A homemade recipe at Quijano’s Bar & Grill
“The best bloody Larry in town.” That’s the claim of Quijano’s Bar and Grill on Southeast Sixth Street. “Larry” isn’t a typo. The drink might look like a bloody mary, [...]
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Posted July 20, 2016in Belly Up To...
Posted July 13, 2016in Belly Up To...
Ron & Pat’s Brew Haus — ‘nice people’
The sign above the white gravel parking lot shows two frothy beer steins poised to clink together. The old school, lounge-looking watering hole sits low on the corner of [...]
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Posted July 06, 2016in Belly Up To...
Not part of the plan
Jim Besler didn’t plan on owning The Thirsty Sportsman — in fact, he never planned on owning any bar. “I thought I was going to go to work [...]
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Posted June 29, 2016in Belly Up To...
Locust Tap — an old-school bar since 1933
In 1937, two packs of cigarettes cost about a quarter, America was in the depths of a depression, and the prohibition banning alcohol had only recently ended in 1933. [...]
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Posted June 22, 2016in Belly Up To...
Della Viti — ‘Froyo’ for adults
“The building you are in has a great history.” That’s the first line in the narrative that explains what’s happened in this building, which now houses Della Viti, [...]
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Posted June 15, 2016in Belly Up To...
The draw of GoodSons
There are times when you just need to chill. And a good place to chill is at Goodson’s in Beaverdale. “It’s a real mellow place,” says a bartender [...]
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Posted June 08, 2016in Belly Up To...
Grandma’s Place
Over the Des Moines River and through the… southside beer suds? That’s the way to grandmother’s house we go? If you leave downtown and you’re entering the city’s south side [...]
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Posted June 01, 2016in Belly Up To...
Not homicidal at Andy’s Place
“Did you know that one out of 25 people have no conscience?” Rebecca Anderson is pouring a drink behind the bar she owns and operates, Andy’s Place. She’s discussing the [...]
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Posted May 25, 2016in Belly Up To...
A new meaning for ‘bottoms up’ at C.J.’s II Tap
If you’re ever on the floor at C.J.’s II Tap — the bar owned by Claude Johns on East 30th Street near the Iowa State Fairgrounds — and wondering where [...]
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Posted May 18, 2016in Belly Up To...
Jelly beans, grandfather clocks and German castles
What do jellybeans, grandfather clocks and German castles have in common? A lady sitting at Des Moines’ east side Maingate Bar knows. Chrystal Smith alternates between sips from of [...]
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