Changes in the Orono scene enliven dating opportunities

Back when I was introduced to the thrills of Orono nightlife, everything and everyone was shiny and new, and so was I.

After two years, the same old places and faces were getting stagnant. Myself included.

But things have really changed in the past eight months or so as a number of new restaurants, bars and clubs have given those of us who love Orono a renewed reason to head up Route 2.

The Bear Brew Pub was given an almost total overhaul with a swell new dance club and a new poolroom, slightly revamped menu and serving yummy pizza later on the weekends. Woodman’s, with its homey feel and foosball table, opened across the street. Down the road closer to the University of Maine campus, new restaurant-bar Finger Rock is serving awesome hamburgers and Caesar salads with tempting martinis with dance club Ushuaia in the same building, so you can shake off the calories.

The best part is, almost every time I head up there I see new faces. Even with all the rain and cloudy weather we’ve had lately, I think the explosion of options has drawn people out of their winter shells.

There aren’t many places to hear live music in Orono, but at Soma 36 you can. And you can dance a lot, too, although I’m not a fan of the, um, Best Booty contest (or was it a Hot Body contest? Something like that) the club recently hosted.

I can’t think of a better place to meet someone than Soma’s trivia night. Trivia provides a wealth of flirting opportunities – answer a question right, delicately rub it in your opponent’s face, then send over a drink.

It also seems as if there’s a better mix of ages at Soma, whereas at Ushuaia my pals and I sometimes felt like we had turned into pumpkins after 10 on certain nights. Still, heading up to the building is worth it for Finger Rock, which my friend ShopGirl feels is a rather romantic name (sounds like a rock on someone’s finger). Aside from the good food served relatively late – I once got a great hamburger there at about 10:30 p.m. – and fancy cocktails, Finger Rock recently held a wine tasting that drew a crowd. Another great place to find a date, or at least a dinner companion for the evening.

Woodman’s offers a smaller dining area and a more limited menu compared to the other bars in the area, but I’m not sure that’s why I’ll be going there in the future (although the quesadilla I had the other night was delicious). I like the kind of clubby-but-not-snobby atmosphere – as one friend put it, she already feels like a regular. For some of my pals, the real draw here is the foosball table. It’s tucked away in its own little room off the bar, which doesn’t make for opportunities to make eye contact across a room, but imagine the possibilities of ending up across the table from a potential date. Trivia rules apply here, too – beat ’em, then buy ’em a drink.

But sometimes the same old thing is nice, too. I recently had the usual fun, laid-back evening watching friends play pool (and hitting three shots in a row myself, thank you very much) in the Bear Brew’s poolroom, which itself has been relocated in the building.

There are changes afoot in Bangor, too. Carolina’s is now located in the same space as the wonderfully seedy Waterfront was before it closed. Club Gemini, which drew a truly mixed crowd of people the night I stopped in there, has taken over the Spectrum’s old location. And there’s a new club called Red over in the Russell’s Entertainment Complex. I haven’t been there myself, but a pool-playing co-worker and Russell’s regular says he has seen some pretty packed nights over there.

All those options. Feels good to be picky, huh?

Jessica Bloch can be reached

at jbloch@bangordailynews.net.