Monday, December 27th, 2010—Bar 351

Sunday, December 26th, 2010—Bar 351

The Getaway

Today, I'm meeting two friends who joined me on the bar crawl last spring, Rick Halberg and Bob Gordon. We went to the Burger Barge in East Peoria last April, check out the post here: Burger Barge. I've decided to check out a bar in West Peoria called The Getaway, it sounds like a nice friendly, neighborhood bar. My only concern is that if it's going to be open on the Sunday after Christmas. There's only one way to find out, let's go.

Open for business! Let's go check it out.

The entrance is in the back of the building.

The front room is done up in Tiki style. Aloha!

But as you descend the stairs you'll find a nice dark, cozy atmosphere with a well worn "U" shaped bar that seats roughly about a baker's dozen. There's also chairs and stools along the walls to sit at.

And here's Dan the friendly owner and he also bar tends on Sundays.

And here's Rick and I having a beer at the bar and waiting for Bob. Rick does voice over work and plays bass and sings in the band Sister Groove. You can read more about the band here: Sister Groove. Rick also has a blog that's updated frequently, here it is: Groovyrick's Blog.

Sunday's are football Sunday's at the bar and all three TV's are tuned to the games. When the Bears are playing, they get the big screen. Yes, this is a Chicago Bears bar.

There's a mirrored wall opposite the bar with a wooden railing to set your drink or your elbow on.

The other side of the bar.

The blinds on the window are shut, allowing this place to stay dark, even on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I like that.

Christmas was yesterday, but their tree is still up.

Here's some of the Christmas cards underneath the tree. Hey, there's the 365 card...I wonder how that got there? Ho, ho, ho! Green Giant.

Here's a picture of the bar's mascot, Buddy Scaggs. As you can see, he's a Cubs fan and I wonder if he's any relation to Boz.

A list of the daily featured cocktails hang on the wall.

Next to that is some signed dollar bills.

And here's Bob Gordon. For over last 20 years, Bob has owned and run Acme Comics and Collectibles. You can check out the store's website here: Acme Comics.

Most of the people were a little camera-shy in here, so I was grateful to Amy and Dusty who happily posed for a 365 photo. I apologize for it being a tad blurry, I had had a few drinks by now.

A silhouette of Dan behind the bar watching the Bears beat the Jets.

Shortly after this picture was taken, Dan informed me there was free food upstairs. On Sunday's the bar always puts out a free spread for the customers. Nice!

Wow, sliced ham in country gravy, it looks delicious!

Here's the sandwich I expertly assembled. Note the extra mustard. Mmmm!

I told you it looked delicious and now I can verify that: It was delicious! And free! I may have seconds, goodnight, everybody!

Review

The Getaway is a nice, cozy friendly bar tucked away in a neighborhood in West Peoria. The upstairs front room has a Tiki decor and downstairs is a small "U"-shaped bar with regulars from the neighborhood drinking, watching sports and shooting the shit. Have no fear if you're a newbie in here, everybody's friendly and after a drink or two you'll feel like you've been coming here for years.

The booze is inexpensive in here and it's a full bar, although I wouldn't suggest ordering a fancy-schmancy cocktail in here. There's a decent amount of bottled beers with the majority of them priced at $2.50 a bottle. In the fall and winter Sunday's are transferred into "Football Sunday" with all three TV's tuned into games and a free food spread laid out. Hint: If you want to get along with everyone, I suggest you root for the Bears. Da Bears!

The Getaway

321 North Western Avenue

Peoria, Illinois

309-637-1178

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P.S.

Tomorrow, I'm flying back (hopefully) to New York, so tomorrow's post won't be up till early evening tomorrow, stay tuned and thanks for reading the 365 blog. 14 days to go!

Sunday, December 26th, 2010—Bar 350

Saturday, December 25th, 2010—Bar 350

Last Chance Bar and Grill

I needed to find a bar on Christmas and my brother thought he knew of a bar that would be open on Christmas. He had lunch a week ago nearby where he lives and works at a place called the Last Chance Bar and Grill and the bartender said they’d be open. I couldn’t count on this being a mistake, because our family is getting together tonight and there wouldn’t be a lot of time to find another one. So I checked in with The Chief who runs the fine Peoria Bar Blog: The Peoria Bar Review. He not only said it would be open, but that he’d meet me there and have a Christmas drink. So come along for the Christmas meeting of the East Coast and the Midwest Bar Crawlers!

Here we are, an aptly named bar for a joint that's open on Christmas day.

And not only is it open, there's people in here. But there's still plenty of seats at the bar. Let's settle in.

Terry the owner usually doesn't bartend, but since it was Christmas he volunteered so his bartenders could enjoy Christmas. A nice guy handing out a Christmas miracle.

And I'm not alone, since it's Christmas I have family with me. From left, my big brother Tom, my Dad and Yours Fooly performing the first ever annual wearin' of the Budweiser on my Dad. and check out my t-shirt it's a design "Boris" did for Gidget's cool show on Woody Radio. If you'd like your own Gidget shirt, you can order one from the 365 Bar Store, just click here: Gidget shirt. There's also one "Boris" designed for his "Secret Weapon" show on Woody radio, check it out here: "Secret Weapon" t-shirt. Nice work Daddio!

A shot of the festive bar from my stool.

Here's a wide shot of the long bar.

There's large wooden tables opposite the bar.

They have a large selection of specialty beers available at the bar.

There's two pool tables in the back game room.

There's also a state of the art dart board.

There's a wooden railing beneath the windows in the back room.

There's a beer garden in the back and I see some guys back there. Are they thirsty, giant elves? Let's go see.

Ron and Bob were enjoying beers back here. It turns out that at one time Bob was neighbors with my Uncle Bill Wombacher. More proof of what a small world it is. Cheers, guys!

My dad came back to say hi to Bob and to swap stories about my uncle Bill.

There's tables back here and what's the round object on top of the table?

An ashtray! Even though it's enclosed back here, since it's a beer garden you can smoke back here.

And my brother Tom takes advantage of this, another Christmas miracle!

There's a ceiling fan up above to keep the air moving back here.

Here's Don with a Big Al's sweatshirt. I asked him how the women are out at Big Al's these days and he told me he doesn't go there, they come out here. Hmm...I need to get out here some night and check that out.

I brought a couple of "Boris" designed Crawlapalooza t-shirts from the 365 Bar Store to hand out as gifts. Here's Bob with his.

Meanwhile, Terry takes care of business back at the bar.

This is definitely one of he longest bars on the bar crawl so far.

Uh, oh, Santa's hat is on the Jägermeister machine. I think he's passed out in the back, I hope he got all his toys delivered.

It turns out the Chief from the Peoria Bar Review couldn't make it, so he sent his friend, the lovely and pretty Amber. She's really cool and we had a nice conversation. Hey Chief, you seem like a great guy and some day we really need to meet, but you can send Amber in your place any day of the week!

And she works in the funeral business, so she was very helpful in trying to revive me after I passed out over-celebrated. Goodnight everybody!

Review

 

The Last Chance has stood in it’s place for years. Owner Terry bought the joint seventeen years ago and has put on additions including the back game room and the beer garden where you can smoke cigarettes, which sadly is a rarity in this Nazi-smoking regimed world we live in now. There’s also two pool tables in the back room along with state of the art darts.

They have a huge selection of beers and a full bar. They also have a kitchen and a diverse menu. They’re famous for their tenderloin sandwiches and the bar opens at 6am and they are known as having one of the best breakfasts in town.

 It’s also on the Peoria Bar Review list of Peoria Institutions, so you know this place is a winner.

 Last Chance Bar and Grill

2713 W 2nd St.

Peoria, Illinois

309-243-5036

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Bonus Christmas Photos!

My parents have about everything they need, so we all chipped in got them something you can always use...booze!

And look, Kari, you were right, I got socks! Merry Christmas/Clackmas everybody!

Saturday, December 25th, 2010—Bar 349

Friday, December 24th, 2010—Bar 349

Chili’s

I just want to repeat the fact that I only have a window of about a half an hour on the internet here at my brother's in Peoria every day, so that's why I'm not commenting back much and leaving comments at other people's blogs. And if you've emailed me, that's why I'm slow getting back to you. I never realized what a slave I was to the internet till it was gone.

Okay, as I said a couple days ago, I usually write this introduction right before I go to a bar, but since I’m going so early in the day while I’m here in Peoria, I’m writing the introduction right before I post this. That means that today is Christmas and we all know who’s birthday this is. The one and only Jesus Clacky! That’s right, it’s Clacky’s birthday, today (here in the states, it was yesterday in Australia, but who’s counting?) so I propose we rename this holiday, Clackmas. So happy birthday Clacky and Merry Clackmas to all!

I know I usually rail and rant about chain restaurants and bars, but like all rules, this has one exception. I’ve been meeting friends at the Chili’s in Peoria on Christmas Eve for 17 years now and it’s one of the friendliest places anywhere. Even though it’s a chain, it feels like a local place and the bartenders and waitstaff are really nice and welcoming to all. And so, it’s off to Chili’s we go!

Okay, my parents are driving me to Chili's because I don't have a car or driver's license. It started snowing today...

Welcome back to Peoria!

And here I am, ready to start my 17th Clackmas Eve at the Chili's in Peoria.

It's early and it's snowing like crazy outside so there's plenty of seats at the bar.

And the lovely and friendly bartender Chrissy serves up a pre-afternoon beer.

It's 11:36...do you know where your bar crawler is?

Why he's right here! Cheers, everybody and happy Clackmas! Ho, ho, ho...green giant.

A long shot of the wooden bar.

The daily papers at the bar.

My perspective from the bar.

Tera and Kevin posed for the 365 camera behind the bar.

And here's more of the friendly staff, I didn't get their name's though, because it's starting to fill up in here and they had to get to work.

A shot from the other end of the bar.

Hmm...now why do I feel like it's three in the morning, outside the horrid 13th Step in the East Village?

Okay, my friends are going to be showing up soon, so I settle up my tab with Tera at the bar.

And just as I secure a table...

And as if on queue, who shows up bearing Clackmas gifts, but Toni who brought along some of her fantastic original artwork. She has original paintings and photo cards and more available to purchase. If you’re interested in purchasing artwork from Toni, you can email her here: Toni’s email. Oh and Bob Dylan, if you’re reading this, Toni’s available to paint your next album cover.

And here's Bebe posing with a piece of Toni's artwork.

And then there were three. From left: Bebe, Yours Fooly and Toni. Two pretty and wise women and one bumbling bar crawler.

Paul stopped by the table and told me he was a fan of the 365 blog. He bartends at the Fish House here in Peoria and you can check out Paul's website here: Big 10 Rant.

And then Aaron shows up and it's time to let the party begin! But first...

A Clackmas miracle...condiments! Happy birthday, Clacky! Happy Clackmas to all and to all a goodnight!

Review

Chili’s has been on this corner of University and Glen for over 24 years now. I usually shop local and avoid the chains, but this one is highly recommended. And if you’ll pardon me, it’s Clackmas and I have drinking celebrating to start. Happy Clackmas one and all!

Chili’s

4825 N. University St.

Peoria, Illinois

309-692-0468

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Bonus  Clackmas Photos From The Wombacher Household!

My dad and my...

Mom, dozing after dinner. They don't have a computer and have no idea these photos are floating through the internet. Please don't tell them about this, I don't want to get grounded and/or sent to my room.

This is my favorite lamp in my parents house. Doesn’t he look a little like Radar O’Reilly from M*A*S*H? My parents got this lamp back in the ‘70’s. I remember doing acid once when they were out of town and I was home alone. I ended up staring at him for like, four hours. I watched him melt like a stick of butter underneath a red hot broiler and then he’d solidify and then melt again and this process happened over and over and over. After hours of this activity my mind wandered from thoughts of eternal darkness to rivers of raging creamed corn to rolling thunder that sounded like grass growing in a field of ringing glass bells. Then I felt like I was coming unglued and that mental psychosis was just moments away, so I chugged a half of a fifth of vodka and passed right the fuck out on the floor beneath the lamp. When I woke up I had Cheez Whiz and crackers and the world looked just a little different to me. That was a pretty good night.

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Bonus Clackmas Card from Jaws!

Jaws sent in this Clackmas card for all of us to share, thanks, Jaws!

 

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Bonus Obligatory Bathroom Shot From Lex!

Canadian correspondent Lex, sent in this obligatory bathroom shot, from the one room cabin where her and her family are spending Clackmas. I’ve never wished constipation on anyone, but I think in this case it’s most opportune!