<p>The snack bar is overpriced if you’re paying with real money, but if you’re on the 12 (with 275 dining dollars) it’s pretty hard to spend it all in the allotted time if you eat at the dining hall for a few meals. People complain about the snack bar and there are some items to avoid (packaged sushi, the occasional “specialty” burger). However, the sandwiches are decent and made to order, you can get a loaf of ciabatta for 3 bucks and the assorted classic unhealthy fare like chicken strips or mozzarella sticks is yummy. </p>
<p>Now, I don’t know how similar the situation will be next year, given that Sodexho is leaving and Bon Appetit is coming in. I don’t find the snack bar particularly bad to begin with, and since Bon Appetit is reputed to be much better I’m sure some improvements will be made. </p>
<p>Parties. Well, dietcokewithlime already mentioned Sayles dances, which are generally lame, sweaty, and dark. There was a pretty decent one last weekend, because the GSC brought in a drag troupe from Minneapolis for Pride month, which was pretty great. In general, though, they’re kind of the low, sleazy point of Carleton parties. There are Mai Fete parties when it’s warm, which in my experience are fun as a hanging-out kind of deal. Evans always has parties, which are hit-or-miss. There are usually some creative themed shindigs that people put on in dorms and houses (*** is an Ole?? comes to mind). For dances, Evans has some awesome ones throughout the year (God is a DJ, Heaven and Hell). And then there’s the aforementioned Winter Ball.</p>
<p>There’s definitely a party scene here that’s adequate for my tastes. But I’ll be honest: it’s not going to compare to the size and strength of those at many larger schools. You definitely don’t have to spend your weekends in, but occasionally there’ll be a dud Friday large party-wise.</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>