New Tearoom

There's a new tearoom in the spot formerly occupied by a very cool "speakeasy" called Brooklyn's on Boulder, which unfortunately closed recently. Big loss, that. This place couldn't be more different. As you can see, it's very girly. Not really my cup of tea, to be honest (PUN INTENDED!) but I have many friends who would probably love to check it out. It's like the ultimate feminine hangout spot. In fact, as I was pointing my camera at it to take this picture, a gaggle of women emerged from within and performed prolonged goodbyes on the sidewalk in front. Presumably they had gathered for some kind of girly function, like a baby shower or whatever. One of these days I'll go in there and see what's what.

A New Establishment

Our resident celebrity chef, Brother Luck, has recently opened a new establishment in the space formerly occupied by an earlier endeavor of his, Lucky Dumpling. Before it was Lucky Dumpling it was a great bar called the Triple Nickel, which was adversely affected by the pandemic but soon reemerged in a new space just about a block south of there, so all's well that ends well I suppose. I never did sample the fare at Lucky Dumpling. This new place, called the Tipperary Cocktail Parlor, seems to be its polar opposite: it's drinks oriented and has an Irish theme! I guess I'll have to grab a couple of girlfriends and check it out one of these days, because it sure looks cool.

New Pool Hall

A new pool hall opened recently on Bijou Street, and they put a fun mural on the side of their building depicting "pool sharks." The place is called Bijou Billiards. It occupies a space that, long ago in a galaxy far, far away, was once the Deluxe Tavern. The Deluxe was owned by one of my former college art professors, a guy named Gael Bennett -- a true curmudgeon at heart -- and it was a favorite hangout for my large, extended group of friends. A great place for live music! Since Gael closed it down years ago, it has been the home of many a watering hole. A lesbian bar occupied the space the longest, then it became a bit of a revolving door with many drinking establishments trying and failing to gain a foothold there, most notably a bikini bar, for better or worse. You'd drive by and see very scantily clad women sneaking cigarettes outside the front door. It must absolutely suck to wait on tables in a bikini, especially in winter! Thankfully that place didn't last long, but hopefully Bijou Billiards will. I love the idea of a pool hall in my neighborhood, it's old school, just like Knob Hill.

February 15, 2024 edit:  I heard that Gael passed away from esophageal cancer today. It's the end of an era for sure. Many of us mourn and are eulogizing him on social media. He was one of a kind.

Lebowski's Taproom

Are you a Big Lebowski fan? We most definitely are! We love that movie and have watched it over and over, so when I heard that a Big Lebowski themed bar/restaurant was opening in town, it immediately went on my list. I came across it the other day -- as it turns out, it's right next door to one of my favorite restaurants, the Heart of Jerusalem Café, on Centennial Boulevard. Now that I know exactly where it is, I'll be checking it out soon.

Nostalgia

The holidays always seem to make me nostalgic for the Golden Bee. I think it must be because when friends who've moved away come back to visit for Thanksgiving or Christmas, one of the things they like to do is hit up the Bee. This place is classic Colorado Springs -- a true piano bar where you drink yards of beer and enthusiastically sing along with show tunes and old standards. It's a blast! If you're an old time Colorado Springsian like me, you have fond memories of the Golden Bee. I took this picture on Christmas Eve of 2014 and I can't remember the last time I actually entered the portals of this sacred drinking establishment. I must put it on my list to go there soon!

She

I don't know what this sculpture is called, but I like her! She sits in front of what used to be call The Castaways and is now known as Lulu's, in Manitou.

And now, for your listening pleasure...

Legends

I've never been to this bar, Legends, but I really like the mural on the side of the building. In the last couple of weeks I've had the occasion to drive past it twice on errand runs, so I made a mental note to come back to it today and grab a picture.

No Shame, No Regret

I'm not normally a fan of selective color, but the name of this bar (formerly a favorite haunt called 15-C), fairly begs for it. And now, for your listening pleasure...

Chiba Bar

This cool little boite pays homage to cyberpunk and Japanese culture, and it's owned by my friend Mike, so I think it deserves a signal boost here on the blog! Chiba Bar gets rave reviews for its cocktails, sushi and atmosphere. If you're downtown and craving a cool place to hang out just around the corner but miles away in attitude from the raucous clubs on Tejon Street, Chiba Bar is for you.

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A view of Mother Muff's with an awfully cute little family walking past.

Gratitude

The governor is talking about starting to slowly and cautiously "reopen" Colorado soon. This is good news, as long as it's done as thoughtfully and safely as possible. Just like everywhere else, all our local restaurants and bars have been closed except for those who've been able to eke by on takeout service. The businesses with drive-through service, like fast food restaurants and Starbucks, seem to have weathered the storm best. I myself have not been working but Pat has, and I've made nearly daily visits to Starbucks to pick up his favorite coffee drink for him. The location nearest our house has been steadily busy and they've been showing their appreciation for their customers by displaying words of thanks and encouragement in their drive-through.

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The mural on the back of the building that houses Tony's Bar. Sometimes I think urban murals began as a clever and creative strategy to deter graffiti. Think about it: you almost never see graffiti on a mural! (Although it looks like the orange one might have gotten tagged on the far left.) I like this one, even though orange and purple aren't exactly my favorite colors. The superhero motif is kinda cool.

The Local Speakeasy

I suppose Colorado Springs had its share of real speakeasies during the prohibition era, and my guess is that they were in Old Colorado City. This modern day "speakeasy" is called Brooklyn's on Boulder and these photos are of the vestibule, which is cleverly styled to look like an old school men's clothier (even their website gives you that impression). After all, you're not supposed to know it's a bar, that's what speakeasies are all about! But once you're buzzed in, you'll see that it's a stylish drinkery with a 1920s vibe. The bartenders are very enthusiastic about their craft, and all the liquors are made in house, by Lee Spirits. You should check it out sometime. You won't even need a secret password to get in.

Tony's

The sign for Tony's Bar, which was founded by the (now ex) husband of one of my dear friends. Tony's used to be across the street, where Odyssey Gastropub is now, next door to Colorado Co-Op, but a few years ago it moved into the space vacated by the dearly departed Compleat Games and Hobbies (RIP!). It has a Wisconsin tavern vibe, which as I understand it is because that's where he's originally from. I was born in northern Wisconsin (surprise!) and my grandparents used to take my brother and me to taverns with them all the time. Wholesome childhood, I know. 😉 Anyway, I can say that Tony's is a fairly close approximation to the legit Wisconsin taverns of my childhood, including lots of Green Bay Packers stuff, and that's all right with me.

For a picture of Tony's in its original location across the street, along with my mildly snarky commentary on its Wisconsin authenticity, click HERE.

Rooftop Bronco

This cowboy and his feisty palomino have always been on the roof of Bloom's Mill Hill Saloon, for as long as I can remember and then some. I wonder how they've managed to stay up there for so long, considering how windy it is in Colorado Springs and that this is on top of a VERY big hill.

Fans of the Orange Crush

Last Sunday, Pat and I went to brunch at the Omelette Parlor. In the adjacent bar, O'Furry's, the football game was in full swing and Bronco fans were riveted to the TV. Alas, the Broncos lost to the Jets and it was a big bummer! But fans of the Orange Crush are a resilient lot. Our team may be in a "rebuilding" phase, but we are ever hopeful for a winning season. Tomorrow we face off against the Rams. Go Broncos!

Silver and red

A photo to go with yesterday's post. Pat pointed out this pile of chairs behind Tony's Bar yesterday evening. I think the jumble of chrome is interesting and rhythmic, but the splashes of red make the photo.

White and blue

A little vignette Pat pointed out to me in an alley tonight, downtown behind Tony's Bar. I like the textures and the splash of blue. Good eye, Pat! In fact, he pointed out a couple of cool things in that alley. I'll post the other one tomorrow.

Guest blogger Chuck Goldsmith

My brother Chuck is a huge exotic car and racing enthusiast, especially Formula 1. He's also an accomplished photographer, so if you're a fan of exotic cars and you happen to be in town, check out his photography show at Chiba Bar at 19 E. Kiowa Street. Lots of cool pictures of even cooler rides! As for this one, here's Chuck's description: "This car is the Porsche 917K that brought Porsche its first ever LeMans victory in 1970. This photo was shot when the car was brought out from the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart and displayed at Laguna Seca Raceway in 2009."

Thanks for being my guest blogger today, Chuck! Now everyone get down to Chiba Bar and check out the rest of his awesome car photos!

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The old Waycott Opera House, built in 1901 and home to a popular bar called Mother Muffs these days, was looking mighty fine last Saturday afternoon when I was hanging out in Old Colorado City. It only gets better as it ages.