by Debbi | May 31, 2010 | Off the Wall
This shark picture frame is one of the millions of items that hang out on our walls. We love sharing the stories behind our decor, when we can remember them.
Several years ago, a woman who worked (or maybe still does) at Lake Perry brought a group of friends and family to the Sandbar on a regular basis. Her dad lived in California, and he'd come to Kansas for extended visits during the summers to see his daughter.
The group loved drinking Shark Attacks, and they collected all their sharks and sent them back to California with dad. He strung them up and used them to decorate a bar he built in his garage (or maybe his basement, the details are a little fuzzy).
One day, the woman came in and told Dave that her father had passed away. She'd taken several pictures of their family wearing Sandbar shirts or drinking here and created a collage frame- complete with beads and sharks glued around the edges.
She asked Dave if he would hang the picture in the bar as a memorial tribute to her dad, and of course Dave agreed.
The picture frame hangs in the front of the bar near the windows. Check it out next time you're here.
by Debbi | May 29, 2010 | People, St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick's Day might be a distant memory for anyone not associated with the Sandbar, but we think about it all the time. We were thrilled to get an email the other day with this picture attached:
You might remember a couple of adorable little knights peeking out the windows of our castle float. They're the sons of our friend Curtis and his lovely wife Rochelle, and they were so excited to ride on the float this year.
Conner drew this picture for school and his parents thought we might like to see it. His level of detail is amazing for such a youngster, and he even drew him and his brother in the window! (I think that's supposed to Dave acting all wild and crazy in the top turret.)
by Debbi | May 27, 2010 | Around the World, People
Sandbar friend and regular Michelle (wife of Brother Pants, our art director and picture framer) is a nurse by day. Actually, she got some publicity for that recently- not only was a story about her career change on the front page, but a ginormous picture of her in nursing action was there too. Check it out here.
Anyway.
One of Michelle's interests outside of her paid nursing job is mission trips. She's taken several trips, starting back in nursing school when she went on a spring break trip to Mexico. She had to miss the annual St. Patrick's Day parade to participate in that trip, so you know she's dedicated to nursing.
Earlier this spring, she made a repeat trip to the Dominican Republic with a group of nurses and doctors. They worked with women's health care needs for about a week. But it wasn't all work- there was a little bit of time for play. Another friend of ours who is also a nurse- Tyler- was on this trip too, and they took some time to pose in their Sandbar shirts on the beach.
Michelle has spent the past week in Guatemala on yet another nursing mission trip. We hope she took her Sandbar shirt along for more pictures.
by Debbi | May 25, 2010 | Birthday Party, Events, Graduation, Off the Wall, People, Trinkets and Toys
Sundays aren't usually a busy day at the Sandbar- they're laid back and slow, a good day for idle chatter with the bartender or even watching TV with the jukebox turned a little lower than normal. Last Sunday was an exception.
Some of our Margarita Monday (and some other nights of the week) regulars are experiencing some life changes: Briana graduated, Amerika is moving to New York City, and Phil had a birthday (but he's not going anywhere that we know of). So, what better way to celebrate than to open a few hours early for Sunday Funday!
Of course there was a shotski for six, featuring the Fail Whale shots:
We ate Choco Tacos and cookies; drank Bahama Mamas and beer and Beachtini's (some drank more than others, ahem); and socialized. Oddly, there was no hurricane or mermaid, but there was a ceremonial signing of a dollar bill that was later stapled prominently on the wall.
The party might have carried on into the night if it wasn't for a certain popular TV show that was ending its run on Sunday night. It was a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon, especially one that was nice enough to enjoy the patio.
It's always a sign of a good time when you have a pile of tropical drink toys at the end of the party. Thanks to everyone who came in on Sunday, come back soon!
Photos courtesy of Phil Martinez and his fancy camera.
by Debbi | May 24, 2010 | Door Diaries
I found this in the staff notebook that lives by the door.
Apparently, a customer who was asked to leave wanted to register a complaint. The staff gave him a notebook and a pen and told him to write it down.
No indication of who the bartender was or why the person was asked to leave. No one was fired. Carry on.
UPDATE: According to a bartender at Fatso's, their establishment has a nearly identical note posted at their bar. Must be a serial complainer on the loose downtown.
