Observing People on Campus: Illegal Pete's

Place: Illegal Pete’s
On Friday night, April 30 at 10 p.m. Illegal Pete’s is a lot similar to the way it is any other time of day. The parking lot was in the back and we walk around to the front door like any other day. The gray concrete floor is not exactly welcoming, but it is familiar. I walk in and contemplate whether my friends and I should sit at one of the tables to our left, the counter seating on the windows, or take a step up to the stage like area and sit in one of the booths. The booths are always fun because one can get a good view of the artwork on the wall. There is one painting of a baseball player, the other of a guitar, and the other of a woman dancing. It is not as though there are many options; Illegal’s Pete is very rectangular in shape and was not necessarily made for huge crowds even though it promotes a draw with its bar to the far left of the restaurant. In the midst of attempting to sit in a comfortable place, I don’t think anyone can think clearly above the sound of steaming rice, beef, and peppers. Most people also get caught up in the game that is usually playing on one of the four big screen TV’s. The dim lights make it so that it is hard to see the giant menu that is hanging above the buffet style counter. It is too bad Illegal Pete’s isn’t buffet style; I think a lot of people would appreciate all you can eat burritos.
Usually, people come to Illegal Pete’s for a quick bite to eat; burritos on the go. Since not many people stay, there is not much seating there but just enough. Tonight, however, people were at Illegal Pete’s for more than just a late night snack. They were there to see their friends perform. Joey Genetti and the Galaxy Cookies drew quite a crowd to Illegal Pete’s. The people here are music students, particularly those that play in jazz ensembles, residents, assistants who work in Centennial Halls at the University of Denver, residents of an RA who plays in the band, and random passersby who were just looking for a good time. 90% of the people there were there to enjoy the music, and the rest were quite confused at what was going on. Illegal Pete’s quickly grew short on seating, and a crowd amassed in the middle of the floor. There was dancing, and singing, and a little bit of drinking. People did not mind being in close proximity to one another, even though they may have been standing next to a stranger. On Friday night, people use that space, not as a restaurant, but as an avenue to support their friends in the band, to enjoy themselves and get away from the stress of midterms and school and life. Illegal Pete’s is an example of how a space that was generally used for one thing, shifted to a new use and was used in a different way.