The Ralphie Report Guide To Boulder: Nominate Best Sports Bar, Vote Best Dive Bar
by Jon Woods on Jul 28, 2011 5:16 PM MDT
in TRR Guide To Boulder Voting
Email
Print
To help welcome our new Pac-12 friends in their pilgrimage's to Boulder we are creating The Ralphie Report Guide To Boulder.
So here's how this will work. On the dates you see below we will be taking nominations for entries into each of the categories below. You'll have two days to nominate per category. After two days I will put up the nomination post for the next category and include a poll for the previous one. The top three vote getters in each category will be featured in the guide so don't be afraid to offer up some different nominations and make sure to come back and vote in each category. The timing of this will take us right into fall practice. We're getting close...
- Best Burger - 7/12 - Dark Horse, The Sink, Mountain Sun
- Best Breakfast - 7/14 - Village Coffee Shop, The Buff, Lucile's
- Best Sandwich - 7/18 - Salvaggio's, Half Fast Subs, Snarf's
- Best Burrito/Mexican - 7/20 - Illegal Pete's, Efrain's, Rio Grande
- Best Pizza - 7/22 - Cosmo's, Beau Jo's, Abo's
- Best "Nice" Dinner - 7/24 - Flagstaff House, The Mediterranean (Med), Frasca
- Best Dive Bar - 7/26
- Best Sports Bar - 7/28
- Best Upscale Bar - 7/30
- Best Brewery/Brewpup - 8/1
- Best Tailgate Location For Visiting Fans - 8/3
- Best Inexpensive Hotel - 8/5
- Best Expensive Hotel - 8/7
- Best Things To Do On Sunday After The Game - 8/9
Vote for the best Boulder dive bar in the poll (poll closes Thursday night), nominate your favorite Boulder sports bars in the comments.
30 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I'll vote for them
but I’m talking about the old location over on 30th and Iris. I used to live right accross the street so we would always walk over there on away saturdays. Is it still on pearl street mall? I’ve only been there once and didn’t like it as much. I like my sports bars dark and dingy not nice and bright. The only other sports bar I can think of is the place on 30th and arapahoe, that was pretty decent, but I have no idea what it’s called now.
oh, and just for you I’ll nominate the Dark Horse for yet another category. Hey, it’s a “sports bar” isn’t it? ;-)
haha
I think I’m thinking of the old location as well. I honestly can’t think of another sports bar (except for my arch nemesis- the Dark Horse). I vaguely remember one… um… somewhere (maybe on Arapahoe?) that was primarily populated by dudes in frat party tee shirts. I think II was at the end of it. Like, “2” but that’s all I remember. I really think we could’ve combined 3 categories into just “bar.” I’m nominating West End for best upscale bar, but there’s a very fine line between West End and Catacombs. Hardly the gulf you would expect between “dive” and “upscale.” Mainly it’s a super awesome bourbon list and killer wings. And I would still vote for Downtown Bar Hopping. Leave the Hill to the Hill People.
Look, I've already told Utah to suck it. There's no going back now.
had to use google earth
but the one on arapahoe and 30th I was thinking about (and probably you too) is now called Harpo’s Sports Grill. It used to be the Barrel House.
yes, Barrel House. That's exactly what I was thinking of. Good call.
I don’t think I ever actually went in there. But let’s nominate that (Harpo’s or whatever) as well, since Boulder is lacking in sports bars (and it might take votes away from the Dark Horse).
Look, I've already told Utah to suck it. There's no going back now.
I hate to be the one who has to tell you this
but if the Dark Horse wins multiple categories it automatically has to be awarded the grand prize of “Greatest place ever”. Then we could officially recommend to all visiting Pac-12 fans that when they come to Boulder to see their team play they don’t even need to bother with getting tickets to the game, just watch it on TV at the Dark Horse because that is truly the ultimate Boulder/CU football experience. Just stay at a hotel right next to DIA, drive to the Dark Horse, watch CU smack down your team, drive back to the airport and fly home. Right?
I've just given up
The Dark Horse will win everything. People have terrible taste forever. They could also stay at the American Inn in Wheat Ridge right off I-70. I threw a party there once in high school. there was blood on the carpet. Seems fitting.
Look, I've already told Utah to suck it. There's no going back now.
DH is great?!?
I lived in Willville, then off moorhead for 2 years and I also drove the Buff Bus where shifts ended at WillVille. The DH was a pretty logical, close, cheap place to hang out. Their 1/2 off happy hour wings were the best in town (not so much anymore) and trike races never disappointed. It’s a dive bar with good food for good prices, and there’s not a ton of good competition in the area, so it probably gets a lots of votes from people south of baseline. I went to the dark horse with my parents after walking at graduation. I get why people don’t like it, but I love it so I’m voting for it when it makes sense. Obviously not best burrito, fancy, etc.
Anyway, onto sports bars. Lazy dog is the best in boulder, period. They’ve overtaken DH for best wings, they have a billion TVs and better food and a better atmosphere for watching a game. Harpo’s is also a really good sports bar, IMO. The requirements to be really good include: Wings, Beers, TVs, good looking waitresses. Lazy dog wins on all of those.
I'm sorry
But I cannot, under any circumstances, fathom recommending the Dark Horse to an out of town visitor. Which, after all, is the point of the exercise. I lived in WillVille too. I spent plenty of nights at the Dark Horse. I thought the trike races were stupid, but found entertaining in some less than PC things they did. Their wings were never the best. Their burger was never the best. Nothing about it was the best. It was just a shitty place to walk to from WillVille and drink underage. Using your logic, I would have to vote Totino’s party pizzas for best pizza and Taco Bell for best Mexican because I spent so much time in their drive thru.
With all there is to do/ see/ eat/ drink in Boulder, the idea that our best foot forward is the Dark Horse is just sad.
Look, I've already told Utah to suck it. There's no going back now.
not exactly?
I suppose if you’re comfortable taking great leaps outside of logic, then yes totino’s pizza pockets are the best. Lately, DH wings have gone down hill, but honestly I was out of the country for a year in ‘05 and the first place I went when I got back was the dark horse I was in heaven, and I don’t know anywhere else you can get 3 piece wings with an extra hot that is as good as theirs, please tell me, I LOVE wings.
I understand your objection as part of this exercise though and I respect that, honestly I don’t think I’ve voted for DH as I think you’re right in your analysis that it’s not a great place to send unsuspecting out of towners. Maybe it’s not your kinda place, I dunno, there are plenty of places suggested on here I would never consider, but I don’t care enough to go shoot them all down. DH is not one of them, especially as a “dive”, I believe your objections to it are that it IS a dive.
your usage of question marks confuses me
I think your meant “DH is great!” and “not exactly”, right? haha
I don't think it is a great leap in logic
If this is your choice, then good on ya. Like I said below- you and I probably wouldn’t hang out. To each his own.
Look, I've already told Utah to suck it. There's no going back now.
+1000 on the terrible taste
Shoulder to Shoulder
by Buff'em Up on Jul 28, 2011 11:05 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Sorry
As I was going to say, as for the dive bar vote, K’s is at a disadvantage b/c it’s a true dive. Ok, The Downer & Walrus are also dives , The Pub on Pearl is close to being a dive, never been to the Goose or Outback Saloon, and then Dark Horse…ugh. The Catacombs (which I really like) is not a dive….it’s below the Boulderado, I’m no expert but I voted for K’s and if/when I vote again I’ll probably vote for the Pub. Damn, Boulder is a great town!
I nominated (and voted for) Catacombs
For me, it’s a real fine line as to what constitutes a “dive” bar. I mean, I would never want to send anyone from out of town to a true dive bar. Catacombs may be below the Boulderado, but they still have karaoke and trivia nights (and some solid local blues bands). It’s not like it’s a bunch of old white people sitting around sipping martinis in top hats and monocles. I could also support The Sundowner and K’s (but only when it’s nice out. The roof is the only good thing about K’s). Really, the answer to this poll should be “go bar hopping,” which for me always meant downtown, with Catacombs as the beginning or end.
As for the Dark Horse- remind me never to hang out with anyone who voted for The Dark Horse. That’s really the place you would recommend to an out of town visitor?
“What’s a good cheap bar to hang out at?”
“The Dark Horse. It’s far away from everything, so you can’t walk anywhere else. Everyone is ugly, it smells like feet, and there’s a bunch of stupid shit all over the walls. It’s like a dingy, depressing TGIFriday’s. You’ll love it!”
Really?
Look, I've already told Utah to suck it. There's no going back now.
Thanks to Ash for the kick ass new banner!
The Ralphie Report - University of Colorado Athletics
SB Nation Denver
Harpo's
I like Lazy Dog but it’s not a CU bar by any means, which is a pretty depressing commentary in itself.
Shoulder to Shoulder
by Buff'em Up on Jul 28, 2011 11:03 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
I had to vote for the Sundown
I know the Walrus had something like $2 PBR’s but I think at the Sudown you could get a shot of the worst whiskey in the world and a PBR for $3. A true dive bar has to get you extremely drunk for under $20 and when you stumble back there the next day to get your credit card because you forgor to close out your tab. You say to yourself I can’t believe I spent all night in this sh*thole.
Walter Sobchak: "Also, let's not forget - let's *not* forget, Dude - that keeping wildlife, an amphibious rodent, for uh, domestic, you know, within the city - that aint legal either. "
that was a truly epic description
you, sir, are a poet
Look, I've already told Utah to suck it. There's no going back now.
You always have to take the shitter into acount too.
A good dive bar has to have at least one of the following in the men’s room;
a. rotating hand cloth to dry your hands
b. condom machine
c. Good graffitti perferably primal impressions of the female anatomy
d. powder soap
e. ice in the urinal
Shoulder to Shoulder
by Buff'em Up on Jul 29, 2011 9:21 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
West End
It’s not technically a “sports bar,” but I think it’s the best place to watch away games, and the wings are 200% better than Lazy Dog’s.
by Meghan O'Connor on Jul 29, 2011 8:56 AM MDT reply actions
Are they pit smoked?
Does anyone in Boulder smoke their wings? Queue reefer jokes.
Shoulder to Shoulder
if I'm not mistaken, they are indeed smoked
and they are divine. West End is my choice for upscale bar (they have $30 bourbon!)
Look, I've already told Utah to suck it. There's no going back now.
confirmed:
http://www.thewestendtavern.com/Menus/Food/tabid/577/Default.aspx
We honor the traditions of classic American fare while bringing together home style cooking, back-alley wood-smoked BBQ and a touch of Louisiana
Look, I've already told Utah to suck it. There's no going back now.
by Phil Fraser on Jul 29, 2011 10:27 AM MDT up reply actions
+1 for getting West End wings now
Yeah I love west end, but I’m pretty much already drunk when I get there. There are a few places in Denver with smoked wings and they are great. The elm (a boston sports bar) does it and I can’t get enough.
Potter's
I know I keep nominating places that no longer exist, but hey, I’m old. And 32 ounce monster mugs of CL while sitting on the patio on gameday (now Paradise Bakery on Pearl St.) was a wonder undo itself.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Welcome to The Ralphie Report, an unofficial blog for fans of the Colorado Buffaloes. Established April 24th, 2008.
Winner - Best Sports Blog In Colorado - 2011 Westword Web Awards
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
SBNation.com Recent Stories
SHOP THE RALPHIE REPORT STORE
Facebook and Google+
The Ralphie Report Google+ Page
