by Debbi | Sep 19, 2011 | Events, Good Things
Bartender Danny's Bike MS team, the Fun Police, stopped by the Sandbar on Saturday after biking 70 miles! They started in Olathe and made their way to Lawrence for an afternoon at the Gears & Grooves for MS Festival, followed by camping overnight at South Park.
The Sandbar helped sponsor the Fun Police this year, so our logo was on their fancy new jerseys.
After posing outside for a few pictures, the Fun Police came inside for drinks and shotskis.
Thanks, Fun Police, for everything you do. I checked out their Bike MS fundraising page, and I was amazed. The Fun Police's fundraising goal this year was $15,000- and they not only reached that goal, they went way over it with $17,333.79. That is fantastic! And it looks like (at least at this point), our boy Danny raised the most money with $3,105. Way to go!
by Debbi | Sep 13, 2011 | Downtown, Events, Good Things, St. Patrick's Day
Everybody knows St. Patrick's Day is our favorite holiday. Did you know this Saturday is the halfway point to the next extravaganza?
The Lawrence St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee is kicking off the 25th annual parade season with a Halfway to St. Patrick's celebration on Sept. 17 from 5 p.m. to midnight. The street in front of the Sandbar will be the site of a street festival that features Irish music from Flannigan's Right Hook and Ashley Davis. The rock band Eminent Domain will close out the party.
EDIT: Flannigan's Right Hook has canceled their appearance. They'll be replaced by the Radio Flyers, followed by Ashley Davis and Eminent Domain. There will also be some members of the KC pipe and drum corps performing on the bagpipes.
The suggested donation is $5 per person. Alcohol will be available for sale outside; if you want to drink, you must be 21 and purchase a wristband. All money from donations and wristband sales will go towards the St. Patrick's Day committee's fundraising efforts. Since 1988, the parade and its activities have raised more than $645,000 for charities that benefit local youth. Area organizations can apply to be this year's beneficiary until Oct. 3. Visit www.lawrencestpatricksdayparade.com for more information.
Come out and see us on Saturday! The bar will be open as usual at 1 p.m. and our staff will be serving drinks outside in the evening starting around 5.
by Debbi | Sep 9, 2011 | Downtown, Events, Good Things
The Fun Police are back for the fourth year!
Bartender Danny has been a huge supporter of the National MS Society for years now, riding in the annual MS Ride to help raise money for multiple sclerosis research. The Sandbar is proud to sponsor the Fun Police this year. Here's a picture of our logo on their cool new jerseys.
This year's Kansas City and Topeka rides will converge in Lawrence, with overnight camping in South Park. Also, a festival!
On Saturday, Sept. 17, South Park will be the site of a fundraising party with bands, children's activities and food and drink vendors. The festival is from noon-9 p.m.
Click here to read more about the festival on Wellcommons. Sounds like a fun activity for the family and a great way to help support a good cause.
You can also donate to the MS Society through Danny's personal donation page. His goal this year is $3000 and he's so close. Click here to visit his page, read about his experiences with the MS Ride and the Fun Police and make a donation.
For the first time this year, Sandbar art director Justin is also participating in the MS Ride. If you'd like to donate and help him reach his $300 goal, click here.
by Debbi | Jul 3, 2011 | Downtown, Events, Good Things, Random Holidays
Looking for something fun to do on Independence Day? Check out the Lawrence Originals' Party in the Park!
The family-friendly party runs from 2-10 p.m. tomorrow in Watson Park, also known as the train park, at 7th and Kentucky. It includes live music, plenty of kids' activities and of course, food!
According to the Lawrence Originals website, they'll have over 20 tents with food served up by local restaurants along with locally brewed beer. You can see a list of all the participating restaurants and the food they'll have available on the site, too. There's definitely no need to cook tomorrow!
Admission to the party is free, but food & drink prices will vary. Don't forget your blankets and lawn chairs!
The annual city fireworks will start at 9:45 after the Party in the Park.
We'll see you there!
by Debbi | Jun 29, 2011 | Downtown, Events, Good Things
This Saturday, a couple of our favorite things come together to form one spectacular event: raising money for people in need, prizes and local cover band $ellout!
Jammin for Joplin is a fundraising event that takes place just down the street at the Bottleneck on Saturday, July 2. It starts at 8 p.m. and all ages are welcome- even children.
The cost is $7 payable at the door, and 100% of the funds will be donated to the United Way to assist people in need in Joplin and Reading after the devastating tornados that struck their towns.
A silent auction will also be available with lots of great prizes, including gift certificates to Pawsh Wash, Merry Maids, Wheat State Pizza, Java Break, tickets to Kanrocksas, tickets to Oceans of Fun, KU basketball tickets and more.
$ellout, featuring current long-time Sandbartender Danny and former Sandbartender Bob occasionally filling in on the drums, will perform along with DJ Approach. Jason Barr will serve as the evening's emcee.
Jammin for Joplin was organized by Lindsey Frye of Eats & Beats. Lindsey was kind enough to answer a few questions for us.
What made you want to organize this event?
Honestly I saw the pictures, heard the stories and it just struck a chord in me. I wanted to do more than text a $10 donation. It really hit home to me because of my situation of being unemployed. I looked around at my situation and thought, at least I have a home to come home to. I can tuck my kids in their beds at night. These people in Joplin can't. They have absolutely nothing and no matter my situation they need help more. I decided on this type of event because entertainment and music is always great to bring people together and get people excited for a cause. Steve Ozark of Sellout has been instrumental in opening many doors to make this event a success.
What's been the best and worst part of organizing the event?
The best part is knowing that 100% of everything raised is going to Joplin and Reading. The hardest part has been gathering donations.
What kind of community support have you received?
Everyone has been very willing to donate goods for the silent auction and drawing. KLWN has been kind enough to have me on two of their morning shows to talk about the event. Both The Lazer and The Bull have been great on mentioning the event on the radio as well.
It's not too late to contribute! Lindsey is still looking for donations of any kind; nothing is too big or too small. Even if you can't donate an item, come out for the party on Saturday night!
RSVP on Facebook
More coverage of Jammin for Joplin by lawrence.com
by Debbi | May 4, 2011 | Events, Good Things
Please excuse the brief interruption of the Jimmy Buffett Extravaganza while we tell you about the second charity event we participated in over the weekend. (It was a busy weekend, if you couldn't tell already!)
Our staff and friends have participated in Bowl for Kids Sake, a fundraiser for Douglas County Big Brothers Big Sisters, for a number of years now. This year, a new event was added: a special bowling day for the hospitality industry, with teams from bars, restaurants and liquor stores.
The Sandbar put together a team full of not-very-good bowlers and one ace bowler. We had a great time bowling, even though most of us were tired from the Buffett concert the night before. Bartender Heather and her husband Ken celebrated their one year wedding anniversary, and the lucky couple both won gift certificates at the event! They prompty exchanged "gifts," as Becki pointed out that the first year's gift is, in fact, supposed to be paper.
We were amused that the team next to us was "Team Super Dave." It was not a rogue team captained by our own Super Dave, who served as a cheerleader instead, along with Jana and Bettina.
It was a great event, and the Bowl For Kids Sake committee deserves a round of applause for their dedication!
