2 • Spring Welcome 2012
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Spring Welcome 2012 Table of Contents Pages 4-5: Downtown entertainment Page 8: Movie awards preview Page 11: New Year’s resolutions Pages 12-13: Winter sports update Pages 14-15: Local eateries Pages 16-17: Spring Break Pages 18-19: Campus recreation Pages 20-21: Hole-in-the-wall bars
Spring Welcome 2012 This is a publication of Missouri State University’s student-produced newspaper, The Standard. The university has not approved and is not responsible for its content, which is produced and edited by The Standard staff.
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File photo by Josh Campbell/THE STANDARD
Patton Alley Pub, located at 313 S. Patton Ave., offers 40 beers on tap and over 100 bottles. The pub frequently hosts live musical acts such as Doug & the SOULar panels, Ben Miller Band, Big Smith, Speakeasy and more.
Downtown happenings
Venues provide a variety of drinks and music By Kaycie Surrell The Standard
While looking for a break from the hectic workweek this new year, consider Springfield’s growing nightlife entertainment including local theaters, concert halls and smaller venues featuring talented local acts. Springfield has more to offer than a reasonably-sized mall and a large selection of fast food restaurants to provide respite from
mind-numbing class schedules and parttime jobs that loom over the heads of many Missouri State students. Look no further than downtown Springfield for an array of venues that likely offers performances suitable to your personal tastes. If you prefer to catch a play, there are plenty of options there, too, with venues like the Springfield Contemporary Theatre at the Vandivort Center or the Springfield Little Theatre. The Springfield Little Theatre is the largest civic theater operation in Missouri and offers a season of nine plays and musicals, large enough for thousands of audience members. Promising upcoming productions include “Annie.” The award winning musical will run from Feb. 3 to Feb. 19 with student ticket prices at $22. The Springfield Contemporary Theatre
at the Vandivort Center offers a contemporary alternative to traditional theater and has put on productions of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Reefer Madness” and “Evil Dead: The Musical.” Their current play, “The Seafarer,” will run through Jan. 22. Tickets run $16 - $22. The Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts also offers theatrical entertainment ranging from Broadway productions, single performances, dance, children’s theater and an emerging artists concert series. Missouri State concerts, recitals and lectures are also part of the Hammons Hall performance schedule. Blue Man Group tickets go on sale Jan. 20. The Gillioz Theatre in downtown Springfield is historically known for its theatrical performances, movie premiers and Vaudeville shows, and, since restoration in
2006, has offered the perfect venue for all kinds of events. Weddings, movies, concerts, banquets, Broadway productions and more all call the Gillioz home. Peter Frampton will visit the Gillioz on Feb. 27 for a three-hour performance of “Frampton Comes Alive!” For something a little more laid back that won’t require purchasing tickets in advance, there are plenty of bars downtown and on historic Commercial Street that keep local bands in business. For two venues in one, visit the Highlife Martini Lounge or the Outland. Both are located on South Ave. and, for a low cover cost, you can roam freely between both hot spots. Every Friday, beginning Jan. 20, the DJ’s of Black Box Review will play at the Highlife. Beginning Feb. 10, the second Friday of each month will accommodate a
The Standard
File photo by Matt Kile/THE STANDARD
Downtown Springfield offers a variety of bars and venues, like Finnegan’s Wake, thatprovide customers with all kinds of drinks and music. younger crowd with 18 and up nights. Upstairs from the Outland you’ll find the Outland Ballroom. Many local metal and hip hop acts have graced this stage as well as larger touring acts like Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band and hometown indie heroes, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. Patton Alley Pub at 313 S. Patton Ave. provides a more relaxed environment where you can choose from over 40 beers on tap and over 100 bottles for a low price during their generous happy hour or late night happy hour. Enjoy performances by Doug & the SOULar Panels every Wednesday and by popular bluegrass acts like the Ben Miller Band, Big Smith, Speakeasy and more. Springfield’s longest running music venue and blues bar, Nathan P. Murphy’s at 218 S. Campbell Ave., offers a classic vintage setting with eclectic performances by local metal musicians, jazz bands like favorites SPiNRaD and more including spoken poetry by Mo Poetry Slam Springfield. Just a short drive from downtown you’ll find historic Commercial Street where the community organization for the promotion of local artists, LemonDrop, makes its
home. You’ll also find one of the oldest bars in Springfield—Lindbergs. Lindbergs Bar boasts performances by The Cherry Bomb Burlesque, rockabilly and punk bands like St Dallas and the Sinners, weekly performances by Quantum Groove, and an exciting array of upcoming events. Celebrate Mardi Gras on Commercial Street with performances at Lindbergs by the Cherry Bombs, the Good Foot and a drag show put on through the Aids Project of the Ozarks. LemonDrop works to provide avenues for artists to display their work and provides financial support to help nurture a creative culture in and around Springfield. Catch out-of-town metal musicians, The Oppressor with ADALIAH and Float Face Down on Friday Jan. 20. Doors open at 6 p.m. The event is for all ages and costs $8. It doesn’t matter what kind of music you’re into or if you prefer a play to musical theater. There’s something to do just about every night of the week in Springfield if you know where to look. Don’t spend the semester at home wishing you knew where to go for some live music or the perfect stage to take your date. Get creative and explore Springfield’s burgeoning nightlife.
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The Standard
Movie award season is here
Who will walk away with all the hardware this year? By Karman Bowers The Standard It’s that time of year again when the stars get all dressed up and walk down a red carpet while we sit at home and gossip about what they’re wearing. Oh, there are some awards in there, too. Out of all the numerous awards, the Golden Globes and Academy Awards are the biggies. With the Golden Globes fresh in our minds (aired Sunday, Jan. 15) and the Academy Awards still weeks away (It airs Feb. 26. The nominees are set to be announced on Jan. 24) we can still ponder some of the nominees, and possibly winners, for this year’s awards. Now, I could be way off, but looking at the nominations for the Golden Globes, there seems to be five front runners. “The Descendants,” “The Ides of March,” “Moneyball,” “The Artist,” and “Midnight in Paris” were all nominated for best picture, best screenplay, all had best actor/actress nominations and four of the five also had best director nominations. My guess is that we’ll see these on the Academy Awards nominations as well. I was surprised that “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” didn’t receive a nomination for best picture. Rooney Mara got the nomination (no surprise there), but why no best picture? Who knows? Sometimes I just cannot figure out why certain things get nominated. “Avatar,” anyone? The big question on my mind is whether or not the Academy will stick with their recent trend of nominating ten films for best picture. Perhaps “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” will make that list. And when will the year come that an animated picture will win the big prize of Best Picture? “Toy Story 3” should have been that film. It was a “kids” film but at the same time, it was much more adult in so many ways. It made us accept the painful truth that our childhoods were finally over. It should have won everything. Unfortunately, there weren’t any animated pictures this year on that level but there were some good ones. My vote for best animated would be “Rango” but if the powerhouse team of Spielberg/Jackson behind “The Adventures of Tintin” doesn’t bring some awards, I will be very, very shocked. See AWARDS page 10
Karman Bowers Movie Reviewer
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Awards Continued from page 8
Another thing that I noticed with the nominations this year is that Ryan Gosling and George Clooney are hot ticket items, especially if they are together. Gosling got two actor nominations, one for “The Ides of March” and the other for “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” Plus, as mentioned before, “The Ides of March” was nominated for a bunch, including Clooney as director. By the way, “The Descendants” is Clooney’s other movie. If I was placing any bets, it would probably be on them to win something. The bottom line is there are always surprises (good and bad) and there are always sure things. If there is a Spielberg film out there, it’ll be nominated. If there was an amazing transformation by an actor/actress, they’ll probably win. All we can do is sit back and enjoy the show.
The Standard
Golden Globes big winners Drama • Best Picture: “The Descendants” • Best Actress: Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady” • Best Actor: George Clooney, “The Descendants” Comedy/Musical • Best Picture: “The Artist” • Best Actress: Michelle Williams, “My Week With Marilyn” • Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, “The Artist” • Best Animated Feature: “The Adventures of Tintin” • Best Foreign Film: “A Separation” • Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, “The Help” • Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, “Beginners”
Movies such as Moneyball (above), starring Brad Pitt, and The Ides of March (right), starring Ryan Gosling, could end up with multiple awards. This year’s Academy Awards will be held on Feb. 26.
The Standard
Setting new year ’s resolutions that you can accomplish Focus on making 2012 a success By Brandon Corrigan The Standard
The emergence of a brand new year brings hope and a fresh start as people across the globe make resolutions to ensure that the next 12 months are happy and healthy ones, but with each passing day comes the demise of countless new year’s resolutions; many die before they are even started. As quickly as they are hatched they are dispatched to oblivion. In a 2009 study on new year’s resolutions, conducted by researchers at the British University of Hertfordshire, 700 participants were asked a variety of questions regarding resolutions. The results showed that participants were less than resolute about their resolutions. About 78 percent of those in the study failed to live up to their resolutions. The failure to fulfill new year’s resolutions has become a topic for scrutiny almost every year. In 2011, Time Magazine compiled a list of the Top 10 Commonly Broken New Year’s Resolutions: 1. Lose weight and get fit 2. Quit smoking 3. Learn something new 4. Eat healthier and diet 5. Get out of debt and save money 6. Spend more time with family 7. Travel to new places 8. Be less stressed 9. Volunteer 10. Drink less
One problem with resolutions is that they lose their luster. They become tired and ephemeral. For proof, one need not venture any farther than MSU’s Plaster Sports Complex. Senior Brandon Miller embarks on a daily routine to the Health and Fitness Center, housed on the second level of the complex. After having used the facility for four years, he concedes that there is no more frustrating time to work out than during resolution season. “For the first three weeks after holiday
break, the gym is a madhouse,” Miller said. “It’s so crowded that a 30-minute workout can stretch to an hour or longer. “A lot of people don’t know what they’re doing and just stand around taking up space,” Miller said. “After those first three weeks, though, people give up and it settles down back to normal.” Miller, a CIS major, is cognizant that most MSU students can’t afford a personal trainer, but he believes students should learn about workouts from people with experience if they want to accomplish their fitness resolutions. Otherwise, they may be on a treadmill to nowhere. “Students that are new to the gym should try to find a friend with experience or talk to a PED instructor who can help them create an exercise regimen so they’re not just walking around aimlessly,” Miller said. The stress of having to create annual resolutions – and live up to those expectations – can wear thin on harried students. Junior Mandy Aarns decided to lower her new year’s resolution standards for 2012. “I decided to give myself a new year’s resolution that I can actually accomplish,” Aarns said facetiously. “I will read less, put on 30 pounds, watch more TV, drink more and exercise less.” If MSU students want to sincerely compose and carry out a successful resolution, they should use the most important resource at their disposal: their university. Students who need help with a fondness for drinking or addiction to smokes can access the Counseling and Testing Center for free confidential services. Those aspiring for better grades can use the services of the Bear CLAW for academic tutoring. Those wanting to become more involved can join one of the more than 300 student organizations registered with the Office of Student Engagement. So, make 2012 the year you actually accomplish your new year’s resolution. If the Mayans are actually correct about what 2012 has in store for us, then you’d better act soon. This could be your last chance to bring a new year’s resolution to reality.
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The Standard
File photo by Matt Kile/THE STANDARD
Danny Schlink is the owner of The J.O.B. Public House at 319 E. Walnut St. which carries over 100 different brands of whiskey.
A Springfield original The J.O.B. Public House is one of many unique places to find a meal By Damien M. DiPlacido The Standard With hundreds of restaurants in the Springfield area, finding a place to eat and get some drinks should never be a problem. Many people in the campus area live within walking distance of a number of local eateries. The J.O.B. Public House, located at 319 E. Walnut St., may very well be one of downtown’s best kept secrets. Owner Danny Schlink, along with employees Kevin Schwartz and Jimy Bennett, started the restaurant in the former location of Merle’s Hotdog Emporium. In the quaint restaurant, you won’t see
any in-your-face corporate logos, flashy lights or even a single television. J.O.B. is downtown’s comfortable alternative, Schlink said. “We’re so diverse with our clientele. It’s almost like hip has no age,” Schlink said. “We get that multiple crowd, where the theater people are stopping by. We get 80-year-olds in here banging their heads to Atmosphere.” J.O.B., which opened on Halloween of 2010, boasts a fully stocked bar and a kitchen that serves up a wide variety of snacks and entrées that will generously accompany any tall glass of suds. “It’s just a friendly place to come in. College kids can come late. We cook food until midnight,” Schlink said. “We do happy hour on Wednesday and Thursday night.” Setting foot into the dimly lit but inviting bar area can be like taking a trip back in time. The Social House is adorned with a magnificently polished, wooden bar top, sconce lights and chandeliers from the old
Landers Theater, and a giant buck’s head that has been looking down at patrons since the building’s first bar was established, Schlink said. “We have countless wonderful things,” Schlink said. “For a long time, this place was called Joe The Antlers, people just called it The Antler. We still have the original set of antlers. Our music is never loud. It’s more of a conversation place.” As of late, Schlink has aimed to bring back the concept of the pre-prohibition cocktail, not only with their ingredients, but also with the fashion they’re mixed. J.O.B. prides itself on carrying over 100 different brands of whiskey. “That era was a very affluent time in American culture where people were enjoying things that tasted good,” Schlink said. “There weren’t as many shortcuts like with sodas on guns. Bartenders were respected in the culinary field, as opposed to just pouring shots.” Several of the drinks that J.O.B. is trying to reintegrate include stingers, aviators and the original Tom Collins. Schlink plans to cut out the shortcuts of cocktail crafting that he feels have downplayed the authenticity of today’s drinks. He intends to eliminate the sour mix from the bar guns, limit the use of flavored vodkas and use fresh juice as opposed to juice from concentrate. “Tom Collins sour mix used to be
The Standard made with mineral water, a squeeze of lemon and simple syrup, not that tart lemonade stuff from the gun,” Schlink said. “It’s delicious. It’s the most refreshing thing. It puts gin in a new category.”
J.O.B. Hours of operation Wednesday: 2:00 pm - 1:00 am Thursday - Friday: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm, 5:00 pm - 1:00 am Saturday: 1:00 pm - 2:00 am
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Let the countdown begin: 59 days until Spring break By Dayle Duggins The Standard
Fifty-nine days are all that stand between Missouri State students and one of college’s most beloved holidays and traditions, the crown jewel of college vacations: spring break. Whether you’re heading to the beach, on an alternative spring break or somewhere international, March 17 cannot come soon enough for many. But before jumping in feet first, make sure you’ve looked into every aspect of your trip. A perfectly planned-out getaway will save you time, money and will help to avoid the ultimate trip spoiler: stress. By following a few simple tips you may be able to avoid spring break nightmares before they even happen and, in turn, have the time of your life.
1984. The seasoned professionals suggest booking your trip as early as possible. “This will give you access to the hotels and flights of your choice. In most cases, you will save hundreds of dollars through early booking discounts and lower airfares,” Student Travel Services’ website says. So, for those of you who haven’t made reservations anywhere yet, this means get on it! The two month mark has just arrived and rates will soon be skyrocketing.
Budget, budget, budget!
Depending on how much money you want to spend when traveling on spring break, a budget may be an important consideration. No one wants to go on vacation with what they thought would be plenty of money, then run out of funds on the fourth day. Talk about a buzzkill! Book your trip early! Before hitting the road, or before the File Photo by Kyle Davis/THE STANDARD wheels go up, make sure you’ve thought When planning a spring break trip, it’s important to budget out how much everything will Student Travel Services has been plan- through every possible expense you could ning spring break trips for students since run into. Even calling hotels, restaurants cost ahead of time so you don’t run out of money.
The Standard Consular Affairs, an entity of the U.S. Department of State. Even if you do not plan on going out of the country, having multiple forms of identification may come in handy at some point. Many spring break destinations are packed with nightlife and bouncers that are sticklers on proper identification. Forgetting your second form of ID could ruin your entire evening. So check not once, but twice!
Know the area!
File Photo/THE STANDARD
Before going on a Spring Break trip, become familiar with the area you’re traveling to and all it has to offer, including public transportation systems and cab company numbers.
and bars before you leave could give you a cation documents is crucial to getting to better idea of how much money you will be your destination. spending. For those planning on leaving the country, obtaining a passport can take up to six weeks from the time of application. ExpeDid you bring your ID(s)? dited applications only take two to three weeks, but cost $60 more than regular Traveling with the appropriate identifi- applications, according to The Bureau of
Being familiar with the area you will be staying in for what could be the craziest week of your life is extremely important. Residents in highly traveled areas know the dates of spring break and know that many students will be vulnerable during this time. “Spring break vacationers have been sexually assaulted or robbed because they found themselves in unfamiliar locales, incapable of protecting themselves because of drug or alcohol use, or because they were victims of a ‘date rape’ drug,” The Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website says. Being aware of your surroundings at all times is the first step to staying safe, but sticking to the “buddy system” is often the best way to avoid dangerous situations.
Spring Welcome 2012 • 17 A few last things!
Packing for your trip will be one of the last things you do before you head out. With a zip of your suitcase, you’ll finally be able to envision yourself in spring break heaven...it’s almost here! Before you walk out the door, make sure you have these things, just in case. -Map of the area. You never know when a GPS or your phone could die. Being lost is never fun, so put a map in your bag. -Taxi numbers in the area. Once again, technology cannot always be relied on. Being stranded is just about as fun as being lost, so become familiar with a few taxi numbers that you can call on at any time of the day. -A variety of clothing for all weather. We’ve all been on vacations where not-solovely weather interfered. Even a couple of extra clothing options will make you feel prepared and thankful if inclement weather arrives. -Phone charger. This is a no-brainer, but often one of the most forgotten items. Mom and Dad love to receive a phone call home to let them know you arrived in one piece. Now that we’ve got that all straightened out, let the countdown officially begin!
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The Standard
New year brings new fitness opportunities By Colleen Hamilton The Standard
Fitness Classes
Caving – Registration deadline – Feb. 10, Date of trip – Feb. 18 Fly fishing – Registration deadline – Feb. 29, Date of trip – March 10 Spring paddle trip – Registration deadline – March 28, Date of trip – March 31 Backpacking – Registration deadline – March 23, Date of trip – April 14-15 Rock climbing – Registration deadline – April 13, Date of trip – April 21 Rock climbing 2 – Registration deadline – April 20, Date of trip – April 28-29
Classes from January – May 2012 Free Week – Jan. 17 – 23 All classes held in the Plaster Sports Complex Prices - $45.00 unlimited, $25.00 15 class pass, $2.00 cash per class Monday – TNT – 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. Power Kick – 2 to 3 p.m. Cub Cardio – 3:15 to 4:00 p.m. Ab Attack – 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. Bootcamp – 5 to 6 p.m. TABATA – 5 to 6 p.m. Dance It Off – 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Tuesday – 20/20 – 3:15 to 4:00 p.m. Bear Strength – 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. Cycling – 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Power Kick – 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday – Bear Strength – 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. Yogalates – 3:15 to 4:00 p.m. Rock Bottoms – 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. A.B.C.S. – 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Cardio Fusion – 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Bootcamp – 6 to 7 p.m. Ab Attack – 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Bootcamp – 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday – Cub Cardio – 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. TNT – 3:15 to 4:00 p.m. On The Ball – 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. Cycling – 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Power Kick – 7 to 8 p.m. Friday – Yogalates – 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. Core Rhythms – 2:00 to 2:50 p.m. Saturday – Cycling – 10 to 11 a.m. Ab Attack – 12:00 to 12:30 p.m.
Clinics
Wellness Classes
Intramural Sports
5 v. 5 Basketball – Entry deadline - Dec. 16, cost $50, starts Jan. 30, locations of play – McDonald Arena and Hammons Student Center 4 v. 4 Flag football – Entry deadline – Feb. 24, cost $50, starts March 5, location of play – recreation fields Futsal – Entry deadline – Dec. 16, cost $45, starts Jan. 30, location of play – McDonald Arena Sand Volleyball – Entry deadline – March 9, cost $30, starts March 26, location of play – sand volleyball courts Soccer – Entry deadline – March 2, cost $50, starts March 12, location of play – recreation fields Softball – Entry deadline – Feb. 24, cost $50, starts March 5, location of play – Glass Hall field Ultimate Frisbee – Entry deadline – March 9, cost $30, starts March 26, location of play – Plaster Sports Complex
Trips
Finding an outdoor job – Date of clinic – Feb. 8 Caving basics – Date of clinic – Feb. 15 Backpacking basics – Date of clinic – April 4 Bike maintenance basics – Date of clinic – April 18 Fly fishing – Date of clinic – March 7 Intro to rock climbing – Date of clinic – April 4 Learn to climb and belay certification – Date of clinic – April 12, cost $10 Climbing and bouldering technique – Date of clinic – April 19 Advanced climbing and lead certification – Date of clinic – April 26, cost $15
Sunday – Hip Hop – 6 to 7 p.m., $30 per session – Session 1: Feb. 5 – March 11, Session 2: April 1 – April 29, Location – PSU 312AB Tai Chi – 8 to 9 p.m., $30 - Session 1: Feb. 5 – March 11, Session 2: April 1 – April 29, Location – PSU 314BC Monday – Power Yoga – 12:00 to 12:50 p.m., $35 – Session 1: Feb. 6 – March 12, Session 2: April 2 – April 30, Location – Body Of Work Studios (331 South Ave.) Belly Dancing – 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., $30 – Session 1: Feb. 6 – March 12, Session 2: April 2 – April 30, Location – PSU 312AB Tuesday –
Power Yoga – 12:00 to 12:50 p.m., $35 – Session 1: Feb. 7 – March 6, Session 2: April 3 – May 1, Location – PSU, 2nd floor Zumba – 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., $35 – Session 1: Feb. 7 – March 6, Session 2: April 3 – May 1, Location – PSU, 1st floor studio Wednesday – Power Yoga – 12:00 to 12:50 p.m., $35 – Session 1: Feb. 8 – March 7, Session 2: April 11 – May 9, Location – Body Of Work Studios (331 South Ave.) Yoga – 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., $35 – Session 1: Feb. 8 – March 7, Session 2: April 11 – May 9, Location – PSU 312AB Pilates – 7 to 8 p.m., $30 – Session 1: Feb. 8 – March 7, Session 2: April 11 – May 9, Location – PSU 317AB Thursday –
The Standard Power Yoga – 12:00 to 12:50 p.m., $35 – Session 1: Feb. 9 – March 8, Location – PSU, 2nd floor Zumba – 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., $35 – Session 1: Feb. 9 – March 8, Session 2: April 12 – May 10, Location – PSU, 1st floor studio Yoga – 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., $35 – Session 1: Feb. 9 – March 8, Session 2: April 12 – May 10, Location – PSU 312AB Latin Dance – 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., $40 – Session 1: Feb. 2 – March 1, Session 2: April 12 – May 10, Location – PSU ballroom east Ballroom Dance – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., $40 – Session 1: Feb. 2 – March 1, Session 2: April 12 – March 10, Location – PSU ballroom east
File Photo/THE STANDARD
Playing intramural sports such as basketball can be a good way to stay in shape and have fun at the same time.
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The Standard
Hole-in-the-wall bars add a touch of local character Harlow’s, Stepchild Lounge, Ruthie’s Bar, Pappy’s place among favorites By Nick Simpson The Standard
When you turn 21, a whole world seemingly opens up before you, so they say. Many bars, nightclubs, and music venues around Springfield cater only to those “of age”. So it becomes a hobby of some to survey the town in search of the quaintest, most unique places to quench their thirst after a long week.
This search may mean the pursuit of a choice drink special, or the most sublime atmosphere to engage with friends. Whatever the case, location and price of rent can mean very little in terms of business and popularity when it comes to a good dive bar, and there are enough in Springfield to satisfy your curiosity. Perhaps one of the most well known inconspicuous locations to get-your-drinkon for Missouri State students would be Harlow’s bar on 632 S Kimbrough, just west of campus. With $2 PBRs, pitcher specials, and great live music, it’s a great compliment to a hectic week. Springfield native Thomas Cox has loitered around just about every bar in town File Photo/THE STANDARD one can imagine, and shared some of his Springfield has many different hole-in-the-wall bars that add a little bit of local character favorite dives. “Stepchild Lounge (located at 1861 to the bar scene, such as Patton Alley Pub downtown.
South Stewart Ave.) has a pretty fun karaoke night, and a really well stocked bar,” Cox said. “You wouldn’t feel like a jerk for ordering a martini there.” “Ruthie’s Bar (located at 440 East Commercial St.) is always fun,” he added. “But there, just stick with beer. One night I got a dry martini that you could have comfortably swam in. I had to have the bartender reshake it twice. Another friend got a vodka tonic that came up all tonic. But they have cheap beer, and the best karaoke in town.” Another hole in the wall Cox suggested was Pappy’s Place, situated at 943 Main Ave. The location is almost as old as Springfield itself and is known throughout town for its amazing BBQ. It is also the home to some great music, such as the Richard Bruton Quartet,
The Standard which performs jazz standbys every Thursday night from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Patton Alley Pub located downtown at 313 South Patton Ave. can hardly be considered a dive bar by popularity’s standards, but with the quiet atmosphere and rustic aesthetics, one could imagine spending more time than planned at such a place. With a constantly rotating draft menu, happy hour from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to close every day and all day Sunday, the drink prices alone draw a huge turnout. But there are also many exceptional music acts to grace their sound system. Keep in mind next time you set out in the pursuit of fun on a weekend that looks can almost always be deceiving. That shadylooking bar at the end of the alleyway may yet hold the key to your evening.
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File Photo by Josh Campbell/THE STANDARD
Local band Rags to Rich’s played at Harlow’s, a local bar located on Kimbrough Avenue and Harrison Street, in November.
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