Anyplace that claims it's a decent university has to have an on-campus pub.
MIT actually has two. One attempts to be social, but never has a good feel. It's in a dorm, so it's mostly first-years and dorm hangers-on.
The other does not attempt to be anything other than a room in an old, old building across the Charles River from Boston (and right across from the MIT sailing pavilion), and it accomplishes that quite well.
Both have cheap beer, but the Muddy boasts free food (Wednesday is wings night) -- and you can bring your own. I am never going to be able to portray the atmosphere right -- it's got a couple TVs, but it's got more wood than TVs. You can get a pitcher of Rapscallion for $12. Down the hall is an enormous ballroom where there is often ballroom dancing being practiced. Upstairs there is a climbing gym. You can get up onto the roof on warm summer nights (and I have). There are enormous pillars outside, in the entrance, above the stone steps leading down to Memorial Drive.
It's a pretty great place to go after sailing, or softball practice, or just a long day in lab. Here's to you, Muddy Charles, for having such a great name and for being there.
