http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/08/22/25-best-college.../

Sports relevance? I believe we tried to throw peanuts in people's beer.

Aside: The CI should also be in the top 10 for the list "America's Grossest Bathrooms"

As a former employee I'm biased, but the CI will always be the #1 bar on earth for me.  I had my regular rotation of bars to hit through the night but almost every night started and finished at the CI, of course unless there were "after hours" to attend.

I spent two winter breaks cleaning the floors (scraping gum off) and adding a coat of polyurethane to the bathroom walls.  I look back at the 2 years working there as the most fun years of my college experience by far. 

QFT

Hand raised.

At one point in time I was going to put together a large enough set of CI cups to have a complete beer pong set...might have to actually start that project...

Why do I have a feeling that the worst argument in the history of Bobcat Attack is about to occur in this thread?

The Cat's Eye and The CI do not even come close to the douchebaggery at the Crystal. They aren't even in the same discussion. At least that's how it was when I was there. In fact, they were complete opposites.

25 years ago we went to the CI to hang out with a great crowd (no douchebags, not over-run with greeks), with rock and roll from the speakers, cheap pool tables, cheap beer, salted peanuts in the shell, and decent bartenders. 

Back then it didn't have air conditioning, which made me like it even better. 

I get what you're saying, and I don't know that the C.I. would be my first pick of uptown bars (would probably be Cat's Eye if the window seat is open, or The Pub if it's a Wednesday, or The Pigskin if it was a nice day/evening outside), but it seemed like I ALWAYS would wind up at the C.I., eventually. And I can't tell you why, other than that's just where you go once you're ready to move on to a new bar.

Everyone has their favorite bars or home base and no message board topic will sway anyone's feeling on that subject.  The CI appeals to a lot of different groups of people and that's why it's so popular (since obviously it's popular enough to make these lists).  It's just a bar serving beer, shots, and strong mixed drinks.  No fruity signature drinks needed.  The majority of college kids want to be in a crowded bar (they will literally stand in line for 30 minutes just to get in).  I've left many bars that are only half full/moderately busy because "no one's here".  That sentiment changes as you get older (I now prefer a summer Saturday at 10 PM crowd as opposed to Spring Saturday at 1 AM crowd).

The robotic staff comment cracks me up.  I had a blast on a daily basis working there (05-07).  Most of us were having as much fun as the rest of the crowd and probably drinking as much too.

Ownership/management does a good job of hiring legacy bartenders from relatives of past generations or those with connections to past/current generations that helps keep the feel similar and to ensure they know what's expected of them when they show up to work.  I remember changing from a 5 disc CD changer to a computer was a huge deal.  Getting rid of the old jukebox was another huge deal. I still can recall some of my favorite song codes.

Along the same lines as the Air conditioning, I can't believe it's still not a rite of passage to have to carry a full keg from the cooler through a Saturday night crowd and toss it up over the upstairs bar solo.   That always got the blood pumping and usually a cheer from the crowd.

That's a good point. It really mattered what day it was on which place you chose. One of the beauties of Court St. -- they were all within a short walk of each other...