Posted on
May 07, 2010 by
Marcus "Mookie" Anderson
I was just cranking up some music from the Smithereens, and watching HBO’s Treme, when I was reminded of some really cool road trips from my past. Yes, I like to get out of town every now and again, and when I do, I like to visit live sporting events, and go to great local bars.
The music I was listening to, and TV show I was watching, prompted me to write about some of favorite places I have accidentally run across during my times on the road. Most of these encounters started out purely accidental, as a respite from shopping, or just a short walk from my hotel, but all of them had one thing in common: Great beer, food, and history.
Kenny’s Castaways, 57 Bleecker street New York, NY
I was on a work trip back in 1997, and some friends and I were going to an off-broadway show called The Fantastiks. We needed to kill some time in the big city, so we started walking around to see the sites. Low and behold, there was a nice little bar in the heart of chaos, so we stopped in for a beer. They had some college hoops on the TV, and the bar tender was really friendly. Turns out this place had a nice collection of gold records on the wall, mostly featuring songs by the band called, you guessed it, The Smithereens! It was fun, knowing that of all the places in New York that we stumbled upon it had to be the one that is the unofficial home of this kick ass band. That was a good find, and a very enjoyable day.
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Cooter Browns, 509 S. Carrollton Ave. New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Bar Cooter Browns
My college buddy and I took a trip to New Orleans in January 1985 to each write an ethnography for our Anthropology class over interim. He wrote about Jumbo Dog salespeople, and I ended up writing about a band called E.J. and the New Rising Sun- who played at a Bar on Bourbon Street. We spent a month in the Big Easy, visiting several places including Preservation Hall, The Dixie Brewery, Pat 0′Briens, and Papa Joes’s Original Music Bar. But the most fun we had was at Cooter Browns. We were told to go their by some Tulane College students, and boy were we glad they gave us directions.
In 2001 the Vikings were playing the Saints a few weeks after 9-1-1, and my best buddy and I drove down to the Big Easy. We left on Thursday after work, and drove straight to Cooter Browns, arriving for for happy hour 24 hours later. (We had to pull over and sleep for 3 Hours in St. Louis).
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The 4th Base, 5117 W National Avenue Milwaukee, WI
My best friend Saueey and spent three straight years roadtripping to the Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers series from 2006-2007. We found this great little Sports Bar within walking distance of Miller Park in 2007, and ended up spending alot time there. We found that eating a breakfast at the 4th Base sports bar is a little like being president: Just pick what you want, they’ll make it for you, and it’ll be great.
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The Union Oyster House, 41 Union Street, Boston, MA
I love Boston MA. One spring afternoon in 1996, I was walking around downtown after a Red Sox Tigers afternoon game, and found this place. I was impressed with the beer, and the long standing history. So I stayed. As a fan of U.S. history, I was awed by the fact that the American Revolution’s roots could be traced to the building where I was sitting on a bar stool, drinking Sam Adams and eating a bowl of the best clam chowder I have ever tasted.
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The Red Rooster, Highway 212 (aka 5920 9th Ave South) Watertown, SD
The home state bar. I think I have been going to the Rooster bar since I was old enough to drive a tractor or mini-bike over to it from my childhood home in rural South Dakota. My dad used to take his boys over their for Sunday Brunch after church to watch Vikings games in the fall. I saw the Gophers beat Clemson in an overtime classic on their way to the Final Four in 1996.
The owner, is a great guy, who always treats us with respect when we return home for holiday visits. I have started out many great days at the Rooster, and taken many sober cab rides home from friends over the years. My only regret is that my Norm’s Softball team, based in Minnesota was not sponsored by this establishment. I would have loved to bring back the World Championship plaque from 2002 to hang on the wall. I am sure it would still be there if I had. I miss this place, and my friends who used to help me spend money at it.
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