Quad Cities Bars

Because of only being open Thursdays through Saturdays, knocking the Last Chance Lounge at its new location on 17th St in Rock Island (former site of Rexie’s Gourmet House and, more recently, Club 573 ) off my list was proving to be a difficult task.  With a free couple hours owing to my wife having a girls night at the Circa on a Friday night, I finally was able to visit, and got to see Bob and Diana, whom I had met at their old location.  Made it just in time, apparently:  they told me that Mar 31st was to be their last day.  In addition to the Last Chance, I’m adding (with memory-tweaking help from friends), two blasts from the past, both in the Rock Island District.  Thanks to Kyle Born for reminding me of Bushwood (currently the Daiquiri Factory ).  I can’t exactly recall who reminded me of The Library (now The Smoking Dog Pub ), but I think that was the second bar I ever went to in the QCA; Steve’s Old Time Tap was the first.  Those thr...

Additions for this post:  I didn’t have Speakeasy on my What’s Left list, as I wasn’t quite sure what it was – didn’t know if they had a portable or fixed bar, or even if they fetched drinks from Circa 21 next door.  After a group of us went to a Saturday night burlesque show, I’m happy to say it qualifies.  I also finally got to Tappa’s Steak House , which retains the bar from the old Sports Page days (and has a fine filet mignon sandwich). With the addition of Azteca 2 and their four stool bar, I’ve now got all Aztecas, Los Agaves, and Habaneros on my list (plus I eliminated the Rudy’s in Coal Valley as they do not have a bar).  My availability of Mexican restaurant desperation adds are drawing down. Those pushed up my total to 515, but even after all this time I get fleeting moments of clarity about the last 17 years I’ve spent in the Quad Cities and remember something that should have been on the list from the start – in this case, Alma Tapas and S...

A couple of posts back, I mentioned that Rumors in the Rock Island District would be “a long term member of my What’s Left list”, owing to the fact that it was only open weekends, and not until 9:00 pm.  Because I live 25 miles away (and I’m old), you normally won’t find me in the district at that time.  However, Rumors surprised me by opening for the NFL playoffs, so my wife and I were able to stop in at 4:00 pm on a Sunday.  This is the fifth bar at that address I’ve been to, and I’d like to tell you about all the changes they’ve made from 4 Play (the most recent failed attempt), but a coat of paint, a couch on the old stage, and removal of the pool table (it might be upstairs, didn't check) are about it. The Steel Head Tavern , adjacent to the Centre Ice skating rink in Moline and owned by the same couple that owns Café Indigo in Davenport, quietly opened on Jan 16th (about 6 weeks past what the website had stated).  I hit it the following Wednesday, and I...