SLEEPLESS IN CAPE GIRARDEAU

Cape Girardeau is a nice-sized town with the things a single man or woman might want in a bar scene. That's the consensus of singles who were out-on-the-town over a recent weekend.

And many singles use the bar scene for the same reasons: recreation and relaxation.

"Cape has everything any other city would have," said Christie Risley, 22, of Cape Girardeau. "Sometimes I might want something else, but I like Cape. No other place offers anything all that different."

Risley participates in dart leagues as recreation. Going to the bars and playing darts allow her to meet new friends.

"I have met a lot of people," she said. "Going out to bars is about the only thing to do if you're single."

Meeting Mr. Right wasn't her purpose for frequenting the bar scene, she said.

"I don't go out to find a boyfriend. I go to have fun with friends."

Darin McCain, 27, of Cape Girardeau doesn't look for his life-long mate at the bars. Like Risely, he doesn't go looking for a one-night stand either.

"I go for relaxation and socialization," he said.

McCain likes the relaxation of drinking a beer with friends and the recreation offered in a typical Cape Girardeau bar: throwing darts, shooting pool and singing karaoke.

Steve Yenicek, 32, of Cape Girardeau said he wants a little more from the bars he frequents.

"I want a place that will sponsor a sporting event or a team that I can play on," he said. "Baseball or softball; that sort of thing."

Yenicek enjoys the darts and pool offered at many of the local bars, but one reason he might go to a certain bar has nothing to do with sporting events or the singles action.

"I'm looking for bargains, drink-wise," he said. "But I go to bars to meet new friends and have a good time."

Yenicek doesn't frequent the bars looking for a wife or a one-night stand either.

"I don't think I've got what it takes to be a stud," he said jokingly.

Buck Nunn, 24, of Cape Girardeau might not consider himself a stud but does frequent the bars looking for sex.

"Sometimes it happens. Sometimes it doesn't," he said. "Sure, I go out to relax and all of that. But I'm looking for casual sex too."

Nunn admits his behavior might be dangerous, but said he takes the necessary precautions.

Most singles don't go looking for love in Cape Girardeau bars. They want comradery and the opportunity to meet new friends while having a good time. They said Cape Girardeau has as much of that to offer as any other city.