by Debbi | Apr 20, 2016 | Stories
One of our favorite downtown Lawrence events (okay, EVERY downtown Lawrence event is one of our favorites!) is back for the fifth year: the downtown shot put!
When we first started hearing about the possibility of a downtown shot put five years ago, we thought it sounded crazy. Professional throwers tossing heavy shot puts around in the middle of our downtown? Near buildings with glass windows? And tons of people around? We admit it, we were skeptical.
But then it happened, and it was SO COOL. Of course it was set up so that no one would get hurt and nothing would get broken. The community came out in full force to watch the spectacle, the athletes had a blast and everyone loved it.
Five years later, we still love it! And we’re thrilled that it’s on our block.
Join us on Friday, April 22, for this free event. The competition starts at 6 p.m. Six of the top-10 ranked throwers in the world will be participating this year.
But wait, there’s more!
Along with the shot put competition, there’s all kinds of family fun: prizes and giveaways, inflatables for the kids, and face painting. Food and drinks will be available for sale—including a hot dog topping bar from our friends across the street at Sandbar Subs—and a live music by the Brody Buster Band will follow the competition. (They’re playing on our St. Patrick’s Day float converted into a stage!)
Get downtown this Friday!
The downtown shot put event is organized by eXplore Lawrence in conjunction with the Kansas Relays.
by Debbi | Feb 24, 2015 | Downtown, Funnies
Our good friend Big Mike surprised us with a funny picture the other day: a screenshot of Google Earth’s view of the Sandbar.
What’s funny about that? Nothing, unless you happen to know that the gray SUV parked in front of the bar belongs to Dave—and if you look closely, you can see a gift from the City of Lawrence parking department.
Like any good downtown Lawrence employee, Dave does his part to keep the city of Lawrence running by accumulating his fair share of little yellow envelopes. Normally, he pays the $3 ticket before its due and his wife is never the wiser.
But sometimes he gets busted. Like when Google Earth captures evidence of his overtime parking.
P.S. Congrats to Big Mike, his lovely wife Anne and their little boy, who recently welcomed another bundle of joy to their family!
by Debbi | Sep 24, 2014 | Events, Famous Folk
It’s no surprise that many of our current and former customers have ties to the University of Kansas—either as a student or staff member—since so many folks who still live in Lawrence have some connection to the school.
This year’s Homecoming celebration is coming up soon, and we hope to see many of our favorite regulars back in town!
You may or may not know that Homecoming is actually a week-long event, with activities that have taken place on campus since last Sunday. The big hurrah, though, is the annual Homecoming parade.
Last year, the parade moved from campus to downtown Lawrence—not an unprecedented move, as it’s been held downtown before—but one that we love. We love anything that brings more people to our beautiful neighborhood!
This year’s parade will once again be on Mass Street, but this year it’s on Friday night: tomorrow night! Stake out your favorite parade-watching spot and check out all the cool floats built by students.
After the parade, head down to our block for a pep rally. The band, spirit squad and mascots will be there, and we’ll have a beer tent set up. As long as you’re 21 or older with proper ID, you can drink outside that night. A DJ will play until 9 p.m., but we’ll be selling drinks outside until 11.
It’s also Final Fridays, the popular monthly art event in downtown Lawrence, so this area should be full of things to do and people to see.
Oh, and we almost forgot: our favorite former celebrity bartender, Mr. Rob Riggle himself, will be the grand marshal of the Homecoming parade! Will he step behind the bar again and sling a few drinks? Or pen another ditty on our bathroom wall? We’ll just have to wait and see…
Learn more about Homecoming
by Debbi | Sep 11, 2014 | Birthday Party, Events
Well, friends, it’s been almost a month since our last big shindig. Can we just say, we’re STILL tired? You all know how to party!
We expanded our annual birthday bash to two nights this year, to celebrate the first anniversary of our neighbors across the street at Sandbar Subs and also to celebrate our 25th year in downtown Lawrence.
Twenty-five years. Crazy, huh?!
And you all didn’t disappoint—both nights, our little block was jam-packed with friends and family who traveled from near and far to party with us, listen to the music, drink some beer and have a good time.
We didn’t take as many pictures as we usually do, but we have a few good ones in the slideshow up above to share. We’d love to see your pictures, too. If you have some, email them to us at sandbar@thesandbar.com; if you have a lot of photos, we can hook you up with a Dropbox or another method of transferring mass quantities of files. Just email us and let us know.
If you didn’t get a 2014 block party shirt, we have a few left in stock.
So, cheers! And while we can’t wait until next year’s party, don’t be a stranger. Stop by and see us!
P.S. More big party news coming up soon, stay tuned…
by Debbi | Jul 30, 2014 | Birthday Party, Events, Sandbar Subs
Help celebrate our 25th birthday!
That’s right, your favorite dive has been serving up tropical drinks in downtown Lawrence for 25 years now, and for the past five years we’ve celebrated our birthday every August with a giant block party in the street.
This year, the party gets even bigger! Join us for TWO NIGHTS—yes, two nights!— of live music, lots of beer, and more fun than people should be allowed to have.
Here’s all the details:
Friday, August 8
- Celebrate Sandbar Subs World Headquarters’ first anniversary in downtown Lawrence
- Live music from Heavy Petty and Sellout!
- RSVP on Facebook and invite your friends
Saturday, August 9
- Party with the Sandbar for our 25th birthday
- Live music from Blue Orleans and Lost Wax
- Giant inflatable pirate slide
- Appearances by Captain Jack Sparrow and Barbossa
- RSVP on Facebook and invite your friends
Both nights will feature a beer garden in the street in front of the bar. The cover charge for the beer garden is $5 each night, and you have to be 21 or older to come in.
However, the event itself is family-friendly, so you’re welcome to bring kids and lawn chairs and hang out outside of the beer garden, too.
We can’t wait for the greatest weekend of the summer, and we hope you’ll join us!
Photo credit: Jenn Hethcoat
