by Debbi | Mar 9, 2011 | Sandbar Stuff, St. Patrick's Day
Our new St. Patrick's Day pint glasses are in! After the huge success of our Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine's Day pint glasses, we're definitely making this a holiday tradition.
Big thanks to customer Brian for the great design:
Look closely at the leprechaun- does he remind you of anyone? (Hint: a big, tall guy.)
The pint glasses are for sale for just $3 each, and you can bring them in on Thursdays when tropical drinks are just $2.50. Be sure to add this one to your collection!
(Note: You may have noticed that St. Patrick's Day falls on a Thursday this year. While we will still consider it "Tropical Thursday," we will NOT have tropical drinks on special that day. In fact, there are no drink specials on St. Patrick's Day.)
by Debbi | Mar 7, 2011 | Guest Blogs, People, Stories
This is a guest blog from former bartender/bouncer Cheryl, who worked here in the mid-90's. Cheryl was the first female staff member who actually was assigned a door shift- and she was an excellent doorgirl/bouncer. Cheryl was back for a visit last fall, and we asked her to share her thoughts on the Sandbar with our readers.
Sometimes I think that college was so long ago there is no way the Sandbar could really have been such a perfect place and there is certainly no way that it could be anywhere close to the same now. Then I get a little nostalgic, make myself a margarita and think "those were the days." And that's just a little sad…
So I decided a visit was in order.
It had been about 10 years since my last trip and 15 years since I worked there. I started working for Peach at Jox Sports Bar and Grill, with the famous hot and honey wings courtesy of Kelly French, and started tending bar at the Sandbar as soon as I turned 21.
I also was the Tuesday $1 anything night bouncer, which made for many memorable nights, with Dave behind the bar. I worked at the Sandbar for a year a half, and I am pretty sure I made about $20 – the rest of my pay went to liquor. I would hazard a guess that in those 18 months I was at the Sandbar at least 5 nights a week. Of course we went elsewhere, but we always started and/or ended at the Sandbar.
We spent so much time there – time well documented in photos and various hairsyles – that I thought a return trip might be a let-down. I'm certainly not in college anymore, and I'm practically old enough to be some of the customers' mom. Well that might be a stretch, but I am definitely old enough to have babysat one of the current bartenders. (That would be Andrew.)
I am proud to say I was part of the first Sandbar St Patrick's Day float. But that was a LONG time ago. Surely the jukebox had changed or the drinks or the decor or the atmosphere… there was just no conceivable way that it could be as much fun now as it was then.
My old schol hall roommate and I met in Lawrence in November to go to a game at Allen Fieldhouse. My mom came with since she loves the Jayhawks and the Sandbar nearly as much as I do. After the game on Friday night we headed straight to the Sandbar. Dave was behind the bar and it was immediately apparent that nothing fundamental about the Sandbar had changed.
Don't get me wrong, there have been many changes- the swag handed out with drinks, the hurricane, the tiki hut over the bar, the dirty banana shot. There's even more than 2 taps now – the choices have expanded beyond Bud Light or Bud Light. But the vibe is the same, many of the customers are the same, the jukebox is basically the same (Shake a Tailfeather anyone?), my license plate is right over the jukebox where it belongs.
Most importantly, the way the Sandbar feels is the same. The sense that all is well and the beach is just around the corner. It's a party, it was home for a time, and it is still one of my favorite places in the world. Somehow it was like I never moved to Colorado.
We came back Saturday and had just as much fun making fools of ourselves. Like Jimmy Buffett said, "we are the people our parents warned us about".
Thanks to everyone there for making my trip to Lawrence memorable. I won't wait 10 years to come back…
(And as a side note, thank god Pizza Shuttle hadn't changed their number -call 842-1212, call it now Pizza Shuttle – and still offers a 2-fer special and delivery into the wee hours…)
Cheryl also sent us a bunch of old-school Sandbar photos. Here's a sneak peek of one now, and we'll publish more over the next week:
Cheryl and a much-younger Dave, back in the day.
by Debbi | Mar 6, 2011 | Events, Good Things
It's almost time for this year's Walk MS event!
Walk MS is an annual event sponsored by the Mid America Chapter of the National MS Society. The goal is to raise money to support multiple sclerosis research.
When: Saturday, April 30
Time: 9 a.m. registration, 10 a.m. walk begins
Location: Sunflower Elementary, Lawrence
We'd love for you to join our team! Sandbar walkers had a great time last year, and after the walk we had an after party at the Sandbar.
Our team goal this year is $5000. All walkers who raise at least $100 will earn an official Walk MS T-shirt. For extra incentive, everyone who raises at least $25 will get a free Sandbar T-shirt.
There are lots of prize opportunities along the way, both from the MS Society as well as from our team. Last year we gave out several gift cards to team members and people who made donations.
It's easy to raise money. The Walk MS website lets you send e-mails to friends and family, and you can also install a Facebook application to share information with your friends.
Unfortunately, those of us at the Sandbar know many people who are either suffering from MS or have family or friends diagnosed with it. Rockstar bartender Danny has been raising money for the MS Society for years through Bike MS; he's riding again this year and you can support him here.
Join our team today!
by Debbi | Mar 5, 2011 | Events, Stories
Last fall the Sandbar crew put together a volleyball team for the Lawrence Parks and Rec leagues. We weren't very competitive, but Team Shark Attack managed a respectable 10-20 finish, or sixth place out of nine teams.
Most of the team members wanted to play again in the winter league. Given that our team wasn't much of an "attack," we changed the name to a something softer: Dolphin Sighting.
So far, Dolphin Sighting has won two games. Yes, two. The pre-game drinks might not be helping our athletic abilities very much. But we're definitely the team winning in the "having the most fun category." Yes, I said "winning." (That's a Charlie Sheen reference if you still don't get it.)
We have three games left. Wish us luck!
The referee kindly took this team photo after last week's win. Notice how the guys are all trying to look serious and intimidating.
by Debbi | Mar 4, 2011 | Hurricane, People, Stories
Our friend Chad doesn't dance. We all know this and accept it, even though dancing is somewhat of a requirement at the Sandbar.
On Chad's birthday, he was at the Sandbar. Dave convinced him to get on the bar for the hurricane (he wouldn't wear the mermaid costume, but just getting him on the bar without too much argument was considered a win).
Even more shocking, considering his disdain for dancing, was the fact that Dave convinced him to stay on the bar during "Car Wash." Sure, he stood there laughing while Dave busted a move, but he was on the bar.
However, Dave was in rare form that night and slightly perturbed that Chad wouldn't even wash the car or spray it down. What happened next is a story we still talk about today.
Dave refused to serve Chad another drink until he moved his arm in the circular "washing" motion. Chad refused. It was a standoff. For several hours.
Chad was thirsty. Dave was stubborn. The blood pressure levels of each were going up.
Eventually, Dave decided that while he didn't want to give in and fill an order placed by Chad himself, he'd make the drink if someone else (meaning me) ordered it. After several hours, Chad had his drink and didn't have to dance for it.
Fast forward to a few months ago. Dave was dancing on the bar (again), doing the Car Wash (again). Chad was standing down in front of the bar, and on this night it was his turn to be sassy. He looked up at Dave, caught his eye and suddenly made the circle motion with his hand.
Dave about fell off the bar.
And now, it's no big deal and we all laugh about it, and Chad does the Car Wash all the time. While wearing rainbow-colored wigs.
