This past Tuesday I received a call about a trvia night at the Blarney Stone pub, though the Blarney is normally a weekend or Thursday spot, it was worth a try. For those who dont know, the Blarney stone is a small bar located on the corner of maywood street and park avenue, only a few hundred yards from Clark University's campus.
The bar offers cheap drinks with a few TVs and some video games, the bar is located in the middle of the venue with seating around the outside. Tuesday nights the bar offers a trivia night in which teams are given a sheet of paper to record the answers to the questions that are asked over the PA system in the bar. The prizes for the winners are T shirts but mostly the enjoyment of having your team name announced to the bar.
Atmosphere: A- Not fancy by any means but a great place to come and enjoy a drink with a younger crowd, partake in trivia or just watch a game.
Drink Cost/Quality:A+ The blarney is one of my favorite bars for a reason, the drinks, offering several "blarney shots" for 2 dollars as well as drafts as cheap as 1.50. a wide variety of drink options but an optimal place for the drinker on a budget
Service:A As in any bar, there is a struggle to get ahold of the bar tender for a drink but the blarney bartenders manage to accommodate to their best ability. Friendly bartenders who will often crack a joke while providing you with your drink.
People: B+ Mostly a college crowd with a mix of main south locals, a good mix but alot of familiar faces, the occasional shady characters but for the most part a harmless mix of Clark students.
Overall: A
not a classy place in any sense but one of my favorite bars in worcester, a good atmosphere with cheap drinks, not to mention located right next to Flats pizza for those late night drunk munchies. Trivia tuesdays and active weekends make the blarney one of the most versatile bars in the city.
until next time, Cheers
Friday, November 11, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Vodka Infusions
So this entry is a change of pace but a suggestion and fun experiment for the drinker who is looking for a different flavor. A few weeks ago I became curious with the idea of infusing liquor, this process is relatively simple and in my case quite successful.
Infusing liquor is adding a foreign flavor to the liquor that you already have, to do so here is what you will need:
Your liquor, I prefer straight vodka but gin, whiskey and anything else will do.
A clean tight sealed jar, I began with mason jars and they worked out fine.
Your ingredients; my first three experiments involved habenero peppers, mangos, strawberries and jalepenos.
Thoroughly wash your jar and all ingredients and slice them into small pieces, fill the jar about halfway with them and then add your liquor until it is full about 1/2 inch below the rim. Cap, seal and let it sit anywhere from 1-3 weeks.
In my first experience I tried three different recipes of vodka; Habenero, mango-strawberry, and strawberry-jalapeno. All of which were a success. The peppers were definitely the most prominent of the flavors and I would not recommend letting them sit for anything longer than 8 days.
You can test the liquor every once in a while to see if it has the taste you desire, if so then it is ready for consumption and if not then simply let it sit longer. Once your product is ready feel free to experiment with different drink recipes or just enjoy some new tasty shots. A few of my recipes that my friends liked are listed below:
The Smithers (shot): start with a pint glass of ice, mix 1/2 habenero (or jalepeno-strawberry) vodka, 1/4 pineapple and 1/4th passion fruit juice. Shake well to mix and pour as shots, the juice is the first flavor your taste and as it lingers the spice of the peppers finish the flavor. Definitely not for those who dont like spicy food but delicious none the less.
Worcester Mist: Ice, roughly 1/3rd mango-strawberry vodka and 2/3rds sierra mist. Applicable to any size glass or solo cup.
Hope the recipes were helpful, Cinnamon whiskey is next on the list of experiments, feel free to leave your own recipes and feedback. Cheers.
Infusing liquor is adding a foreign flavor to the liquor that you already have, to do so here is what you will need:
Your liquor, I prefer straight vodka but gin, whiskey and anything else will do.
A clean tight sealed jar, I began with mason jars and they worked out fine.
Your ingredients; my first three experiments involved habenero peppers, mangos, strawberries and jalepenos.
Thoroughly wash your jar and all ingredients and slice them into small pieces, fill the jar about halfway with them and then add your liquor until it is full about 1/2 inch below the rim. Cap, seal and let it sit anywhere from 1-3 weeks.
In my first experience I tried three different recipes of vodka; Habenero, mango-strawberry, and strawberry-jalapeno. All of which were a success. The peppers were definitely the most prominent of the flavors and I would not recommend letting them sit for anything longer than 8 days.
You can test the liquor every once in a while to see if it has the taste you desire, if so then it is ready for consumption and if not then simply let it sit longer. Once your product is ready feel free to experiment with different drink recipes or just enjoy some new tasty shots. A few of my recipes that my friends liked are listed below:
The Smithers (shot): start with a pint glass of ice, mix 1/2 habenero (or jalepeno-strawberry) vodka, 1/4 pineapple and 1/4th passion fruit juice. Shake well to mix and pour as shots, the juice is the first flavor your taste and as it lingers the spice of the peppers finish the flavor. Definitely not for those who dont like spicy food but delicious none the less.
Worcester Mist: Ice, roughly 1/3rd mango-strawberry vodka and 2/3rds sierra mist. Applicable to any size glass or solo cup.
Hope the recipes were helpful, Cinnamon whiskey is next on the list of experiments, feel free to leave your own recipes and feedback. Cheers.
Monday, October 17, 2011
The Banner
So despite my normally aggressive approach, this entry I decided to pursue a more casual evening and last monday ventured down to The Banner Bar and Grille on 112 Green St. in Worcester.
The Banner is a small lounge type bar and grille with the bar located in the center, forming a U shape of surrounding tables and booths. The walls are covered in New England sports paraphernalia, beer ads and a good number of HD televisions, each showing one game or another that is on at the time.
The crowd was fairly diverse on this monday, from a young business class to blue collar regulars who were pretty familiar with all of the employees. A few college students were scattered in groups but the majority of the crowd was drawn to the bar for wing night. Mondays at the banner are 10cent wings for the 21+ crowd, obviously to inspire more beer sales. Both the wings and the drinks were great and customer service was very good.
So to the final grades yet again,
Atmosphere: A- A great spot to enjoy a casual night and some good food. The open front windows give good air flow to an upbeat atmosphere of sports fans young and old on several levels of intoxication.
Drink Cost/Quality:A- Drinks we well priced, obviously I prefer the most booze for the least money but in this scenario I got a plate of 10 wings, 2 pumpkinhead beers and a shot for about 15 dollars, not too shabby.
Service:A Very friendly wait staff and bartenders, fitting with their atmosphere and playing a role in the creation of the relaxed easy going mood in the bar.
People: B+ For a casual night, the diverse crowd doesnt play much of a factor but if my drinking pace was a bit more aggressive, which it usually is, the Banner may be a bit too low key for me.
Overall: A-
Good food, good drinks, good people. I would recommend the banner to any patron of any age on a monday night, however if your looking to get sloshed it may be more of a pregame spot to get started.
pleasant drinking and feel free to give feedback or recommendations. Cheers.
The Banner is a small lounge type bar and grille with the bar located in the center, forming a U shape of surrounding tables and booths. The walls are covered in New England sports paraphernalia, beer ads and a good number of HD televisions, each showing one game or another that is on at the time.
The crowd was fairly diverse on this monday, from a young business class to blue collar regulars who were pretty familiar with all of the employees. A few college students were scattered in groups but the majority of the crowd was drawn to the bar for wing night. Mondays at the banner are 10cent wings for the 21+ crowd, obviously to inspire more beer sales. Both the wings and the drinks were great and customer service was very good.
So to the final grades yet again,
Atmosphere: A- A great spot to enjoy a casual night and some good food. The open front windows give good air flow to an upbeat atmosphere of sports fans young and old on several levels of intoxication.
Drink Cost/Quality:A- Drinks we well priced, obviously I prefer the most booze for the least money but in this scenario I got a plate of 10 wings, 2 pumpkinhead beers and a shot for about 15 dollars, not too shabby.
Service:A Very friendly wait staff and bartenders, fitting with their atmosphere and playing a role in the creation of the relaxed easy going mood in the bar.
People: B+ For a casual night, the diverse crowd doesnt play much of a factor but if my drinking pace was a bit more aggressive, which it usually is, the Banner may be a bit too low key for me.
Overall: A-
Good food, good drinks, good people. I would recommend the banner to any patron of any age on a monday night, however if your looking to get sloshed it may be more of a pregame spot to get started.
pleasant drinking and feel free to give feedback or recommendations. Cheers.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Salty Thursdays
In my most recent Thirsty Thursday endeavors I found myself heading to the Salty Dog, a bar located at 1 Kelley Square in Worcester. Though this was not my first time spending a Thursday at the dog, each time brings something new.
The layout of the Salty Dog is one of its best features, with a bar located at the front next to the entrance and another in the back right corner, it is easier to avoid the battle through crowds to get a drink. The main attraction is the Mechanical bull located in the back left corner, providing entertainment time and time again when people are thrown from it.
The crowd at the Salty Dog varies from night to night, on this particular night there was a fair amount of Clark students there but we only made up about one eighth of the crowd. Holy Cross, Worcester state and Assumption students are usually there with varying numbers and a mix of locals as well. The majority of the bar is used as one big dance floor with a few tables located on the sides.
So onto the final grades,
Atmosphere: B+ Loud, high energy and enthusiasm, the Salty Dog is definitely no place to have a casual night.
Drink Cost/Quality:B Cheap rolling rock drafts for $1.00 but very weak mixed drinks and over priced shots.
Service:B- I have had several bad experiences with bar tenders at the dog, though for the most part they are good, two or three young women are very disrespectful and overall unpleasant.
People: A- Big crowds but a wide range of different people, girl to guy ratio changes each night but for the most part its a little heavier on the guy side.
Overall: B+
Definitely a good time with a high energy atmosphere but the crowds are sometimes excessive and the employees arent too concerned with customer service.
The layout of the Salty Dog is one of its best features, with a bar located at the front next to the entrance and another in the back right corner, it is easier to avoid the battle through crowds to get a drink. The main attraction is the Mechanical bull located in the back left corner, providing entertainment time and time again when people are thrown from it.
The crowd at the Salty Dog varies from night to night, on this particular night there was a fair amount of Clark students there but we only made up about one eighth of the crowd. Holy Cross, Worcester state and Assumption students are usually there with varying numbers and a mix of locals as well. The majority of the bar is used as one big dance floor with a few tables located on the sides.
So onto the final grades,
Atmosphere: B+ Loud, high energy and enthusiasm, the Salty Dog is definitely no place to have a casual night.
Drink Cost/Quality:B Cheap rolling rock drafts for $1.00 but very weak mixed drinks and over priced shots.
Service:B- I have had several bad experiences with bar tenders at the dog, though for the most part they are good, two or three young women are very disrespectful and overall unpleasant.
People: A- Big crowds but a wide range of different people, girl to guy ratio changes each night but for the most part its a little heavier on the guy side.
Overall: B+
Definitely a good time with a high energy atmosphere but the crowds are sometimes excessive and the employees arent too concerned with customer service.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Thursdays At Leitrums Pub
Like many other college students, the weekend takes far too long to get here so my friends and I habitually start a day early. This Thursday we decided to try Leitrums pub on park Avenue, a small Irish bar located on the corner of Park and Pleasant St. that occasionally offers an 18+ night, limiting the number of people under 21.
With an arrival around 11 we walked in to find a reasonably packed house, the majority of which being Assumption college students. The bar was divided into two rooms, the first being the more crowded of the two with a DJ booth in the corner and dancing just about everywhere except at the bar. The back room was a similar setup but a bit more of a social scene with a stage in the back corner that inevitably would host as a platform for girls to dance on.
Once at the bar it didnt take long to get the bartender's attention (a cute young blonde), with a wide selection of drinks they also cater to the college budget, offering $1.00 drafts which I couldn't help but capitalize on. With the exception of a few posted specials they seemed to take a majority of drink orders as well, though many I heard were simple drinks like Red Bull and Vodka, I doubt anybody would be in Leitrums ordering something like a Manhattan.
So onto the final grades,
Atmosphere: B+ not the greatest establishment but with the exception of that and being an outsider to the assumption crowd, an up-beat atmosphere filled with attractive people, good music and no cover.
Drink Cost/Quality: A- A range of options from a mixed drink with a good alcohol-mixer ratio for around 6 dollars to the $1.00 PBR draft. Leits offers a good range of drinks but could add a bit more to their specials or "house" drinks.
Service:A Bouncers at the door are respectful which is rare in my experience and as stated above, bar tenders are prompt and efficient.
People: B+ Again, mostly Assumption students but many of those students being good looking females, for our female readers there is a pretty good girl to guy ratio but I am in no position to judge looks. The majority of people just looking to have a good time, no fights, minimal problems n for the most part, a level of decency.
Overall: A-
despite being an outsider to the predominantly Assumption crowd, I had no problem meeting people and would reccomend Leitrums on a Thursday to anybody.
With an arrival around 11 we walked in to find a reasonably packed house, the majority of which being Assumption college students. The bar was divided into two rooms, the first being the more crowded of the two with a DJ booth in the corner and dancing just about everywhere except at the bar. The back room was a similar setup but a bit more of a social scene with a stage in the back corner that inevitably would host as a platform for girls to dance on.
Once at the bar it didnt take long to get the bartender's attention (a cute young blonde), with a wide selection of drinks they also cater to the college budget, offering $1.00 drafts which I couldn't help but capitalize on. With the exception of a few posted specials they seemed to take a majority of drink orders as well, though many I heard were simple drinks like Red Bull and Vodka, I doubt anybody would be in Leitrums ordering something like a Manhattan.
So onto the final grades,
Atmosphere: B+ not the greatest establishment but with the exception of that and being an outsider to the assumption crowd, an up-beat atmosphere filled with attractive people, good music and no cover.
Drink Cost/Quality: A- A range of options from a mixed drink with a good alcohol-mixer ratio for around 6 dollars to the $1.00 PBR draft. Leits offers a good range of drinks but could add a bit more to their specials or "house" drinks.
Service:A Bouncers at the door are respectful which is rare in my experience and as stated above, bar tenders are prompt and efficient.
People: B+ Again, mostly Assumption students but many of those students being good looking females, for our female readers there is a pretty good girl to guy ratio but I am in no position to judge looks. The majority of people just looking to have a good time, no fights, minimal problems n for the most part, a level of decency.
Overall: A-
despite being an outsider to the predominantly Assumption crowd, I had no problem meeting people and would reccomend Leitrums on a Thursday to anybody.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Why?
As stated above, this blog is a guide to night life in the Worcester bar and pub scene. Though these reviews and posts are based on my own experiences, my reviews of bars, pubs, and hangouts will be judged on several categories. Drink prices, atmosphere, drink quality (in terms of strength and taste) as well as the overall atmosphere of the venue will all be taken into consideration. Sometimes a grade of A-F may be given, other times a ranking of 1-10. I hope these reviews and opinions can help guide you the reader to an entertaining evening and maybe a new hangout.
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