Quad Cities Bars

The Landing didn’t spend much time in my “What’s left” list, as I visited Thursday afternoon, then back again with my wife in the evening.   Despite billing itself as “A bar adults can call their own”, it had a decidedly young feel, especially in the evening.   While there, I eavesdropped on a couple next to me that was speaking about Yeti’s, and through their description I guessed that it was the old Pauper’s Den, which then became Thai Garden .    I confirmed that when I visited Saturday, not even giving it a chance to show up on the “What’s left” list.   I used to like the bar at the Pauper’s Den, which ran the length of the room, and had a couple of angles thrown in.   When it became Thai Garden , they enclosed the kitchen, cutting down the bar length by at least 60%.   I hope Yeti’s restores the bar to what it was, though on Saturday they seemed busy enough that they may not feel the need to make any changes. With the addition of The Landing and Yeti’s, the list now stands

Ya know, I thought I had a pretty good handle on what’s what with bars in the Quad Cities.  I’ve been writing this blog for about 10 months, but tracking my bar progress since May of ’09.  I consult the newspapers, websites, and do my own recon, as boots on the ground yield the best information.  I have people, including bar owners, bartenders, and others just being helpful asking, “You been here?  You been there?”  That’s why, even though it’s usually a pleasant surprise, it still makes me feel a little inept when I find there’s a bar in downtown Moline, smack on River Drive, that has been open since January and I didn’t know about it.  Thank you to Sarah at Mulligan’s Valley Pub for clueing me in to The Landing, two doors down from Bass Street Chop House.    With that addition, the “What’s left” list moves to 12 , which includes Rubikon and The Beach House, which I hope will open soon. Speaking of Rubikon, they’re now hiring, and have added signage on their windows.  The signage is

Hit the 400 milestone with an unexpected stop at The Warehouse in Rock Island Saturday afternoon, only open that early because of Ya Maka My Weekend.  I then surpassed it on Wednesday with a visit to the new Barrel House 211 in Davenport with my friend Jimmie, bringing my total to 401 .  Getting to the next level might take a little longer.  My “What’s left” list is still at 11 , with The Warehouse coming off the list and 1 Hundred West, which was Lucky’s (at the Steeplegate Inn) added.  The projected opening for The Beachhouse was August 14 th , which came and went.  Rubikon took the paper off the windows, but I’m still not sure if it’s open.  Add in the various VFW’s, American Legions, and Moose clubs, golf course clubhouses, and the restaurants that have bars I can belly up to, looks like I’d max out at around 460.  Bar inventory has stayed pretty stable over the last two or three months, with Dyce’s, River Oaks, and QCD Zone closing, and Barrel House 211, The Clubhouse, and Blu