Observations from a bar

Alright, so this week I finally got the opportunity to make some observations at a bar. Considering I hit all four of the downtown Richmond Bars in three days, I think I am now completely qualified to make my observations.

Actually, not only are these going to be bar observations, but reviews of the major bars in Richmond that we seem to frequent.

Wednesday---Buddha Belly Bar

Now, I feel like an old fart because "Back in my day" the Buddha used to be Big Daddy Slims. Big Daddy's was the rugby haunt of choice. I got drunk for the first time in Big Daddy's. Now it is the Buddha.

We left at about nine o'clock for the bar.

Observation #1---Bars don't actually get into swing until after ten thirty.

THe rugby people opened Buddha that night. It's OK, we know the owner.

Observation #2--- Drunk people should not be allowed behind the bar.

Drunk Pig Pen was trying to tend bar and failing miserably. It's OK, there's a reason she's "Drunk Pig Pen." SHe drank a whole pitcher of beer, four jaeger bombs, and a concoction called a Lunchbox which is beer with Amaretto and OJ in it. Oh, and she had at least two shots of pineapple upside down cake and two of Love. You won't be surprised when I tell you she not only injured herself that night, but that she puked.

Observation #3--- Cigarettes

Cigarettes are a catch 22. I don't mind them, but I hate when I come out of a bar smelling like an ashtray. I can't wear clothes multiple days if I wear them to the bar because of the chimneys that line up and smoke side by side. Cigarette smoke makes wearing contacts unbearable after a while. Can't live with them, can't live without them.

Observation #4--- Fashion

I went to the bar, as usual, in a sweatshirt and jeans. Most of the rugby girls were dressed similarly....a few had on nice shirts, but really we didn't go all out. There was one girl who showed up in 'moon boots'. They were black and neon pink puffy boot with the words 'moon boots' silk screened on them. We've made fun of the fashion statement before, but we were shocked that someone would actually wear them into public. I believe the comment was that they looked like cheap, ghetto snowboard boots. I've seen cheap, ghetto snowboard boots, and the moon boots made those look like world cup quality boots.

Observation #5--- Cabs

I've ridden in a cab once. I was riding back from a party with a few people and the guys paid the cab fair for like, three of us. Every other party I've been to, either I crash on someone's couch, I have a DD, or I walk home. I now know why. Cab drivers here are SCARY! I'm not sure what language the man spoke, but it was not the Queen's English.

Cover: $0
Drink Variety: Good selection of Liquors behind the bar. Good selection of different drinks. Budweiser Beers Only.
Drink Price: Wouldn't really know, we know the owner so we got free/discounted drinks. Jager Bombs $4.
Music: Good mix of pop/Top 40 and country
People: College

Thursday--- Paddy Wagon

I've been to the Paddy Wagon once before. I went with some friends, and I didn't particularly like it. Like Buddha, the Paddy Wagon used to be a bar of a different name, and it used to be a rugby haunt. Now it is the high end Paddy Wagon. Really, the only reason for going to PW's was to see our friend Fratty play. Here's why I don't like PW's, they're expensive.

That's pretty much it.

PW's serves food, and they have seating. They have a second floor. IT really is a very nice pub. Fratty and Ryan did well, they played a good mix of music and there seemed to be a lot of people.

Observation #6--- Drunk frat boys are annoying. They monopolize wherever they go, whatever they do.

Observation #7--- Sorority Girls are like Baseball Cards. (Ali and I are pretty proud of this analogy, so stay with me) They come in packs and there's almost always a duplicate. AND Boys have a tendency to trade them around.

Cover: $3
Drink Variety: Good variety of top shelf liquors. Absenthe. Good selection of beers.
Drink Price: Expensive. I was drinking Whiskey and Coke's at $3 a pop. Ali tried an 'oatmeal cookie' advertised at the bar (Bailey's and Goldschlager) at $3.75. Pabst $1, Blue Moon $3.75.
Music: Live bands, good stuff
People: Old. The average age of the people in this bar is mid to late thirties.

Friday--The Whiskey

As most bars in Richmond, this was very briefly a rugby haunt. I boycotted this bar after they remodeled/came under new management and got rid of my favorite bartender in town. Chip will always have a special place in my heart.

We decided to give the Whiskey a try this week.

The WHiskey has no heat, and apparently hasn't had heat in three weeks.

Observation #8---Fashion. No matter how cute you want to look, if the average air temp outside is below 40* you should probably dress warm.

The Whiskey brings in live bands, and has a big dance floor. This night, the band was a heavy metal band.

I have no problem with heavy metal. However, the people who came for this band were all biker papas. To tell you I had flashbacks to the park this summer is an understatement. We were the most 'colorful' group in the room....simply because we weren't all wearing black. Standard attire for the evening was Harley Jackets and we missed the memo.

We left after an hour.

Cover: $4
Drink Variety: Decent. Beers and liquors
Drink Price: $2 Whiskey and Cokes, $3 Red Headed sluts
Music: That night, death metal.
People: Bikers

Friday Part 2--- T-bombs

T-bombs is our bar of choice. We've been going there for a while now. Basically since they shut the WHiskey down the first time last May. THey bring in good bands and there's always a good crowd. Positives to T-bombs is that in warmer weather, they have an outside deck.

Observation #9--- Don't play pool drunk. It doesn't work out well.

We like T-bombs because we can play pool and no one really cares how bad we suck. THe music that night was the band Quack, who I've heard of, and really like. We liked the bands last week too. THey bring in good music for the bar.

Observation #10--- A Night on the town is more fun when someone else is buying you drinks.
I'm pretty sure that doesn't need ANY extra explanation.

Cover: $3
Drink Variety: Several beers and a good variety of liquors. Ali will tell you the drink size isn't bad either....and they know how to make a '57 Chevy the right way.
Drink Price: $2 Coronas, $2.25 Bottles, $1.50 Drafts. $2.25 for a Whiskey and Coke
Music: Good mix of new and old. You always know what they're playing. Even the radio music piped in isn't too bad.
People: College

Ok, so there are my bar observations and my write ups of the bars in town. Yes, I have a problem, but now that I'm old enough to go out, by god, I'm gonna go out and have me some fun!

I think next on Deck we might brave NIkki's (formerly the Bear and the Bull) or even Hamilton's (bleh). Both are off Main Street Bars, so we'll think about it. Until then, T-bombs will continue to get our patronage.

G'night y'all!