09/10/2013 Update: It’s serious now.

About a year ago, I bellied up at Shogun to have a Kirin and some sushi.  It was kind of like what I describe as a ‘Rudy’s Syndrome’ desperation visit, when there are no real bars left that would be available, convenient, or prudent to go to.  Well, the original owners took over for the people they sold it to and changed the name to Ichiban, as they thought the brand might have been damaged.  This gave me another opportunity to count it again and pad my stats.

For those playing along at home, you would know Edje in Jumer’s Casino has been on my ‘What’s Left’ list (now at 10) for some time.  To remedy that, my wife and I finally took a trip out there with a meal at DJ’s Steakhouse also on the agenda.  As it turns out, we knew the bartender at DJ’s, so after dinner we stopped for a drink at the bar.  Love killing two birds with one stone.

We also stopped at the Beach Pub in Buffalo, knocking one off my Pre-List list (bars I haven’t been back to since I started tracking this in May 2009).  That list now sits at 11:  Hooters, The Gallery, The Dugout, The Hat, Larry Bob’s Oasis, The Meat Market, The New Opendore, Belgian Village, Dew Drop Inn,  Bennigan’s, and Del’s In The District.

The additions of Ichiban, DJ’s Steakhouse, and Edje bring my total to 497, and now it gets serious.  It will take a little planning to make sure #500 is worthy of the milestone, not a Rudy’s Tacos, sushi bar, or golf course clubhouse where I’m not even playing golf;  it’s got to be a regular bar.  Knocking off two when you only are expecting one is pleasant, but can throw off the game plan.  That being said, let’s look ahead at possibilities for Number 500:
  • I thought we might be getting close to the opening of the Riverside in Bettendorf (same ownership as the Parkside in Moline), but my last information is that electrical issues have pushed back the expected opening to the second week of October.
  • Probably open prior to the Riverside will be the bar taking the place of River Oaks in Cordova (I don’t have the new name yet, so it is not on my What’s Left list).  The owner of Jesse’s Saloon in Silvis has purchased it, and I’m guessing he won’t be doing that much work on the inside (not that it needed much anyhow, but I’ve been to Jesse’s).
  • I’ve received confirmation from a second reliable source that there will be a Silvis location of the Barrel House, probably on Avenue of the Cities near the Doc’s Inn.  No ETA.
  • Rudy’s has started to reface the existing restaurant to match the Cantina, but I still don’t see much progress on the inside, and the ladder that’s been in the window for months still hasn’t moved.
  • I drove by the Platinum Club in Rock Island (formerly the Last Chance) again, and I think my supposition that it was a ‘Gentleman’s Club’ may have been mistaken.  One of the sign’s outside proclaimed they will host Anniversary parties (as well as Birthday’s, etc.), which made me rethink the impression that the name gave me.

Other bar news:  Los Agaves has opened a fourth location, this one in Moline on Avenue of the Cities east of 53rd (used to be Denny’s).  Not enough of a ‘bar’ to get on my What’s Left list, but my guess is it will be next up.  Looks like the roof has been patched at P. K. Dugan’s, but not sure how things are shaping up on the inside after the fire they had in late spring.  I’m hoping they’ll be back open soon.  News isn’t so good for the Greenbriar in Moline, who announced they will be closing on October 1.

Had to reshuffle my Favorite Bartenders list a little bit.  First, welcome to Meredith at 129 to the list – makes a great martini, and can emulate the G-String from G’s Riverfront Café (even though there’s nothing like it on their drink menu) to a tee.  Next, I had to move some from Current to Past Favorite bartenders.  Matt at G’s has actually been gone for a few months.  More recently, Joanna left the Blu Shamrock (though at least we still get to see her on occasion), but Erin at O’Keefe’s and Debbie at Parkside have moved, to Florida and Arizona respectively.  Good luck to both of you , and we’ll miss you!

Bars since the August 16 post (* - new to my list):


G's Riverfront Café
The Doc's Inn
Star Bar
Caddy's
Rick and Kathy's
Governor's (Bettendorf)
Blu Shamrock
* Howard's Tap (Albany, IL)
Kyle's Tavern (Thomson, IL)
* Manny's Too (Fulton, IL)
Duey's
* Edje
* DJ's Steakhouse
Biaggi's
It's On The River
* Ichiban
Captain's Table
Two Seasons Bowl (Elkhorn, WI)
Jimmie Lee's
129
Main Event
TGI Friday's Moline
The Lighthouse (Fairport, IA)
Beach Pub
Harley's
Pub 1848
Bad Boy'z Pizza

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