It’s Friday night. Students pack the streets dressed in their best attire. Their loud voices and exuberant laughter indicate that they are looking for a stress-free night. There is no question that the University has an active nightlife. One question remains though: where is the happening place to be on a Friday night?

Champaign would be the obvious answer, with Green Street playing host to numerous bars and hangouts. Students like Jennifer Dahm, senior in LAS, agree.

“All the good food places and bars are on Green Street,” she said. “(Urbana is) more quiet with cafes and stuff like that.”

Scott Lotz, freshman in LAS, also feels that Champaign contains all of the happening places to see and be seen.

“Every party I have been to has been in the Champaign area,” Lotz said.

In a tale of two cities, Urbana appears to have garnered a reputation as the quiet town. But ask several businesses in Urbana and they will paint another picture.

Acoording to Urbana business owners and workers from bars to restaurants and live music, Urbana has a nightlife of its own to rival Champaign’s.

“We have a type of business that really appeals to everyone,” Andy Borbely, a supervisor at the Crane Alley restaurant, 115 W. Main St., said. “The college students we get through the door definitely come in from the dinner hour until close.”

Chuck Atkins, the night manager at the Courier Caf‚ in Urbana, 111 N. Race St., sees his share of students as well. From late night dessert specials to skinny dippers, a caf‚ favorite consisting of cheese covered potato skins; the caf‚ has a following among cash-strapped students looking for grub at a reasonable price.

“Of course they come in at all hours of the day,” he said. “But they especially come in after seven or eight o’clock.”

Paul Wirth, owner of the Iron Post bar, 120 S. Race St., does not fear losing competition to Champaign bars. The Urbana bar doubles as music venue for country and rock acts, attracting a returning clientele.

“I have my group of students that like to hangout,” he said.

Having worked in Champaign and Urbana, Borbely is not worried about the competition among the two towns. He notes that it is commonplace for students to look for variety when going out.

“They don’t just go to one bar and sit at that bar all night,” he said. “People will visit two, often times three or four establishments.”

In fact, several students indicated that they had no particular preference to either town. Many mentioned that both towns’ establishments that cater to them.

“I usually go to places to eat around Champaign,” Eric Ranz, sophomore in LAS, said. “But I like (Caffe) Paradiso in Urbana.”

Timothy Roy, senior in LAS, sees no point in competition between the two towns. It is not about who is better, but just having a good time in general for Roy and his friends, he said.

“I hang at a friend’s in Urbana and sometimes we go to the bars in Champaign,” he said.

Borbely’s attitude about the rivalry sums it up for many students and variety seekers alike.

“There is enough room in this town for everybody,” he said.