by Debbi | Oct 8, 2015 | Events
One of our favorite events is back this year—the infamous Rocky Horror Picture Show party bus!
We started this tradition in 2009, after Peach renovated the movie theater in Ottawa and we had a place to watch the show, yell as much as we wanted and throw things. And get up and dance in the middle of the movie. (We won’t talk about the time that couple tried to ‘shush’ us during the movie.)
The party bus went on hiatus the past couple of years, but this year we’re excited to bring it back.
Here’s the drill: you MUST dress in costume. That’s rule #1, and the most important rule.
Everyone meets at the Sandbar around 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30. FYI, that’s also Homecoming weekend for KU, and a pep rally will be happening on our block that night. It’s also Final Fridays, so downtown Lawrence will be BUSY. Plan accordingly and carpool if possible.
The bus leaves the Sandbar promptly at 9 p.m. and heads south to Ottawa. The bus ride is FUN. Some refreshments will be provided, but you’re welcome to bring your own for the bus.
Once we get to the Plaza Cinema in Ottawa—the oldest operating cinema in the world, in case you didn’t know—you’ll enjoy a tour of the Movie Memorabilia Museum, followed by the main event—the Rocky Horror Picture Show!
After the movie is over, we’ll load the bus back up and head back to Lawrence.
All this for just $36! Sign up in advance at the Sandbar to save your spot.
And in case you need ideas for costumes, check out some of the stories and pictures from past years’ trips, or use our good friend Google to find something. But remember: costumes are required!
ICYMI, this year is the 40th anniversary of Rocky Horror Picture Show. The cast recently reunited on The Today Show. Check out the video here.
by Debbi | Sep 30, 2012 | Events, Halloween
It's that time of the year again- time for our annual Rocky Horror Picture Show party bus extravaganza!
This year's event will be held on Friday, Oct. 26. That's the weekend before Hallowee, and it's also Homecoming weekend at KU, so plan accordingly.
Here's all the details:
The bus leaves the Sandbar in Lawrence at 7:30 p.m. sharp. Since it's Final Fridays and Homecoming, downtown will be full, so be sure to leave enough time to find a parking place. And carpool if possible!
The bus travels to Baldwin City where we'll pick up people at the Lodge. We'll then continue on to Dunn's Landing for a chili feed and Halloween party. Then, we'll board the bus again and head to Ottawa's Plaza Grill and Cinema.
There's a bar and menu available at the Plaza Grill. After the movie, the bus will travel the same route back, arriving in Lawrence around midnight. It's Homecoming weekend, so the Sandbar will be extremely busy, so keep in mind that traveling on the party bus doesn't guarantee you'll be able to get in the bar when we get back.
Costumes are highly encouraged!
The cost for the party is $25 per person, which includes the bus trip, chili feed and the movie, and this must be paid at the time you sign up. A sign-up sheet is available at the Sandbar. Don't wait too long, this trip sells out every year!
by Debbi | Oct 29, 2011 | Events, Halloween, Ottawa
On Friday night the Sandbar hosted our third annual Rocky Horror Picture Show party bus extravaganza. We filled a school bus with fun people from the Sandbar, picked up more fun party people in Baldwin and headed for Ottawa.
Our first stop after we picked up a few people at the Lodge in Baldwin City was Dunn's Landing, a working farm outside of Baldwin. Our friends Robin and Kirsten decorated their barn with festive Halloween decor and treated all of us to chili. When everyone was finished eating, we loaded back up on the bus and traveled to Ottawa for the main event.
The party crew outside the barn at Dunn's Landing
The Crystal Plaza Theater in Ottawa has undergone a makeover. Owners Peach, Ted, Teddy and Amelia have added a kitchen and grill, and the lobby area features a small dining area along with a counter and bar stools in the concession area. There's a full menu of appetizers, sandwiches and burgers; and we were particularly amused with the "Happy Endings" section of the menu. It features desserts, silly.
We watched Rocky Horror in the smaller theater, where some of the theater seating was removed to make way for several tables and chairs so patrons can enjoy food while watching the movie.
If you've never been to RHPS, you need to go. It's not the movie itself that is so much fun, but the entire event, especially with the Sandbar crew. And particularly Movie Dave and Scotty Mac, who thoroughly entertained the crowd with their dialogue.
The party crew in the lobby of the Ottawa Crystal Plaza movie theater
After the movie, we loaded back up on the bus and headed home. Many thanks to our awesome bus driver, Jimmy Lee Rose. Anyone who can put up with our group is a rock star! We'll be sure to request him as our driver next time we rent a bus.
by Debbi | Oct 15, 2011 | Events, Halloween
For the third year in a row, the Sandbar is sponsoring a Rocky Horror Picture Show party bus!
Peach and Ted, co-owners of the bar, also own the Crystal Plaza movie theater in Ottawa. We meet at the Sandbar, load up a bus and head south on a haunted bus trip through the countryside. After a brief stop at the beautiful Dunn's Landing for a Halloween party, the bus arrives at the movie theater for an exclusive showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show, complete with props!
Details:
- Friday, October 28
- Cost is $25 per person, must pre-pay and register
- Bus leaves the Sandbar at 7:30 p.m. sharp
- Bus returns to Sandbar after the movie
- Cost includes bus ride, movie ticket and props
Dress in your RHPS best! Read about last year's event and see pictures here.
There's a sign-up sheet at the bar. You must pre-pay and register. The first sign-up sheet is limited to 25 people and then we have a wait list. If there's enough demand on the wait list, we'll look into renting a second bus.
It's easiest for our staff if you go to the bar to make your reservation; if you call, they'll have to call you back in order to run your credit card over the phone since we only have one phone line. Or, you can pay via Paypal at sandbar@thesandbar.com.
We're excited about this annual tradition and can't wait to see everyone's costumes!
by Debbi | Nov 4, 2010 | Events, Guest Blogs, Halloween
Yes, we're still talking about Halloween. We love it. It's our second favorite holiday of the year. We'll talk about it until we have something better to talk about. And we also love guest blogs- this one is by our friend Jana, a Rocky Horror bus tour virgin this year.
I listened to the stories, I saw pictures from the 2009 bus tour, but was I really ready to take this tour myself? I hesitated to commit, wavered on costumes ideas, and finally the day came to just get on the bus and ride. For my first Rocky Horror trip with the Sandbar I went a little more conservative. I went as Janet, before arriving at the castle.
I started the trip by meeting Bettina, Hayley and David at Chad’s house. I arrive at Chad’s in a white dress with a cardigan. Chad is getting all done up as a French maid. Hayley rushes in dressed in a black corset and needing help to get the corset tied and garter on her fishnet hose. As we are preparing to leave David arrives dressed as Frank-N-Furter. We all burst out clapping and hollering as he struts towards us in black high heels, glittering corset, wig, and fishnets.
Downtown Lawrence on Friday night became a Nightmare on Mass St. Chad dropped us off and then attempted to find a parking spot amid the chaos. (He ended up parking blocks away and getting picked up by the bus on Connecticut St.) We loaded on the bus with many dressed in corsets, as French maids, and more fishnet than the Gulf of Mexico has seen recently. Thus our tour began with singing, dancing and drinking on a school bus headed first to Baldwin then on to the show in Ottawa.
The show began with Scotty Mac and David explaining the rules of Rocky Horror. We are encouraged to sing, dance and shout out during the movie. We have props like water guns, flashlights, bubbles, and glow sticks. A hush descends in the theater as Scotty and David announce “Now show the lips.†People start singing and yelling as the opening credits begin. Throughout the movie Scotty and David shout out questions and everyone participates in the experience by shouting and cheering the action on the screen. Hayley and I jump up to the front of the theater to join in the “Time Warp.†Scotty and Jen run up front to dance during the stage show. Then Michelle and Justin interrupt, dressed as Magenta and Riff Raff in their gold and black uniforms, to capture Frank and return to Transylvania.
Everyone spills back out into the lobby of the movie theater to prepare to load onto the bus for the long trip home. The excitement and energy is palatable as the bus starts heading back to Lawrence. We are singing and dancing in the aisle. And my Rocky Horror bus trip ends back at the Sandbar, but clearly not back to reality just yet.
I can’t wait for next year. My mind is spinning with costume ideas. Am I ready to go more risqué? Will you be seeing me in fishnets and a corset? Guess we’ll find out in a year…
