by Debbi | Oct 21, 2010 | Bachelorette Parties, Guest Blogs
The Sandbar is a hot spot for bachelorette parties. This is a guest post by Sandbar fan Bailey about a more unusual type of bachelorette party: after work and in the middle of the week.
Two weeks ago I was honored to be in my coworkers wedding. Denise and I started in our jobs within two weeks of each other and, per tradition in our office, during training and worries we weren’t learning fast
enough, we became friends as well. About three weeks before her and Jordan’s wedding, it came up in our office’s staff meeting that she was not going to have a bachelorette party.
*facepalm*
What a horrible bridesmaid I was! Her maid-of-honor lived in Utah and would only be in Lawrence for a few days. Her other bridesmaid lived in North Carolina – I was the only in town to throw it and I had, clearly, dropped the ball. Denise was not one for a crazy night out but a few drinks with the rest of our fabulous coworkers were definitely in order.
Another co-worker and I started scheming. Sam and I weren’t sure we could get Denise to go if she knew we were planning so it had to be a surprise. Denise was taking a few days off before the wedding and I strategically suggested we go get a drink after her last day of work. I had “errands to run†so I told her I would pick her up at 5:45 and we’d head downtown. (This gave everyone at work time to get downtown and not have to leave early and possibly making Denise suspicious).
Obviously, we had to go to my favorite land-locked island bar. In all the planning (and KNOWING we were heading to the Sandbar) I forgot to ask Denise where she wanted to go or tell her where I thought we should go. I just picked her up, parked and started walking to the bar. And as we rounded the corner to
8th Street, I saw a coworker walk into the bar before us! Dangit! Everyone was supposed to be there already! Fortunately, the bride-to-be didn’t notice.
We walked in and I led Denise straight to the back room. It was full of our wonderful coworkers with snacks and balloons. And the surprise bachelorette party was a success: Denise had no idea!
We talked about boyfriends and husbands and weddings, played our favorite songs on the jukebox and even got Andrew to make a wedding shot. I wish I could tell you what was in it but I don’t even think Andrew remembers how he made it. All we know is that it tasted like wedding cake!
This proves that bachelorette parties don't have to be wild and crazy affairs with party buses and anatomy-inspired props! Though we like those parties too. Thanks Bailey and congratulations to Denise!
by Debbi | Aug 24, 2010 | Around the World, Events, Guest Blogs
This is a guest blog from Jeremy Allen, a long-time Sandbar and Jimmy Buffett fan who traveled to Wisconsin to see our hero this summer.
Greetings from Margaritaville!
These pictures were taken at the
Jimmy Buffett Concert in East Troy, WI at the Alpine Valley concert
venue on June 26, 2010. As you can see, we were dressed for the
occasion! All of us are KU grads and we all LOVE the Sandbar so our
T-shirt choice was a no-brainer.
This trip was a first for some and a sixth or seventh for a select few
die-hard Parrotheads. Personally, this was my fourth trip up north to
Alpine Valley with my friends and I must say that it was a huge
success. The weather was nice and hot, the Parrotheads were friendly,
and the music took everyone to a very happy place. AND the Boat Drinks
and Hurricanes were plentiful!
Thanks Debbi and Dave!
This was a large group of friends in Sandbar shirts! A couple of them already had shirts, but Jeremy ordered some for the others as a surprise. We gave a group discount for the large order, so if you're interested in a similar deal let us know.
Thanks Jeremy and friends for wearing our shirts at the Buffett show, we're glad you had fun and wish we could have been there with you!
by Debbi | Aug 13, 2010 | Birthday Party, Guest Blogs
One of our loyal Twitter followers, Katie, asked last week if she could make us a shot book for our 21st birthday.
For those of you who are older (like some of us) and don't work in a bar where you regularly see shot books, it's basically a book of 21 shots. According to Urban Dictionary, the book can include details like who bought it, where and when. And of course, the girls often decorate their pages with stickers and doodles to make them cute.
We asked Katie to make a list of 21 fun shots in honor of our 21st birthday.
As Dave said, "The Sandbar doesn't want to puke all over everybody. The Sandbar drinks responsibly." We never encourage people to drink 21 shots or drinks; in fact, we actively discourage this behavior. But if you're looking for some new shots to try, here's a great list. Thanks Katie!
by Debbi | Jun 15, 2010 | Guest Blogs, Our Ghost
Here's a little story from our friend and customer Bailey.
My coworker and I had gotten food and brought it in- we were starving and didn't think we should start in on the Pink Flamingos on an empty stomach. We were sitting in the little corner table by the fish tank. Trivia was happening, it was more crowded than I thought it would be but I guess I'd never been there on a Thursday during trivia before.
Anyway, I could tell there was definitely a group of trivia "regulars," and there seemed to be another guy who was playing but was maybe a newbie – he wasn't really talking to anyone. I wasn't paying attention to the trivia because my friend and I were gossiping and complaining about our jobs (sometimes, you have dark days).
At one point there was some rumbling that sounded like thunder but then we realized it was coming from upstairs. The place got mostly quiet, and then it sounded like someone was running down the stairs. Someone shouted "it's the ghost" and we all chuckled.
A moment later we knew it wasn't as the ghost, as quiet trivia guy came barreling out from the stairwell running straight at the aquarium.
And then we all ended up soaked and the place was flooded because some crazy trivia guy flipped out and crashed the aquarium.
If it had happened. Which it did not.
*Recently I put a desperate call out for stories for this blog, and I thought I was going to have to start making up stories. Fortunately, I don't have to, since we have friends who will make things up for us. Rest assured, the aquarium is intact and the fish are safe. The ghost, however, is laughing at us all.
by Debbi | Jun 4, 2010 | Guest Blogs, Jukebox, People
David, one of our customers, and his wife Haley recently traveled to Houston to fulfill a longtime dream: to see Jimmy Buffett in concert. Here's what they had to say:
For
the last ten years or so I've been trying to see Jimmy Buffett live in
concert. Unfortunately with Jimmy's tour schedule and my schedules,
he never seemed to play close to Kansas. We had 
plans last year to
fly to Las Vegas to see him at the MGM Grand, but right as we were booking
our airline tickets he cancelled the concert. This spring we made
plans to go see Jimmy live in Houston, TX and got our tickets and hotels
all booked. The 12 hour drive down was worth it jamming to Jimmy
songs on my ipod with my wife as I drove south. The night of the
concert we got all dressed up with Margaritaville attire, grabbed a tour
t-shirt and a margarita before the show. The show was fantastic, Jimmy played for over 2 hours. The songs were a variety of the new
album, "Buffet Hotel", random other artists songs, and a lot of
the old standby's on the "Songs You Know By Heart" classic album.
All I can say is that it was well worth the wait to see him live
for the first time! Any Sandbar or Jimmy fan should see him live
at least once in their lives, it is truly an experience to be remembered!
David was kind enough
to also forward some pictures of Jimmy on stage, the fins in the
audience, and of course, the requisite margarita. No Shark Attacks in sight, however.
Thanks, David and Haley! We're glad you had a great time.
by Debbi | May 16, 2010 | Graduation, Guest Blogs, People
Last week, we posted a request
on this blog, Twitter, & Facebook for Sandbar graduates- college
students who frequent the Sandbar and are graduating this spring,
leaving Lawrence and the Sandbar behind (or not, in some cases).
We've profiled graduates in the past, usually employees because
they have to answer my questions if they want to keep their job (not
really), but this year we got lots of responses from graduating
customers. We're excited to share their stories with you!
Today's Graduate: Brenna. You might remember her as being the one who wrote this fabulous article about Dave.
What's your favorite Sandbar jukebox song? Bonus points if you tell us why.
Tossup between Abba ("Does Your Mother Know") and Under the Sea. My friends make fun of me for my ridiculous music choice outside of the bar, and it's awesome I can listen to these songs in there. Plus, who doesn't know the words to the Disney song?
Remember the first time you came here? Tell us your first impression.
My first time there was on my 21st birthday. I'd heard so many great things from older friends
about it that I had to go (picture on right). I had an awesome time and did my first hurricane…I believe I'm at five now. I always have fun at the Sandbar when I go because it's got great music and I love the shark attacks! Now, whenever friends come to town from far away, we go to the Sandbar (picture on left). It's definitely got the most memories of any bar in town.
Also, one time my 
dad came to town on a Wednesday night and wanted to go to the bars I go to. We went to the Sandbar at about 7:30, and me, my boyfriend and him were there with like two other people at the bar. My dad got a shark attack and then a Sandbar shirt. It was great to show him where I go, because he was at KU 30 years ago.
What's your drink of choice? The one you'll miss the most?
Like I said, I love the shark attacks! I have so many sharks it's ridiculous. My third picture is one time when I was given a bouquet of sharks.
Tell us what you're doing after you graduate- sticking around town? Moving on to greener pastures?
I'm sticking around and working at the LJWorld.
How many hours have you waited in line?
I tend to plan to come early enough so I don't have to. I know how busy it gets 🙂
