The Sandbar...Home of the Indoor Hurricane!

Sandbar 2014 Graduate: Matt

We put out the annual call for Sandbar graduates recently-- Sandbar customers who have become regulars in the bar during their time at KU. Learn a little bit about Matt in today's post.

What's your favorite Sandbar jukebox song? Which one do you never want to hear again?
Favorite: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Theme Song.
Never to Hear Again: Never heard a song I didn’t like on the jukebox; I just don’t like listening to the same song five times when I’m there. (Editor's note: Neither do we.) 

Tell us the funniest moment you remember at The Sandbar- whether it involves you or not.
It was a slow Saturday afternoon right after opening when my girlfriend and I brought in our puppy, a mini-dachshund (weiner dog), named Olive. The crowd was pretty small since the bar just opened, around five to ten people.

We were sitting at the bar enjoying some refreshments, sneaking some popcorn to Olive between sips, when a patron of the Sandbar came up and asked, “Are you happy to see me, or is that a wiener in your lap?”

Remember the first time you came here? Tell us your first impression.
I thought it was a unique bar with a cool theme that made me want to go on a Caribbean vacation. When I had that first delicious Shark Attack surrounded by awesome music and atmosphere I was hooked. (Maybe we should check these drinks to see if they are laced. Just a thought.)

What's your drink of choice? The one you'll miss the most?
The Bahama Mama with a chaser of Dirty Banana. However, the one I will always miss the most is the JERSEY SHORE. Bring it back!

Tell us what you're doing after you graduate- sticking around town or moving on to new adventures?
Well, it is time to move on…sort of. I will be close by in Kansas City working at The University of Kansas Hospital completing a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency.

How many hours have you waited in line?
I have probably waited for no more than three hours TOTAL in my eight year college stint. I usually plan to get their early or go in on Saturday afternoon with my girlfriend Kylie and our dachshund Olive when it isn’t terribly busy to visit Coleen. (Coleen loves to give Olive Scooby Snacks and “spill” popcorn for Olive to clean up.)  

Gotta love the Sandbar! I will be bringing family and friends there this graduation weekend for tasty refreshments. Can’t wait.

Congratulations, Matt! (And to Kylie and Olive, too.) We look forward to seeing you this weekend.

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Sandbar 2014 Graduate: Emily

Sandbar Graduate 2013: Alissa

Sandbar Graduate 2013: Kay Anne

Sandbar Graduate 2013: Andrea

Graduation pint glasses are here!

Dear Class of 2014 members, our latest graduation pint glasses are here!

The much-anticipated items finally arrived today. They're available with red and blue designs, and you can pick one up (or as many as you want, really) for the low, low price of just $3.

Thursdays are our popular tropical drink night, when you can buy a tropical drink and pint glass combo, then bring your pint glass back for refills any Thursday for just $2.50 per drink.

We ordered two batches of these glasses, so we *should* have enough for all of you. But if not, we can always order more...

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Mustache Pint Glasses

Graduation pint glasses wanted!

Graduation 2014 pint glasses on the way

Sandbar 2014 Graduate: Emily

We put out the annual call for Sandbar graduates recently-- Sandbar customers who have become regulars in the bar during their time at KU. Learn a little bit about Emily.

What's your favorite Sandbar jukebox song?
Everyone knows 90s music is my domain (which is why Sandbar is the best), but I'd have to go with Circle of Life. There's just something about hearing that tribal chant when you're a few (cough 10) drinks in!

 Which one do you never want to hear again?
I actually don't recall ever hearing a song I haven't enjoyed! If anything, just no more Taylor Swift.

Tell us the funniest moment you remember at The Sandbar- whether it involves you or not.
When me and this other guy were doing a hurricane and he challenged me to a dance off on the bar. I think he was twerking at one point. He obliterated me!

Remember the first time you came here? Tell us your first impression.
I knew it would become my home away from home (is that sad?)! I heard Mmmbop come on and I was hooked! (Editor's note: Mmmmbop is a certain bartender's favorite song. Ahem, Justin.)

What's your drink of choice?
The classic Shark Attack! Dirty bananas are also a weakness of mine

The one you'll miss the most?
$2 Tuesdays and Refill Thursdays! Having everyone sing "I Want It That Way" is also like a religious experience,  so I'll definitely miss that!

Tell us what you're doing after you graduate- sticking around town or moving on to new adventures?
Currently waiting to hear back from jobs in Boston and Baltimore, so hopefully I'll be heading out that way soon! But I will definitely be in Lawrence over the summer!

How many hours have you waited in line?
I've never waited more than 30 minutes!  I make sure to get there early to avoid any lines! I'm not an amateur!

Thanks Sandbar and everyone there for all of the memories!

Thanks, Emily! Good luck on the job front.

Graduation 2014 pint glasses on the way

Good news, graduates-to-be!

We've had a few questions about our graduation 2014 commemorative pint glasses, and we're happy to tell you that these popular items will be here soon.

We don't have an exact date yet, but as soon as they arrive, we'll be sure to let you know.

Here's a look at this year's design:

No, it's not totally unique; you may recognize this design from 2011. But it's good enough to recycle, don't you think?

We've ordered these in both red and blue. So, if you're still looking for a gift for the graduate on your list, stop by and pick one up!

Are you a member of the Class of 2014?

Back in 2010, we came up with the idea of celebrating graduation season by featuring YOU on our blog: our friends and customers who keep coming back and buying our brand of fun.

Turns out, it was a great idea. People love reading about people, especially people they know. And we love giving a public shout out to you guys!

So, if you're a Sandbar regular and graduating in 2014, keep reading.

Send us an email with answers to the following questions- answer some of them, all of them, or make up your own questions, we don't care. These are just some ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

1. What's your favorite Sandbar jukebox song? Which one do you never want to hear again?
2. Tell us the funniest moment you remember at The Sandbar- whether it involves you or not.
3. Remember the first time you came here? Tell us your first impression.
4. What's your drink of choice? The one you'll miss the most?
5. Tell us what you're doing after you graduate- sticking around town or moving on to new adventures?
6. How many hours have you waited in line?

Also: we love pictures. Especially if you're wearing a Sandbar shirt!

Email us at [email protected] and we'll feature you on our blog sometime in the next week.

Design a Sandbar pint glass

We're amazed by the continued popularity of our pint glasses, and we know lots of you collect them.

It's hard work coming up with new designs all the time! And often, our most popular pint glasses are the ones designed by customers.

It's been awhile since we put out the call for designs, but it's time. We aren't looking for a specific holiday design this time (but if you have one, send it to us anyway!), but instead we want to start a new series of pint glasses with a special design for each of our tropical drinks.

So, creative types, start thinking. Our rules are simple:

• Single color, please
• No licensed trademarks, like a Jayhawk
• Keep it simple; the design is small

No need to incorporate the Sandbar logo, because that's on the front of the glass.

We're looking for designs for the Bahama Mama, Shark Attack, Pink Flamingo, Rum Runner and Dino-Mite for now, but if you have ideas for other designs we definitely want to see them.

If your design is chosen, you'll get a super-cool Sandbar prize pack with T-shirts, pint glasses and other fun stuff. Plus, you'll be famous and you can brag about it to your friends.

Email us at [email protected] with your ideas.

Movie memorabilia in Ottawa

It's history in the making!

We've talked before about Peach's movie theater venture in Ottawa, and how it's presumed to be the oldest operating theater in America and possibly the world. She's been working hard on the latest incarnation of the business-- the Plaza Movie Memorabilia Museum.

The grand opening of the new museum is Thursday, May 15, at 7 p.m. The exhibit includes a collection of props from movies like King Kong, Hunger Games, Three Musketeers and more.

Lawrence's resident movie star Keith Loneker has also loaned some items to the museum, and he'll be at the opening event.

There's a limited number of tickets available, so get yours now! Call the Plaza at 785.242.5555 to reserve your spot.

We're excited to check out the new museum! The Plaza is really a cool old movie theater, the kind you don't see around much anymore. Sandbar friends have had many great times there, including our Rocky Horror Picture Show bus trips at Halloween and a "staff retreat" when we all carpooled down there one afternoon to watch a movie (and someone got a speeding ticket).

Bar band, we need your music stands back

No, not us. We don't want your music stands. But the KU Department of Music does.

We were incredibly amused (and honored, to be honest) when we got an email the other day from the KU Band office:

At the closing of the school year, we at the University of Kansas Bands take some time to do housekeeping and review equipment. We find ourselves short of music stands. This often happens when students take stands to perform at venues and houses of worship around town and forget to bring them back.

I am writing to ask that you take a look in your performance spaces and sanctuaries for stands labeled “KU Band” or “KU School of Music.” If your organization happens to have any of these stands, please contact me by replying to this email or by calling me at the number below. We will gladly stop by and pick up any music stands you might have.

The Bar Band isn't officially affiliated with KU, although the group is primarily made up of KU band and music students (and former students who just can't quite move on). You may or may not know that the Bar Band, a great tradition in the Lawrence nightlife scene for many years now, actually got its start at the Sandbar back in the mid-90's.

So, even though the group isn't officially part of KU, we still thought it was pretty cool that the folks in the band office were reaching out to us about their missing music stands. It's pretty much an official acknowledgement of the group, we think. Or they're just really, really desperate to find those missing stands.

We don't, however, have any music stands in our house of worship.

Read more posts about the Bar Band.