We put out the annual call for Sandbar graduates recently—Sandbar customers who have become regulars in the bar during their time at KU. Learn a little bit about Matt in today’s post.
What’s your favorite Sandbar jukebox song? Which one do you never want to hear again?
Favorite: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Theme Song.
Never to Hear Again: Never heard a song I didn’t like on the jukebox; I just don’t like listening to the same song five times when I’m there. (Editor’s note: Neither do we.)
Tell us the funniest moment you remember at The Sandbar- whether it involves you or not.
It was a slow Saturday afternoon right after opening when my girlfriend and I brought in our puppy, a mini-dachshund (weiner dog), named Olive. The crowd was pretty small since the bar just opened, around five to ten people.
We were sitting at the bar enjoying some refreshments, sneaking some popcorn to Olive between sips, when a patron of the Sandbar came up and asked, “Are you happy to see me, or is that a wiener in your lap?”
Remember the first time you came here? Tell us your first impression.
I thought it was a unique bar with a cool theme that made me want to go on a Caribbean vacation. When I had that first delicious Shark Attack surrounded by awesome music and atmosphere I was hooked. (Maybe we should check these drinks to see if they are laced. Just a thought.)
What’s your drink of choice? The one you’ll miss the most?
The Bahama Mama with a chaser of Dirty Banana. However, the one I will always miss the most is the JERSEY SHORE. Bring it back!
Tell us what you’re doing after you graduate- sticking around town or moving on to new adventures?
Well, it is time to move on…sort of. I will be close by in Kansas City working at The University of Kansas Hospital completing a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency.
How many hours have you waited in line?
I have probably waited for no more than three hours TOTAL in my eight year college stint. I usually plan to get their early or go in on Saturday afternoon with my girlfriend Kylie and our dachshund Olive when it isn’t terribly busy to visit Coleen. (Coleen loves to give Olive Scooby Snacks and “spill” popcorn for Olive to clean up.)
Gotta love the Sandbar! I will be bringing family and friends there this graduation weekend for tasty refreshments. Can’t wait.
Congratulations, Matt! (And to Kylie and Olive, too.) We look forward to seeing you this weekend.
We put out the annual call for Sandbar graduates recently—Sandbar customers who have become regulars in the bar during their time at KU. Learn a little bit about Emily in today’s post.
What’s your favorite Sandbar jukebox song?
Everyone knows 90s music is my domain (which is why Sandbar is the best), but I’d have to go with Circle of Life. There’s just something about hearing that tribal chant when you’re a few (cough 10) drinks in!
Which one do you never want to hear again?
I actually don’t recall ever hearing a song I haven’t enjoyed! If anything, just no more Taylor Swift.
Tell us the funniest moment you remember at The Sandbar- whether it involves you or not.
When me and this other guy were doing a hurricane and he challenged me to a dance off on the bar. I think he was twerking at one point. He obliterated me!
Remember the first time you came here? Tell us your first impression.
I knew it would become my home away from home (is that sad?)! I heard Mmmbop come on and I was hooked! (Editor’s note: Mmmmbop is a certain bartender’s favorite song. Ahem, Justin.)
What’s your drink of choice?
The classic Shark Attack! Dirty bananas are also a weakness of mine
The one you’ll miss the most?
$2 Tuesdays and Refill Thursdays! Having everyone sing “I Want It That Way” is also like a religious experience, so I’ll definitely miss that!
Tell us what you’re doing after you graduate- sticking around town or moving on to new adventures?
Currently waiting to hear back from jobs in Boston and Baltimore, so hopefully I’ll be heading out that way soon! But I will definitely be in Lawrence over the summer!
How many hours have you waited in line?
I’ve never waited more than 30 minutes! I make sure to get there early to avoid any lines! I’m not an amateur!
Thanks Sandbar and everyone there for all of the memories!
Thank you to all of our wonderful customers and friends who celebrated with us, and a huge thank you to Peoples Bank for sponsoring this year’s party.
In case you missed it, we went all out this year with a giant stage, even bigger beer garden and a Grammy-nominated band, the Fabulous Thunderbirds.
And perhaps the best part? The weather was gorgeous—really, we couldn’t have asked for better weather, especially after a long, gray, rainy week. It wasn’t hot like it’s been for all our other block parties; it didn’t rain; but it wasn’t cold, either. Truly perfect.
Very Important People enjoyed a pre-party in the brand new Sandbar Subs World Headquarters right across the street from the bar, where a new Peoples Bank location will be housed as well.
Local band Cowboy Indian Bear opened the show and then the Thunderbirds took the stage. They played until around 10:30, which left plenty of time for party-goers to mingle in the beer garden after the show.
We took a lot of pictures. Watch the slideshow below:
Way back in 2003, when our hurricane attraction was barely a year old, Peach decided we needed our own song.
Peach got together with local musician Dusty Workman, and he called on his contacts. The two of them worked with Eddie Kilgallon, a Nashville musician and songwriter, and co-wrote the Sandbar Song. We never actually gave the song a name, it's just the Sandbar Song.
Since one of our most loved traditions is the ceremonial signing of a dollar bill, Peach, Dusty and Eddie created their own dollar bill artwork. Our art director and owner of local frame shop Fast Frame, Justin, created this collage for us.
The top dollar is a tribute to Peach, the leader of the fun; the middle dollar has the most popular phrase of the song "Meet you down at the Sandbar, yea!" and Eddie's signature; and the bottom dollar is signed by Dusty.
Pictures of the trio are in the middle of the frame. This collage hangs at the Sandbar in Ottawa.
Friday nights can be long and hard at The Sandbar. It's the end of the work week and everyone just wants to unwind, including our staff. Fridays are almost always busy, from five o'clock until the last person is shown the door at two a.m. By the time all the customers are gone, the employees are ready to relax. Cryin' Fridays was born out of this need, and it was a tradition for a long time.
I've tried for years to get the "official" story on Cryin' Fridays, and I've tried to get the staff members involved to write a guest post. I haven't been very successful on either front. Apparently the first rule of Cryin' Fridays is that you don't talk about Cryin' Fridays. So, here's what I know and remember about it.
It all started many years ago. The jukebox had virtually no country music, and certain members of the staff were longing for some Willie, Waylon or Hank. Some of the guys started bringing in their own CD's to listen to while they cleaned the bar (this was, of course, before the iPod craze started). They started putting together their own mixes. They started asking if new music could be added to the jukebox- which doesn't really happen much.
Dave K, Scottie Mack and Ken were three of the core members of the Cryin' Fridays crew. Once the bar closed down on Friday nights, they were cleaning to the sounds of a fiddle and lost loves. Sound a bit depressing? Perhaps, but of course the Sandbar crew made it fun.
Have you ever seen Ken dance around the bar, acting out imagined scenes from "Pancho and Lefty" I mean "Old El Paso?" (Thanks, astute employee Danny, for the correction.) Or Scottie Mack, two-stepping all over the place while restocking the cooler and taking out the trash? It's entertainment, that's for sure.
We still have CD's with the Cryin' Fridays mixes somewhere- last I knew, we were up to four or five editions. Some of the songs have made their way to Dave's iPod, so if you ask him nicely, he might just play a cryin' tune for you on a Friday night.
Tell us the funniest moment you remember at The Sandbar- whether it involves you or not.
What’s your drink of choice? The one you’ll miss the most?