Long post, I know. Just skim it, I don't care.
1.)Downtown bars. DB Searles, the Rox, the Red Carpet. A lot of options within walking distance of each other, but you can't park downtown after 2 am or something like that. Widest variety of live music options. It's really close to campus; obnoxiously busy sometimes. Cops everywhere at bar close - I'm just sayin'.
2.) Hick bars & quasi-hick bars. The Shitty Limits, the Hitchin' Post (currently known as Dusty's), Benton Station, Pesty's, various Legions, VFWs and Lodges. Cheap drinks. Interesting crowd. Might get to see a fight or a karaoke contest. Atmosphere can be enjoyed ironically, or once you get drunk, patriotically in the AmLeg or VFW.
3.) Non-downtown, non hick bars.
a. Chains. Friday's, Applebee's, Ground Round, Granite City, Space Aliens. Dullsville, squaresville. Not impressive to blogfriends. Great for appetizers, but drinks are relatively expensive.
b. Not chains. O'Hara's, Jimmy's Pourhouse, Bear Creek. Varieties of entertainment. Get to support local businesses. Uneven service.
4.) Bowling alleys, pool halls. Vilo's, those other places. People expect you to bowl or whatever. Bad lighting, which may be a plus.
5.) Non bars
a.) Restaurants including: Perkins, McMillan's. Open all the time, but high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Delicious cholesterol. Risk being seated next to various loud, drunk types, or what's worse, old people.
b.) Coffee shops. Java Joint, Meeting Grounds. Moody teenagers all over the place. Feel out of place without tattoos and piercings. Or the opposite problem: infestations of yuppies.
c.) Somebody's house or apartment, or better yet, somebody's garage! Pros & cons depends on the place. Garages are a little creepy, let's face it. Oas has a pool table in the basement, & a big screen HDTV, but a psycho cat is waiting... lurking ...thirsty for your blood. My living room has 1 comfortable chair, and a blurry 27 inch screen tv; I have no pets, and I don't keep a lot of booze on hand. Anymore. Yet, I enjoy the space. As for Rainbow's, your own taste will dictate if this is a pro or con, but he has a small penis sculpture near the fireplace. His cats are cute and friendly. There's usually a good mix of people at his soirees.
d.) Break into a closed library, pet store or greeting card store. Haven't tried this yet, may have an update on Monday.
Anything I've missed or suggestions for new places to try?
Legends of course! non-hick, non-downtown category.
ReplyDeleteSo, you're home now...you better be goin to JJ's party in 'bout half an hour!
ReplyDeletePS. Thanks for adding that note about the 'well stocked bar'. For any potential burglars: also, flimsy locks, swanky neighborhood, a couple computers, portable dishwasher...
ReplyDeleteyeah... don't forget Bubba's! My wife's family owns that one and we all know what quality folk they are! Jimmy's is good. I'm suprised Antons is not on the list. Bad lighting, strong drinks that are cheaper or the same as Friday's plus there's nobody there so you can chill and talk without it being loud or too smokey or anything.
ReplyDeleteI know! Next Friday let's all go up to little Falls and then swing out to the 12 Mile halfway between little falls and Swanville! We can crash that place hardcore! Everyone bring your mullet shears! We can speak in French accents, treat them like animals and call it a historical reenactment.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I'd want to re-enact The Terror if I was playing the royalty.
ReplyDeleteWas there royalty involved in the story of French fur traders in MN?
ReplyDeleteThere was almost no way to make your joke more obscure, Whackly.
ReplyDelete