pretty simple: visit each bar on the course in the designated order and order the listed alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink. You must finish your drink in the number of sips listed as “par.” Every sip you take will be noted and marked down as your final score for that hole and the person with the lowest score at the end of the night is the champion.
Hole 1
Runt Club Pub @ 153 Albert St.
Drink: 14 oz. draft of choice OR a soda of choice (non-alcoholic)
Par: 4
Hole 5
El Furniture Warehouse @ 645 Richmond St.
Drink: Vodka Red Bull OR Red Bull (non-alcoholic)
Par: 3
BUNKER HAZARD:
Hole 2
Winks Eatery @ 551 Richmond St.
Drink: Pickleback OR two shots of pickle juice (non-alcoholic)
Par: 2
Hole 3
Toboggan Brewing Company @ 585 Richmond St.
Drink: Holy Roller Lager OR an Arnold Palmer (non-alcoholic)
Par: 5
If you fail to drink your beverage in par, or below, you must take a shot (or a shot of hot sauce) to get out of the bunker. Add +1 to your score.
Hole 6
Barney’s @ 671 Richmond St.
Drink: Dirty Shirley OR Shirley Temple (non-alcoholic)
Par: 4
HOLE-IN-ONE OPPORTUNITY:
Drink your Shirley in one go for a -1 deduction from your score.
Hole 7
The Banquet @ 660 Richmond St.
Drink: Daily special OR a virgin strawberry mule (non-alcoholic)
Par: 3
CLUBHOUSE CHALLENGE:
Snack on an appetizer with your table. Anyone who speaks before the food is done must +2 to their score.
Hole 8
Bloom’s Irish Pub @ 700 Richmond St.
Drink: Your choice
Hole 4
Joe Kool’s @ 595 Richmond St.
Drink: Draft beer of choice OR a Roy Rodgers (non-alcoholic)
Par: 4
WATER HAZARD:
If you use the washroom at this hole, add +2 to your score.
Par: 5
WATER HAZARD:
If you use the washroom at this hole, add +2 to your score.
BONUS:
Hole 9
McCabe’s Irish Pub & Grill @ 739 Richmond St.
Drink: Guinness OR chocolate milk (non-alcoholic)
Par: 4
LUCK OF THE IRISH:
If you can speak in an Irish accent for the entirety of this hole (including ordering), -2 from your score.
As the night winds down, it’s time to tally up those final scores and crown the title of “Pub Golf Champion.” Bragging rights — and maybe a round on the group — go to the winner, but whether you won or simply enjoyed the course, here’s to a night well played.
If you sing karaoke, -2 from your score. If it isn’t a Sunday or Monday and you still attempt to sing karaoke, -5 from your score.
Molly
Cheers to Western: Inside the university’s drinking culture
TARA YANG OWEN JOHNSTON
While Western may never beat the party school allegations, that doesn’t mean its students can’t beat the alcoholic allegations.
Annual events like Homecoming and St. Patrick’s Day draw crowds from across the province, fuelling Western University’s image as a place where day drinking and street parties are the norm.
But as some students opt to go sober, it raises the question of whether students can enjoy the university experience without alcohol.
“I think that there’s a perception for a lot of people that they can’t have fun if they’re not drinking as well,” says Jenepher Lennox Terrion, a professor emeritus of communications at the University of Ottawa.
“There’s been a drinking culture observed on university and college campuses that it
seems to be part of students’ expectations that as they enter adulthood and college years, that drinking is a big part of it.”
Terrion shares that college students drink primarily for three reasons.
The first reason is simply cultural norms — many students simply assume drinking is a standard part of university life, explains Terrion.
Jesus Chavarria, an assistant professor in Western’s psychology department and a trained clinical psychologist, adds that peer pressure plays a major role in influencing university students’ drinking habits. The desire to fit in can drive excessive drinking.
“People who think that their peers are drinking more than they really are tend to try to keep up and drink that much, and that’s a predictor of future problems,” says Chavarria.
Third-year biology student Alexandria Abramson, a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority, has been sober since the beginning of this school year — even on the three to four nights per week she goes out.
“I wasn’t expecting how difficult it would be to actually readjust and have fun while being out sober and be able to keep myself from having a drink,” says Abramson.
A 2018 survey by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction found many post-secondary students thought their peers were drinking more often than they actually did. According to Chavarria, this misperception can push students to try to keep up, leading to heavier alcohol consumption.
The second reason students drink, according to Terrion, is that for many — especially more introverted and shy people — alcohol helps them become more confident and outgoing.
The same CCSA survey found that many people drink with the hope of being less shy when intoxicated.
After all, why else would it be called liquid courage?
The third reason is the newfound freedom many students experience when they’re away from home for the first time.
“They feel more free to experiment and do much more with much less reserve than if they were at home,” explains Terrion, often with alcohol as part of that exploration.
Since being sober, Abramson has noticed a shift in her outlook on life.
“I do believe the alcohol had a very significant effect on me mentally,” says Abramson.
She believes that many students mistake the effects of alcohol — like mood swings, fatigue and anxiety, to name a few — for other causes.
Abramson’s sober streak made her realize the importance of doing social activities that don’t involve drinking.
“I never had the interest in joining clubs before,” says Abramson. “I saw my whole social life as revolving around going out, and I didn’t need that extra extracurricular experience to add to my social life.”
Many of Abramson’s close friendships were formed by going out and drinking together rather than hanging out sober at someone’s house, which she has noticed is less common.
“I feel like the drinking culture takes away from genuine connection because everyone is so excited and involved with going out to the bar and getting drunk, and that’s like our form of hanging out,” says Abramson.
One of the dangers of drinking that goes unnoticed is “subjective intoxication,” Chavarria explains, which occurs when people feel less impaired than they actually are. This mismatch can make people feel capable of doing things they’re not, leading to risky behaviour.
According to Terrion, heavy drinking doesn’t just affect mental health — it also impairs judgment. Alcohol suppresses the function of the frontal cortex, the brain’s decision-making centre, making it harder to stop after having one drink.
“It’s so normalized to drink copious amounts of alcohol when you go out, and people don’t seem to know when to stop,” says Abramson.
Terrion says alcohol acts a depressant and releases serotonin that temporarily boosts
your mood. But as serotonin levels drop, so does your mood, leaving the brain craving more alcohol to recreate that first sip feeling. This cycle often means “just one beer” turns into many more.
Terrion explains that drinking habits change as students progress through university. Firstyear students, often with fewer responsibilities, drink more than upper-year students who face academic pressures and find the thrill of getting drunk has worn off.
It’s harder to skip or snooze through an 18-person fourth-year seminar than a 300-person first-year lecture.
“You’re not seeing the students that may have dropped out after first or second year, partly because maybe they were partying so much that their marks dropped so badly that they weren’t able to continue on,” says Terrion.
Terrion notes that while there is no healthy amount of alcohol consumption, occasional drinking isn’t concerning — it’s the development of heavy drinking habits that raises alarms.
With the rise of non-alcoholic beverages like mocktails, students who don’t want to drink can still feel included socially.
Abramson shares she participates in the social scene by drinking water with a lime in it to look like alcohol.
“I think there’s more freedom now,” says Terrion. “I think young people are seeing that they have choices, and there’s a liberation in not feeling like you have to drink to fit in, or you have to drink to have fun.”
From Lebanon to London: DJ Nader brings the beat
PANIZ VEDAVARZ
After moving from Lebanon to London, DJ Nader noticed something different about the party scene — it lacked the energy only a live DJ could bring.
“When I first came here, there were a lot of DJs, but house parties were always auxing, and even frat parties were always using aux. I thought it would be cool if they had a DJ,” says Nader Abdel Samad.
Nader, a fourth-year BMOS student and resident DJ at Lost Love Social House, was born and raised in Lebanon, surrounded by the country’s vibrant party and music scene.
He learned to play guitar and piano at just eight years old, but when he came to London three years ago, he turned his passion for music into something much more.
Nader started DJing in London at house parties, but once he turned legal, he quickly moved to the club scene, sharing his sound with larger crowds across the city. His first official gig was at Rum Runners, where he competed in the Open Decks competition hosted by local electronic music collective N.E.C. Productions.
Winning that competition kickstarted his success, leading to regular bookings with N.E.C. and playing Lost Love soon after. Lost Love is a more popular venue among students, and N.E.C. events are part of the underground music scene. He used the distinct vibe of both venues to expand his audience.
The University Students’ Council has also recognized his talent, recruiting Nader to DJ at various campus events, including the Purple Fest afterparty last year.
Nader’s reach has expanded beyond London, with performances in Kingston and at clubs in Toronto, including Secret Society and Empire After Dark. Coda, in particular, holds special significance for him — it was the first club he visited after moving to Canada, and his longtime goal was to play there.
“I feel like a good DJ is not someone that plays bangers all the time and gives the crowd exactly what they want,” says Nader. “But someone who introduces you and makes you like something you never thought you would like.”
He describes his style as leaning towards techno and melodic techno. While pleasing the crowd is essential, he prioritizes staying true to his sound.
His creative process reflects that philosophy. Nader doesn’t pre-plan all aspects of his sets — instead, he creates a playlist of 60 to 80 songs that might fit the vibe of a specific event and adjusts his choices based on the crowd’s energy.
“If I’m opening for a big artist, I’m not going to start dropping bangers. The crowd’s just getting settled in, grabbing drinks, meeting their friends,” says Nader. “You have to read the room.”
Nader says most DJs start out with opening gigs, which provide an essential experience in playing to the crowd and setting the atmosphere. These early opportunities helped Nader hone his craft and build his reputation.
While DJing remains a major part of Nader’s life, he has recently started exploring music production. He played his first original remixed track for an audience during a recent set.
Although he admits he loves DJing, he sees it as playing other people’s music and now wants the opportunity to perform independently.
“You spend hours in your bedroom or in your house making that music, and then you go out to the club, and you play it, and it makes the audience feel a certain type of emotion,” Nader says. “Yeah, I made that song, and it’s making you feel a certain way, which is sick.”
Despite his growing success in the music scene, Nader remains committed to his academic career. Balancing schoolwork with DJ gigs requires strong time management, especially during hectic months like September when he’s booked for multiple shows in different cities.
Nader doesn’t see DJing as a job, but rather a passion. He refuses to take gigs that he wouldn’t enjoy because, for him, it’s not about the money — it’s about his love for the craft.
“When you’re doing it, you want the song to make them feel happy or hyped or whatever, and when you unlock that, it’s the best feeling ever.”
The revival of your mom’s digicam
KAMRAAN AHMAD
Go dig out the old digital camera buried in your mother’s closet — it’s time to bring back the old Facebook aesthetic.
For many university students having spent their formative years during the COVID-19 lockdowns, the future can feel uncertain. Nostalgia is on the rise, and what’s more nostalgic than your mom’s old-school digital camera?
“The digicam isn’t the only technology to have staged a comeback: think about vinyl, arcade games, projectors and polaroid cameras,” says Selma Purac, assistant professor at the Faculty of Information and Media Studies.
The call to the past is strong, even in today’s entertainment market, which is currently dominated by remakes, reboots and yet another Ghostbusters sequel.
For Gen Z, the revival of digital cameras feels like a way to honour their parents’ generation, capturing moments like they once did.
“The best part is posting these crappy-looking photos on Instagram. It really makes me feel like my mom on a summer Sunday afternoon in 2010,” says Spencer Levy, a fourthyear computer science student.
Purac explains that digital cameras are like cultural artifacts, giving users a sense of control.
“If we think about the rise of AI, we’ve entered the age of the deep fake. It’s becoming increasingly more difficult for us to detect the real from the simulation,” says Purac. “So, reaching back nostalgically to a form of photography that seems more authentic makes sense.”
This isn’t the first time nostalgia has influenced photography. Think of the VSCO editing trend from the late 2010s — the quality of images were decreased by adding graininess and filters, creating a similar effect to overexposed film reels in the 20th century.
While we laugh at these trends now, digital cameras have revived the imperfect aesthetic that older cameras offer.
Purac explains how the images taken with these cameras create a genuine and unfiltered record of the experiences we want to capture. Whether it’s the subtle colour palettes or the “lo-fi” aesthetic, digital cameras briefly trans-
port you to the “better days,” much like the feeling we get when looking at our parents’ old university photos.
“Pictures from these cameras capture a moment without alteration. The poor quality of the images somehow make them more personal,” says Purac.
Old-school digital cameras also shift focus back to the camera’s primary purpose — capturing memories for enjoyment, free from notifications or instant Instagram posts. Since transferring photos from these cameras takes time, it encourages users to live in the moment instead of immediately sharing every shot online.
Emelie Halpern, a second-year psychology student at the University of Guelph, knows all
too well that when you’re the only one with a camera, you naturally become the group’s designated photographer.
“I plug the SD card in, copy it, and then share it … it elevates the fun and process of sharing photos. I’ve embraced my role fully, it’s a personality trait now,” says Halpern.
Even the date stamps on old digicam photos add to their nostalgic charm, marking each image with a sense of time and place.
“It makes 2024 feel like a date to remember and not a news headline that makes me depressed,” Halpern adds.
Whether you lived through the 2000s or not, Gen Z has a soft spot for the era. The digicam’s comeback is a nod to the past, grounding them in a world of rapid change.
Clubs are an escape
ARISIA QARRI
It’s true that nightclubs can carry a questionable reputation — from safety concerns to occasional rowdiness, they’re not for everyone.
That said, I’m not here to argue that clubs are perfect. Instead, my case is simple: during your university years, they offer a far more fun and lively experience than your average pub.
At the right club, it can feel like stepping into an entirely different world — which is sometimes, just what your university life needs.
For a few hours, your worries fade and all that matters is the music, your friends and the chance to dance if you choose. I’m not suggesting you should drink to excess — but clubs can offer a refreshing form of escapism and a fun
and liberating break from the daily pressures of school and work.
You’ve heard it a million times: “You’re only young once.” A few decades from now, when you and your friends want to go out, you’ll likely go to a pub — no one wants to be the 40-yearold clubbing at Delilah’s.
Chances are, you won’t always feel the same pull to hit the clubs as you do now — so why not embrace it while your energy is still high?
Getting hyped with your friends is part of the pre-club rituals — another aspect that adds to the excitement that pubs can’t match.
The pre is an essential part before going to a nightclub, preparing you and your friends for the night to come. It’s a time to experiment with new mixers, talk shit and listen to the perfect pre-playlist curated with your aux favourites.
Clubbing is also a perfect excuse to express yourself through your style — fashion is an activity in itself and nightclubs provide you with the space to show it off. And that’s all before the rest of the night begins.
Once inside, you’ll meet interesting people and share unique experiences. From bathroom chats to brief spontaneous encounters on the dance floor, there’s many opportunities to bond with the people around you.
While you may not always make lifelong connections on a night out, it is possible. This summer, I explored many different clubs and met people I still keep in touch with.
Clubs are social in a different way than pubs. While pubs focus on conversation, clubs give you the space to let loose and express yourself in a way that conversation alone can’t.
There’s a freedom in clubbing — an unspoken way to break free from your usual self and just be in the moment.
And let’s not forget the hidden health benefits. According to a 2018 JAMA study, raising your heart rate — as you do when dancing — is linked to longer life expectancy. Not only do nightclubs offer social and entertainment perks, but they also give you a little health boost. This might cancel out with the amount of shots you do that night though.
While I enjoy the wholesomeness and intimacy of pubs — they can’t offer the same experience, pulsing music and unforgettable memories that clubs do.
SPubs are for the people
RYAN GOODISON
Picture this: You’re shoulder to shoulder with a sea of people on a sticky floor with the same music blaring for an hour straight. You try to get a drink, but the wait time to speak to a bartender is an hour.
That pretty much sums up your night at a club.
Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating. But when it comes to pubs or clubs, I pick a pub every time — and so should you.
Pubs provide you with an atmosphere that is familiar and comfortable. Sure, they don’t offer the highs of what you can experience at a club, but they never turn quite as south, either.
There’s something special about going to a pub, bumping into people you know and talking to the bartenders. Pubs offer a community atmosphere, with people of all ages and all walks of life going.
The right pub can offer the best of both worlds. They aren’t just for the older crowd to sit in
a dimly lit corner drinking their Labatt 50 — they often host live music and DJs from the community. More often than not, Western University students are on stage giving some great performances.
When you go to a pub, you feel more like you are a part of a community than you would at a club. Sure, clubs do have their own version of a “community,” but how much are you really learning about the person next to you? You can’t really speak with them with all the music blaring.
You also don’t have to worry about lineups — sure, the popular ones might have you wait 30 minutes on the weekend, but you can always find another Irish Pub just a little down the road. It’s rarely a miss.
Most pubs host a variety of events throughout the week, such as trivia, karaoke and watch parties for live sports. Clubs on the other hand, can get pretty old after the third straight week
with the same music, same lights and same lineups.
Most importantly, pubs are open every day of the week — not just Friday and Saturday.
Let’s not forget about food. No great night out is ever without food, and luckily, pubs are there for all the late-night greasy food you’d ever need. Do you want some mac and cheese bites after your third lager? Pubs have you covered.
Some of my best experiences in London’s nightlife have been out at pubs with my friends, just talking to one another as a musician hits the stage.
And if we’re ever bored? Well, we just go down the road to another pub. Who knows, maybe we can make a pub crawl out of it.
So the next time you’re tired, hungry and fed up with another night in a club, maybe stop by a pub and ground yourself — you won’t regret it.
Ian Davies is helping revive London’s folk roots
GABRIELLA MCKENNA
If you’re a college-aged music fanatic, you’re about to be jealous of Ian Davies: he was actually around to experience Beatlemania.
Ian is the artistic director of London’s Cuckoo’s Nest Folk Club. The club describes itself as “a non-profit collective promoting traditional & roots folk music in London.”
For Ian, the club is more than a job or a hobby — it’s a way of staying in touch with the London of his youth when he attended Western University in the early 1970s.
Before coming to London, Ian visited the U.K. as a child with his father. One day, he noticed a line outside a theatre for the Beatles film A Hard Day’s Night
This would be the first time he heard of the band, and it was that moment that ignited his lifelong passion for music.
“I saw this big lineup. ‘What’s all the fuss about the Beatles?’” Ian remembers asking his schoolmates.
His friend called him a dumb Canadian.
The next day, that same friend brought Ian a Beatles record. That was just the beginning. By the time he enrolled at Western, his collection was about 500 records strong. When the university’s first radio program was launched on London’s CFPL-FM station in 1971, he became the first music director.
“No one else had access to music like I did,” Ian says.
Since Ian began to love music, he has shared it with others, teaching new generations to do the same. After leaving Western in 1973, he worked around Ontario — including teaching broadcast media at Fanshawe College and directing a radio station in Windsor.
Ian’s passion for music led him to relaunch the Cuckoo’s Nest Folk Club in 1994 after he returned to work as Orchestra London Canada’s director of development. Ian says that he was a regular at the original Cuckoo’s Nest during his time as a Western student.
“The original Cuckoo’s Nest Folk Club was opposite the university gates, a place called Luther House,” says Ian. “People did lots of harmonies, all folk songs, and it was really a fun time.”
But in his time away from London, the club had fizzled out. Someone needed to help bring it back to life.
Ian helped reunite some of the folk club’s original members, and the club has been active since. The 2024–25 season marks the club’s 31st consecutive year in operation. These days they meet at Chaucer’s Pub weekly, located near the intersection of Talbot Street and Dundas Street.
Chaucer’s Pub, the venue for most Cuckoo’s Nest shows, is a European-style pub with a homey atmosphere. To seat the crowds that come to see the bands perform, the organizers arrange the restaurant’s chairs in a half-circle around the pub’s fireplace — mimicking the shape of an amphitheatre.
The Cuckoo’s Nest Folk Club books acts from all over the world, with an emphasis on artists from Canada and the U.K.. The club also features local folk musicians in February.
Performances are held at Chaucer’s most weekends from September to May, aligning with Western’s fall and winter semesters. While the club traditionally draws older audiences, Ian notes a growing interest among younger generations.
“Eventually your audience ages out. You’ve got to find a way to bring young people in,” he says.
The club, which once focused on very traditional folk music, now books a wider variety of acts, including singer-songwriters and bluegrass performers.
“I’ve been doing this for 31 seasons now,” he says. “You sort of get a feel for what the audience likes.”
So, what’s a Cuckoo’s Nest show like? Ian says they can get very loud.
Many of the club’s acts include call-and-response songs or body percussion, allowing the audience to get involved and immersed in the performance. Some acts, like Breabach and the Friends of Fiddler’s Green, also include storytelling and comedy in their sets.
“One of the elements that initially attracted me was the fun part of it,” says Ian. “Singing with other people, making up your own harmonies. It’s just a big sound.”
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic saw clubs and venues across Ontario permanently close their doors, like London’s Call The Office. But Ian attributes the Cuckoo Nest’s success to its loyal group of returning patrons.
“The folk club has a good reputation in the community, and people come out because they enjoy the artists that we bring in,” he says. “I think we’ve been lucky.”
For students interested in exploring the fun side of folk music, Ian suggests coming to see Genticorum — a high-energy Quebecois folk group — performing at Chaucer’s in March, or Ryan Young, a Scottish violinist who Ian calls a “once-in-a-generation prodigy.”
Science behind: The munchies
THOMAS IRONS
Your eyes are red, you’re sinking into the couch and your stomach grumbles. You start scrolling through Uber Eats, deciding what to eat: a burger, pizza or ice cream — maybe all three.
This increased appetite or food cravings you’re experiencing after using cannabis, known as the “munchies,” is a common experience. But what’s behind it?
The munchies are triggered by tetrahydrocannabinol — the main active ingredient in cannabis that makes you feel high.
THC works by binding to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, specifically CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are part of the endocannabinoid system. This system plays a role in critical body functions like mood, memory and appetite.
When THC binds to CB1 receptors, it changes how nerve cells communicate, affecting multiple areas of the brain, explains Dr. Jibran Khokhar, an associate professor at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry who studies how drugs like cannabis impact the brain.
Some people feel dizzy or paranoid when they consume THC, while others feel calm or even euphoric — also known as a good high. But for many, THC also leads to a surge in hunger.
Khokhar says that THC’s effect on appetite can be broken down into three main mechanisms in the brain.
The first is through the nucleus accumbens, an important part of the brain involved in reward and pleasure. When THC binds to CB1 receptors here, it increases dopamine release in this region, increasing the pleasure we get from food.
“The pop culture depictions of what it feels like is that part where the food just feels better,” says Khokhar. “Even music or sex, for example, cannabis changes the hedonic perception of those as well.”
The second mechanism involves motivation, again linked to dopamine release. Khokhar says THC acts on dopamine neurons in the brain to stimulate the motivation to satisfy those cravings.
“So you’re not going to give up as easily in terms of seeking out that food, and you’re going to be more motivated to seek it out,” says Khokhar.
The last area THC affects is the lateral hypothalamus, which Khokhar describes as the brain’s feeding centre. When THC binds to CB1 receptors here, it can stimulate hunger signals and affect energy balance and stress response, leading to an overall increase in appetite.
Khokhar adds that CB1 receptors in the olfactory bulb — tissue that contains nerve cells involved in the sense of smell — also play a role in this process. In studies with mice, activating these receptors heightens the sense of smell, which can lead to increased food intake.
Since Canada legalized recreational cannabis in 2018, its use has remained steady, according to the 2023 Canadian Cannabis Survey. About 25 per cent of Canadians use cannabis daily or almost daily.
But purchasing from legal sellers has significantly increased. In 2019, only 37 per cent of users bought legally, but that number is now up to 73 per cent.
Canada also has some of the world’s most permissive regulations, allowing people to carry up to 30 grams of dried cannabis or an equivalent amount.
Next time you’re deep in the munchies, you can thank THC for making food taste better, boosting your motivation to eat and sparking hunger signals.
The only question left: what food will you choose?
Downtown London’s best late-night food spots
MANAN JOSHI
It’s the middle of the night. You’ve just left The Ceeps, and you need a pick-me-up meal to either keep your night going or end it off right. We’ve rounded up the best spots to refuel during a night out. No early sleepers are allowed because all these spots are open past midnight.
Osmow’s Shawarma
750 Richmond St.
That bright red neon sign calls to you like a siren in the coldest oceans. It entices you in the snow, beckons you in the rain and calls your name in the dark.
You walk into the smell of fresh garlic sauce and fries as you see a man wielding a knife. It’s as big as a machete, and he carves through the pounds of meat on a slow-turning vertical stick.
Open until 6 a.m., Osmow’s is the go-to spot for a late-night refuel.
The most popular options are a bowl or a wrap. You can fill a bowl with rice or fries and top it off with your choice of meat, falafel and sauce.
Manan’s Tip: Ask for Philly sauce to be added to whatever you’re ordering.
Masala Papad
715 Richmond St.
Masala Papad pays homage to the street food of Kerala, one of India’s most vibrant and culinary complex cities.
As the only Indian late-night spot on Richmond Row, it’s buzzing with students from all backgrounds.
Kerala’s cuisine is known for its seafood because the city is right by the coast. The food also incorporates the palm trees of the city, with a heavy emphasis on the coconut, transporting you from London to South India.
The menu includes an array of curries, from dal tadka to kottayam fish curry. First-time visitors should not pass up the chance to try the shahi paneer with paratha.
Manan’s Tip: The lone dessert on their menu — the gulab jamun — is an absolute life-changer.
Katsu Express
685 Richmond St., Unit 105
Get a taste of Japan during your bar crawl. This hole-in-the-wall spot with big flavour is tucked away neatly between an ATM and a Tim Hortons.
When you enter, the wood interior provides a homely feeling, transporting you to the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. The silent jazz music playing in the background is the perfect backdrop for these eats.
Pick up some fresh sushi and muck it on your way down Richmond Street as you conquer the town — or on your walk home!
Don’t forget to ask the owners for a free avocado tree on your way out.
Manan’s Tip: Their yam sushi is a can’t miss item.
El Furniture Warehouse
645 Richmond St.
If you’re looking for a sit-down meal on a budget, El Furniture is your best bet. It serves up delicious food without breaking your wallet.
If you don’t mind the Ivey kids in the Delilah’s line, grab a table on the outdoor patio.
But you can’t go wrong sitting inside the restaurant — the late-night DJ spins tracks in a booth all night long, and there’s nostalgic music videos plastered on every TV.
The music is bumping, the vibe is alive, and you can hang out here until 2 a.m., chugging beers and ordering nachos. The best deal has to be their burgers: all under $10, and they come with your choice of fries or greens.
El Furniture Warehouses are across the country, but there’s a certain je ne sais quoi about the London location.
Manan’s Tip: I wouldn’t leave without their mac and cheese — macaroni doused in an elegant three-cheese roasted red pepper Alfredo sauce and the “garliciest” bread you’ve ever had in your life.
Fresh Burrito
685 Richmond St., Unit 103
The real ones know Fresh Burrito has been feeding Western students for ages. If you want to eat, and I mean really eat, look no further. Maybe you’ve heard of other burrito places skimping on portions, but not here.
Fresh Burrito piles a mountain of veggies, meat, and sauces to make sure this is the only meal you’ll need to eat all night and well into the next day.
Trust me, the real game changer here is the sauces. There are three types of salsa — try the hot one at your own risk — and nine different condiments to add to your wrap, making it one of the most flavourful items on Richmond Row.
There are also lots of veggie protein options, including sauteed vegetables, organic tofu and ground soya.
You know where to go if you’re ever on Richmond Street craving Mexican food.
Manan’s Tip: Extra green onions please!
Soonies Desserts
25 Oxford St. W, Unit 102
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, no night feels complete without dessert.
Soonies is a London sweetheart. If you take a quick walk down Oxford Street, you’ll find some of the best mini pancakes in town. Pick from three flavours: Kinder, Lotus or white chocolate Oreo.
Open your cardboard box to find 15 of the fluffiest mini pancakes drizzled with a topping of your choice.
If pancakes aren’t your style, try their waffles, croffles — croissant waffles — or milkshakes. These guys have been delivering delicious treats for as long as I can remember.
There’s no better way to cap off a night than getting something sweet from Soonies.
Manan’s Tip: A scoop of ice cream on the mini pancakes perfectly balances every texture.
Do hangover cures work?
It happens to the best of us — waking up after a night out with friends, only to be hit by the harsh reality of how awful you actually feel.
A pounding headache, nausea and muscle aches are just a few symptoms reminding you of your last few drinks, leaving you to wonder if they were really worth it.
You’ve fallen victim to a hangover.
In a study published in Alcohol, a peer-reviewed journal, researchers describe a hangover as a mix of mental and physical effects that occur as your body recovers from consuming alcohol and your blood-alcohol concentration returns to zero.
Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases urine production, which leads to a loss of fluids and electrolytes, in turn dehydrating your body further.
Hangovers are a common struggle for many students, but is there a way to overcome it?
“The night you drink, when you get home, you need to take two extra-strength Advil and chug Gatorade,” says third-year philosophy student Gabriella Di Cesare.
She explains that this trick has become a must among her friends, who never go to sleep without doing it after a night out.
“The next day, you’ll have no hangover,” assures Di Cesare.
But, studies show that while Ibuprofen — by the brand name Advil or Motrin — and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can
SOPHIE HUC
help relieve dehydration symptoms caused by drinking, they also significantly increase the risk of gastrointestinal irritation and bleeding.
Speaking to Di Cesare’s tip, Gatorade and other electrolyte drinks are great for replenishing your body’s sources of salt and potassium, which are often depleted after drinking.
But the amount of sugar in Gatorade doesn’t suggest it is exactly the healthiest drink.
For fourth-year biology student Calleigh Hamilton, the ultimate remedy is going straight for comfort food.
“Something really salty and greasy does the trick,” says Hamilton. “The McDonald’s on Oxford has saved me a lot.”
But according to an article by NBC, eating greasy foods is only helpful in preventing hangovers if eaten before drinking.
Fatty foods can slow the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream, giving the body more time to process it. But if you reach for a burger or fries after the damage is done, it’s less effective, as the alcohol has already been digested and processed by your body.
Ethan Butcher, a third-year BMOS student, has tried many potential solutions throughout his time at Western University.
“In first year, I went out drinking quite a bit, and I tried other options like electrolyte packages, but they didn’t really work very well,” Butcher says. “And then I found that coconut water is just the greatest thing in the world, in
terms of hydration after a night out and also in the morning after.”
With more potassium than sports drinks like Gatorade, coconut water is a healthy, gentle option for rehydrating after a night out.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, your choice of alcoholic beverages also impacts your hangover severity. Darker alcoholic drinks, like bourbon, rum, whiskey and red wine, may cause more intense hangovers because they contain congeners, compounds formed during the fermentation process that your body struggles to break down.
Sugary cocktails can also contribute to a worse hangover because they cause your blood sugar levels to spike, followed by crashes that leave you feeling weak and exhausted.
So, what is the absolute best hangover cure?
Unfortunately, there’s no single remedy that effectively treats all hangover symptoms.
Research shows there are certain steps you can take to help prepare for and minimize the effects of alcohol consumption, such as drinking in moderation, on a full stomach and alternating each alcoholic beverage with a glass of water.
But maybe the best hangover remedy is a balanced approach and mindful drinking the night before rather than the morning after.
THE WESTERN GAZETTE NIGHTLIFE ISSUE
Editor-In-Chief
Adshayah Sathiaseelan
Deputy
Managing
Madeleine McColl
Coordinating
Coordinating
and Opinions)
Creative
Om
Chirag K
Mabel
Finn Toporowski
Culture
Paniz Vedavarz Owen
Tara
Alyssa Duarte
Shylaja
Photo/Graphics Credits
Front cover: Mina Ahmad
Page 2/3: Sophie Bouquillon
Page 4/5: Sophie Bouquillon
Page 6: Sophie Bouquillon
Page 7: Kai Wilson
Page 8/9: Sophie Bouquillon
Page 10: Arisia Qarri/Angwara Nilanont
Page 11: Sophie Bouquillon
Page 12: Sophie Bouquillon
Page 13: Desmond Mahood
Page 14/15: Mina Ahmad
Page 16/17: Arisia Qarri
Page 18: Sophie Bouquillon
Page 19: Madeleine McColl
Page 20: Desmond Mahood
Page 21: Mina Ahmad
Page 22/23: Mina Ahmad
Page 24/25: Sophie Bouquillon
Page 26/27: Madeleine McColl
Page 28/29: Sophie Bouquillon
Page 30: Kai Wilson
Page 31: Madeleine McColl
Back cover: Sophie Bouquillon
Special thanks to Joe Kool’s and Strokers Billiards for hosting the Gazette’s Nightlife photoshoot.
