Aweek'sworth of wasted
The Cheapest Watering Holes in Town
Photo illustration by Kit Leffler
By Liz Beggs, Jayplay writer
My
buddy's old man once downed 67 beers at a company picnic. Legend has it Wade Boggs swallowed 64 during a cross-country flight. These are what I call great feats of alcohol consumption. Trying to drink that many in a week turned out to be harder than expected, and yet it was with that hope that I began my seven-day search for some of the best drink specials in Lawrence.
Monday
$2 well drinks, West Coast Saloon, 2222
lowa St.
Starting the evening out at West Coast Saloon proved to be a wise decision. Their $2 wells washed down the best burger I have had in town, and the advice of the guy sitting to my left provided me with a gem I will always hold close: "Good drinkers always leave themselves two ways out." If I had known that, I could have saved myself a lot of money and a suspended license in Ohio.
West Coast is laid-back bar that deals mostly with locals, graduate students and fifth-year seniors. David Dick, co-owner of West Coast Saloon, says that students come to West Coast for conversation and drinks, not to hear the beat of techno in the background.
***Also check out Jet Lag for $3.64-ounce pitchers of domestic beer**
Tuesday
$1 well drinks, it's Brother'sl Bar and Grill,
1105 Massachusetts St.
The crowd at It's Brother's! was nonexistent, but people are only part of the reason we venture out. I made my way to the bar in a hurry where a tall pitcher of beer sat on the bar top, so cold that condensation appeared on the glass. The barkeep handed me a pint, and I poured myself some salvation. After taking the first gulp, I realize something was not quite right. My glass smelled of rotten sponge. Quickly switching it out to a plastic cup solved the problem and got the night back on track.
**Also check out The Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Massachusetts St., for $1.50 almost anything**
Wednesday
$3 double Red Bull and vodka, Johnny's Tavern, 410 N. Second St.
Normally low-key, Wednesday night at Johnny's Tavern turns the bar into one of the hottest spots in Lawrence. With the DJ spinning rap and R&B, bar-goers groove on a make shift dance floor. Hip-hop being the unspoken theme of the night, I overhear the girl next to me say to her friend, "I'm a big-booty bitch that likes them thick with their mind right." Have another, sweetie.
Thursday
$1.75 domestic schooners, Louise's Downtown, 1099 Massachusetts St.
Thursday at Downtown is hardly a secret. People usually line up down the sidewalk, stand elbow to elbow in the bar and have to suck in their guts to make their way around. Minimal discomfort when you consider the reward.
Also check out Jack Flanigan's Bar & Grill, 806 W.24" st., for $1.50*cais**
Friday
$2 anythings, The Cadillac Ranch, 2515 W. Sixth St.
Typically, the first people on the dance floor are either an older drunk couple groping each other or a small group of
girls goofing around. The Ranch was no exception. With beats like Prince and Blondie, the floor quickly filled with patrons drunk off the $2 anything special. But it wasn't until the DJ blasted Britney Spears that the action started and a brunette broke out in the whole "I'm a Slave 4 U" routine.
**Also check out Last Call for $2 any- things**
Saturday
$2.50 big beers, The Phoggy Dog, 2228
lowa St.
Located at 23rd and Iowa Streets, it surprised me that students frequented The Phoggy Dog. Situated perfectly on the Fieldhouse bus route, Darren White, Topeka bartender, says that the Dog usually draws a good game crowd, and tonight was no exception. After a Saturday night victory over Colorado, people were ready to party, and inexpensive beer loosened up the group.
**Also check out The Replay Lounge, 946
Massachusetts St., for $2 Skyy**
$2 Bloody Marys, Louise's West, 1307 W.
Seventh St.
Sunday
One of the best cures for a hangover, it is no surprise that after a hard night of partying, a majority of Lawrence bars offer some sort of Bloody Mary special on Sunday. West serves the best in town-that's why Jocelyn Babcock, bartender and KU graduate, started coming to Louise's West even before she worked there. The crowd is perfect for a relaxed Sunday afternoon, and if you decide to keep drinking, even better for a wild night.
**Also check out Quinton's Bar and Deli,
615 Massachusetts, for $2 23-ounce
draws**