Week 17: Saints and Sinners and the Green Monster

Week 17 brings us to Saints and Sinners.  This is an average bar on 3040 S. State St,  however, this bar has POTENTIAL.  Downstairs is a great dance floor and upstairs is a good hang out bar with a GREAT Patio!!!.  We went to this bar again by Jon's request because some girls at the Starbucks near his work invited him.  When I arrived the boys were playing pool and Gina and Mel were watching.  Now this has been a stressful week for me so I was so happy to see my friends that I really did not care where we hung out this week, I was just going to have a great time.  I did at that. We did have an instance of the green monster showing up but that is a story that another PITLOZer will have to tell.  As it is for me, I saw my friends/family and I was as peace.  The bar itself is about 3 steins I would probably go again.  One thing against it is that there are no pitchers, however the beer selection is great with the Bohemian Vienna Lager and the Red Rock Honey Mead both available.  Pool tables were accessible, they had foozball, shuffleboard and air hockey.  The bartender was AMAZING and made great mixed drinks but also knew how Jameson should be served. The patio is the best in the state so far and I want to hit this bar again in the summer.  Not a long post tonight but then again it does not have to be, see you all next week

Week 16: Maggie McGee's and the Bachelorette Party who got Chadivus's Chest Hair!!!

Week 16, 4 whole months of pubbing and we are still at it wow!!!  So this week on Jon's request we all showed up at Maggie McGee's on Highland Dr..  This is an old school sports bar in Salt Lake and it does what it does well.  That said I am not a huge sports fan so I was kind of disinterested going in, be that as it may we had some interesting experiences.  When David and I showed up, there were roving bands of women having a bachelorette experience.  As it happened they all were in the middle of a scavenger hunt and came upon our table looking for a lock of chest hair.  Now as you know I, Chadivus am not a person to deny a damsel a reasonable request (also since David has NO chest hair to speak of)  I reached in my shirt and promptly pulled a lock of my chest follicles for the ladies' quest.  I was kindly repaid with a beer.  Now this was not the only highlight of the night.  We also had a wonderful waitress named Lori and she was on top of her game.  In addition after the Jazz game Karaoke started and I as usual was participant.  This time I had a ball singing "Squeeze Box" by The Who.  I especially loved the chorus, LOOK IT UP!!!!.  Even though the good times were had at this bar I can only give it 2 steins,  The good times were had by the patrons being involved not by the bar itself.  Pool is fair in fact we lost Jon and David most of the night, but pitchers were not available and the one mixed drink we had was fair.  Nachos were ok and the waitress was great so adding it up the bar gets a stein for pool and a stein for a good waitress.  In general the bar has too much room and while it is a great place to watch a game it is not the best place to pub.

Week 15: Club Allure or how Gangsta Jon makes us Blog the Leprechaun

So here is the skinny, Jon has been a member of the blond enforcers for over the last 10 years.  Now he would have gotten away with this if we had not decided to go to Club Allure, our first official dance club of the year.  Here is how it went down.  We show up at Allure and we are going in when out the blue they stop Jon and say "You can't go in, your shirt is a solid color and the collar is only poppin' on your jacket".  Now I am not really sure if they said it like that or if the said "Hey the tall blond one is sportin' colors we can't let im in, no we can't, someone'll get capped" but the gist is that Jon was not allowed in because he could be confused as a Gangsta.  That is right folks our 6' tall blond scruffy man is a Gangsta.  Needless to say this is bullshit and as a result Club Allure is our first 0 stein winner of the year.

Now to recover we end up meeting James and Jill from previous postings and Brandon at the Leprechaun over on 9th and 48th.  This was far better because not only was it a dive bar which I love, it was also fun.  We were surrounded by partying deaf people and signs were flying.  We had chips and salsa and it was generally very relaxed.  We even invented a guessing game named "My Disney Fantasy" We were pretty drunk and this was pretty wrong but fun and when no one around can actually hear you, a person would be amazed at how bold one would get with his or her answers.  We also played a game of telephone and that was fairly lame to be honest.  Anyway the Leprechaun has pitchers, liquor, a fair staff, the kitchen does NOT stay open late and the pool tables and equipment are in bad shape, but as a backup bar it does quite well and warrants a 2.5 stein out of 5.  Now a word on the ratings.  2.5 is not to bad and I would go back in a pinch like this was.  2 and lower however are probably a never go or go kicking and screaming.  So 2.5 is very fair for what we did there.

Week 14: VFW, Karaoke and King of the World!!!

So I know I have been slacking on the writing but, WE HAVE NOT BEEN SLACKING ON THE PUBBING!!!  After I let Gina and Jon do the review for week 13 during their Southern Utah trip, we all decided that our next bar was going to be VFW over on Highland Drive and about 30th.  Now I am not going to lie this place is set up as an old school rec club on the top and an old ship's galley in the basement.  I LOVED IT!!!  This bar is very working class, the proceeds benefit our veterans (which by the way, David is a vet and we love him for his service (you are the best David)).  Just to set the stage we all pre-gamed at Candice's house playing Killer Bunnies until about 10 and them we headed off to the VFW.  I will admit I was very skeptical when we got there, but it has a number of things going for it, first $6.00 pitchers, second available pool tables, third a working class crowd, fourth a hot Karaoke host and lastly they had $3.50 Crown Royal shots (and Canadian whiskey is a good change up now and then)  We got there and the boys played pool and you will see that we have a burgeoning romance here.  Jon and David get freaky at the bar all of the time lol.  Next we went upstairs to listen to the Karaoke.  I bought a round and TOTAL it was only $19.00 for a pitcher and 5 shots. AWESOME.  Then we started dancing to the good songs and I once again had Gina and Melanie to myself (which is how it should be)  The girls definitely worked it this week so we ended up getting another pitcher and 2 shots for our table from a guy who wanted them to dance.  Once again this bar is very good and very working class.  It is filled with good people.  For all of the above things mentioned and the chance to hang with everyone after a little breather, the bar earns 4 out of 5 steins!!!!

Cedar City Week 13 Gina

I want it to be made known that I didn’t just go to Cedar City because I was bored. There was a purpose, besides going to a bar even. I had a dance competition in St. George and the rooms are half as much in Cedar so we stayed there instead. We looked online for Cedar City nightlife thinking that there would be a variety of choices, seeing as how it is a college town and all but alas we were disappointed to find there were 3 bars listed on the net, so we picked one that had pool tables as well as liquor for me. When we got there it was really sketchy and there were about 4 cars in the surrounding parking lots but there was a blinking beer sign in the window so we went in. Ended up paying $5 a piece to get in too, which I thought was a little silly seeing as they needed all the people they can get to go in there since there was only about 10 people total in the bar. There was however 3 pool tables in this little place. They were all taken when we got there so we grabbed a table to watch the people who I thought were a band but turned out to be just jamming. While we were people watching we did notice the door man rockin out on his harmonica with the band. We were waiting for the tables to open up when we noticed one of the guys playing pool with a woman and they were kinda touchy feely but they started to head outside and when the woman (I use this term loosely) went into the bathroom the guy started rubbing up on a different lady. After only a few short minutes lady #2 grabs his hand and outside they go. We decided that they might be a minute and that we could probably play on their table. So we start a game of 9-ball like always and I was worse than usual, which is pretty bad anyway so it was embarrassing. Lady #1 comes out of the bathroom a bit later and comes back to sit at her table which was by the pool table we were playing at. And in true Chad fashion Jon offered to play teams with her and some other old guy that was hitting on her at the moment, and thankfully they declined. While I was talking to the lady, who was trashed I think I should add, a different random couple came up and asked Jon if he wanted to play teams. At this point Jon agreed, despite me trying to talk him out of it. Anyway the guy totally ran the table repeatedly while the other girl and I barely could even hit the cue ball and were laughing about it as I had a pretty good buzz going already. The girl was named Neil and she too had noticed the guy and lady #1 and 2# and had been watching them most the night as well and we continued to watch the 3 of them being drunk all over each other. We couldn’t quite decide what lady he actually came with. Neil being a regular at the bar said she sees them in there regularly and thinks one is a prostitute but still isn’t sure which one goes officially with the guy. Round about midnight (we got there about 11) the band stopped playing and they announced that it was last call and they were closing up. So I drank the rest of the beer cause Jon was driving and started talking to the door guy who was trying to get the place closed up and asked him about the 3 drunkards. He didn’t know either but for some reason the weird guy we had been playing pool with (named Rhett) decided to go talk to them. During my discussions with these bar patrons I learn that one of the other 3 bars was shut down and the second bar was a cowboy bar and had had a fatal shooting recently. So we picked the best place in Cedar to go and had some fun while we were there. I give it 2 steins for the vodka and the pool. I might even go back to visit next year.

Week 12 Recovery and a nice sit down dinner with BEER!!!!

So considering that it is Wednesday a full week after the debauchery that was the Irish Festival, I thought it was finally high time to get off of my arse and actually write the blog!!!  Well, while it is a fact that we spent a very long time enjoying Piper Down and the festivities of this years St. Patrick's Day, We still had the serious duty to our loyal readers to fit in another establishment during the week in which we could blog and review.  This week was the original Utah Pub...Desert Edge Brewery (formerly know as The Pub in Trolley Square).  Now this pub is a wee bit different than the bars and clubs we have all been attending since the PITLOZ group has gone about.  First food is very important and this is also the first pub where we get to sample local microbrews in their home environment.  To say the least I was very happy with both.  For dinner I ordered the French Onion Soup with the side of fresh fruit (and it is the time that the strawberries are coming in from California yum), Gina and Jon ordered the French Onion Soup and the Rare Roast Beef Sandwich, David ordered a Mushroom Bacon Burger (off menu) and lastly Melanie had the French Onion Soup as well.  So without a doubt, the French Onion Soup was a hit all of us loved it!  The mustard for the sandwich was wonderful and I even had half of David's burger (those of you who do not know David need to understand that this man really only eats one time per day and it is exactly at 2:00 PM, I think this is his hangover prevention diet) and it was tasty as well.  With the food out of the way next comes the beer and today we had pitcher of the Pub Pils, a solid favorite and The Inversion Ale.  The Inversion Ale is my favorite of the night with a deep dark filling taste with a wonderful smoke flavor made from home smoked malt barley.  This is a heavenly beer.  Pitchers also make this pub great but I recommend you going with a student BECAUSE each student receives 2 pitchers priced at $6.00 each with their student ID,  This is great for me because Jon and Gina are in school and that made for a very economical night of wonderful beer, food and company.  I give Desert Edge Brewery a 3 stein out of 5 stein review.  The beer was great, the service and food were good, but the atmosphere does not provide the other pub enjoyments that I love.  This is a great first stop pub for dinner if you are planning a long night out otherwise I recommend this pub for exactly the way we used it, a nice place to have dinner and beers with good friends.  Next stop week 13 which is actually going to be picked by.........GINA!!!!!

Week 11: St. Patrick's Week and the one we've been waiting for PIPER DOWN!!!!

So yes I know it is Monday and all that but this weekend was the kickoff of the Chadivus County Irish Festival as you can all see.  Now I am waiting till today because the PITLOZ group has been represented at Piper every day since Thursday.  First off Thursday was a great party.  We were there, Clint from work showed up, the band Potcheen played great Celtic jams and it was FUN!!!! We all got a wee bit trashed and that was fine because Piper Down has a great policy.  If you spend at least $45 they will give you a ride home!!! You can not beat that at all.  So drink up, we had at least 7 rounds of shots and you guessed it, Jameson!!!  Ellen was our waitress and she was a trooper keeping us well oiled.  Gina was the only one not shooting all Jameson although she had one so bully on her.  Jenna was also there which made the day fun as well.  Melanie of all people let herself drink up as well so everyone was in a great mood.  On top of it I got to hang out with a very cute fiddle player named Laura who was a member of Potcheen (this band is great I even bought them a round).  With Thursday over, David and I went back to Piper on Friday and saw the Dropkick/Flogging cover band.  We had an enjoyable night even thought the band was very weak (one tempo was all they know and it was so fast they were sloppy).  The Piper crowd and the bar itself was not a problem in the least.  Saturday was the St. Patrick's Day Parade for Salt Lake so the kids and I headed down and then when it was over David and I headed to Piper once again.  The bar was very different....and to let you know I do not fault Dave the owner at all he knows what his money season is.  This is his time of year to play up the Irish of his bar and he did it and I am NOT one to disagree.  The regulars at Piper get a whole lot of bonuses throughout the year so this time of year they had all better pay up to keep this great bar open.  Drinks were more expensive and no pitchers were available on Saturday but the food was great Irish fare and it made us appreciate the bar even more.  Side note everybody needs to play Killer Bunnies!!! (thanks for showing us the game Candice).  After Saturday we decided to go to Piper Sunday morning for brunch and this time we were joined by some PITLOZ newbies Nicole and her husband Mike plus Ruthie and Jen.   Thanks all of you for coming.  Brunch was awesome and Piper does it right with $1 mimosas and a free bloody Mary bar.  In addition beer is a great breakfast drink!!!!  So as you can all see I love Piper Down it is a truly great bar in Salt Lake (and I am even going to so it is THE best bar in Salt Lake).  Obviously this is 5 out of 5 steins for great service, knowing how to treat the regulars, a great owner, normally great beer selections (next time make your light lager different than Miller for St. Patrick's) great food and truly great atmosphere!!  Thanks for providing that Dave and we will see you on Wednesday for St. Patrick's day!!!!!!!

The amazing Melanie!

Bromance revisited

David, Jon, Gina and Melanie is in the back

Gina's cleavage. Not nearly as impresive as Melanie's or Chad's...

Melanie and Gina drunk

Tonsil hockey

Gina trying to get in on the David action

Melanie and Gina dancing

Melanie, Gina, and DAVE dancing drunk

Chad with his pipe

Chad with pipe and beer

Melanie, Jenna, Gina, and the band guy who wanted Melanie

Chad and his lovely fiddle player Laura

Andrea and her husband, new friends we made at the bar. (As a side note I think Andrea bites harder than sara does.)