by Debbi | May 17, 2008 | People
The Sandbar has lots of staff graduating from KU this year.
Chris started working at The Sandbar about a year ago. He has claimed- and we believe it- that he is "the next Blair." At times that is a scary thought…at other times it’s a welcome one.
Chris says:
Wow I can’t believe it only took me six years to graduate from KU. I have enjoyed my time as a student but my final year was definitely one of the best. I’m pretty sure it had to do with working at The Sandbar where there is never a dull moment. Thanks to all the loyal customers and I will continue to enjoy your company as a graduate. Also thanks to Dave for giving me the opportunity to work at such a great place.
Six and out!
Pretty much all of the pictures I could find of Chris either involved a ridiculous costume, or they were inappropriate for a family blog such as this one.
Apparently we can’t just take normal pictures at The Sandbar. Here’s a couple:
Chris, all of us at The Sandbar hope that you put off the real world and stick around for awhile longer. We haven’t had nearly enough time to get to know you and your antics. Of course when it’s time to move on to things like health insurance and vacation pay, we wish you well.
Congratulations!
by Debbi | May 16, 2008 | People
Congratulations to long-time Sandbar-tender Blair!
Blair joins the world of college graduates this Sunday as he walks down the hill at KU. But don’t worry, he doesn’t have immediate plans to leave The Sandbar, that we know about anyway.
Blair has been at the bar so long, I can’t even remember when he started. He’s been a dedicated and loyal employee who has juggled school and his other job at Johnny’s along with The Sandbar. And yet, he always manages to find time to have fun and entertain us.
Blair has a few words for his fans:
Just want to say that I have enjoyed my time at the Sandbar. Thanks to all our
amazing patrons and staff. My decade of dominance would have been a bore
without you all! Looking forward to many more Sandbar memories as a College
Grad!
Stop by sometime this weekend to wish him well. He’ll have family and friends at the bar on Sunday to celebrate.
Here’s a few of my favorite pictures of Blair through the years:
Blair, all of us at The Sandbar wish you well in whatever it is that you do in life. Of course we want you to stay at The Sandbar with us as long as you possibly can, but we know all too well that our awesome staff members usually move on to bigger things.
Congratulations!
by Debbi | Mar 27, 2008 | People
Dean was back in town yesterday. And he’s now an official doctor. A real one.
You might recall, he was back in town a few months ago and inspired a funny (at least I thought it was) conversation between me and Dave. And Dean was also part of the discovery of the Sandbar ghost, and I just realized I never finished that story. Next chapter coming soon, I promise.
Dean was here this time to defend his dissertation. He was successful and is now the proud owner of a doctoral degree. He’s also a professor at the University of Evansville and one of our favorite former Sandbar-tenders and door guys.
Some of us met Dean down at the bar last night for a few drinks. We headed around the corner to Yokohama, a new sushi place that opened up downtown. I admit I was skeptical, not being an adventurous eater, but this place was awesome.
After we flustered the hostess by requesting a table for eight, we stopped at the bar for sake bombs. Fun! And something we don’t really get to do at The Sandbar. Then we parked ourselves at our little table in a semi-private room; and good thing, for our group was quite loud and obnoxious. It’s not every day that we get to see Dean and reminisce about fun times.
Great server; great food; great friends.
Maybe one of these days I’ll finally get Dean to fill out one of those "Where Are They Now" surveys that I’ve inundated our former staff members with, and you can learn even more about him.
by Debbi | Mar 1, 2008 | People, Stories
I was completely thrilled today by a little worn piece of paper that Dave brought home from the bar last night.
A group who sat in the back of the bar had a member who apparently reads this blog. They had printed out the "Six Things Every Sandbar Fan Should Accomplish" and brought the instructions along for their big night at the bar.
The slip of paper was left behind at the end of the night, and the guys found it while they were cleaning. Dave knew how excited I would be to find that someone (other than our friends) was not only reading the blog, but taking it seriously. He was right. It totally made my day!
I think I’m going to frame it and hang it on the wall somewhere.
Thanks, unknown group of people. I’d buy you a round of shots if I knew who you were.
{Thanks to Q at 650miles for tagging us and inspiring that list of six things.}
Oh, and a quick float update- building is progressing very well thanks to the awesome weather that finally arrived, and we choreographed both dances today. We rock!
by Debbi | Feb 28, 2008 | People
Joe is one of our newest employees, although "new" isn’t really a good word because he’s been at The Sandbar for quite awhile now. We affectionately refer to him and the things he does as "the Joe Factor."
Nobody can really explain what the "Factor" means; believe me, I asked. It’s the kind of like Joe losing his keys in the snow in his yard, and deciding that he’ll have to wait until the snow melts to find them, so he goes without his keys for who knows how long.
Here’s a little more about Joe.
Other jobs you’ve had besides The Sandbar? Yello Sub and mostly golf courses.
Favorite job besides The Sandbar? I had a blast working inflatables last summer. There’s something about inflating a giant moon walk or bounce house that makes you feel like you accomplish greatness.
Favorite drink to drink? Pacifico and Johnnie Walker. 
Favorite drink to make? Almost any kind of shot.
Any specialty drinks? I think I make a mean bloody mary.
Favorite jukebox song? 45-13. Europe, "The Final Countdown."
Song you never want to hear again? "Under The Sea."
Favorite bar dancing song? Michael Jackson, "Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough." {We have this on the jukebox?!?}
Hobbies? I love finding and making music, drawing, and looking for records at Love Garden.
Favorite Quote? "I wonder what the word for dots looks like in Braille."
Favorite ice cream? Dream pops.
If you could live anywhere? Argentina, but I love Kansas.
Stop by sometime and meet Joe. And if you have any stories to share about your experience with the Joe Factor, tell us about it in the comments.
Oh, and that picture? That was Joe’s Christmas gift to all of his coworkers, complete with a magnetic sleeve so we could put it on our refrigerators.
by Debbi | Feb 25, 2008 | People, Sandbar Love Stories
And now for the final installment this year of the Sandbar love match stories…This one is from (Chris) Maynard and his lovely wife Brooke.
Brooke and I went to high school together but never really got along that well, I tormented her quite a bit and we had totally different groups osf friends. We had run into each other on and off throughout college via mutual friends but never hung out much. I was working at The Sandbar one night in 2004 when Brooke and some friends came in and we started talking about where we were all working. I had started in the insurance business earlier that year and she was selling real estate in Kansas City at the time, so we exchanged business cards and said we would refer clients to each other.
Brooke sent me a calendar in 2005 from her real estate business with her picture on it, and I hung it in my office. The agent I was working for at the time, DJ, would always come into my office and tell me to call the pretty girl on my calendar. This went on throughout 2005 until July when I was working one weekend night, and Brooke came in for some Bahama Mamas with her best friend. They left with friends on a pub crawl and came back to get their cars after the bar closed. The girls came up as I was leaving and tackled me.
Not long after that I went to Brooke’s house for dinner and a movie and we’ve been together ever since. We got engaged in July, 2006, and held an engagement party at The Sandbar in August, complete with customized pint glasses and leis. 
We went on a cruise and were married on Cinco de Mayo 2007 on a beach in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. DJ performed the ceremony, and several current/former Sandbar employees were in the wedding party (Dave, Tyler, and John). It was a beautiful ceremony filled with lots of Sandbar friends and good times! We followed it up with a reception in Lawrence at the Eldridge Extended, but took pictures at The Sandbar beforehand, and ended the night with a rockin’ after party at our favorite bar!
Read the rest of our love stories: Brad & Jennifer, Matt & Aña, Scotty Mack & Jen, and Dave & Deb. And if you’ve got a story to share, let us know. It doesn’t have to wait for next Valentine’s Day.
