Four Peaks has great beer. Not just great beer but locally brewed great beer. Nestled at once was an off the beaten path locale on 8th street in Tempe, it now lies sandwiched between several local businesses and an avalanche of college student housing. And here is where the problems begin.
HATE:
Parking is beyond nightmarish and this is where the torment begins. The lot upon which 4 peaks is situated holds enough parking for roughly 20 cars. Sure you can also park on what used to be part of the Santa Fe railroad, but even these coveted spaces fill up quickly. The neighbors are not amused by the amount of traffic that the brewing eatery produces and as such you cannot park in any of the close by business lots even at off hours without your car disappearing via a towing service in a matter of minutes. The over flow of students and 4 peaks rise in local lore means that you will very likely end up parking either around the corner or so far away that you have to walk several minutes before you can even glimpse the well lit patio exterior.
The walk is brutal in the summer time and frustrating any other time of year, but many a times I had made this walk knowing that the ample interior and patio would always have a seat waiting for me. But no longer. Such is the crush and menagerie of the populace that now even on some week nights hostesses now hold sway over seating and my last attempt to simply stop in for a quick Pumpkin Porter were dashed by the half hour wait time and a bar full of people I wanted nothing to do with. So how did my once beloved out of the way Tempe chill spots suddenly turn into a family dining establishments that draws from every age, creed and social base the valley has to offer?
Simply put; 4 Peaks really is that good.
LOVE:
It is a beer lover’s paradise with a massive selection of locally made suds offered up all year round. From heavy stouts to warm and keep at bay the nights chill to light, easily quaffable ales to chase away the summer’s heat 4 peaks has it all. While there are certain styles that I personally shy away from, you can’t go wrong no matter what you order. Not sure what you fancy, then grab a sampler platter. Not a beer person, then order up your favorite mixed drink. One of the first things I did upon returning to this sun drenched paradise was swelter in the noon time heat sipping an apricot ale. More recently I through on a hoodie and made a late evening dash for something with a little more moxie to it; the seasonal heavy weight of Pumpkin Porter.
Pumpkin Porter might just be the greatest beer ever. Ok, so that is totally not true but the fact that it is A) good B) Seasonal and thus only available this time of year and C) Popular because it is so good makes it a highly coveted drink. So obsessed with this brewed beverage are I and my friends we are known to stalk the few local bars that buy 4 peaks beer by the keg and once the brewery is out we mercilessly descend upon these other locales like a pack of vampires and suck the taps dry.
But alas, man cannot live on beer alone and 4 peaks offers up a wide and varying range of excellent food to go with the hand crafted brews. Think pairing food only works with wine? Not so and the folks at four peaks have been doing it for years upon years. After all what good is ordering a semi-gourmet lunch if you don’t have the proper pint to go with it?
Pricing for the beer is decent and most of it can be ordered by the pitcher or even taken home in one of four peak’s custom growlers (not so for the Pumpkin Porter). Food is a bit pricey (this is after all a brewery) but worth the money. No cover and proper attire is never required. Be warned, as mentioned parking is horrendous and if you want to relax and enjoy yourself pick off days and weekend days for the best experience.
And in case anyone wants to ask the answer is no I’ve never been to the one in Scottsdale and probably never will; I’m so not that guy.
Vio Don Dios
The Midnight Rider
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Casey Moore’s; a nice little bartender, just like yours.
Her name is Peaches and she is my bartender and not yours. Sure she’ll still serve you, get you shit faced and maybe even remember your name; she is good at what she does. She’ll take your money, talk some shit with a mischievous smirk and you might even get a genuine laugh out of her from time to time; but she is my bartender and not yours.
You see dear reader; I know Peaches from a time long before she was a bartender and even before I fell in love with and was heading to Casey Moore’s on a regular basis. That is to say I know her from the “real world” that we one and all leave behind as soon as we stumble past Casey’s gates and on to its rustic yet ample and cozy patios. We’ve been friends longer than you’ve been trying to score her number or weasel a free drink from her; which are big No-No’s in the bar world. Peaches is fast, funny, friendly, fair and no, she won’t go out with you; so stop asking. If you get surly with her she’ll give it back twice as hard and even when Casey’s is packed to the gills on a Friday night, with her behind the bar you’ll never be waiting long for that next thirst quenching libation. Combined with how absolutely fucking awesome she is at her job, my pension for draining brews and the fact that Casey Moore’s is going to be around forever, my patronage to this place isn’t likely to waver anytime soon.
Of course Peaches is the reason I still go to the place. With the death of the Mill Ave of my youth, it is harder and harder for me to bring myself to make the freeway dash from my compound in Central Phoenix. But this is a bar review blog, so if she is my bartender and you are either new to the valley or have been living in a hole for the past decade here are some reasons non-bartender related to fork over your hard earned doe for a night of drinking delights.
First off and foremost, Casey Moore’s is one of the last holdovers from what Mill Ave and downtown Tempe once was, a living breathing, drunken time capsule if you will. It is an iconic relic of days past when Hayden’s Ferry still actually made flour, before the dried up Salt River bed was terraformed into a stinking, mosquito infested swamp and when the only tendrils of corporate Americas extension was Fat Tuesdays. Everywhere you ventured were dive bars, tiny music venues, independent stores and family owned eateries. And now a decade later Casey’s is the last bastion standing all alone as a reminder of the “good ole days”.
The bar itself is technically a restaurant, serving up very good if not slightly over price grub. It also one of only a handful of places in this desert oasis that I would recommend eating an oyster from; that’s right, ice cold and on the half shell honest to goodness oysters. It is a great place to grab a cool one on a beautiful October afternoon and the solace of the location (in a residential neighborhood and literally, off the beaten path) is broken up at random intervals by passing freight trains.
On the drinking side, Casey’s has a cramped interior where you can throw a few darts or pony up to the bar; and if you are feeling froggy you can even grab an honest to goodness meal in the interior dining area. But where the place truly separates itself from the pack is the patio. Running the entire length of the property it is an enormous “L” shape. There are tons of trees, tables, benches, heating lamps (for those chilly winter months) mister systems and hurricane fans (when it is hot), a Koi pond, full service outside bar and the infamous Blarney Stone all of which make the outside hospitable and desirable year round. There are a dozen or so beers on tap and most days and night there is some of drink special running for all you college kids on a budget. Even though Casey’s has a hardcore following of loyal customers, the medium age for patronage is roughly 21-26 and due to its proximity to collegetown a vast majority of these are college students and artistic types. During the summer months, when all that is left in this sun scorched hell on earth are the hard core locals and those too stupid to leave, you will find me there. And maybe if you are lucky enough you can join me and find your own bartender, just like mine.
Casey Moore’s has no cover charge and proper attire is never required. Depending on what is going on in the valley (or more specifically Tempe) it can be packed to near capacity or eerily dead. Food is moderately priced and actually pretty good. There is almost always something on special so ask your waitress/bartender.
850 S Ash Ave
Tempe AZ, 85281
Casey Moore's!
Vio Con Dios,
The Midnight Rider
You see dear reader; I know Peaches from a time long before she was a bartender and even before I fell in love with and was heading to Casey Moore’s on a regular basis. That is to say I know her from the “real world” that we one and all leave behind as soon as we stumble past Casey’s gates and on to its rustic yet ample and cozy patios. We’ve been friends longer than you’ve been trying to score her number or weasel a free drink from her; which are big No-No’s in the bar world. Peaches is fast, funny, friendly, fair and no, she won’t go out with you; so stop asking. If you get surly with her she’ll give it back twice as hard and even when Casey’s is packed to the gills on a Friday night, with her behind the bar you’ll never be waiting long for that next thirst quenching libation. Combined with how absolutely fucking awesome she is at her job, my pension for draining brews and the fact that Casey Moore’s is going to be around forever, my patronage to this place isn’t likely to waver anytime soon.
Of course Peaches is the reason I still go to the place. With the death of the Mill Ave of my youth, it is harder and harder for me to bring myself to make the freeway dash from my compound in Central Phoenix. But this is a bar review blog, so if she is my bartender and you are either new to the valley or have been living in a hole for the past decade here are some reasons non-bartender related to fork over your hard earned doe for a night of drinking delights.
First off and foremost, Casey Moore’s is one of the last holdovers from what Mill Ave and downtown Tempe once was, a living breathing, drunken time capsule if you will. It is an iconic relic of days past when Hayden’s Ferry still actually made flour, before the dried up Salt River bed was terraformed into a stinking, mosquito infested swamp and when the only tendrils of corporate Americas extension was Fat Tuesdays. Everywhere you ventured were dive bars, tiny music venues, independent stores and family owned eateries. And now a decade later Casey’s is the last bastion standing all alone as a reminder of the “good ole days”.
The bar itself is technically a restaurant, serving up very good if not slightly over price grub. It also one of only a handful of places in this desert oasis that I would recommend eating an oyster from; that’s right, ice cold and on the half shell honest to goodness oysters. It is a great place to grab a cool one on a beautiful October afternoon and the solace of the location (in a residential neighborhood and literally, off the beaten path) is broken up at random intervals by passing freight trains.
On the drinking side, Casey’s has a cramped interior where you can throw a few darts or pony up to the bar; and if you are feeling froggy you can even grab an honest to goodness meal in the interior dining area. But where the place truly separates itself from the pack is the patio. Running the entire length of the property it is an enormous “L” shape. There are tons of trees, tables, benches, heating lamps (for those chilly winter months) mister systems and hurricane fans (when it is hot), a Koi pond, full service outside bar and the infamous Blarney Stone all of which make the outside hospitable and desirable year round. There are a dozen or so beers on tap and most days and night there is some of drink special running for all you college kids on a budget. Even though Casey’s has a hardcore following of loyal customers, the medium age for patronage is roughly 21-26 and due to its proximity to collegetown a vast majority of these are college students and artistic types. During the summer months, when all that is left in this sun scorched hell on earth are the hard core locals and those too stupid to leave, you will find me there. And maybe if you are lucky enough you can join me and find your own bartender, just like mine.
Casey Moore’s has no cover charge and proper attire is never required. Depending on what is going on in the valley (or more specifically Tempe) it can be packed to near capacity or eerily dead. Food is moderately priced and actually pretty good. There is almost always something on special so ask your waitress/bartender.
850 S Ash Ave
Tempe AZ, 85281
Casey Moore's!
Vio Con Dios,
The Midnight Rider
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Gallagher's 32nd St and Baseline; yes I'm serious and don't call me Shirley
Let’s face it, a chain style sports bar/restaurant like Gallagher’s is going to be out of place amongst the dive bar gems and hidden drinking dens that this space will normally pimp. Any Chili’s/Applebee’s type joint looks the same and feels the same no matter if you patronize a valley locale or the same type of place in say…Alabama. There is a reason they are chains, simple business models that can be universally enjoyed by Joe Anybody no matter where you find them. And yes, the Gallagher’s name can be found in as far north as Cave Creek, all the way east to Chandler and various spots in between.
Nothing about the décor is going to grab your attention and sure it is just as good as any other place to watch whatever sporting ‘game’ is your bag. If you happen to have one nearby you’ll probably stop in from time to time but you aren’t going to really drive half way across the city for something that can be duplicated a few blocks away. The food is typical bar food, moderately priced and filling with whatever unique twists that the business owner’s manual theme demands. The hard working staff will range from cute and competent to bored and semi-comatose and I’m betting if you make this your bar of choice one of the bartenders will remember your name and your poison of choice; it is there job to do such things.
So gosh golly gee whiz, why in the fuck am I wasting your and my time hammering out a dull yawn inspiring blurb when you can just move along and go to another venue that has Blue Moon on tap and be perfectly content doing so? Well dear reader, this particular Gallagher’s has one thing that likeminded establishments can’t possibly duplicate; one helluva view.
The outside patio has its own bar with a smattering of tables for all the smokers who have chase outside to fill their lungs with smoke. Besides a collection of fans that spray cooling mist on the gathered masses, a half dozen stools line the bar. Because of our wonderful summer climate the bar itself has a single air conditioning vent that offers the briefest moments of cooling air lapping at your face while it placates your bar tenders sweltering body (these are the best seats in the place, so grab them if you can). It was during a moment of reflective silence between old friends, that I sat smiling contently when the proprietors of this particular establishment chose to take my breath away. Through the wonders of technology the sun shades that had been providing much needed respite from an unyielding ball of flame moved silently into motion. As my mind churned thoughts home coming solace and bad 80’s television theme songs the shades little by little rolled up and blessed me with the sun setting to the west with South Mountain as my back drop. Unfortunately for y’all I’m a writer and not a photo journalist so until I return to the patio view (and return I will) and remember to take a slightly out of focus snap shot, you will just have to take my word for it; this is one bar in the “regular” world that is worth the visit.
Gallagher’s on 32dn st. and Baseline; go for the sports bar cliché, but stay for the view.
Moderately priced food and drinks; patio bar open on busy nights and weekends.
Parking looks worse than it actually is and who couldn’t stand to walk a few extra feet after piling on the brews and greasy food?
No cover and proper attire is never required.
Gallagher's -
3220 E Baseline Rd, Phoenix, AZ - (602) 437-0981
Vio Con Dios, tip your bartender and put a helmet on that, soldier.
- The Midnight Rider.
Nothing about the décor is going to grab your attention and sure it is just as good as any other place to watch whatever sporting ‘game’ is your bag. If you happen to have one nearby you’ll probably stop in from time to time but you aren’t going to really drive half way across the city for something that can be duplicated a few blocks away. The food is typical bar food, moderately priced and filling with whatever unique twists that the business owner’s manual theme demands. The hard working staff will range from cute and competent to bored and semi-comatose and I’m betting if you make this your bar of choice one of the bartenders will remember your name and your poison of choice; it is there job to do such things.
So gosh golly gee whiz, why in the fuck am I wasting your and my time hammering out a dull yawn inspiring blurb when you can just move along and go to another venue that has Blue Moon on tap and be perfectly content doing so? Well dear reader, this particular Gallagher’s has one thing that likeminded establishments can’t possibly duplicate; one helluva view.
The outside patio has its own bar with a smattering of tables for all the smokers who have chase outside to fill their lungs with smoke. Besides a collection of fans that spray cooling mist on the gathered masses, a half dozen stools line the bar. Because of our wonderful summer climate the bar itself has a single air conditioning vent that offers the briefest moments of cooling air lapping at your face while it placates your bar tenders sweltering body (these are the best seats in the place, so grab them if you can). It was during a moment of reflective silence between old friends, that I sat smiling contently when the proprietors of this particular establishment chose to take my breath away. Through the wonders of technology the sun shades that had been providing much needed respite from an unyielding ball of flame moved silently into motion. As my mind churned thoughts home coming solace and bad 80’s television theme songs the shades little by little rolled up and blessed me with the sun setting to the west with South Mountain as my back drop. Unfortunately for y’all I’m a writer and not a photo journalist so until I return to the patio view (and return I will) and remember to take a slightly out of focus snap shot, you will just have to take my word for it; this is one bar in the “regular” world that is worth the visit.
Gallagher’s on 32dn st. and Baseline; go for the sports bar cliché, but stay for the view.
Moderately priced food and drinks; patio bar open on busy nights and weekends.
Parking looks worse than it actually is and who couldn’t stand to walk a few extra feet after piling on the brews and greasy food?
No cover and proper attire is never required.
Gallagher's -
3220 E Baseline Rd, Phoenix, AZ - (602) 437-0981
Vio Con Dios, tip your bartender and put a helmet on that, soldier.
- The Midnight Rider.
Shady's: A Beacon in the Night
We should have known that something was amiss when my cellular device buzzed and the illuminated screen said, “the sky is broken”. Upon exiting the comfy confines of collegetown comfort the momentum and magnetic pull should have been confirmed. But it wasn’t until we stood watching horizontal rain and a sky that flickered like a worn out patio light bulb pulsating on its deathbed that the thought finally came. Turning to my companion with what has become an apparent telltale sign of mischievous promises I cleared my throat and put for the quandary; “are you up for some more adventure?”
The streets of Phoenix looked as if they had been struck a mighty blow by the scientifically classified hurricanes that I had only just recently fled. But a hurricane in Arizona? The thought was laughable at best and even with power deficient streets and the scattered limbs of a thousand broken trees leading the way it wasn’t until we arrived that the realization dawned upon us. City blocks in every direction were dark, street lights were nothing more than dark tendrils of metal postings marking an intersection of streets where heavy traffic should be still flowing strong at even this late hour. The lone beacon in the night was a neon green sign beckoning us in from the storm; the calm and cool interior of Shady’s called.
Shady’s is one part hipster heaven and one part dive bar delight. A tiny low ceiling building welcomes all and first timers that are arriving on grape vine recommendations always sport the same look of “you mean this is it” facial contorting confusion. There is a lone bar that even at the busiest of Friday nights is only large enough for a maximum of two bartenders to man and even then it can sometimes be cramped quarters. There is a pool table, but if you are there during peek hours it is nearly impossible to play a proper game. The bar is the place to be, but if this isn’t your style a small line of booths horseshoe the pool table and a selection of comfy chairs are arranged in front of a fireplace that I have never seen hold more than a few candles, let alone an honest to goodness fire. Add to this mix some of the best bartenders in the valley who will sling you any number of custom designed concoctions, old favorites and a bevy of ice cold beers in a maddening variety and you have a very choice locale in which to pine away the hot summer months. What once was a seldom used back patio is now a hot bed of activity on any given day; you can ban smoking from bars but you will never remove the cold hard habit of a beer in one hand and a smoke in the other. Of course no bar I will list in my top 5 favorites would be complete without a colorful cast of patrons and Shady’s has never failed to deliver to me a witty conversation that I wouldn’t engage or some bizarre miscreant to gawk at.
The quaint interior, friendly regulars, numerous quality beers on tap and kick ass bartenders are all good but there is one key element that one and all seem needful of. When the bartenders are too busy for small talk and the conversations lull into silence and those off times when all you want is a beer and a little bit of solace we all need something else besides our own bar mirror reflections to be distracted by. And Shady’s delivers this with a knock out blow. Forget for a moment that the pint you are sipping could come in conjunction with a viewing of “Better off Dead” playing in subtitles on one of several TV screens over the bar. Is it ok to stop and smile as you watch the words form in your own head and found yourself saying out loud, “never, ever feed them after midnight” along with the cast of “Gremlins”. Though if the distraction of long forgotten or just straight up good movie watching isn’t your cup of tea then there is always the legendary jukebox to provide your needed distraction.
If you don’t like punk, you can always pick a couple of tunes from old blue eyes. If you don’t like punk and Sinatra isn’t your thing, stink the place up with some James Brown funk. I you don’t like punk, can’t do Sinatra, despise James Brown then you can always grab a Johnny Cash tune. If you don’t like any of these musical selections then go home you are in the wrong bar. If you are however a fan of good punk rock than Shady’s will offer up a selection of great bands and odd b-sides that will have you in Mohawk heaven.
Like most popular and hipper locations Shady’s is packed to the rafters on Friday and Saturday nights.
There is no kitchen, so eat before you go.
Never a cover and proper attire is never required.
Shadys -
2701 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ - (602) 956-8998
Vio Con Dios, tip your bartender and put a helmet on that, soldier.
- The Midnight Rider.
The streets of Phoenix looked as if they had been struck a mighty blow by the scientifically classified hurricanes that I had only just recently fled. But a hurricane in Arizona? The thought was laughable at best and even with power deficient streets and the scattered limbs of a thousand broken trees leading the way it wasn’t until we arrived that the realization dawned upon us. City blocks in every direction were dark, street lights were nothing more than dark tendrils of metal postings marking an intersection of streets where heavy traffic should be still flowing strong at even this late hour. The lone beacon in the night was a neon green sign beckoning us in from the storm; the calm and cool interior of Shady’s called.
Shady’s is one part hipster heaven and one part dive bar delight. A tiny low ceiling building welcomes all and first timers that are arriving on grape vine recommendations always sport the same look of “you mean this is it” facial contorting confusion. There is a lone bar that even at the busiest of Friday nights is only large enough for a maximum of two bartenders to man and even then it can sometimes be cramped quarters. There is a pool table, but if you are there during peek hours it is nearly impossible to play a proper game. The bar is the place to be, but if this isn’t your style a small line of booths horseshoe the pool table and a selection of comfy chairs are arranged in front of a fireplace that I have never seen hold more than a few candles, let alone an honest to goodness fire. Add to this mix some of the best bartenders in the valley who will sling you any number of custom designed concoctions, old favorites and a bevy of ice cold beers in a maddening variety and you have a very choice locale in which to pine away the hot summer months. What once was a seldom used back patio is now a hot bed of activity on any given day; you can ban smoking from bars but you will never remove the cold hard habit of a beer in one hand and a smoke in the other. Of course no bar I will list in my top 5 favorites would be complete without a colorful cast of patrons and Shady’s has never failed to deliver to me a witty conversation that I wouldn’t engage or some bizarre miscreant to gawk at.
The quaint interior, friendly regulars, numerous quality beers on tap and kick ass bartenders are all good but there is one key element that one and all seem needful of. When the bartenders are too busy for small talk and the conversations lull into silence and those off times when all you want is a beer and a little bit of solace we all need something else besides our own bar mirror reflections to be distracted by. And Shady’s delivers this with a knock out blow. Forget for a moment that the pint you are sipping could come in conjunction with a viewing of “Better off Dead” playing in subtitles on one of several TV screens over the bar. Is it ok to stop and smile as you watch the words form in your own head and found yourself saying out loud, “never, ever feed them after midnight” along with the cast of “Gremlins”. Though if the distraction of long forgotten or just straight up good movie watching isn’t your cup of tea then there is always the legendary jukebox to provide your needed distraction.
If you don’t like punk, you can always pick a couple of tunes from old blue eyes. If you don’t like punk and Sinatra isn’t your thing, stink the place up with some James Brown funk. I you don’t like punk, can’t do Sinatra, despise James Brown then you can always grab a Johnny Cash tune. If you don’t like any of these musical selections then go home you are in the wrong bar. If you are however a fan of good punk rock than Shady’s will offer up a selection of great bands and odd b-sides that will have you in Mohawk heaven.
Like most popular and hipper locations Shady’s is packed to the rafters on Friday and Saturday nights.
There is no kitchen, so eat before you go.
Never a cover and proper attire is never required.
Shadys -
2701 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ - (602) 956-8998
Vio Con Dios, tip your bartender and put a helmet on that, soldier.
- The Midnight Rider.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Bar Etiquette 101
Here are a few tips and tactics to help you get the most out of your night/evening/day out at your favorite saloon. Though most people are familiar with the “basics” it never ceases to amaze us how many of you forget these simple rules. Do yourself and most importantly everyone else that you are sharing bars with a favor and remember a few things that are must for optimal drinking enjoyment:
- It doesn’t matter if you are going out to a hot new locale for the first time (that hopefully you read about on here) or your old standby neighborhood dive, if you go out on a Friday or Saturday night any bar that is worth a shit is going to be packed at or near capacity and extremely busy. Don’t expect to be treated like royalty and that the mass of people will part upon your arrival. Don’t expect the door person to remember you and the easiest way to ruin your night is to give the person who has the ultimate power to let you in or not shit about it. DO be prepared to wait a minute or two for service and to use the bathroom. You can expect an even lengthier wait for your song to play on the jukebox, a pool table to open up or to find a place to rest your weary ass. Take it in stride and enjoy your surroundings. No point in getting worked up; no one likes an angry drunk.
- If you can’t afford to tip your bartenders and wait staff, it is time to go home. If beers are $4 and you can’t even muster up at least a $1 tip, hit the road and pickup a 40. The better you tip, the more the staff will A) remember you and B) want to serve you. Normal restaurant rules for tipping don’t apply at a bar. A $2 tip on a $25 order is bad karma and bad etiquette.
- DON’T snap your fingers, shout or complain to the person next to you about the service. No one cares and it makes you like a dick/bitch. Most importantly don’t touch the staff; this is the fastest way to get tossed out and beat down by a bouncer that is A) sober and B) paid to do this job because they are a bad ass. Just because you and your friends are drunk doesn’t mean that you can “take them”.
- IF you must complain about a drink apologize for having to bother them and have a legitimate reason for doing so. Remember even if you don’t mean to be a dick and you do have a legitimate reason for complaining, you are basically going to be calling out your bartender and telling them they suck at their job in front of a lot of people. You can’t return drinks like you can return clothes and unless you find a live roach or part of a finger floating in your Martini asking for a discount or a freebie is no-no.
- Fellas: No means no. Take a hint and move on. Just because being doggedly persistent managed to actually get you laid on New Years Eve of 2003 doesn’t mean it is going to work again. In fact I can guarantee it isn’t going to work. Buying a woman a drink or letting her cut in front of you at the bar doesn’t obligate them to thank you, let alone give you free reign to be an annoying prick all night; it just makes you an idiot for thinking such things. Remember if push comes to shove you are going to get thrown out and accosted by security and other bar patrons. NO one is going to believe for a minute that petite little thing you were trying to work your moves on called you a string of expletives that would make a sailor blush and then broke your left foot with her stiletto heels. Man up and go home pussy.
- Ladies: if you want him to go away and nice doesn’t work the first time be direct and be forceful. It is already imprinted in our psyches that sometimes no means, maybe, yes or god knows what else. Lie if you have to but the more blunt you are the less likely he is to come back. You should by no means go from zero to bitch right off the bat as you will find a simple no thank you will work most of the time. But if the same drunk dude is coming over for a third pass to stare down your shirt and pull out his “best move” don’t be afraid to let out your inner demon. Bouncers and other patrons are almost always going to be on your side.
- THE BAR IS CLOSED means just that; get the fuck out. If you were too stupid or too drunk and waited until the last minute to hook up the digits no one cares. Get out of the bar and take care of any last minute business outside. More than anything else the staff of any bar just wants to go home. They are tired, have lives/families of their own and do not have easy jobs. Most importantly they are sober as a mule and had to deal with your drunken ass all night; give them a break.
- DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT order a Bloody Mary in a busy bar and especially not on a Friday or Saturday night. Even if we tell you that a certain place makes a really good one this is not the time. You will look like a douche bag/dumb bitch if you ask for one at 11PM on a Saturday. Understand that a good Bloody Mary is something to be savored and a bartender that makes a really good one will put a lot of time and effort into doing so. Ordering one in a bar that is hopping will assure that people will look at you funny and that the bartender didn’t have the time to make you anything more than a vodka tomato juice combo with a piece of celery sticking out of it. Bloody Marys are a good sipping, hair of the dog, day drinking, sitting down for a good brunch type of drink.
- One final note. The purveyors of this blog in no way shape or form condone or encourage drunk driving. Thanks to Sheriff Joe, Arizona has some of the toughest DUI laws in the entire nation and trust us when we say that you don’t ever want to know for yourselves what the inside of tent city is like. IF you are too wasted to drive, call a cab. If you drink in and around the same areas, night in and night out find a cab driver you like and take his card. Just like bartenders, cabbies are not opposed to regular and repeat customers. And also just like bartenders show a little heart and toss the guy/gal a few extra bucks. Not only are they hard workers trying to scratch out a living, but they have just saved you (at the minimum) from possible incarceration and the hands of local law enforcement; the worst case scenario is that they very well may have just save your life. Now don’t you think that is worth more than 20%?
Let us know!
Thanks for reading and happy drinking!
-the LDofLC Staff
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Introduction
The Last Desperados of Legend City simply put is a place to see where to drink in the greater Phoenix area. We go to bars, we review the bars and we write about the bars. But for those of you that want a little bit more grease to go with your booze there of course is a background story to go along with all the drinking, hootin and hollerin.
The background to how this blog was born is also simple enough. We live, work, breath but most importantly drink in Phoenix, Arizona. Try as it might and no matter how large the city grows Phoenix, the state of Arizona and the Southwest in general can never see to shake the Wild West imagery that the rest of the U.S. and world has branded upon us. So who better than a bunch of local miscreants to latch onto this imagery, exploit the hell out of it and ride as far as our horses can possibly carry us into the sunset.
Equally as important to our lust of beer and booze is our love of Phoenix and all things Phoenician like. We have watched our small desert oasis blossom, bloom and then explode into the massive metropolitan cityscape of never ending suburbs. Lost amongst this metamorphosis were many great places, many of which were staples of the history that made Phoenix what it is today. One of the biggest that has been lost to the annals of history is a place called Legend City.
Legend City was Phoenix’s first amusement park…that’s right Phoenix actually had an honest to goodness amusement park. It was situated across the riverbed from Sun Devil Stadium on the Tempe/Phoenix border. Even though it wasn’t a particularly great amusement park (compared to the likes of a certain Southern California Mouse House) it did have a southwest theme and was patronized by the great Wallace and Ladmo. Legend City rose and fell long before most Valley residents even moved here and disappeared in 1983. With the exception of a website dedicated to the memory of the place, it has been wiped completely from the map and very few even remember it existed at all. To see more about this lost Phoenix icon visit this website: http://www.legend-city.com/ .
We are the dedicated desperados that call this inhospitable desert home. We are the few that refuse to let the history die and we use our hearts and minds to remind everyone of the awesomeness that is Phoenix and we dedicate our tales to the memories of Legend City. And what better way to do this then to pass along the knowledge we compile just like the cowboy poets of days long past.
We are the Last Desperados of Legend City and we are here to drink.
The background to how this blog was born is also simple enough. We live, work, breath but most importantly drink in Phoenix, Arizona. Try as it might and no matter how large the city grows Phoenix, the state of Arizona and the Southwest in general can never see to shake the Wild West imagery that the rest of the U.S. and world has branded upon us. So who better than a bunch of local miscreants to latch onto this imagery, exploit the hell out of it and ride as far as our horses can possibly carry us into the sunset.
Equally as important to our lust of beer and booze is our love of Phoenix and all things Phoenician like. We have watched our small desert oasis blossom, bloom and then explode into the massive metropolitan cityscape of never ending suburbs. Lost amongst this metamorphosis were many great places, many of which were staples of the history that made Phoenix what it is today. One of the biggest that has been lost to the annals of history is a place called Legend City.
Legend City was Phoenix’s first amusement park…that’s right Phoenix actually had an honest to goodness amusement park. It was situated across the riverbed from Sun Devil Stadium on the Tempe/Phoenix border. Even though it wasn’t a particularly great amusement park (compared to the likes of a certain Southern California Mouse House) it did have a southwest theme and was patronized by the great Wallace and Ladmo. Legend City rose and fell long before most Valley residents even moved here and disappeared in 1983. With the exception of a website dedicated to the memory of the place, it has been wiped completely from the map and very few even remember it existed at all. To see more about this lost Phoenix icon visit this website: http://www.legend-city.com/ .
We are the dedicated desperados that call this inhospitable desert home. We are the few that refuse to let the history die and we use our hearts and minds to remind everyone of the awesomeness that is Phoenix and we dedicate our tales to the memories of Legend City. And what better way to do this then to pass along the knowledge we compile just like the cowboy poets of days long past.
We are the Last Desperados of Legend City and we are here to drink.
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