Excellent drinking this weekend. A rare two-night outing, only accomplished because I got to conduct some business during some of the sessions. Aren't bars great?
Friday night was spent at the venerable Schlafly Tap Room. New chef/GM Andy White has reimagined the menu and everyone's stoked. I had the vegetarian shepherd's pie which was spicy and hearty and delicious, a perfect chilly Fall night bite. It was of course accompanied by an array of liquid hearties, including the Oatmeal Stout, Hop Harvest Ale, and the long-awaited seasonal Coffee Stout. Boatloads of lovely peeps were in attendance as well, which always makes the experience memorable (whattup DanSheenaPaulPaulBrett AmyBrendaKristinAndyTony!)
Saturday I was a little more, um, promiscuous. The evening started at Off Broadway at the KDHX volunteer appreciation party, which featured great burgers and brats from Kenrick Meats, and the sweet sounds of a young gent ("from just up the street") on kazoo and old-timey geetar. Had a coupla Stags--easily the #1 choice for cheap beer aficionados. Then, just down Cherokee to the PHD Gallery, where a colleague was opening a provocative show (entitled "Buy Mark's Art or the Terrorists Win"--check it out). Usually I settle for the white plonk at these things but they had cans of PBR so what the hell.
A quick jump from Benton Park to Tower Grove brought me and my lovely partner for the evening to Friendly's. Oh, Friendly's. This place, I believe, at this point, might qualify as a South Side institution. But so much about the place still just makes me wanna go "Yeesh." First off, this was my dad's haunt when I was a kid, so the phrase "been down at Friendly's" can still elicit an eye-roll in my family. Then there's the familiar scuzzy bar aroma, the fucked up floor out to the patio that threatens to make you spill your drink, the ubiquitous TVs with the game turned WAY UP--not to mention that bizarre big screen near the pissers that allows you to see the security camera feeds! My companion was generous on this last bit, pointing out how convenient it would be for a manager--or just a bar-goer--to be able to see the whole place at once, but it just gives me the creeps. Twenty cameras in this joint? Yow. But here comes the but: Really nice patio bar area, friendly staff (duh), and happy hours that start after 10 pm. Dig that crazy shit. Keep drinking and the beer gets cheaper. Suddenly a round of Schlafly Oktoberfests is five bucks. Who's creeped out now? Not me.
A last-round swing by the new Amsterdam Tavern on Morganford capped off the crawl. The theme here is futbol, with an emphasis on the Netherlands. Decent European bottle selection, big comfy beflowered and firey patio, and, usually, footie on the telly. Tonight, hey, it's the World Series. Phillies are up two games, if you're wondering. Oh--had a Spaten Oktoberfest and a funky fruity decidedly-past-its-prime Fuller's ESB. Didn't say anything because I was more interested in catching up with an old friend who showed up with a literal busload of bachelor party guests. By the way, the whole place erupted in applause when the bus started to unload. That's the spirit!
Don'tcha just love drinking in this town?
No comments:
Post a Comment