The Sandbar...Home of the Indoor Hurricane!

One Canadian peach, coming right up

Sandbar friend and regular customer Chad had this funny story for us recently. I should make him tell it, because it would be funnier, but I'll do my best to retell it.

So he's sitting at the bar one evening, chatting with Chelsea, our newest bartender.

A couple of young-ish girls walk in and order Georgie Peach shots. Chelsea said sure, but you'll have to tell me what's in them because I'm new.

One of the girls informs her, in an authoritative tone, that it's made with Crown and peach schnapps.

Chad jumps into the conversation, confused, and said "No, I think you mean Southern Comfort and peach."

"No, it's Crown. I'm a bartender, and it's her 21st birthday," the girl said, pointing at her friend.

As Chad's relaying the story to me, my first thought is "well, if it's your friend's 21st birthday, then you probably haven't been a bartender very long," and my second thought is "I don't think that's right, but then again I've never tended bar."

He didn't argue with her, and Chelsea made her what she asked for.

In the meantime, sure that he's right, Chad texts Dave to find out what's in a Georgia Peach. Dave (best bartender in Lawrence!) texts him back and confirms that yes, it's SoCo and peach.

Chad explained to Dave that some girl at the bar was insisting on Crown. Dave's response? "But, Crown's Canadian."

It doesn't sound as funny when I'm typing this, so I guess you had to be there. But, since then, we've joked a lot about Canadian Peach shots. After all, the Southern Comfort IS kind of what makes it a "Georgia" Peach...

Preserve the Plaza, oldest operating theater in America

I have been seriously bad about keeping this blog up. Once upon a time, there were four or five new posts each week. When I logged in to write this, I realized there were three posts for the entire month of September. Believe me, there's more going on at the Sandbar than that; I'm just not there to see it these days.

But, here's something awesome for you.

If you've followed the Sandbar for any length of time-- or if you really know the owners like you insist to the doorguy-- then you know Peach, our founder, also owns the Plaza Grill & Cinema, a movie theater slash bar and grill down the road in Ottawa.

But did you know this: she recently uncovered evidence of the theater showing movies all the way back in 1905, making it a candidate for the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest operating theater in America.

And now, there's a plan to convert the theater into an interactive historical experience so that people can enjoy the magic of the cinema in the middle of America.

How can you help? Well, there's a Kickstarter project taking place right now. If you're not familiar with Kickstarter, it's a crowdsourced funding platform that brings project creators together with backers to make things happen.

You can donate as little as a buck or as much as you want to this project-- but unless the project is fully funded, you won't spend a dime.

The goal of this project is to raise $45,000. The project has three stages that are described here, and it will add jobs as well as economic growth to the community of Ottawa.

What are you waiting for?! Go check it out here, and make a donation if you can.

Preserve the Plaza: Oldest Operating Theater in America