by Debbi | May 5, 2014 | Sandbar Stuff
We’re amazed by the continued popularity of our pint glasses, and we know lots of you collect them.
It’s hard work coming up with new designs all the time! And often, our most popular pint glasses are the ones designed by customers.
It’s been awhile since we put out the call for designs, but it’s time. We aren’t looking for a specific holiday design this time (but if you have one, send it to us anyway!), but instead we want to start a new series of pint glasses with a special design for each of our tropical drinks.
So, creative types, start thinking. Our rules are simple:
- Single color, please
- No licensed trademarks, like a Jayhawk
- Keep it simple; the design is small
No need to incorporate the Sandbar logo, because that’s on the front of the glass.
We’re looking for designs for the Bahama Mama, Shark Attack, Pink Flamingo, Rum Runner and Dino-Mite for now, but if you have ideas for other designs we definitely want to see them.
If your design is chosen, you’ll get a super-cool Sandbar prize pack with T-shirts, pint glasses and other fun stuff. Plus, you’ll be famous and you can brag about it to your friends.
Email us at sandbar@thesandbar.com with your ideas.
by Debbi | May 2, 2014 | Events
It’s history in the making!
We’ve talked before about Peach’s movie theater venture in Ottawa, and how it’s presumed to be the oldest operating theater in America and possibly the world. She’s been working hard on the latest incarnation of the business– the Plaza Movie Memorabilia Museum.
The grand opening of the new museum is Thursday, May 15, at 7 p.m. The exhibit includes a collection of props from movies like King Kong, Hunger Games, Three Musketeers and more.
Lawrence’s resident movie star Keith Loneker has also loaned some items to the museum, and he’ll be at the opening event.
There’s a limited number of tickets available, so get yours now! Call the Plaza at 785.242.5555 to reserve your spot.
We’re excited to check out the new museum! The Plaza is really a cool old movie theater, the kind you don’t see around much anymore. Sandbar friends have had many great times there, including our Rocky Horror Picture Show bus trips at Halloween and a “staff retreat” when we all carpooled down there one afternoon to watch a movie (and someone got a speeding ticket).
by Debbi | May 1, 2014 | Bar Band, Funnies
No, not us. We don’t want your music stands. But the KU Department of Music does.
We were incredibly amused (and honored, to be honest) when we got an email the other day from the KU Band office:
At the closing of the school year, we at the University of Kansas Bands take some time to do housekeeping and review equipment. We find ourselves short of music stands. This often happens when students take stands to perform at venues and houses of worship around town and forget to bring them back.
I am writing to ask that you take a look in your performance spaces and sanctuaries for stands labeled “KU Band” or “KU School of Music.” If your organization happens to have any of these stands, please contact me by replying to this email or by calling me at the number below. We will gladly stop by and pick up any music stands you might have.
The Bar Band isn’t officially affiliated with KU, although the group is primarily made up of KU band and music students (and former students who just can’t quite move on). You may or may not know that the Bar Band, a great tradition in the Lawrence nightlife scene for many years now, actually got its start at the Sandbar back in the mid-90’s.
So, even though the group isn’t officially part of KU, we still thought it was pretty cool that the folks in the band office were reaching out to us about their missing music stands. It’s pretty much an official acknowledgement of the group, we think. Or they’re just really, really desperate to find those missing stands.
We don’t, however, have any music stands in our house of worship.
Read more posts about the Bar Band.
by Debbi | Apr 1, 2014 | Specials
Do you need an escape from the daily grind? Longing for a relaxing getaway to an island oasis, with your toes in the sand and a tropical drink in your hand?
Well, we can’t change your latitude, but we can sure change your attitude!
Sign up your office, business or organization for our new Island Retreat tropical happy hour, available on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Gather at least five (or more!) employees, business partners or clients and treat them to a fun-filled two hours at the Sandbar. Your group will receive:
- Exclusive drink specials for two hours
- Free appetizers from Sandbar Subs
- Free T-shirt giveaway
- Free hurricane show with a mermaid of your choice
- Fun toys, great music and more!
Email Andrew at andrew@thesandbar.com today to schedule your Island Retreat, and #LetsGetTropical!
Please share this information with any businesses or organizations that you think need a fun and refreshing happy hour!
by Debbi | Mar 10, 2014 | Door Diaries
True story from the line outside the bar this past weekend.
There was a line on Saturday night. Nothing out of the ordinary, right? It was just before 9 p.m., so maybe it was a little earlier than usual for people to be waiting in line, but hey, it was busy downtown on Saturday with the Craft Brew Expo and other things happening.
A group of girls was discussing the reason for the line, and someone else informed them that everyone was waiting because the bar was at capacity, and it was one in, one out.
Apparently, one of the girls didn’t buy this explanation.
“No, it’s not really one in, one out.”
She then informed the others around her that she works in the bar business, and she knew that the bar staff was making everyone wait in line so that it would look like the bar was busy.
Wrong.
She doesn’t work in OUR bar, and we promise, that’s not the way it works here.
We want you inside the bar spending money, plain and simple. Why would we make you wait outside if you could be inside spending money, drinking our drinks, and having a good time instead? That’s silly.
The truth of the matter is that our legal capacity, as determined by fire codes, is 49 people. Forty nine, people. That’s not very many. And we can get slapped with a hefty fine if we’re over that number and the fire department doesn’t like it.
So that, friends, is why you’re in line– because we don’t want to endanger your safety, and we don’t want to pay a fine.
Not because of some misguided attempt to manipulate our friends, customers or the general public.
And for those of you who patiently wait in line and don’t harass our staff about it, thank you!
by Debbi | Feb 4, 2014 | Famous Folk, Stories
If you’ve been reading this blog for very long, or you’re very familiar with the Sandbar at all, you’ve probably heard the story by now:
Rob Riggle, famous comedian, actor, Marine and KU alumnus, tended bar here while he was going to school in the early 90’s.
We didn’t even know it until he told us– it was before Dave’s time here. You can read the story about how we found out here. (It’s worth the click. There’s a funny anecdote that you’ll probably never read anywhere else.)
Radio love
Anyway, we were excited to hear Rob give us a great shoutout recently during an interview on 810 Sports radio show last week.
You can listen to the interview here. He mentions the Sandbar (and the Wheel) at around the 12:37 mark.
A recent visit
Rob was also back in town a few weeks ago for a KU basketball game, and after spending some time at the Wheel, he ventured our way.
He spent most of his evening behind the bar, but he took the time to leave his mark on the wall of the men’s room:
After signing the wall, he admitted to Dave that perhaps his message would have been better left in the ladies’ room instead. Probably.
While typically we paint over stuff people write on our walls (so please don’t do it!), we’re going to leave this one up. In fact, Dave’s already put a frame around it.
by Debbi | Dec 10, 2013 | Good Things
A couple months ago, we shared some news about Peach’s latest project.
She discovered evidence that the Plaza Grill and Cinema might be the oldest continuous-operating theater in the world, and in true Peach fashion, came up with a grand idea: to create an interactive historical experience for all to enjoy the magic of cinema.
The Kickstarter campaign to raise money to fund the project didn’t meet its goal, but that’s certainly not stopping the project.
Fundraising is in full swing, and the Plaza Cinemagic Experience, as it is now known, will be transformed by summer 2014.
The project has received a lot of press, too:
And, the project got a mention in the state blurbs section of USA Today, too!
You can help.
Donations can be made by mail or online, and there are a variety of rewards for donors. Or, share your memories of the old theater on the website. Click here to learn more about the entire project.
We’re excited to see Peach’s latest great idea unfold!
by Debbi | Dec 10, 2013 | Christmas, Events, Good Things
It’s December! This month is one of our favorites (let’s be honest, we love almost every month for some reason or another) because of all the holiday festivities. And of course, we find ways to incorporate costumes!
This Saturday, Dec. 14, is the fourth annual SantaCon, and we’re excited to participate again. SantaCon is a “conference of Santas,” or better known as a pub crawl of Santas.
Anyone (of legal age, of course) is welcome to participate in this event! All that’s required is a Santa suit or other holiday attire. A Santa hat is not enough, you need to put a little more effort into it!
The Santas are invited to gather at the Sandbar starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday (or earlier, if you like– we open at 1) for a little holiday cheer. The pub crawl will then head down Mass Street to the Granada around 4, followed by a stop at Red Lyon and ending at the Bottleneck in time for the KU basketball game at 6 p.m.
SantaCon is a ton of fun, but it’s also a charitable event. Santas are asked to bring donations for Ballard Community Services and Lawrence Humane Society. Cash, of course, is preferred but there’s also a list of most-wanted items for each agency on the SantaCon website.
And if you have kids, bring them downtown to see the Santas! We promise, it’s not a drunken mess like you might imagine a pub crawl to be. It’s a jolly good time with Christmas carols and bells and lots of holiday cheer. We just happen to enjoy a few drinks along the way!
RSVP on Facebook and invite your friends to SantaCon!
by Debbi | Oct 21, 2013 | Funnies
Sandbar friend and regular customer Chad had this funny story for us recently. I should make him tell it, because it would be funnier, but I’ll do my best to retell it.
So he’s sitting at the bar one evening, chatting with Chelsea, our newest bartender.
A couple of young-ish girls walk in and order Georgie Peach shots. Chelsea said “sure, but you’ll have to tell me what’s in them because I’m new.”
One of the girls informs her, in an authoritative tone, that it’s made with Crown and peach schnapps.
Chad jumps into the conversation, confused, and said “No, I think you mean Southern Comfort and peach.”
“No, it’s Crown. I’m a bartender, and it’s her 21st birthday,” the girl said, pointing at her friend.
As Chad’s relaying the story to me, my first thought is “well, if it’s your friend’s 21st birthday, then you probably haven’t been a bartender very long,” and my second thought is “I don’t think that’s right, but then again I’ve never tended bar.”
He didn’t argue with her, and Chelsea made her what she asked for.
In the meantime, sure that he’s right, Chad texts Dave to find out what’s in a Georgia Peach. Dave (best bartender in Lawrence!) texts him back and confirms that yes, it’s SoCo and peach.
Chad explained to Dave that some girl at the bar was insisting on Crown. Dave’s response?
“But, Crown’s Canadian.”
It doesn’t sound as funny when I’m typing this, so I guess you had to be there. But, since then, we’ve joked a lot about Canadian Peach shots. After all, the Southern Comfort IS kind of what makes it a “Georgia” Peach…
by Debbi | Oct 15, 2013 | Good Things
I have been seriously bad about keeping this blog up. Once upon a time, there were four or five new posts each week. When I logged in to write this, I realized there were three posts for the entire month of September. Believe me, there’s more going on at the Sandbar than that; I’m just not there to see it these days.
But, here’s something awesome for you.
If you’ve followed the Sandbar for any length of time– or if you really know the owners like you insist to the doorguy– then you know Peach, our founder, also owns the Plaza Grill & Cinema, a movie theater slash bar and grill down the road in Ottawa.
But did you know this: she recently uncovered evidence of the theater showing movies all the way back in 1905, making it a candidate for the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest operating theater in America.
And now, there’s a plan to convert the theater into an interactive historical experience so that people can enjoy the magic of the cinema in the middle of America.
How can you help? Well, there’s a Kickstarter project taking place right now. If you’re not familiar with Kickstarter, it’s a crowdsourced funding platform that brings project creators together with backers to make things happen.
You can donate as little as a buck or as much as you want to this project– but unless the project is fully funded, you won’t spend a dime.
The goal of this project is to raise $45,000. The project has three stages that are described here, and it will add jobs as well as economic growth to the community of Ottawa.
What are you waiting for?! Go check it out here, and make a donation if you can.
Preserve the Plaza: Oldest Operating Theater in America
