by Debbi | Jul 14, 2009 | People
I thought I posted this a long time ago and just recently realized that I didn't.
Our good friend Curtis- a regular from the 90's as well as a bartender for the night on the biggest money-making night ever- brought his boys in awhile back to check out The Sandbar.
They stopped by on a Sunday during the day, when Dave was getting everything ready for the week. He hooked up the boys with pirate masks, water on the rocks, and all the drinks toys a kid could possibly want.
It's fun to see kids get excited about our toys and fish, since primarily we only see adults!
by Debbi | Jun 29, 2009 | Events, People
One of the things I like to do with this blog is keep the readers updated on what former Sandbar staffers are up to these days. Of course, that requires the former staffers to actually keep in touch and tell me what they're doing…
Maynard has been featured here numerous times. (Probably because there are so many funny stories about him and he's willing to share them.) He met his lovely wife at The Sandbar, sort of; mementos from their wedding adorn our walls; and he parlayed his Sandbar doorman skills into a job as mayor of Garnett.
Maynard is also chairperson of the annual Anderson County corn festival, also known as Cornstock. This festival celebrates agriculture, and more specifically, corn, while promoting a fun family atmosphere.
Check out all the details:
Tickets can be purchased online. Don't wait, the price goes up to $20 each tomorrow- although that's still a bargain.
Maybe Maynard will let us all camp out in his yard? Leave a comment if you're interested in tagging along to Cornstock this year.
by Debbi | Jun 28, 2009 | People, Stories
One of my best friends from college worked at The Sandbar back when we were young and silly college girls; I think she worked on Wednesdays from 5-9. She has a ten year old daughter now who looks just like her.
They live in another state now, but whenever they visit, her daughter always wants to go to The Sandbar during the day to see the fish and the jukebox and all the other fun stuff. And, of course, to have Dave make her fruity kid versions of our drinks with all kinds of toys.
My friend naturally has several Sandbar shirts, and apparently one had shrunk enough in the laundry that her daughter has now claimed it as her own and wears it at least once a week.
Last week, when she had day camp, she bounced down the stairs at home wearing "her" Sandbar shirt. My friend ordered her back upstairs to change out of a bar t-shirt, since her school/camp is a little bit sensitive to children wearing things they consider inappropriate, like a shirt from a bar.
Daughter's response? "But why mom? It's my bar, and I don't even drink alcohol. That would be dumb!"
We're amused that she always refers to The Sandbar as "my bar." My friend was more interested in filing away the "alcohol is dumb" comment to use during the dreaded teenage years.
by Debbi | Jun 21, 2009 | People, Stories
Bartender Coleen was looking through some of her pictures from last year, and came across these funny pictures involving an adventure she had while bartending last year. Somehow, I never heard this story until now…
One rainy Thursday last September I was working my shift when all of a sudden there was a very loud crash outside. I went out to see what it was, thinking maybe there was a car wreck, but nope- the stop sign on the corner of 8th and New Hampshire had fallen down onto the sidewalk.
Luckily no passerby was injured but it was quite a funny sight to see. I called the police non-emergency number and they sent an officer over right away. When he got there, he asked if I could keep the stop sign inside the bar until the city maintenance crew could get there to repair it- he thought someone might try to steal the sign since it was now an easy target.
The police officer sat in his car with flashing lights to warn drivers at the intersection, and the maintenance guy showed up about 30 minutes later. I carried the stop sign back outside, and they promptly re-affixed it to it's location.
You just never know what new jobs we can find in and near the Sandbar! I guess I can add sign-guarding to my resume.
Here is a picture of Coleen with the stop sign outside The Sandbar. She took a couple of the sign while it was inside the bar, but they turned out really dark, and this was a much better picture.
If you've had any funny adventures while at The Sandbar- either working or playing- let us know and you could be featured here too!
by Debbi | May 14, 2009 | People
Wednesday early-evening bartender Hayley might be graduating from KU this weekend, but like other recent graduates Joe, Blair, and Chris, she's not graduating from The Sandbar just yet.
Hayley started working at the Sandbar last year. The story of how she got a job here is kind of interesting- her father was Dave's high school basketball coach. Yes, all those many years ago. In fact, Hayley was just a twinkle in her father's eye when Dave was playing high school basketball. But don't remind him of that, it makes him feel old.
Once Hayley turned 21 she started frequenting The Sandbar, and one day she asked Dave if he needed any more bartenders. Dave quickly found a shift for his favorite coach's daughter, and lucky for us, she's still around.
One of Hayley's favorite memories from the bar involved KU basketball. She had a big group of friends who flew in from Liberal, Kansas, some of whom were friends and former students of her dads. They came by The Sandbar to grab a few drinks before the game, but they had so much fun that they ended up staying the whole evening- skipping the game and watching it on TV at The Sandbar!
Her newest favorite memory of Sandbar fun is the recent sand volleyball tournament in Ottawa, where thanks to here we managed to have enough people for two teams.
Hayley will be walking down the hill on Sunday as her undergraduate college career comes to a close. She will of course be celebrating at The Sandbar after the big walk and invites all of her friends and customers to stop by and say hello! And buy her a Bahama Mama, it's her favorite Sandbar drink.
by Debbi | Apr 29, 2009 | People
Working in a bar can teach a lot of useful skills in life. You learn how to deal with people, especially rude and demanding ones. You also learn how to socialize both with people you like and those you don't. You meet lots of new people, and if you're lucky you remember their name and not just w hat they drink.
Former staff member Maynard learned lots of skills during his time at The Sandbar. He'll probably say he had all those skills before he started working there and merely brought them along, but we know better. He worked the door and tended bar sometimes for several years while he lived in Lawrence.
A few years ago, Maynard moved south to Garnett with his lovely wife to take over his own insurance company. Almost immediately he was super involved in the community doing all kinds of things. He was on the city commission in almost no time at all.
A few weeks ago, we found out that Maynard became Mayor of the town. Yes, you read that correctly- mayor! He's now running his own town and we couldn't be more proud.
Oh, and another one of those skills you learn at The Sandbar? Goofy dance moves like those for "The Safety Dance."
