Intro

I moved to the Quad Cities area part-time in December 1996 and full-time in April 1998, and one thing I noticed very quickly was, for an area of this size and population, there seemed to be a very large number of bars.  Since spending time in bars is one of my favorite pastimes, I was abundantly pleased. 
Fast forward to February of 2009, and, as I was sitting in a tavern called the Meat Market on Washington St. in Davenport, it occurred to me that I had been to a great many of the bars, pubs, tavern, and clubs (as well as restaurants where I’ve bellied up) in the Quad City area.  I didn’t start counting them at the time, but I estimated I’d been to at least a hundred.
A couple of months go by, and I started thinking about this again – and this time, I did start counting.  I also started writing them down (I’m a ‘list’ guy – no, worse than that, I’m the type of guy that keeps lists of my lists).  I was amazed that on my initial count, I came up with 164.  Since then, by remembering (or having others remember for me) names of some of the places I had forgotten, as well as adding the new bars I had visited, the list has grown.
You might now be thinking to yourself “I’ve been to many different bars in the Quad City region.  I wonder how my list compares.”  Before I reveal my current number to you, I have to state the rules. Rules?  Yes, rules.
1.       Generally, eastern Scott and eastern Rock Island counties are what I define as the QCA (roughly, a 20 mile radius from the middle of I74 bridge).  Towns on the list currently are Davenport, Bettendorf, Eldridge, Leclaire, and Princeton on the Iowa side, and Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, Milan, Coal Valley, Silvis, Hampton, Rapids City, Port Byron, Carbon Cliff, Cordova, and Colona (yes, it’s in Henry county, but still contiguous to the Quad Cities, pretty much), are included on the Illinois side .  If I get to a bar in Buffalo or Andalusia, I’d count it.  I would consider Walcott or Blue Grass in IA, or Reynolds and Hillsdale in IL, out of the zone.

2.       ‘Bars’ can be the traditional bar, but can include (and do, on my list) restaurants, golf courses, bowling alleys, OTB, and wineries.  For bowling alleys and golf courses, you have to drink in the bar, not just go to the window or buy a beer from the girl in the cart.  If the establishment is more known as a restaurant than a bar, actual bellying up (not just having a drink in the ‘bar area’) is required.  Same with casinos.

3.       Many of the bars on the list are multiple entries at a single location - if a bar on the list closes and reopens, I’ll go back, have a drink, and pad my stats.   Also, if a bar changes locations, it’s eligible to be counted again.

I know my actual count is a slight bit higher than this, and anyone that might be reading this may be able to help add to this number.  There are a few places I’ve been that have changed names, but it’s been so long ago that I forgot what they were originally called (at least, that’s my excuse for not remembering), mainly in the District and East Village.  For example, I can’t remember what the name of the place was before it became Mound Street Landing. 

I will be updating the list as I head towards my goal of 300 Quad Cities bars by 12/31/2010!

The count, as of 10/20/2010:  287

Click on “The List” above to see where I’ve been.


Comments

  1. mydoglilyOctober 21, 2010 at 10:37 PM

    Wasn't the Mound Street bar called Alligators something? Great List!

    ReplyDelete
  2. 97WolvesOctober 21, 2010 at 11:04 PM

    Doesn't ring a bell. There was a Gator's in the District (on the list)

    ReplyDelete

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