Quad Cities Bars

I fell a bit shy of my goal of getting to 560, as the bars I had hoped would open didn’t pan out as I had hoped.  I even put off posting for a month longer than usual so I’d have something more to write about (nah, probably just lazy).  However, I did make it to three new bars, bringing my total to 558 . Harrison St Pub in Davenport is roughly a third the size of the old Lumpy’s (the rest is now a tattoo shop).  It opened early May, and when I stopped in for lunch, they were bringing the tabletops in for the pub tables.  The wings were a little underdone, but the bartender was friendly so I figured I’d stop back after work someday.  I tried to do just that, and found that they’re only open until 5:00 pm, though she said that in July they’d be extending that until 8:00.  Odd. Also in Davenport, The Creekside Inn reopened as K & T’s Bike Rack (they also shortened the first name they had on a banner, Kutch & Tob’s Bicycle Rack, which was ...

On my last blog, I set a high bar (so to speak) with a goal of hitting half a dozen new bars for this post, and actually surpassed it by adding 7 to my list:   Under the Redstone Room is Falbo Brother’s Pizzeria .  I never thought much about Mojo’s , which preceded Falbo Bros, as a possibility to add to my list because I wasn't sure if it had an actual bar, so I didn’t give the new place much thought either.  It wasn't until I went with a group of friends to see Samantha Fish at the Redstone Room that I paid any attention and saw they did have a  bar, and not just beer as I think Mojo’s was.  They even have a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue up on the top shelf!  Not only that, but good hot subs and occasional entertainment at lunch, and those that have had it say their pizza is good. Moe’s Burger & Brews opened in Rock Island on just after St. Patrick’s Day, and it’s the only new bar for this post that I've hit twice.  When there the first ...

After becoming aware of the bars in Donahue, I made short work of adding them to my list.  First I hit The Depot , which appears very new and, honestly, more upscale than I would have expected in Donahue, with good food and a real nice interior.  Across the street lies Don’s Pub & Grill , which is more like what I would expect from Donahue.  It’s an excellent dive bar, with both a friendly bartender and crowd (at least the Wednesday evening I visited).  My basis for considering a bar to be within the Quad Cities area is within a 20 mile radius from I74 bridge.  I Mapquested the two Donahue bars from the Paddlewheel in Bettendorf (at the foot of the bridge) to determine their eligibility, and while I was at it, I checked a few others.  Turns out McCausland is within range, so I was able to also add The Lucky Frog , a place we visited back in 2011.  That and the two Donahue bars bring my total to 548 . Other Bar News, including many upcoming...

Since last post, I traveled to Orion to visit the Sidetracked Saloon , which had been Stooges until recently.  I’m not sure if the flat screens in the corner are new, but if they are, it’s the only change I noticed.  I’m sure it’s a fine bar, but, with the tall ceilings and rectangular layout, the only impression I came away with was of being in an appliance box when I was a kid. In mid-December, The Quarry in west Davenport re-opened as Thirsty’s On Third , and they are doing some remodeling work.  The owners seemed real nice, and I wish them luck.  It’s a nice little dive enclave they have down at Pine and Third, with Thirsty’s, The New Opendore , Scott’s Shovelhead Shed , and the New Wooden Nickel . Another nice group of bars, a little more upscale, is in the College Hill area of Rock Island.  Within the last three years or so, Legend’s Corner , The Grotto (in the Black Ram restaurant), Cool Beanz , and Against the Grain have joined Kavanaugh’s ...