Graze

Making my way through the Ped Mall on a busy Thursday night in downtown Iowa City, I maneuvered through the large lines of eager bar patrons outside the Union and the Field House. Slipping through the crowd, I found my way to the entrance of Graze. The small establishment, located at the old Venuto’s World Bistro, is quiet retreat from the crowded and hectic bars of Iowa City. Taking a seat at the bar, I was presented with an extensive libations menu from the bartender. The menu consisted of an extensive list of modern and specialty martinis, as well as wine and spirits. The martini specials include exotic fruit martinis and bubbling martinis, which are served over dry ice and actually create a bubbly, almost volcano like eruption in the martini glass. Graze also offers classic martinis with top of the line gin and vodka. As it is not my first visit to graze, I look past the eye dazzling specialty drinks and opt instead for a classic vodka martini with no olives. Others in my group, who are making their first visit to Graze, decide to try the bubbling martinis and they are not disappointed. As for me, my martini was delightfully strong. The Thursday night special at Graze is half-price martinis, which is a great deal as the martinis are typically priced between $6 and $20.

Classy Comedy

Seeing as my 8:05 class just ended, I find myself having more opportunities to take advantage of all downtown Iowa City has to offer. Hence, second blog in two days. I felt compelled to share my experience of last nights Comedy Night at The Summit. Although I have heard mixed reviews from friends, I found the comedians last night quite hilarious. Obviously they can't compare with such favorites as Louie C.K. or Demetri Martin (both of whom I suggest to all), but I found myself laughing out loud many times.

I will warn you though that I may have just been there on a good night. I have heard that some nights the comedians are not worth the $5 cover charge. But in my opinion even if you are stuck with two bad acts, the 1/2 priced drinks, $2 dozen wings, and other cheap food options, still make it a fun night. Plus the upstairs bar where the event is held is somewhat converted into a classy comedy club feel with cabaret tables set up near the stage with candles and table cloths on them. The bar tries hard to make it a cool atmosphere and its defiantly something different to do on a normally boring Wednesday night.

If you are interested in going you can check out who is coming to summit next Wednesday on their website by clicking here. Upstairs doors open at 9, show starts at 9:30. Ends around 11ish.

Great Tuesday Night Deals

Tuesday nights are usually pretty mundane but the downtown establishments are doing their part to make it more exciting. Last night I focused on two. The Picador and The Summit.

Picador: $3 dollar pitchers, no cover
Summit: $1 U-Call-It, 5 cover (cover includes Summit and the bar next door One Eyed Jakes)

Two bars, two great deals, two very different atmospheres.

Summit plays a mix of songs and once in a while a good one appears. Most of the patrons are 21 or younger, many dressed up. The bar gets pretty crowded around 11 and becomes difficult to walk through. Comparatively the Picador has around 25 patrons, all of age, and lp's are played on a mixer set up by the pool table.

You can have a great time at each one, just depends what atmosphere you're looking for. Either way, I advocate taking advantage of these Tuesday deals, if your class schedule allows it. (Maybe even if it doesn't)

Off The Beaten Path: The Iowa City Bar Experience

Going out on a weeknight requires just a stop at one or two of Iowa City's many fine booze brokers. But a true experience requires many more stops. So to avoid wasted orders on sub-par drinks, abide by these guidelines.

Below is a well researched list of the best mixes at the best bars. Enjoy.

• Irish coffee at the Dublin Underground
• PBR at Dave's Fox Head Tavern
• Templeton Rye at the Sanctuary
• Hamm's at George's
• White Russians at Kandyland
• Bottles of Bud at the Hilltop Tap
• Wine at Red Poppy
• Martinis at Atlas

Blues Jam

Last night I found myself in a familiar bar, with an unfamiliar crowd. Apparently every Monday night around 9:30 the Yatch Club in Iowa City hosts a blues jam. The yatch club is another bar that many bar goers overlook. The bar is across from the Cottage bakery on Linn and the entrance is decorated with huge white pillars. The bar is down a flight, pretty small and resembles an old unfinished basement. Cover was 5 dollars (only 3 for patrons of age) but it was well worth it. Not only was there an amazing blues band that started out the night, the drink special was one dollar pints of Bud Light.

After the local, edgy blues band played a mix of originals and covers (closing with a solo filled version of Very Superstitious by Stevie Wonder), they offered there instruments up to fellow musicians to “jam”. Any bar patron who felt like getting up on stage and jamming could sign up on a sheet by the stage. The lead singer of the opening band called people up depending on their instrument. Everyone is allowed a turn (time allowing) and many of the participants seemed to be well-known regulars.

Blues seems to me to be a very passionate form of music. The singer of the opening band was extremely into his music. He played at times with his eyes closed, body waving, etc. One man in the corner was even faux drumming along to the music very intensely. Later I learned that a few of these patrons were fellow musicians and soon to be “Jammers”.

The smoky atmosphere, the small stage lit with white Christmas lights, the “bar someone built in their basement” feel, it seems so far removed from the stereotypical Iowa City bar with the drunk college kids in stylish attire. Although I admit I frequent those bars and enjoy them, I can’t help but be relieved that is not all Iowa City has to offer. I don’t assume to know a hell of a lot about blues but what I heard sounded pretty damn good. Good music plus good drink specials (plus maybe a little photohunt) equals a pretty swell evening. I will definitely but frequenting the Yatch Club more often on Mondays.

DC's for FAC

Despite what you may have heard, DC's F.A.C. is nothing special. I decided to venture to the bar for the first time on Friday. I had heard about the great drink deals and the "fish bowls," so I wanted to check it out for myself.

When I arrived at the bar, which is located in the Ped Mall on South Dubuque Street, around 5 o'clock, I was surprised because it was already jammed with people. The bar itself is unique to downtown Iowa City. I can't think of another bar that can compare to DC's interior. Inside feels like a sport's bar. TVs are positioned all over the bar and sports memorabilia fills the walls. When you enter the bar, there is a set of stairs immediately to your right which lead you to the second floor. The first thing I noticed is how narrow the bar is. There is not very much room to move around, and working my way to the bar took some effort.

I had heard about how great the fish bowls were here, so I figured I would order one to start off the night, but, once I finally reached the bar, I found out the truth behind the fish bowls. When I think of a fish bowl, not an actual fish bowl but one from a previous experience at a bar that serves fish bowls, I expect something fairly large that could definitely serve more than one person. I was let down. The fish bowls were small and they cost $4. Watching one of the bartenders fill a fish bowl, I noticed how little alcohol actually went into the drink, and, plus, there was a limited list of drinks that you could order at the bar.

Instead, I ordered a large mug of beer, 32 oz. The mug was huge, and for $3 I thought this was going to be great.

Trying to lug around a 32 oz. mug of beer in an extremely crowded bar is difficult. I was constantly being bombarded with elbows and bodies. With little table space available I had to hold the beer the entire time. I am not the weakest individual but after about five minutes I was tired of holding the beer. The actual beer itself was watered down and warm. The downstairs was too crowded so I decided to check out the upstairs. When I made it to the top of the stairs, I was disappointed to find that the upstairs was even narrower than the downstairs and just as crowded, so I headed back down to the main floor. I found some space with my friends near the entrance; finally we had enough room so as we didn’t have to worry about being knocked into and spilling our beers. After a half hour, my beer was so warm and watered down that I had to order a new one, which, not to my surprise, was barely colder than the beer I had just set down. Even though it was nice to check the latest bar in downtown Iowa City, I am in no hurry to return. The bar has potential, but, during FAC, the bar is just too crowded and the drink specials are not really that great.

And, for your own safety if you decide to check out DC’s, be careful as you walk in because there is a slight raise just inside the door. My friends and I watched person after person stumble as they walked into the bar, and I don’t think it was just because some of them were drunk.

Pub Quiz demands knowledge of the useless, mundane

Pub Quiz, a trivia game hosted every Sunday night by the Mill in Iowa City, challenges how well you know the end credits to a movie you've never heard of. Of course, you're encouraged to bring your friends along, especially that one who has a vast amount of pointless information just waiting to be put to good use.

The game consists of six rounds with three questions in each--18 questions in total. There's a drawing round, occasional bonus questions, and a fun little game that requires your team to amuse others with a fun story (the details change each week). Winners receive gift cards to the restaurant/bar and the last place team receives an old VHS movie, usually involving a terribly ridiculous plot. Think Karate Kid IV, not Citizen Kane.

Pub Quiz suffers from its own length, however. Generally the game takes around two hours to complete; the quiz-master usually allows teams to mull over each question for about five minutes before he moves to the next. Still, at $1, it's great Sunday night fun.

The questions, you ask? From movies to politics to games to pop culture, expect anything. The more friends you bring along, the better your chances at winning. It's not uncommon to hear a category about the Beatles lead to a trivia question regarding the astrological sign of the guy who mixed the third track on Abbey Road. Yeah, even Wikipedia wouldn't help you on some of these.

But hey, what else are you doing on a Sunday night?

Where: The Mill, Iowa City
When: Sunday night, 9:00 PM
How Much: $1
How Long: Takes about two hours

*NOTE: People bothered by smoke may want to avoid the Mill--or bring an oxygen tank.