BY ADAM MANGUM
mangum@newsroom.byu.edu
The phrase 'Provo night life' might be a oxymoron for some people, but for married Provo residents, it takes on a whole new meaning.
While single people may feel some sort of compulsion to do something each and every weekend night, some married people say that need departs with a change in marital status.
Tyra Hawkins, a BYU graduate from Orem with a degree in elementary education, has been married for two-and-a-half years. She said her night-life mindset has completely change since being married.
'You don't feel obligated to go out and do something,' Hawkins said.
'When I was single, I'd always worry about what I was going to do, but now I'm content to stay home and watch a movie or read a book.'
Patrick McKinnon, a junior from Provo majoring in accounting, was married on Dec. 18 and said he's already noticed a major difference in his social life.
'We don't go out to do stuff much,' McKinnon said. 'When we were single, we had to go out and be alone. Now we don't have to go out.'
But what exactly do married people do in Provo night scene?
According to Hawkins and McKinnon, the activities are pretty simple.
'We watch a lot of basketball games,' Hawkins said.
She said they go to the BYU games (her husband Jake used to play for the Cougars) and also to Timpanogos High School games because they have brothers who play for the team.
When not watching action on the hardcourt, Hawkins said when they go out it's usually hanging out with other married couples with children and playing games or watching movies.
Before they had their daughter Abby, Hawkins said they did more of the 'classic' Provo night things, like going out to eat and going to the movies.
'When I think of Provo night life, I just think of a movie,' she said.
McKinnon said a lot of his friends are married, and so his marriage has reopened some social possibilities.
'I imagine I'll hang out with a lot of friends I haven't seen in a long time,' he said.
Though this may sound boring to some or like a testament to remaining single, McKinnon said he's enjoying the new relationship with his wife Meredith.
McKinnon said both he and Meredith are expanding their interests through each other.
'She works out a couple times a week, and I'm going to try and go with her,' he said. 'I'm also going to buy her some golf clubs, so she can come with me when I golf.
'It's not that we can't or won't go out and do a lot of things, but it's just nice to spend time together doing simple things we like and getting to know each other better.'