Bully For Me!
For the past 2 years I have known that the Zoo Bar at 1220 McGee is the best dive bar in town, but for me personally it's now better than ever :) ...
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March 31, 2008
March 07, 2008
What better day to go out drinking than MONDAY?
This past Monday (March 3) my friend B and I took the day off to do some barhopping. Our route covered Independence, Sugar Creek, Raytown, and parts of KC's East Side. After a particularly busy week I finally have the time to tell you all about it. So enjoy the adventure while our livers do the hard work for you!...
Continue reading "What better day to go out drinking than MONDAY?" »
January 31, 2008
Splutschnik III
This past Saturday night I took part in Splutschnik III, the third installment of an all-walking downtown scavenger hunt / pub crawl. (Due to my computer being broken, it's taken me a while to get an opportunity to upload my photos.)
My team consisted of myself, longtime drinking partner and friend "B", friend Bill, and new friend Brad from the KCRag Forum.
Our team strategized well and we ended up setting a new record for the event, finishing beers at 20 bars in just under 4-1/2 hours. That's a new bar every 13 minutes and 29 seconds!
Here's a summary of how we accomplished our feat...
(Click on any photo for a larger view)
STOP 1: 12TH STREET RAG
We hadn't expected to find this open yet so it was a bit of a surprise. The lounge for the Downtown Marriott is a spacious area with a piano on stage, yet retains a cozy feel at the bar. We were worried our bartender would be annoyed by us but he said he was just happy to see people. We were only able to mark off a few items here, such as me being carded.
STOP 2: ALADDIN MARTINI BAR
This tiny bar on the mezzanine level of the Aladdin Hotel doesn't seem to have a name. At first the bartender seemed perturbed but he quickly warmed up and helped us find items for our list. I'm pretty sure we distracted the lone customer, though.
STOP 3: 12 BALTIMORE
Our third stop got us our only sting of the night, where we caught Jeff's team with 4 unfinished drinks before them. They chugged them before I got the picture but not before we had counted.
STOP 4: DRUM ROOM
One of the items on our list was to get a picture of someone named Preston. Our bartender denied knowing anyone by that name. He changed his tune for later teams, though, and they got to photograph a Preston. :( He did at least provide us some complimentary Newcastle coasters that would prove useful throughout the night.
One of our list items was to photograph creative uses for The Kansas City Star. Here Bill uses it to light his cigarette.
STOP 5: BULLDOG
We had tried to go to Daddy's and Nara but neither were open yet. The bartender at the Bulldog was the second-least-willing-to-help-us bartender we met all evening. Here's me and B about to start our beers, which we finished quickly so we could move on and find a place more willing to help. (Though we did get some assistance from an out-of-town guy at a table behind us.)
STOP 6: TOOTSIE'S
Who says 4 guys can't go to a lesbian bar? They had just opened so the place was almost empty, but our bartender was very happy to help us find things for our hunt. She even gave Bill a dance, marking off one of the items on our list.
STOP 7: MICHAEL SMITH
I wasn't sure how welcome we'd be at the bar of a fine dining restaurant but our bartender thought what we were doing was fun and he and a waitress gave us a good deal of assistance. Here Bill and I enjoy our beer while B returns from doing some recon work.
STOP 8: BAR NATASHA
I think they had only just opened too, as there was only one other person in there. We were able to scratch off a few items from our list here. B and Brad proudly display their Newcastle coasters while imbibing their brews.
STOP 9: 1924 MAIN
Another bar in a fine dining restaurant, but we were openly welcomed here too. 1924 is a good place for trying out unconventional beers such as Maudite, which came with a cool glass.
STOP 10: HEREFORD HOUSE
A couple sitting at the other end of the bar were fascinated by the scavenger hunt and helped us out by letting Brad buy one of them a beer.
STOP 11: PADDY O'QUIGLEY'S
The last time I was here, which coincidentally fell on the same day as Splutschnik II (7/21/07), I started experimenting with a shot that I had been inventing and began a spiral into drunken madness. Tonight I avoided that shot and maintained my composure and integrity. :)
STOP 12: CASHEW
Here we scored a photo of a fireplace as well as another creative use for The Star...
STOP 13: BALANCA'S
Of all the bartenders we met tonight, the bartender here was least receptive to our mission and gave off a vibe like she wanted us to hurry and get out. So we quickly used The Star as an air hockey puck and then hit the sidewalk.
STOP 14: WILLIE'S
This was the first place we went to where we learned that other teams had come and gone before us. We were almost down to the final hour when we arrived here so picked up the pace. Brad got a quick dance with a server before we continued north.
STOP 15: MCFADDEN'S
Another chug-and-run. Bill and B nearly had their beers finished by the time I got the camera out. My apologies to whomever cleans the men's room, I should know better than to hold the camera with both hands when photographing wall art while using the short urinal. :) (Brad's fault too though for taking the tall one!)
STOP 16: ZOO BAR
Hands down the best dive bar in town, always a fun place to hang out. This is also the home of the Preston the list was specifically referring too -- he's the owner! Unfortunately he had already left for the day long before any of the teams had arrived. I believe we were the last team to pass through here as everyone in there already knew all about us. We managed to get in a little naughty photo hunt to satisfy one of the list items.
STOP 17: THE STUDIO
A block north of Zoo. By now we were pretty certain victory would be ours but time was ticking and we wanted to see how far we could go. We met an out-of-towner and bought her a drink, satisfying 2 more list items.
STOP 18: FRED P. OTT'S
As seen in the photo, our bartender helped us meet a tricky list item by fashioning a sign we later learned could be found at The Peanut (but we had no time to go there). We met an inebriated Texan and played some more naughty photo hunt. We also found our most creative use for The Star but I will not post that photo online, at least not without Bill's permission. ;)
STOP 19: MANGO ROOM
20 minutes remained so we had to drink quickly, but we were able to get in a dance with a server as well as use The Star as a drum stick.
STOP 20: RED DRAGON HOUSE
By the time we got here only 5 minutes remained, but we decided to risk the late penalty for the glory of making it to 20 bars. Within a minute of our arrival we were stung by John's team, but we had our drinking down to a science by now and had the penalty beer finished in no time.
John's team had the advantage of knowing exactly where the finish line was (while all we knew was an intersection) so they were able to take a short cut and beat us there while we had gone the long way around the block. But since they had still not finished their beers from Red Dragon, we locked them out until they were done. :)
We ended up only 3 minutes late so only lost 9 points, a fair price to pay for the 30 points we earned by cramming in our stop at Red Dragon.
We had the second place team (John's team) beat by 3 bars, but the point tally for items found was considerably closer and we won by only a little over 100 points. (I believe our final score was something like 1261.)
Victory is ours!!!
Now that the other teams know what they're up against, I wonder what kind of counter-strategies we'll face this summer at Splutschnik IV? :)
My team consisted of myself, longtime drinking partner and friend "B", friend Bill, and new friend Brad from the KCRag Forum.
Our team strategized well and we ended up setting a new record for the event, finishing beers at 20 bars in just under 4-1/2 hours. That's a new bar every 13 minutes and 29 seconds!
Here's a summary of how we accomplished our feat...
(Click on any photo for a larger view)
STOP 1: 12TH STREET RAGWe hadn't expected to find this open yet so it was a bit of a surprise. The lounge for the Downtown Marriott is a spacious area with a piano on stage, yet retains a cozy feel at the bar. We were worried our bartender would be annoyed by us but he said he was just happy to see people. We were only able to mark off a few items here, such as me being carded.
STOP 2: ALADDIN MARTINI BARThis tiny bar on the mezzanine level of the Aladdin Hotel doesn't seem to have a name. At first the bartender seemed perturbed but he quickly warmed up and helped us find items for our list. I'm pretty sure we distracted the lone customer, though.
STOP 3: 12 BALTIMOREOur third stop got us our only sting of the night, where we caught Jeff's team with 4 unfinished drinks before them. They chugged them before I got the picture but not before we had counted.
STOP 4: DRUM ROOMOne of the items on our list was to get a picture of someone named Preston. Our bartender denied knowing anyone by that name. He changed his tune for later teams, though, and they got to photograph a Preston. :( He did at least provide us some complimentary Newcastle coasters that would prove useful throughout the night.
One of our list items was to photograph creative uses for The Kansas City Star. Here Bill uses it to light his cigarette.
STOP 5: BULLDOGWe had tried to go to Daddy's and Nara but neither were open yet. The bartender at the Bulldog was the second-least-willing-to-help-us bartender we met all evening. Here's me and B about to start our beers, which we finished quickly so we could move on and find a place more willing to help. (Though we did get some assistance from an out-of-town guy at a table behind us.)
STOP 6: TOOTSIE'SWho says 4 guys can't go to a lesbian bar? They had just opened so the place was almost empty, but our bartender was very happy to help us find things for our hunt. She even gave Bill a dance, marking off one of the items on our list.
STOP 7: MICHAEL SMITHI wasn't sure how welcome we'd be at the bar of a fine dining restaurant but our bartender thought what we were doing was fun and he and a waitress gave us a good deal of assistance. Here Bill and I enjoy our beer while B returns from doing some recon work.
STOP 8: BAR NATASHAI think they had only just opened too, as there was only one other person in there. We were able to scratch off a few items from our list here. B and Brad proudly display their Newcastle coasters while imbibing their brews.
STOP 9: 1924 MAINAnother bar in a fine dining restaurant, but we were openly welcomed here too. 1924 is a good place for trying out unconventional beers such as Maudite, which came with a cool glass.
STOP 10: HEREFORD HOUSEA couple sitting at the other end of the bar were fascinated by the scavenger hunt and helped us out by letting Brad buy one of them a beer.
STOP 11: PADDY O'QUIGLEY'SThe last time I was here, which coincidentally fell on the same day as Splutschnik II (7/21/07), I started experimenting with a shot that I had been inventing and began a spiral into drunken madness. Tonight I avoided that shot and maintained my composure and integrity. :)
STOP 12: CASHEWHere we scored a photo of a fireplace as well as another creative use for The Star...
STOP 13: BALANCA'SOf all the bartenders we met tonight, the bartender here was least receptive to our mission and gave off a vibe like she wanted us to hurry and get out. So we quickly used The Star as an air hockey puck and then hit the sidewalk.
STOP 14: WILLIE'SThis was the first place we went to where we learned that other teams had come and gone before us. We were almost down to the final hour when we arrived here so picked up the pace. Brad got a quick dance with a server before we continued north.
STOP 15: MCFADDEN'SAnother chug-and-run. Bill and B nearly had their beers finished by the time I got the camera out. My apologies to whomever cleans the men's room, I should know better than to hold the camera with both hands when photographing wall art while using the short urinal. :) (Brad's fault too though for taking the tall one!)
STOP 16: ZOO BARHands down the best dive bar in town, always a fun place to hang out. This is also the home of the Preston the list was specifically referring too -- he's the owner! Unfortunately he had already left for the day long before any of the teams had arrived. I believe we were the last team to pass through here as everyone in there already knew all about us. We managed to get in a little naughty photo hunt to satisfy one of the list items.
STOP 17: THE STUDIOA block north of Zoo. By now we were pretty certain victory would be ours but time was ticking and we wanted to see how far we could go. We met an out-of-towner and bought her a drink, satisfying 2 more list items.
STOP 18: FRED P. OTT'SAs seen in the photo, our bartender helped us meet a tricky list item by fashioning a sign we later learned could be found at The Peanut (but we had no time to go there). We met an inebriated Texan and played some more naughty photo hunt. We also found our most creative use for The Star but I will not post that photo online, at least not without Bill's permission. ;)
STOP 19: MANGO ROOM20 minutes remained so we had to drink quickly, but we were able to get in a dance with a server as well as use The Star as a drum stick.
STOP 20: RED DRAGON HOUSEBy the time we got here only 5 minutes remained, but we decided to risk the late penalty for the glory of making it to 20 bars. Within a minute of our arrival we were stung by John's team, but we had our drinking down to a science by now and had the penalty beer finished in no time.
John's team had the advantage of knowing exactly where the finish line was (while all we knew was an intersection) so they were able to take a short cut and beat us there while we had gone the long way around the block. But since they had still not finished their beers from Red Dragon, we locked them out until they were done. :)
We ended up only 3 minutes late so only lost 9 points, a fair price to pay for the 30 points we earned by cramming in our stop at Red Dragon.
We had the second place team (John's team) beat by 3 bars, but the point tally for items found was considerably closer and we won by only a little over 100 points. (I believe our final score was something like 1261.)
Victory is ours!!!
Now that the other teams know what they're up against, I wonder what kind of counter-strategies we'll face this summer at Splutschnik IV? :)
December 24, 2007
Pre-Christmas Barhopping in East Jack / 40 Hwy
On Friday, December 21, I took the day off and spent the day with my friends B and D barhopping in Eastern Jackson County, mostly along 40 Highway.
Our first stop was supposed to be Stinger's Lounge (formerly Pete's Place) in Grain Valley. I wanted to go here because I'd seen this place so often ever since it was built when I was a child yet I've never been. So the previous day I called to find out what time they opened and was told 11:00. However, B also called moments later and was told "11:00, and someone else just called asking the same thing."
Evidently our two back-to-back calls scared the bartender, because we waited until 11:30 and no one ever showed to open the place...
So, moving on, we headed west on AA (Old 40) to another place I've seen nearly all my life but had never been to...
#1: Ranch House
Blue Springs, MO [map]
Technically in unincorporated Jackson County, the Ranch House is believed to be the oldest bar in Eastern Jackson County, both in terms of continuous operation as the same bar and in terms of the age of the building housing it.
Our bartender was extremely friendly and helpful, giving us information about the locations of all sorts of bars in Blue Springs to help us start off our day.
#2: Gridiron Lounge
Downtown, Blue Springs, MO [map]
The terminus of Blue Springs' annual "World's Shortest St. Patricks Day Parade," this is another place I had seen most of my life but have never been to.
One thing that was amusing to us was the restroom. Tiny side-by-side stalls for women and men opened to a common sink. The stalls were so small that the men's stall had a notch cut in the door so that it could be closed without hitting the toilet. The toilet itself had a makeshift tank lid fabricated out of a piece of sheet metal. A true classic.
#3: Clancy's
Blue Springs, MO [map]
Lots of beers on tap, but nothing any of us hadn't had before so we stuck with the basics. Too clean and too big of draws for our tastes, but many consider this a Blue Springs bar staple.
#4: Trouser Mouse Bar & Grill
Blue Springs, MO [map]
The coin boxes on the pool tables were being emptied while we were here and I never realized how much money pool tables make. Sounded like slot machines.
#5: Twin Stroke Bar & Grill
Blue Springs, MO [map]
Despite how it looks in the photo, this place was pretty busy and we lucked into the last 3 open seats in the house.
#6: Special Kay's Pub & Grub
Blue Springs, MO [map]
When we asked for 10-oz draws our bartender asked us why we wanted such small beers. Not wanting to get into too much detail about our plans for the day we just said that we were on lunch break for work. "Where do you work?" she asked. Not wanting to get trapped, I said "Oh, we all work at different places and just decided to meet up here for a beer." With our 10-ouncers in hand, we settled down to play the trivia box.
The odd centerpiece of this bar is the televangelist-style image of (presumably) the owners, painted onto a mirror...
We headed south to Lake Lotawana because both B and I remembered there being a bar (Midway Bar & Grill) on Colbern Road, east of MO-7. The bar was gone, but as we were about to turn around, eagle-eyed B spotted beer signs in a strip mall on Lake Lotawana Road. We pulled up to the neon and found this oddity...
The door was locked, and peering in the windows B spotted a bar and barstools, but also kennels with dogs in them. Is it a bar becoming a kennel or a kennel becoming a bar?
For some reason that I'm kicking myself for we skipped Russo's on the way back and headed back up to 40 Hwy.
#7: Stick's Bar & Grill
Blue Springs, MO [map]
I can't remember if any pool was played or not, but I'm pretty sure we introduced D to Silver Strike here.
#8: Night Shades
Blue Springs, MO [map]
This bar had no sign and isn't listed in Google but we found the name on a drink special sign inside. We played the trivia box here and it was an unbelievable 50 cents a credit, but D insisted several times throughout the remainder of the day that it was worth it because the box itself looked "very sleek" and "modern". :)
#9: The Firehouse Bar
Blue Springs, MO [map]
We played a made-up "Foods You Will Or Will Not Eat" drinking game, then noticed some "timely" fire related decor:
#10: Wise Guy's
Blue Springs, MO [map]
I'd always thought this was a convenience store or liquor store, I never realized until now that it was a bar.
#11: Edge of Town
Blue Springs, MO [map]
B had said we'd be carded harder here than any other place, and he was right. All 3 of us were carded... sort of. The bartender changed her mind about carding me after checking D's and B's IDs. :)
One odd thing about the layout of this bar is that while the women's restroom is inside, you have to physically leave the bar to get to the men's restroom.
Heading further west, our next stop was an American Legion.
Unfortunately what would have been my 8th American Legion instead became the first American Legion to ever deny us entry.
#12: Tool Shed Lounge
Knobtown, Kansas City, MO [map]
Another place I had seen most of my life and never been to. It was my turn to buy so B & D went to use the restroom while I ordered us three beers. The bartender poured the drinks, returned to where I was standing with my hand outstretched with money, and said "Where did he go? Did he order three beers and walk out?" The customer next to me started laughing and said "He's right here!" "Good thing she's cute, huh?" he leaned in towards me to say.
The walls of the men's room were white, but I'm told that they used to be covered with centerfolds that someone had meticulously cut out and glued to the walls.
Now, despite what many may think, this bar is technically inside Kansas City rather than Independence, and therefore is not subject to a smoking ban. This is noteworthy because this bar was very busy, something that can't be said for many of the places further down the road.
#13: Doc Holliday's
Knobtown, Kansas City, MO [map]
Just down the road from Tool Shed, this place is also technically in Kansas City (just barely) and was very busy.
Realizing we hadn't eaten all day we got ourselves an appetizer of fried pepper jack balls and they were really good.
#14: Hot Shots
Noland Fashion Square, Independence, MO [map]
This bar was just a few hundred feet west of Doc Holliday's but located in Independence. If laws prohibiting smoking in bars is good for business it wasn't apparent here -- this was a big place but the three of us made up half the patrons present. We played the trivia box (which D complained wasn't as cool looking as the one back at Night Shades) and considered another appetizer but didn't see anything on the menu we wanted.
#15: Secrets Lounge
Independence, MO [map]
Several minutes after our arrival, the architecturally-observant D noted that he thought this place might have formerly been a Pizza Hut.
#16: Time Out Lounge
Independence, MO [map]
I believe we played some Silver Strike here. I think this was also the place with an interesting men's room. A toilet and urinal were positioned side-by-side, which isn't unusual in dive bars. Was was unusual, though, was the bar stool positioned in the corner behind them, as if offering a place to wait and watch for an opening.
B decided that this stool was actually a challenge to see if your stream could reach the bowl from the chair. It's almost unfortunate that I wasn't present to record the semi-successful effort.
#17: Harvey's Tavern
Independence, MO [map]
The place with a fireplace and stuffed deer heads in the back room. After enjoying the warmth of the fire for a while we played some more Silver Strike.
#18: Bamboo Hut
Independence, MO [map]
A quick walk from Harvey's. Our bartender didn't seem veery receptive to us at first but quickly warmed up to us a few minutes later after the only other customers in the place had left.
Independence's ban on smoking in bars
sure is great for Friday night business!
#19: Sandbar
Independence, MO [map]
We took turns playing pool and hanging out with the stuffed-and-mounted residents.
After I sent the cue ball flying across the room I decided to let D take over for me in the game I was playing against B.
#20: R G's
Independence, MO [map]
This was confusing because the marquee sign had me convinced this was a Chinese restaurant, but inside it was all bar. We played darts, surprisingly well for after 20 beers. A case of the hiccups frustrated me early in the game but I overcame them shortly.
D noticed this claw machine and we realized we had seen about 4 of them during the day. Kind of an odd thing to see in a bar.
We wanted to go to one more place to end the day at 7 rounds apiece. We chose Neighbor's, diagonally across the street (and tricky to get to) next to a laundromat. When we got inside B recognized the bartender from a previous visit and greeted her by name, exuberantly. Perhaps too exuberantly, because she didn't recognize him, and she said we looked too much like a Liquor Patrol sting operation and so would not serve us.
Being big supporters of the rights of bar owners to protect their businesses, so we thanked her and left without argument. Neighbors will have to be saved for another day.
The last barhopping excursion of 2007 ended up being a pretty good time, probably one of the more memorable for me. My liver and I are looking forward to what 2008 has in store!
Our first stop was supposed to be Stinger's Lounge (formerly Pete's Place) in Grain Valley. I wanted to go here because I'd seen this place so often ever since it was built when I was a child yet I've never been. So the previous day I called to find out what time they opened and was told 11:00. However, B also called moments later and was told "11:00, and someone else just called asking the same thing."
Evidently our two back-to-back calls scared the bartender, because we waited until 11:30 and no one ever showed to open the place...
So, moving on, we headed west on AA (Old 40) to another place I've seen nearly all my life but had never been to...
#1: Ranch House
Blue Springs, MO [map]
Technically in unincorporated Jackson County, the Ranch House is believed to be the oldest bar in Eastern Jackson County, both in terms of continuous operation as the same bar and in terms of the age of the building housing it.
Our bartender was extremely friendly and helpful, giving us information about the locations of all sorts of bars in Blue Springs to help us start off our day.
#2: Gridiron Lounge
Downtown, Blue Springs, MO [map]
The terminus of Blue Springs' annual "World's Shortest St. Patricks Day Parade," this is another place I had seen most of my life but have never been to.
One thing that was amusing to us was the restroom. Tiny side-by-side stalls for women and men opened to a common sink. The stalls were so small that the men's stall had a notch cut in the door so that it could be closed without hitting the toilet. The toilet itself had a makeshift tank lid fabricated out of a piece of sheet metal. A true classic.
#3: Clancy's
Blue Springs, MO [map]
Lots of beers on tap, but nothing any of us hadn't had before so we stuck with the basics. Too clean and too big of draws for our tastes, but many consider this a Blue Springs bar staple.
#4: Trouser Mouse Bar & Grill
Blue Springs, MO [map]
The coin boxes on the pool tables were being emptied while we were here and I never realized how much money pool tables make. Sounded like slot machines.
#5: Twin Stroke Bar & Grill
Blue Springs, MO [map]
Despite how it looks in the photo, this place was pretty busy and we lucked into the last 3 open seats in the house.
#6: Special Kay's Pub & Grub
Blue Springs, MO [map]
When we asked for 10-oz draws our bartender asked us why we wanted such small beers. Not wanting to get into too much detail about our plans for the day we just said that we were on lunch break for work. "Where do you work?" she asked. Not wanting to get trapped, I said "Oh, we all work at different places and just decided to meet up here for a beer." With our 10-ouncers in hand, we settled down to play the trivia box.
The odd centerpiece of this bar is the televangelist-style image of (presumably) the owners, painted onto a mirror...
We headed south to Lake Lotawana because both B and I remembered there being a bar (Midway Bar & Grill) on Colbern Road, east of MO-7. The bar was gone, but as we were about to turn around, eagle-eyed B spotted beer signs in a strip mall on Lake Lotawana Road. We pulled up to the neon and found this oddity...
The door was locked, and peering in the windows B spotted a bar and barstools, but also kennels with dogs in them. Is it a bar becoming a kennel or a kennel becoming a bar?
For some reason that I'm kicking myself for we skipped Russo's on the way back and headed back up to 40 Hwy.
#7: Stick's Bar & Grill
Blue Springs, MO [map]
I can't remember if any pool was played or not, but I'm pretty sure we introduced D to Silver Strike here.
#8: Night Shades
Blue Springs, MO [map]
This bar had no sign and isn't listed in Google but we found the name on a drink special sign inside. We played the trivia box here and it was an unbelievable 50 cents a credit, but D insisted several times throughout the remainder of the day that it was worth it because the box itself looked "very sleek" and "modern". :)
#9: The Firehouse Bar
Blue Springs, MO [map]
We played a made-up "Foods You Will Or Will Not Eat" drinking game, then noticed some "timely" fire related decor:
#10: Wise Guy's
Blue Springs, MO [map]
I'd always thought this was a convenience store or liquor store, I never realized until now that it was a bar.
#11: Edge of Town
Blue Springs, MO [map]
B had said we'd be carded harder here than any other place, and he was right. All 3 of us were carded... sort of. The bartender changed her mind about carding me after checking D's and B's IDs. :)
One odd thing about the layout of this bar is that while the women's restroom is inside, you have to physically leave the bar to get to the men's restroom.
Heading further west, our next stop was an American Legion.
Unfortunately what would have been my 8th American Legion instead became the first American Legion to ever deny us entry.
#12: Tool Shed Lounge
Knobtown, Kansas City, MO [map]
Another place I had seen most of my life and never been to. It was my turn to buy so B & D went to use the restroom while I ordered us three beers. The bartender poured the drinks, returned to where I was standing with my hand outstretched with money, and said "Where did he go? Did he order three beers and walk out?" The customer next to me started laughing and said "He's right here!" "Good thing she's cute, huh?" he leaned in towards me to say.
The walls of the men's room were white, but I'm told that they used to be covered with centerfolds that someone had meticulously cut out and glued to the walls.
Now, despite what many may think, this bar is technically inside Kansas City rather than Independence, and therefore is not subject to a smoking ban. This is noteworthy because this bar was very busy, something that can't be said for many of the places further down the road.
#13: Doc Holliday's
Knobtown, Kansas City, MO [map]
Just down the road from Tool Shed, this place is also technically in Kansas City (just barely) and was very busy.
Realizing we hadn't eaten all day we got ourselves an appetizer of fried pepper jack balls and they were really good.
#14: Hot Shots
Noland Fashion Square, Independence, MO [map]
This bar was just a few hundred feet west of Doc Holliday's but located in Independence. If laws prohibiting smoking in bars is good for business it wasn't apparent here -- this was a big place but the three of us made up half the patrons present. We played the trivia box (which D complained wasn't as cool looking as the one back at Night Shades) and considered another appetizer but didn't see anything on the menu we wanted.
#15: Secrets Lounge
Independence, MO [map]
Several minutes after our arrival, the architecturally-observant D noted that he thought this place might have formerly been a Pizza Hut.
#16: Time Out Lounge
Independence, MO [map]
I believe we played some Silver Strike here. I think this was also the place with an interesting men's room. A toilet and urinal were positioned side-by-side, which isn't unusual in dive bars. Was was unusual, though, was the bar stool positioned in the corner behind them, as if offering a place to wait and watch for an opening.
B decided that this stool was actually a challenge to see if your stream could reach the bowl from the chair. It's almost unfortunate that I wasn't present to record the semi-successful effort.
#17: Harvey's Tavern
Independence, MO [map]
The place with a fireplace and stuffed deer heads in the back room. After enjoying the warmth of the fire for a while we played some more Silver Strike.
#18: Bamboo Hut
Independence, MO [map]
A quick walk from Harvey's. Our bartender didn't seem veery receptive to us at first but quickly warmed up to us a few minutes later after the only other customers in the place had left.
Independence's ban on smoking in bars
sure is great for Friday night business!
#19: Sandbar
Independence, MO [map]
We took turns playing pool and hanging out with the stuffed-and-mounted residents.
After I sent the cue ball flying across the room I decided to let D take over for me in the game I was playing against B.
#20: R G's
Independence, MO [map]
This was confusing because the marquee sign had me convinced this was a Chinese restaurant, but inside it was all bar. We played darts, surprisingly well for after 20 beers. A case of the hiccups frustrated me early in the game but I overcame them shortly.
D noticed this claw machine and we realized we had seen about 4 of them during the day. Kind of an odd thing to see in a bar.
We wanted to go to one more place to end the day at 7 rounds apiece. We chose Neighbor's, diagonally across the street (and tricky to get to) next to a laundromat. When we got inside B recognized the bartender from a previous visit and greeted her by name, exuberantly. Perhaps too exuberantly, because she didn't recognize him, and she said we looked too much like a Liquor Patrol sting operation and so would not serve us.
Being big supporters of the rights of bar owners to protect their businesses, so we thanked her and left without argument. Neighbors will have to be saved for another day.
The last barhopping excursion of 2007 ended up being a pretty good time, probably one of the more memorable for me. My liver and I are looking forward to what 2008 has in store!
October 10, 2007
A Clayray Lafay-J Day
Having a few hours to kill Saturday afternoon, B and I decided to go for a drive through parts of Clay, Ray, Lafayette, and Eastern Jackson counties to take in the sights and sips of beer.
#1: Goodtimes Lounge
Excelsior Springs, MO[map]
Though we didn't see anyone eating when we were here, apparently the food here is pretty good. This is the last true (public) bar left in Excelsior Springs, another bar was condemned to make way for a CVS while a third recently closed so that its owner could focus on his other operations.
Luckily for us we know there's more than one way to get a beer in a town...
#2: VFW Post 741 / American Legion Post 256
Excelsior Springs, MO [map]
This was the first VFW/American Legion combo we've seen, and also the first of either variety we've been to where we encountered any resistance. The door required a passcard to open but the bartender let us in. The lone vet inside grilled us for a few minutes about our military status in an obvious attempt to point out that we did not belong, but the bartender convinced him to allow us to stay.
We then went on to Wabash BBQ where I had the best ribs I've tried anywhere. But though we sat in the bar area and drank beer with our meals, since we didn't have a drink separately at the bar, by my own rules I cannot count this place as a new bar for me.
#3: Our Place Bar & Grill
Richmond, MO [map]
Big place off the highway with a stage for bands. Pay for your drinks with exact change or else the bartender may put your change directly in the tip jar without asking first!
#4: Hide Away Bar
Richmond, MO [map]
Tucked away on a side street just west of downtown, we watched some college football and chatted with the bartender.
#5: The Depot
Richmond, MO [map]
Just around the corner from Hide Away, this bar is adjacent to a skateboard park so has a sign on the door warning those damn kids that if they want drinks of water they better bring their own damn cups.
#6: Shakers Nightclub
Richmond, MO [map]
Modern, clean, and decked out in purple. Also, at $1 a draw, this was the cheapest beer of the day. We thought it odd that the bartender was a large older man in overalls but before we left the shift changed and a younger country girl that fit with the nightclub theme took over.
#7: The Dukes
[map]
"It was the Dukes it was the Dukes..."
Ok, so technically you might call this a golf course bar, but it's still a bar. :)
We then headed across the river into Lexington...
#8: V.P.'s Bar
Lexington, MO [map]
The shop next door started as an antique store, but evolved into a restaurant when ebay began cutting into their business. The bar opened a couple of years ago to complement the restaurant. It features lightweight aluminum bar furnishings and the coolest beer glasses I've seen:
#9: Riley's Pub
Lexington, MO [map]
We spent some time chatting with a local in this tiny but popular spot in the heart of downtown. The food smelled great!
#10: Lexington Inn
Lexington, MO [map]
This motel bar is a popular hangout, especially at the end of hospital shifts, and gets pretty packed.
#11: Red Dawg Saloon
Buckner, MO [map]
I was excited about seeing the bar famous for its bartender flipping out and attacking a patron a couple of years ago. However we soon discovered that the original was gone and this was a new, much larger incarnation across the street from the old saloon.
#12: Jersey's Sports Bar
Independence, MO [map]
We grabbed some Guinness and played a few games of Silver Strike. I was way off my game. Just like I have been with bowling in real life.
#13: Dr. Pickles
Independence, MO [map]
We finished the evening relaxing at a table covered in photos before finally calling it a night.
Once we were finished and I was back home it was time to gamble. But that's another story for another time. :)
#1: Goodtimes Lounge
Excelsior Springs, MO[map]
Though we didn't see anyone eating when we were here, apparently the food here is pretty good. This is the last true (public) bar left in Excelsior Springs, another bar was condemned to make way for a CVS while a third recently closed so that its owner could focus on his other operations.
Luckily for us we know there's more than one way to get a beer in a town...
#2: VFW Post 741 / American Legion Post 256
Excelsior Springs, MO [map]
This was the first VFW/American Legion combo we've seen, and also the first of either variety we've been to where we encountered any resistance. The door required a passcard to open but the bartender let us in. The lone vet inside grilled us for a few minutes about our military status in an obvious attempt to point out that we did not belong, but the bartender convinced him to allow us to stay.
We then went on to Wabash BBQ where I had the best ribs I've tried anywhere. But though we sat in the bar area and drank beer with our meals, since we didn't have a drink separately at the bar, by my own rules I cannot count this place as a new bar for me.
#3: Our Place Bar & Grill
Richmond, MO [map]
Big place off the highway with a stage for bands. Pay for your drinks with exact change or else the bartender may put your change directly in the tip jar without asking first!
#4: Hide Away Bar
Richmond, MO [map]
Tucked away on a side street just west of downtown, we watched some college football and chatted with the bartender.
#5: The Depot
Richmond, MO [map]
Just around the corner from Hide Away, this bar is adjacent to a skateboard park so has a sign on the door warning those damn kids that if they want drinks of water they better bring their own damn cups.
#6: Shakers Nightclub
Richmond, MO [map]
Modern, clean, and decked out in purple. Also, at $1 a draw, this was the cheapest beer of the day. We thought it odd that the bartender was a large older man in overalls but before we left the shift changed and a younger country girl that fit with the nightclub theme took over.
#7: The Dukes
[map]
"It was the Dukes it was the Dukes..."
Ok, so technically you might call this a golf course bar, but it's still a bar. :)
We then headed across the river into Lexington...
#8: V.P.'s Bar
Lexington, MO [map]
The shop next door started as an antique store, but evolved into a restaurant when ebay began cutting into their business. The bar opened a couple of years ago to complement the restaurant. It features lightweight aluminum bar furnishings and the coolest beer glasses I've seen:
#9: Riley's Pub
Lexington, MO [map]
We spent some time chatting with a local in this tiny but popular spot in the heart of downtown. The food smelled great!
#10: Lexington Inn
Lexington, MO [map]
This motel bar is a popular hangout, especially at the end of hospital shifts, and gets pretty packed.
#11: Red Dawg Saloon
Buckner, MO [map]
I was excited about seeing the bar famous for its bartender flipping out and attacking a patron a couple of years ago. However we soon discovered that the original was gone and this was a new, much larger incarnation across the street from the old saloon.
#12: Jersey's Sports Bar
Independence, MO [map]
We grabbed some Guinness and played a few games of Silver Strike. I was way off my game. Just like I have been with bowling in real life.
#13: Dr. Pickles
Independence, MO [map]
We finished the evening relaxing at a table covered in photos before finally calling it a night.
Once we were finished and I was back home it was time to gamble. But that's another story for another time. :)
September 03, 2007
Labor Day Weekend Barhopping
On Saturday B and I had a few hours free so decided to do a litle rural barhopping north of Kansas City.
We began with a stop in Lathrop, MO where we found three potential watering holes, but at 11:00am nothing was open yet. With our time limited, we moved on to the next town.
Our day began shortly after 10:00 in the morning...
#1: Bert & Ernie's
Plattsgurg, MO [map]
A pretty nice place! After our first beer we decided to stick around and try the pizza. We had a medium pepperoni & sausage, and it was delicious. Actually good enough that I'd be willing to make the hour drive each way to have it again sometime!
#2: Katies Pub
Gower, MO [map]
Since the phone number was disconnected we assumed this place was out of business. But, on a hunch that a town this big would have to have at least one bar, we decided to make the side trip. Sure enough, Katies Pub was still there, just without a phone. While drinking our beer we played a few rounds of trivia.
#3: B Z Bar
Edgerton, MO [map]
Conveniently located right next to the town's police station, this bar featured a birthday board for all the regulars and a resident lhasa apsa.
#4: On The Rocks
Smithville, MO [map]
A strip mall bar right off the highway. Everyone assumed we were here for some fishing event that was going on at the lake.
#5: Town Tavern
Smithville, MO [map]
As I was looking for the men's room in a dark hallway someone opened the bar's back door, sunblinding me enough that I had to ask the woman who entered which door was the one I needed. :) My beer may have been the first draw of the day, it had a slight fruity taste.
#6: Brick House Cafe & Pub
Smithville, MO [map]
Nice place with a good tap selection. We had Mule Kick, it was sweeter than usual and the coffee and chocolate flavors were stronger than usual. B didn't like it, I didn't mind it but it was too rich for me to be able to drink lots of it. B found an inchworm on the bar and took it out to a tree.
#7: Destiny's Bar & Grill
Nashua, Kansas City, MO [map]
Located at 11129 North Oak in the former Sour Octopus restaurant location, Destiny's has the distinction of being the northernmost bar in Kansas City proper.
We finished up right on time, perfectly filling the opening we both had in our day. A nice way to start out a three-day weekend!
We began with a stop in Lathrop, MO where we found three potential watering holes, but at 11:00am nothing was open yet. With our time limited, we moved on to the next town.
Our day began shortly after 10:00 in the morning...
#1: Bert & Ernie's
Plattsgurg, MO [map]
A pretty nice place! After our first beer we decided to stick around and try the pizza. We had a medium pepperoni & sausage, and it was delicious. Actually good enough that I'd be willing to make the hour drive each way to have it again sometime!
#2: Katies Pub
Gower, MO [map]
Since the phone number was disconnected we assumed this place was out of business. But, on a hunch that a town this big would have to have at least one bar, we decided to make the side trip. Sure enough, Katies Pub was still there, just without a phone. While drinking our beer we played a few rounds of trivia.
#3: B Z Bar
Edgerton, MO [map]
Conveniently located right next to the town's police station, this bar featured a birthday board for all the regulars and a resident lhasa apsa.
#4: On The Rocks
Smithville, MO [map]
A strip mall bar right off the highway. Everyone assumed we were here for some fishing event that was going on at the lake.
#5: Town Tavern
Smithville, MO [map]
As I was looking for the men's room in a dark hallway someone opened the bar's back door, sunblinding me enough that I had to ask the woman who entered which door was the one I needed. :) My beer may have been the first draw of the day, it had a slight fruity taste.
#6: Brick House Cafe & Pub
Smithville, MO [map]
Nice place with a good tap selection. We had Mule Kick, it was sweeter than usual and the coffee and chocolate flavors were stronger than usual. B didn't like it, I didn't mind it but it was too rich for me to be able to drink lots of it. B found an inchworm on the bar and took it out to a tree.
#7: Destiny's Bar & Grill
Nashua, Kansas City, MO [map]
Located at 11129 North Oak in the former Sour Octopus restaurant location, Destiny's has the distinction of being the northernmost bar in Kansas City proper.
We finished up right on time, perfectly filling the opening we both had in our day. A nice way to start out a three-day weekend!
August 06, 2007
More KCK Barhopping
As you may remember, 3 weekends ago B and I did a nice round of KCK barhopping. We had concentrated mainly on the outer areas of town and decided to save the inner area for a later visit. Well, this past weekend B's brother D was in town for his annual birthday visit an B suggested that the three of us go out on Saturday to tackle the next section of KCK.
Now, two weekends ago another fella (who I'll call FB) and I went out for some on-foot downtown KCMO barhopping. We were joined by B for about half of it and I even got in 4 new bars that day (Cafe Al Dente, Los Tules, Padddy O'Quigley's, and Madrigal). But somewhere along the way shots started coming into play and after only 16 bars I was trashed and spent most of the following day miserable. So I was a little hesitant at first, but I was anxious to meet B's brother. Plus, B and I both paid the price for those shots and learned our lesson, so I knew none would come into play (at least not for me).
We discovered on our last KCK barhopping trip that many of KCK's bars are registered as private clubs, a concept that seems to be unique to this portion of the metro area. In the outlying areas they all served us, but as we got closer to the core of KCK we found more and more places that would buzz us in but then refuse us service. Eventually our success rate dwindled to about 50-50. Only one place would even tell us how to become a member. "It's my first day, the owner hasn't told me how that works yet" was a common mantra recited by various bartenders at these places. Some of the friendlier bartenders at places that did serve us tried to explain to us the differences in regulations surrounding private clubs but everyone seemed to have a different theory.
So barhopping in KCK is both an adventure and an aggravation because it's a crapshoot and there's really no way of telling until after you have been buzzed in and pull up a stool if they're going to be willing to serve you or not. With the exception of one anecdote, the following is the tale of the places that did serve us this past Saturday.
Our day began shortly after 10:00 in the morning...
#1: Dad's Hole In The Wall
State Ave, Kansas City, KS [map]
This was a nice, tiny little spot. Bar seating for 9, with a total capacity of 32. Almost completely invisible from the main road, you have to be looking for it to find it.
We needed to kill some time before more bars would open so stopped by a McDonald's for breakfast. We then headed on down to Argentine to resume our journey.
#2: Reich's Club
Argentine, Kansas City, KS [map]
Despite the name this place had little to do with WW2 Germany. However it was a little bunker-like. After entering the front door you proceed down a long central corridor to another door towards the back where you are then buzzed in.
#3: Country Cabaret (CC Club)
Armourdale, Kansas City, KS [map]
This was like being in an entirely different world. The ultimate Mexican country-western bar experience. The bartender passing out free homemade tamales as the sounds of donkeys braying punctuate the music. The men's room was unusual too, facing the bar with only a partial saloon door offering any semblance of privacy.
Inside the men's room we noticed that evidently condom peddlers are patriotic and support right-wing conservative issues:
#4: Casino Bar
Armourdale, Kansas City, KS [map]
With an interior finish of the finest particle board, this place looked like it had the potential to get pretty rough. There were several interesting characters about, but most of the people were pretty pleasant. The bartender was particularly helpful as he tried to explain the concept of KCK's private clubs and why some serve us and others don't.
In an eerie moment, B brought up General Custer as a metaphor while I was driving around looking for a place to park near our next stop. I then rounded the corner and found that the next street was Custer Lane. Creepy.
#5: Alibi's
Armourdale, Kansas City, KS [map]
This almost went on the list of places that refused to serve us, but a customer "remembered" B and vouched for us to get us in. We of course reciprocated with a beer. And, B and D had actually been here before and never had a problem until now.
#6: Oasis: The Club
Armourdale, Kansas City, KS [map]
This was another rough looking place but we were comfortable enough to sit and play several rounds at the trivia box. The restroom however was one of the nastiest I've seen. The sink was grimey enough that B wouldn't use it, figuring it would make his hands dirtier. The toilet was clogged with cigarette butts, and the trash can had been put to use as a toilet. Naturally, i took a picture.
#7: Club Sparks
Armourdale, Kansas City, KS [map]
This was a bonus bar, we were actually heading next door to a place called Carol's Place that for whatever reason was not open.
This place, open for only a few months now, was really nice and looking to be proving quite popular. It was very clean with a great smell (how often can you say that about a bar?) and they were serving up the Saturday taco special. Our bartender was the owner and was terrific. This may have been the most expensive bar of the day, as well as in this area, but it looks like it's going to do very well.
#8: Pam's Pizza & Pub
Park Drive, Kansas City, KS [map]
We were hoping this would be more pub than pizza place, and we were in luck. :) The bartender gave D a birthday shot.
#9: Gossip Inn
Park Drive, Kansas City, KS [map]
Had we realized how close this was to Pam's, we could have gotten here faster by walking. :) The pool table was free of charge today (quarters provided at the bar) so we played a couple of games.
#10: Dotlander's
Central, Kansas City, KS [map]
The bar was full so we had to sit at a nearby table.
A few barhopping trips I coined what I refer to as The K Axiom, which states that when B and I are out for drinks the topic of conversation will turn to a discussion of our mutual friend K after about 10 bars. So, to test the axiom, I had gone out of my way not to mention K at all today. But, like clockwork, D suddenly asked over our 10th beer, "By the way, what's K up to?" It still holds true! :)
As we left, we noticed my lousy parking job...
#11: Hideout Club
Central, Kansas City, KS [map]
I believe this was the bar where "The Perfect Storm" was playing on TV, and we discussed the futility of watching a 2-hour drama that's based on a true story where everyone dies at the end anyway.
Now our next stop, Dixie's Club, we had been warned probably wouldn't let us in. We decided to give it a try anyway. While circling around the block to park I was nearly clipped by a speeding car that passed me on a one-lane road. It happened in front of this house:
We entered Dixie's and immediately faced a grilling not only from the bartender but also from a customer at the end of the bar. "Check their membership cards! They don't belong here! Throw them out!" he kept shouting as the bartender nagged a Mexican family who also were not members. This wasn't necessary at all, we had respected the rules everywhere we have been, but this customer was being way too much of an asshole about it. So, noticing that he was reading the new Harry Potter book, B leaned in and told him how it ended as we were heading towards the door.
We stepped outside into the blistering heat and saw The Blue Rose across the street. D and I were tired of being tossed out of places (Dixie's had made about 5 today) so B went to go check it out. After a few minutes of standing in the heat without a peep from B, we decided to go see what was happening only to find B sitting comfortably in the A/C halfway through his frosty cold beer.
#12: Blue Rose
Central, Kansas City, KS [map]
The bartender gave us membership applications, the only private club we found that actually offered a way to become a member, and poured our beers.
#13: Johnnie's Sports Bar
Strawberry Hill, Kansas City, KS [map]
We'd tried to come here 3 weekends ago but that was on a Sunday and they were closed. Behind the bar sits a really cool little brick street neighborhood.
#14: Chicago's
Strawberry Hill, Kansas City, KS [map]
Another busy place, the 3 of us crowded around the far end of the bar. Chicago's is the buildding down on the corner, I forgot to get a picture until we were about to leave so had a lousy vantage point.
#15: Sammy's Tavern
Strawberry Hill, Kansas City, KS [map]
Once we arrived, B and D realized that they had actually been here before.
#16: Six-Ten Club
Strawberry Hill, Kansas City, KS [map]
B & D thought they had been here before as well.
#17: The View
Strawberry Hill, Kansas City, KS [map]
I forgot to take a picture of this place, located about halfway up the bluff. We played several rounds of trivia here. This may have been a gay-friendly bar based upon the rainbow-colored Bud Light clock and the colorful beer tap.
We came back to downtown KCMO and made three more stops, none of which were new for me but all of which were new for D (and one new for B).
#18: Zoo Bar We arrived just after closing but they were nice enough to let us come in anyway. (Another reason why this is one of my favorite bars!)
#19: Red Front Several more rounds of trivia were played here. As we left, D noticed another of my infamous lousy parking jobs:
#20: Comedy City Cari served us up the final beers of the night while an alchohol-induced funk settled over us.
Our final tally came to 20 beers over an 11 hour period. Not too bad. I fell asleep quickly on getting home and awoke the next day feeling great. Much better than two weekends ago! Beer good... shots bad!
Now, two weekends ago another fella (who I'll call FB) and I went out for some on-foot downtown KCMO barhopping. We were joined by B for about half of it and I even got in 4 new bars that day (Cafe Al Dente, Los Tules, Padddy O'Quigley's, and Madrigal). But somewhere along the way shots started coming into play and after only 16 bars I was trashed and spent most of the following day miserable. So I was a little hesitant at first, but I was anxious to meet B's brother. Plus, B and I both paid the price for those shots and learned our lesson, so I knew none would come into play (at least not for me).
We discovered on our last KCK barhopping trip that many of KCK's bars are registered as private clubs, a concept that seems to be unique to this portion of the metro area. In the outlying areas they all served us, but as we got closer to the core of KCK we found more and more places that would buzz us in but then refuse us service. Eventually our success rate dwindled to about 50-50. Only one place would even tell us how to become a member. "It's my first day, the owner hasn't told me how that works yet" was a common mantra recited by various bartenders at these places. Some of the friendlier bartenders at places that did serve us tried to explain to us the differences in regulations surrounding private clubs but everyone seemed to have a different theory.
So barhopping in KCK is both an adventure and an aggravation because it's a crapshoot and there's really no way of telling until after you have been buzzed in and pull up a stool if they're going to be willing to serve you or not. With the exception of one anecdote, the following is the tale of the places that did serve us this past Saturday.
Our day began shortly after 10:00 in the morning...
#1: Dad's Hole In The Wall
State Ave, Kansas City, KS [map]
This was a nice, tiny little spot. Bar seating for 9, with a total capacity of 32. Almost completely invisible from the main road, you have to be looking for it to find it.
We needed to kill some time before more bars would open so stopped by a McDonald's for breakfast. We then headed on down to Argentine to resume our journey.
#2: Reich's Club
Argentine, Kansas City, KS [map]
Despite the name this place had little to do with WW2 Germany. However it was a little bunker-like. After entering the front door you proceed down a long central corridor to another door towards the back where you are then buzzed in.
#3: Country Cabaret (CC Club)
Armourdale, Kansas City, KS [map]
This was like being in an entirely different world. The ultimate Mexican country-western bar experience. The bartender passing out free homemade tamales as the sounds of donkeys braying punctuate the music. The men's room was unusual too, facing the bar with only a partial saloon door offering any semblance of privacy.
Inside the men's room we noticed that evidently condom peddlers are patriotic and support right-wing conservative issues:
#4: Casino Bar
Armourdale, Kansas City, KS [map]
With an interior finish of the finest particle board, this place looked like it had the potential to get pretty rough. There were several interesting characters about, but most of the people were pretty pleasant. The bartender was particularly helpful as he tried to explain the concept of KCK's private clubs and why some serve us and others don't.
In an eerie moment, B brought up General Custer as a metaphor while I was driving around looking for a place to park near our next stop. I then rounded the corner and found that the next street was Custer Lane. Creepy.
#5: Alibi's
Armourdale, Kansas City, KS [map]
This almost went on the list of places that refused to serve us, but a customer "remembered" B and vouched for us to get us in. We of course reciprocated with a beer. And, B and D had actually been here before and never had a problem until now.
#6: Oasis: The Club
Armourdale, Kansas City, KS [map]
This was another rough looking place but we were comfortable enough to sit and play several rounds at the trivia box. The restroom however was one of the nastiest I've seen. The sink was grimey enough that B wouldn't use it, figuring it would make his hands dirtier. The toilet was clogged with cigarette butts, and the trash can had been put to use as a toilet. Naturally, i took a picture.
#7: Club Sparks
Armourdale, Kansas City, KS [map]
This was a bonus bar, we were actually heading next door to a place called Carol's Place that for whatever reason was not open.
This place, open for only a few months now, was really nice and looking to be proving quite popular. It was very clean with a great smell (how often can you say that about a bar?) and they were serving up the Saturday taco special. Our bartender was the owner and was terrific. This may have been the most expensive bar of the day, as well as in this area, but it looks like it's going to do very well.
#8: Pam's Pizza & Pub
Park Drive, Kansas City, KS [map]
We were hoping this would be more pub than pizza place, and we were in luck. :) The bartender gave D a birthday shot.
#9: Gossip Inn
Park Drive, Kansas City, KS [map]
Had we realized how close this was to Pam's, we could have gotten here faster by walking. :) The pool table was free of charge today (quarters provided at the bar) so we played a couple of games.
#10: Dotlander's
Central, Kansas City, KS [map]
The bar was full so we had to sit at a nearby table.
A few barhopping trips I coined what I refer to as The K Axiom, which states that when B and I are out for drinks the topic of conversation will turn to a discussion of our mutual friend K after about 10 bars. So, to test the axiom, I had gone out of my way not to mention K at all today. But, like clockwork, D suddenly asked over our 10th beer, "By the way, what's K up to?" It still holds true! :)
As we left, we noticed my lousy parking job...
#11: Hideout Club
Central, Kansas City, KS [map]
I believe this was the bar where "The Perfect Storm" was playing on TV, and we discussed the futility of watching a 2-hour drama that's based on a true story where everyone dies at the end anyway.
Now our next stop, Dixie's Club, we had been warned probably wouldn't let us in. We decided to give it a try anyway. While circling around the block to park I was nearly clipped by a speeding car that passed me on a one-lane road. It happened in front of this house:
We entered Dixie's and immediately faced a grilling not only from the bartender but also from a customer at the end of the bar. "Check their membership cards! They don't belong here! Throw them out!" he kept shouting as the bartender nagged a Mexican family who also were not members. This wasn't necessary at all, we had respected the rules everywhere we have been, but this customer was being way too much of an asshole about it. So, noticing that he was reading the new Harry Potter book, B leaned in and told him how it ended as we were heading towards the door.
We stepped outside into the blistering heat and saw The Blue Rose across the street. D and I were tired of being tossed out of places (Dixie's had made about 5 today) so B went to go check it out. After a few minutes of standing in the heat without a peep from B, we decided to go see what was happening only to find B sitting comfortably in the A/C halfway through his frosty cold beer.
#12: Blue Rose
Central, Kansas City, KS [map]
The bartender gave us membership applications, the only private club we found that actually offered a way to become a member, and poured our beers.
#13: Johnnie's Sports Bar
Strawberry Hill, Kansas City, KS [map]
We'd tried to come here 3 weekends ago but that was on a Sunday and they were closed. Behind the bar sits a really cool little brick street neighborhood.
#14: Chicago's
Strawberry Hill, Kansas City, KS [map]
Another busy place, the 3 of us crowded around the far end of the bar. Chicago's is the buildding down on the corner, I forgot to get a picture until we were about to leave so had a lousy vantage point.
#15: Sammy's Tavern
Strawberry Hill, Kansas City, KS [map]
Once we arrived, B and D realized that they had actually been here before.
#16: Six-Ten Club
Strawberry Hill, Kansas City, KS [map]
B & D thought they had been here before as well.
#17: The View
Strawberry Hill, Kansas City, KS [map]
I forgot to take a picture of this place, located about halfway up the bluff. We played several rounds of trivia here. This may have been a gay-friendly bar based upon the rainbow-colored Bud Light clock and the colorful beer tap.
We came back to downtown KCMO and made three more stops, none of which were new for me but all of which were new for D (and one new for B).
#18: Zoo Bar We arrived just after closing but they were nice enough to let us come in anyway. (Another reason why this is one of my favorite bars!)
#19: Red Front Several more rounds of trivia were played here. As we left, D noticed another of my infamous lousy parking jobs:
#20: Comedy City Cari served us up the final beers of the night while an alchohol-induced funk settled over us.
Our final tally came to 20 beers over an 11 hour period. Not too bad. I fell asleep quickly on getting home and awoke the next day feeling great. Much better than two weekends ago! Beer good... shots bad!
July 17, 2007
Sunday Afternoon in KCK
This past Sunday B and I decided to head to Kansas City, KS to do a little barhopping. Since it was Sunday we didn't expect to find much open, we we ever in for a surprise!
We headed to the west end of the city and began working our way back towards downtown.
#1: Office Bar & Grill
Bethel, Kansas City, KS [map]
Our first stop was actually a bonus bar. We weren't expecting to find one here and were just flying by when B spotted it. Our bartender, who was watching women's softball on TV, was a wealth of information and filled us in on the concept of private clubs in KCK. She also told us about several others that would be open on a Sunday. This included two right next door on either side that we had completely failed to notice.
#2: Jerry's Neighborhood Sports Bar
Bethel, Kansas City, KS [map]
Because of the lack of neon we had driven right past this place without noticing it. The main bar was full, with everyone watching one of the Die Hard movies on TV, so we had to sit at the side bar.
#3: American Legion Post 199
Bethel, Kansas City, KS [map]
We entered through the patio out back to find a fairly full house. There was a fish fry going on that we were invited to join, but we weren't hungry yet so politely declined. I forgot to get a picture of this place.
#4: To The Hoop
State Ave, Kansas City, KS [map]
A pretty small sports bar in a commercial area. I had a Bud Select and quickly remembered why I don't get Bud Select. A patron to our right filled us in on a couple of nearby places to try, includuding The Sports Page plus a place further down the road that he had never worked up the courage to try. So naturally that's where we went next. :)
#5: 61st Street Pit Stop
State Ave, Kansas City, KS [map]
Your basic dive bar. I can't remember for sure but this might be the place where our 10oz draws were 75 cents. We had to chug, though, because several guys were about to try to squeeze a massive beer cooler through that small front door and we didn't want to get stuck waiting.
#6: The Sports Page
State Ave, Kansas City, KS [map]
We had a hard time finding this place which was why we had to do some backtracking. We paused for lunch at an Arby's and while we were there deduced that our next stop had to be located down the hill across the street.
The locals all touted this as the premier bar in the area and the best place to be. It was large and decent, but an older man to our left was being a little too pompous about this place and describing everything else as a shithole.
#7: Experience
Welborn, Kansas City, KS [map]
This was a bit of a surprise. This was the only bar whose web site we had checked out in advance. There was a major incongruity between what that web site presents and the converted former Rax restaurant we found ourselves in as the only white customers. No one seemed bothered by our presence, perhaps they were too distracted watching Village of the Damned on the TV at the bar, but a few newcomers did do double-takes when they saw us sitting in there.
#8: Bills 32 West
Muncie, Kansas City, KS [map]
This was our first stop at what we thought was a cluster of three bars. We were invited to partake of free nachos but were too full from our earlier Arby's stop.
#9: Roadhouse
Muncie, Kansas City, KS [map]
When we stepped inside here we found ourselves at a nearly-full bar shrouded in total silence. No music, no TV, no conversation. So B told the bar his "schnauzer" joke to break the ice.
#10: Frankie D's
Muncie, Kansas City, KS [map]
Part bar, part Mexican restuarant. I ate some beef jerky while B and I discussed Ken's taste in comedy.
#11: Jamie's Place
Turner, Kansas City, KS [map]
B and I continued our conversation from the previous place and then I noticed what I think may be a natural law... when B and I are drinking, after 10 bars the topic of Ken comes up. :)
The bartender here was a really cool guy and came over to chat with us a bit. He pointed out that we missed a bar back in Muncie so we had to head back and search for that next...
#12: Muddy Waters
Muncie, Kansas City, KS [map]
No wonder we didn't see it, this biker bar was in a strip mall, across from Wild Woody's, but hidden from highway view by another building.
#13: Coyote Blue Cantina
Argentine, Kansas City, KS [map]
The photo is actually of the building we went in by mistake first. Coyote Blue is the next building to the left, the gray building. We were invited to join in on a nacho bar and also to have some free tripe but we were too scared to try it. As the only non-hispanics in the place, while I was in the restroom B was accused of being an undercover cop from the vice squad. B did neither confirmed nor denied this allegation. ;)
We tried to hit up one final bar at 7th & Central in downtown KCK, but after the bartender had already poured our beers he asked if we were members. "Yes," said B. "Ok, I need to see your membership cards," said the bartender. "Ah, I said, we assumed this was one of those 'say yes and wink' situations," I said. But he told us the owner was cracking down and not allowing him to do that, so we had to leave beerless.
Apart from that minor setback it ended up being a surprisingly good round of barhopping, with more than twice as many stops as we reasonably expected to find open. And we missed a lot of places, so another KCK trip will be in order soon.
We headed to the west end of the city and began working our way back towards downtown.
#1: Office Bar & Grill
Bethel, Kansas City, KS [map]
Our first stop was actually a bonus bar. We weren't expecting to find one here and were just flying by when B spotted it. Our bartender, who was watching women's softball on TV, was a wealth of information and filled us in on the concept of private clubs in KCK. She also told us about several others that would be open on a Sunday. This included two right next door on either side that we had completely failed to notice.
#2: Jerry's Neighborhood Sports Bar
Bethel, Kansas City, KS [map]
Because of the lack of neon we had driven right past this place without noticing it. The main bar was full, with everyone watching one of the Die Hard movies on TV, so we had to sit at the side bar.
#3: American Legion Post 199
Bethel, Kansas City, KS [map]
We entered through the patio out back to find a fairly full house. There was a fish fry going on that we were invited to join, but we weren't hungry yet so politely declined. I forgot to get a picture of this place.
#4: To The Hoop
State Ave, Kansas City, KS [map]
A pretty small sports bar in a commercial area. I had a Bud Select and quickly remembered why I don't get Bud Select. A patron to our right filled us in on a couple of nearby places to try, includuding The Sports Page plus a place further down the road that he had never worked up the courage to try. So naturally that's where we went next. :)
#5: 61st Street Pit Stop
State Ave, Kansas City, KS [map]
Your basic dive bar. I can't remember for sure but this might be the place where our 10oz draws were 75 cents. We had to chug, though, because several guys were about to try to squeeze a massive beer cooler through that small front door and we didn't want to get stuck waiting.
#6: The Sports Page
State Ave, Kansas City, KS [map]
We had a hard time finding this place which was why we had to do some backtracking. We paused for lunch at an Arby's and while we were there deduced that our next stop had to be located down the hill across the street.
The locals all touted this as the premier bar in the area and the best place to be. It was large and decent, but an older man to our left was being a little too pompous about this place and describing everything else as a shithole.
#7: Experience
Welborn, Kansas City, KS [map]
This was a bit of a surprise. This was the only bar whose web site we had checked out in advance. There was a major incongruity between what that web site presents and the converted former Rax restaurant we found ourselves in as the only white customers. No one seemed bothered by our presence, perhaps they were too distracted watching Village of the Damned on the TV at the bar, but a few newcomers did do double-takes when they saw us sitting in there.
#8: Bills 32 West
Muncie, Kansas City, KS [map]
This was our first stop at what we thought was a cluster of three bars. We were invited to partake of free nachos but were too full from our earlier Arby's stop.
#9: Roadhouse
Muncie, Kansas City, KS [map]
When we stepped inside here we found ourselves at a nearly-full bar shrouded in total silence. No music, no TV, no conversation. So B told the bar his "schnauzer" joke to break the ice.
#10: Frankie D's
Muncie, Kansas City, KS [map]
Part bar, part Mexican restuarant. I ate some beef jerky while B and I discussed Ken's taste in comedy.
#11: Jamie's Place
Turner, Kansas City, KS [map]
B and I continued our conversation from the previous place and then I noticed what I think may be a natural law... when B and I are drinking, after 10 bars the topic of Ken comes up. :)
The bartender here was a really cool guy and came over to chat with us a bit. He pointed out that we missed a bar back in Muncie so we had to head back and search for that next...
#12: Muddy Waters
Muncie, Kansas City, KS [map]
No wonder we didn't see it, this biker bar was in a strip mall, across from Wild Woody's, but hidden from highway view by another building.
#13: Coyote Blue Cantina
Argentine, Kansas City, KS [map]
The photo is actually of the building we went in by mistake first. Coyote Blue is the next building to the left, the gray building. We were invited to join in on a nacho bar and also to have some free tripe but we were too scared to try it. As the only non-hispanics in the place, while I was in the restroom B was accused of being an undercover cop from the vice squad. B did neither confirmed nor denied this allegation. ;)
We tried to hit up one final bar at 7th & Central in downtown KCK, but after the bartender had already poured our beers he asked if we were members. "Yes," said B. "Ok, I need to see your membership cards," said the bartender. "Ah, I said, we assumed this was one of those 'say yes and wink' situations," I said. But he told us the owner was cracking down and not allowing him to do that, so we had to leave beerless.
Apart from that minor setback it ended up being a surprisingly good round of barhopping, with more than twice as many stops as we reasonably expected to find open. And we missed a lot of places, so another KCK trip will be in order soon.
June 23, 2007
Drinking Nemo
Part 2 of last weekend's road trip. (See also part 1.)
On Saturday (June 16) B and I continued our road trip with one final Iowa stop before spending the remainder of the day barhopping in Northeast Missouri. We ended up hitting 21 bars that day and learned about a pyromaniacal mayor, met a guy who can remove his skivvies while keeping his pants on, and sang at the most poorly-organized karaoke night I've ever seen.
Follow the link below to see the travelogue, complete with pictures and beer notes. Enjoy!
June 19, 2007
A New Record
A few weeks back my friend "B" and I broke our previous barhopping record (21) when we managed to have a drink at 23 bars in a single day on Cinco de Mayo. This got us wondering just how far we could go if we planned it out really well.
This past weekend we may have found the answer. Heading out on the road towards rural north-central Missouri and southeastern Iowa last Friday morning, the journey and our destination of Ottumwa, Iowa (where we then set out on foot) ended up taking us to a grand total of THIRTY (30) bars on the first day of our trip! Other than a few places being closed that should have been open the whole thing went off without a hitch and we had a really great time. You can see it in our drunken faces at the moment we realized we'd just had our 30th bar drink:
Along the way I also passed the 300 mark in my own personal bar tally and got to make a connection with an ancestor at just about the same time.
You can read all about it at the link below:
Hope you enjoy it! And, this was just day ONE of our weekend, Saturday's report will be posted in a few days. :)