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Good Friday is the day that Jesus died for our sins. So that His sacrifice would not be in vain, my friend B and I decided to spend the day sinning. :) We grabbed the map and headed to Platte and Leavenworth counties to have a few beers.
Read on to see a few of the places we found in Platte City, Weston, Leavenworth, Platte Woods, and Kansas City, North...
On many occasions I've written about the many bars I've been to for a drink. But what about bars that refused to serve me?
BJ's Liquor Lounge
Minneapolis, MN
This raunchy bar features topless servers and stripper poles for entertainment. We entered on a Saturday afternoon to find the place populated by a handful of midde-aged men watching middle-aged strippers shaking what was left of their booty. We spent about 10 minutes inside and were completely ignored by the bartender and servers, so we left.
Strawberry South
Kansas City, KS
The majority of bars in KCK are private clubs, but most of them will serve you anyway, no questions asked. This place in Strawberry Hill isn't one of them. To add insult to injury, the bartender had already poured our drinks before it occurred to him to ask for our membership cards. When we had none to produce, he apoligized and poured our drinks down the drain. We asked how we could become members, and he said that he had no idea, that the owner handles that and hasn't trained him on it.
Bar None
Kansas City, KS
Another private club in KCK, this one in the Armourdale district. We had just left a successful visit to a place a block down the road called Country Cabaret Club and hoped for a similar welcome here. Denied!
After being refused service we asked how we could become members, and she said that she had no idea, that the owner handles that and hasn't trained her on it. The name of this bar obviously didn't ring true, since on this particular day, Bar None barred three.
Coach Club
Kansas City, KS
Another Armourdale bar, not far from Bar None. It is adjacent to another bar called Casino Bar, whose bartender told us which bars were most likely not serve us. "You're welcome to try, but Coach Club next door probably won't And don't even bother with a place called Dixie's," the Casino Bar bartender warned us.
We gave Coach Club a shot and were immediately denied. We asked how we could become members, and the bartender said that he had no idea, that the owner handles that and hasn't trained him on it. Hmmm... anyone starting to see a pattern here? :)
Bubble Room
Kansas City, KS
On Central in KCK. By this point we were getting so frustrated we didn't even bother asking how to become a member.
Dixie's Place
Kansas City, KS
Another place on Central in KCK. We had been warned earlier in the day that this place would not serve us, but damnit, we were going to try!
Like most of the clubs further in-town in KCK, you have to be buzzed in. We managed to get in the door, but then faced the Grand Inquisition.
We were grilled not only by the bartender but also by 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. We tried to ask the bartender how to become members, and she said that was none of our business and she didn't have to tell us. The customer at the end of the bar raised his voice again: "They don't belong! Call the police!" This wasn't necessary at all, we had respected the rules everywhere we have been and were already leaving, but this customer was being way too much of an asshole about it. So, noticing that he was reading the new (at the time) Harry Potter book, one of my companions leaned in and told him how it ended as we were heading towards the door.
Coach's Corner
Ottumwa, IA
The motel bar at the Stardust Motel in Ottumwa. It closed at 2am, we had arrived at 1:45am to a packed bar hoping to get just one real quick shot of something before calling it a night. But the bartender had called last call just moments before we entered and she wouldn't serve us. That was okay, we'd already had success at 30 other bars that day. :) (Don't worry, we were walking!)
American Legion
Independence, MO
Technically, American Legions are private clubs, but usually they look they other way because they need the money. However in this particular case there was a private event going on, so though we were buzzed in we were intercepted and sent packing just inside the door.
Grumpy's
Olathe, KS
After Olathe adopted a smoking ban, most of its bars became private clubs to escape the ordinance. Every place we went to in Olathe served us, usually with a quick application process, except Grumpy's, Grumpy's demanded a $15 signup fee per person plus a mandatory 10 day waiting period before we could get a drink. Screw that!
There's also been a few close calls...
The Alibi in Kansas City, KS initially denied us service and dished out the standard line about not knowing how to enroll new members. But then a customer "vouched" that he had "seen us in there before", so the bartender reluctantly served us and we bought that customer a drink.
Neighbors Cocktail Lounge near the Leed's district in Kansas City, MO refused to serve us because one member of our group was obviously intoxicated. We were cool with that and ended the night. This place would have been on the list above, but I went back another time and was served no problem.
VFW Post 741 / American Legion Post 256 in Excelsior Springs, MO. We have never had a problem at a VFW and rarely have a problem at am American Legion. This place required being buzzed in, and we were. There was only one patron inside, and he immediately started quizzing us about our military service. Well, neither of us had ever served in the military. This customer became belligerent and wanted us removed. But the bartender clearly wanted more tips, calmed him down, and served us.
KC's Neighborhood Bar & Grill in Shawnee, KS. A private club. Our bartender kept asking to see ID cards but we kept pretending not to hear or changing the subject. After a few minutes she gave up and went ahead and served us. :)
There's several other bars I've been do where I ended up being the person deciding not to be served, but that's another story for another time.
I traveled to Ohio for Thanksgiving and made a dozen special stops along the way. Click the "continue" link below to see my report of these assorted midwest finds...
On Saturday, November 22, my friend B and I had a few hours to kill so we headed south of Kansas City to find a few places to get a beer.
But before we even touched a drop of beer we had a chance encounter with a famous TV spokesman of long ago -- Col. Billy (of Boots Williams Ford, Rockwood Smorgasbord [or was it Gold Buffet?], and Swap-n-Shop fame) when I stopped to buy some extra batteries for my camera. I didn't know he was still with us but glad he is!
From that meeting we headed south... WAY south... far beyond anyplace I expected to find a bar. 203rd & Holmes? Here we come!
Read on to see a few of the places we found in Jaudon, Raymore, Belton and Grandview...
As many of you know I've been keeping a meticulous list of every bar I've had a drink at, but several people have told me my list would be more useful if I had more information with each listing.
So, I am now re-releasing my bar list, and next to each bar name you can click the "see details" link for address, phone, a photo, a map, my personal ratings, details, and in most cases a description of my visit.
Each detailed view also has links to nearby bars that I have visited, so you can use the database to build your own barhopping trips.
Enjoy the info!
Last Saturday (August 23), my friend B and I took a little road trip through north-central Missouri to visit some small-town taverns. This trip pushed tally of bars I have visited over the 500 mark. Sit back and enjoy the ride!
Not quite. But when I heard there was a bar in the Amish town of Jamesport, Missouri, my friend B and I had to go check it out. Read the details at The Weekly Dive and find out why this sign was in the window:
My friend's "B's" younger brother "D" was in town this weekend. And when D is in town that always means one thing:
Barhopping Day Trip!
We started the day with breakfast at The City Diner and then hit the road. We had mapped out two alternate routes for one area of the metro we still hadn't tapped: southwestern Johnson County. Whether we'd begin in Spring Hill or Edgerton would be decided when we reached Olathe by what bar answered their phone first. Edgerton won the race.
Along the way, though, we made a last minute decision to proceed to Baldwin City. We knew of only one bar in town, but since there is a college there (Baker University) we figured there had to be more and decided it was worth the extra 20 miles round-trip. We figured right.
Continue reading "Spending a Friday in Kansas can Drive One to Drink" »
This week on The Weekly Dive I take you to the place that I consider to be "my other living room". One block from the Power & Light District, Zoo is one of the few neighboring businesses to enjoy an overall net gain in business since the P&L fully opened. (It did drop some, but the Sprint Center opening had already brought so much new business that they had to extend hours, add staff, and expand the inventory... so the next effect is still way more business than a year ago.)
Though it's right next to the Sprint Center, it's hard to find and tricky to get to. But it's a place worth making the little extra effort.
Click the link below to see the full story.
The makers of the Drunk History videos should consider branching into Drunk Science after the science lessons of the guy we met while out getting a beer last night.
"I have a theory. This can't be the only planet in the solar system. This [pause] just can't be the [pause], it can't be the only planet God created in the entire Galaxy. I mean, he's like a smart dude.""As for Area 51, if an alien didn't really crash there, then why won't the government let us all walk in and look around?"
"I'm just saying, this can't be the only planet out there. I mean, I'm not a religious man, but God is smarter than that."