by Debbi | Mar 3, 2012 | Cool Stuff, Famous Folk
Exciting news! Former Sandbartender Erick is a published author!
Erick's novel, "A Green Flash" is now available for download on amazon.com. And, he's set up a promotion making the novel available for FREE through March 4. If you're looking for something new to read, check it out.
In a nutshell, the novel is about a man who leaves everything behind to open a bar on a tiny Caribbean island. If you love beach bars- and we think you do!- you should read this book.
Click here to view the purchase page on amazon.com.
Erick worked at the Sandbar several years ago, and then he left us to go to pharmacy school. If you know anything about pharmacy school, you know how tough it is. Yet, Erick managed to write a novel between study breaks. He said:
"I just decided to start writing it one night when I was bored studying. I read all the time and always thought that it would be fun to try and see what I could do with a story. I didn't realize how big of a task it would be when I started, and it took a long time to write, especially while in school, but I learned a ton about myself during the process. It's one of the more mentally tough things I've done in my life."
Erick hopes to have copies of the novel available in paperback format in a few weeks. On March 1, the book was #24 in literary fiction for Kindle and #99 for contemporary fiction.
And, did you know that you don't have to have a Kindle in order to download this? There are Kindle apps for iPhone, iPad, Android and others (see a list here) and you can also use Kindle Cloud Reader to read books in your web browser.
If you miss out on the free promotion, the book is still available for purchase after March 4 for just $2.99.
by Debbi | Feb 28, 2012 | Around the World
Our Man on the Street and frequent blog contributor Pat sent us some pictures. He went to Winter Park for the holidays with his lady friend Andrea, and of course they took Sandbar shirts along.
This is a nice change from all the tropical photos we've received lately! And since we've had very little snow in Lawrence…we'll have to live vicariously through our customers.
by Debbi | Feb 27, 2012 | Ottawa
Are you looking for something fun to do on family night? A new option for date night? Don't want to drive to Kansas City for dinner and a movie at one of their snazzy movie theaters?
Check out the Plaza Grill and Cinema, just a short drive south of Lawrence in Ottawa.
Sandbar founder Peach bought the historic movie theater in Ottawa several years ago and has renovated it. Today, the theater has two big screens and also houses a restaurant.
Every Monday is dinner and a movie night. For only $9.99, you can enjoy dinner from the extensive menu as well as a movie. There are daily matinees for just $5.75 per ticket before 7 p.m., and on Tuesdays you can get matinee pricing all day. Senior citizens can enjoy $5 movie tickets all day on Wednesdays. You can also rent out the theater for parties or other events. Click here for movie specials.
For those of you looking for a great date night, check out the Prime Rib Fridays. For $15 per person, you can enjoy a prime rib dinner and a movie.
If you don't have time for a movie, you can still stop by for something to eat. The grill is open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, noon-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and noon-9 p.m. on Sunday. Click here to see the menu. Catering options are also available.
Ottawa is a great little town and it's a short drive. Try something new and check out Peach's theater! This is where we go every Halloween for our Rocky Horror Picture Show extravaganza. Maybe one of these days we'll put together a bus trip for dinner and a movie?
You can also keep up with the Plaza Grill and Cinema on Facebook and Twitter.
by Debbi | Feb 23, 2012 | Cool Stuff, Web/Tech
Well, we've given in to yet another social network.
You can now find us on Pinterest, the current darling of the social networking world. We were a little hesitant to sign up; after all, between blogging and Facebooking and tweeting it's a little hard to keep up with everything sometimes. But after spending some time exploring Pinterest, it was easy to see how it could be fun for the Sandbar and our friends.
For those of you who aren't familiar with Pinterest, it's basically an online bulletin board. Did you ever tear out pictures of things you liked from magazines- things like furniture, houses, clothes or hairstyles- and stuff them in a notebook or folder? Pinterest is that, only better. Instead of having a notebook taking up space on your shelf, that you never refer back to, you've got online bulletin boards where you can "pin" things you find around the internet.
You can follow other people and their boards, and they can follow you. You can "like" or "repin" things that other people have pinned. It's a great way to discover new things.
You can find us here.
So, what are we pinning? So far, we've found cool pint glasses, shark-shaped party food and baby mermaid costumes. And we've got a whole board dedicated to repurposing your drink toys. If you've got other ideas for Sandbar boards, let us know!
by Debbi | Feb 21, 2012 | Cool Stuff, Downtown, Events
Here's a fun new event in downtown Lawrence for the beer drinkers out there: the inaugural Kansas Craft Brew Expo!
The Kansas Craft Brewers Guild and Downtown Lawrence are collaborating to put on this event Saturday, March 3. It will feature craft brewers from around the region, and ticket holders can sample their brews. There will also be food, music, t-shirts and glassware.
Tickets are $30 and they're going fast. In fact, Free State Brewery estimates that the event will sell out in the next few days. You can purchase tickets at the Sandbar, Free State, 23rd Street Brewery, Sharks Surf Shop, hobbs, Brit's and Cottin's Hardware in Lawrence.
The event is Saturday, March 3 (the day of the KU-Texas basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse, at 8 p.m. that night!) and will be located at Abe & Jake's in downtown Lawrence. You must be 21 to enter.
For more information about the expo, visit their website at www.kscraftbrewfest.com. You can find a list of participating brewers, ticket info and a schedule.
You can also follow the event on Twitter or join their page on Facebook.
And remember- if you want to go, buy your tickets NOW!
by Debbi | Feb 16, 2012 | Around the World
Sandbar friend Mandy took her Sandbar shirt to Jamaica last summer. However, she forgot to take a picture until the very last day. Here it is:
Where's your Sandbar shirt been lately?
by Debbi | Feb 14, 2012 | Trinkets and Toys
We've been having a lot of fun with Sandbar drink toys lately, if you haven't noticed.
The latest? Mustaches for babies.
Bartender Hayley made some mustache pacifiers for Dave's new baby. Aren't they cute? Because every baby needs a mustache.
by Debbi | Feb 11, 2012 | Events
It's a good thing our man on the street Pat keeps sending material our way for this blog, otherwise we wouldn't have much to talk about. Thanks, Pat!
Here's a picture of what the morning after a Sandbar party looks like.
Here's what he had to say: "Headed to work. My truck sure looks like I've been to a Sandbar party. In my backseat: Santa and pirate suits, pirate mug, cowboy hat, tinsel, Bob Marley glass, pair of boxers, jumper cables, and a purple flower hangin' from the rearview mirror."
Sure sounds like a Sandbar assortment of stuff to us.
by Debbi | Feb 10, 2012 | Events, Valentines Day
Unless you're new around here (and if you are, that's okay!), you already know that our founder Peach also owns the Lodge in Baldwin City, a rustic motel and banquet facility. Baldwin City is just a short drive south of Lawrence.
If you haven't made plans with your valentine this weekend, check out the Lodge! They're holding a Valentine Dance from 8 p.m. to midnight. Mark Valentine and the Ticklers, the band that has headlined our annual birthday block party for the past three years, will be performing all your favorite songs.
There's no cover charge for the dane, but you must be 21 or older to attend.
If you want to make the night even more special, add a motel room for just $69, or a suite for $99. Call the Lodge for more information or to make reservations. You can reach them at 785.594.3900 or by email at baldwincitylodge@gmail.com.
It's sure to be a fun night!
by Debbi | Feb 9, 2012 | Drinking Rules, Stories
Remember the story about the fire extinguisher? Well, the person who deployed it upstairs and made a mess saw our post about it, and he left an apology. This might be a first, and we appreciate his response.
Here's what he had to say:
This is a response from "The Idiot". I am sorry for spraying the fire extinguisher causing silly additional stress on the great employees of the Sandbar. While I'd argue that cleaning the mess of drunken people, like myself, is par for the territory, I still agree the guys behind the bar were super nice and deserve better. It should be noted that as I left the bar, I asked if the mess was properly cleaned up. They assured me (probably just to get me out of there) that it was. I ended up leaving and while I was waiting for a ride I returned asking if there was anything else I could help clean while I waited. They told me no but out of the kindness of their hearts they invited me in allowing me to wait in the warmth of a heated bar. In the meantime, I'm sure I made an ass out of myself, but that bit of the story should remain to those present. In the end of it all, I was amazed at how professional and good spirited the three gentlemen were while I plagued the air with my intoxication. I suppose I should get to a point in all of this. I want to project my total regret for betraying the trust of the employees guarding the glorious haven known as the "upstairs". I feel that the mistake of one should not result in a punishment to the masses. For if we punish the mass on the actions of one we overlook the rights of each well behaved bar-goer out there. In the end I plead for a reconsideration in upper deck access.
Yours forever,
The Idiot
"Extinguishing non-existent flames since 2012"
Thanks, drunk guy. We really do sincerely appreciate your apology and the fact that you recognize the error of your ways. Out of all the stupid behavior posts we've made here, you're the first one who has actually apologized.
We aren't sure if this will change Dave's opinion on allowing people upstairs; the fire extinguisher incident was merely the final straw. There have been plenty of other people who have made messes upstairs- throwing popcorn everywhere, spilling drinks and causing general mischief. But, we'll see.
