Posted August 28, 2013in Belly Up To...
One of the best things about Court District carousing — aside from the scenery, and we’re not talking about the pretty lights — is the history. The old architecture of the buildings and the stories that come with each brick and bar stool are likely lost on the 20-something crowds
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Posted August 21, 2013in Belly Up To...
I know a woman who once made a snap decision to break up with her summer fling after witnessing his condescending treatment of a fast food employee at the drive-up window. OK, it was me. I kicked the dude to the curb, and it was one decision I never reflected
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Posted August 14, 2013in Belly Up To...
By the time you read this, you may have already gotten your fill on the topic of the Iowa State Fair. But the opportunity to belly up to a bar at the fair — a place like Jalapeno Pete’s, for example — only comes once year, so bear with me.
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Posted August 07, 2013in Belly Up To...
“How do you want me to spell it?” I asked Cory Steiner, new owner of Canz. “Well, it’s spelled with an ‘s’ that looks like a backward ‘z.’ Spell it like that,” he insisted. “I can’t do that. My computer doesn’t know how to type an ‘s’ that looks like
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Posted July 31, 2013in Belly Up To...
They say it’s important in life to “stop and smell the roses.” From our passing cars, we too often overlook the charms of the city streetscape — the tiny but significant details that give a community its identity. So, when exploring a city’s core, it’s best to park the car.
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Posted July 24, 2013in Belly Up To...
Most people remember that iconic moment when Dorothy awakes after a violent tornado had whisked her and Toto, house and all, to the land of Oz; when she opened up the front door to find her drab, black-and-white reality surrounded by the color and energy of all that lives over
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Posted July 17, 2013in Belly Up To...
OK, picture this. You’re playing sand volleyball, tanning by the water, fishing, boating, “bro-ing” out — whatever it is you do at Saylorville or Big Creek. You’ve spent all afternoon in sunny bliss, but now the beer has run out, the fish aren’t biting and your sunscreen is beginning to
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Posted July 10, 2013in Belly Up To...
This is a story that begins with a man named Tyrone Tyler. He is a man of many passions, which he wears on his sleeve — literally. Before even shaking his hand, you will know he loves football because of the decals on his ball cap and T-shirt. Look more
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Posted July 03, 2013in Belly Up To...
A lot of bar owners contrive all kinds of different gimmicks to lure patrons into their establishments. They come up with clever names above front doors, snappy logos on their products; they tout signature drinks with sexual names and drinking games to draw the college crowd. But there’s just something
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Posted June 26, 2013in Belly Up To...
Living in the Grand Canyon State lends itself to a whole slew of western saloons for any drinker to choose from. Even though I was young, I can still remember a family trip to the Rusty Spur in Scottsdale, Ariz. My dad sat me and my sister up on the
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