New Orleans Road Trip - Bars & Beads (Preview)

Cheers!

Hope everyone is doing well. So, a lot of you might be wondering about the countdown clock at the top right of this page. Yep, right there. You have seen it countdown for about a month now and probably have no idea what it's for.

Well, it's a countdown to when I leave on my road trip to the great city of New Orleans. Sure, we are stopping in Memphis for a night, but this trip is for New Orleans and the greatest free party in the US - Mardi Gras.

I won't waste your time explaining what Mardi Gras is as I'm sure you have either seen pictures or have heard about it from a friend. To sum it up, it's about a month long of Awesomeness.

I actually spent a lot of my childhood in the great state out Louisiana so I'm familiar with New Orleans and Mardi Gras. I've gone a handful of times as an adult and love bringing new friends to the city.

Side note - I just checked a few travel sites and there are still plenty of hotels available and at a good rate. I would book now, you won't be disappointed.

Anyway - A lot of people say that Vegas might be the best place to party. It can be. However, in my mind, it has nothing on New Orleans. New Orleans bars don't close and the locals love talking to you over a cold adult beverage.

Something you just don't find in Vegas.

This was a short post, I know, but the recap of the trip will have more pictures, stories and recommendations on places to drink a long the way if you ever decide to make the road trip.

Until then,

Bottoms Up!

Ken

The New Pub 42 - Dinner & Drinks Review

Cheers!

This is normally where I would say grab a beer and read up. Today though, I'd suggest a hot chocolate with a dash of peppermint schnapps. 

Alright, so this past weekend my wife and I were in the mood to check out a place we haven't been yet but also wanted it to be local as we didn't feel like venturing too far out with the weather being what it was.

After going back and forth via text message and polling my co-workers on their favorite places; we settled on Pub 42.

Pine River, MN Hot Spot - The Harriet Club

It's Up There. But It's Worth The Trip.

Cheers!

I have another great bar recomendation from my pal Ben. He seems to really love the small town bars. Hey, I can't blame him; we have had some good times at these joints.

Crack a beer and enjoy!



There is a possibility this is the bar I have consumed the most booze in my life, by volume. We all have that bar, the one that isn't the prototypical place if you were building a dream bar for yourself in your mind, but at the end of the day if you had your druthers you would prefer to end up there with all of your buddies over many other bars that on the outside look like better choices.  It's a place you feel comfortable, a place you know what you’re going to get and that is just what you want.  For me, that bar is the Harriet Club, a family owned bar located in Pine River, MN near Lake Ada.

Getting Happy With The Gnome - The Happy Gnome Review

Cheers!

Hope everyone is having a great January. If you are here in the Twin Cities you are probably going crazy wondering when this cold will just go away. If you aren't just sitting at home until May, check this place out.

My wife and I got invited to one our friends birthday gatherings and to be honest, hesitated. Why you ask? It was taking place in St. Paul. We go to St. Paul about twice a year. Once for St. Patricks day and the other for a random concert at Station 4. Other than that, it might as well be on the other side of the planet.

Pizza, Beer and Atmosphere: River Inn



Still Looks Like This.....People And All






Cheers!

Hope everyone had an awesome Christmas and even better New Year's Eve. It's been awhile since I've posted so I figured I'd better step it up.

By "Step it Up" I mean have my ol' pal from STOB do a quick write up for you guys. Hope you enjoy.

Ever been to Hanover, MN? No? You’re not alone. It’s a small town a mile or two south of St Michael/Albertville. Yep, you’ve been to the Outlet Mall. Let’s say you head out west (assuming everyone who reads this is in Minneapolis/St. Paul area…because making assumptions has never harmed anyone) to do some shopping at the Outlets, you’ve been trekking around for hours lugging bags upon bags of deals and now you’re hungry and thirsty. Well there are a few options in the area, but to me, you’d maybe be best served to take 10 minutes and drive south to Hanover. There you will find three bars.

Cowboy Jacks "Plymouth Location" - Late Night Happy Hour Review



Inside of the Bar



Cheers!

Hope everyone had a great weekend; I know I did. I ventured out to an oldie but a goodie spot this past Saturday night.

The Spot: Cowboy Jacks in Plymouth.

Now, I've talked about CJ's on a number of different occasions on previous blogs. It is perfect for what it is: A place to get cheap drinks and food during happy hour. Trust me, I know.

The Sunshine Factory - Happy Hour Review



Sample of Bar Taps



Cheers!

How's it going everybody? Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is now nice and refreshed and ready for December!

Let's get right to it.

Even though it was Thanksgiving and I was out of town, I was able to hit up a new (to the area) spot near my apartment once I got back from good ol' Omaha, NE.

The spot - The Sunshine Factory