Showboat Saloon: My home bar away from home
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We all have our "home bars." No, not the one we've built in our basement or living room, but the neighborhood bar we've frequented forever, where we know the bartenders and bartenders know us.
But when you travel regularly, especially to the same cities on a regular basis, chances are you've found yourself becoming a semi-regular at an out-of-town
establishment.
I have a few haunts that are must-visits when I'm on the road: The Plaza in Madison, Brothers in Winona, Minn., the always-enjoyable Barley and Hops in Oshkosh (the owner, Nate, served me my first-ever drink in Oshkosh at his old bar) ... to name a few.
But without a doubt, my "home bar away from home" is the Showboat Saloon in Wisconsin Dells.
I've been hitting up the Showboat since my first post-legal-drinking age trip to the Dells. Located right on the edge of Downtown (just across the river from the mini golf courses and north end of the Dells "strip), it was within stumbling distance of our favorite mom and pop motel.
It's everything I could possibly want in a bar: cheap but well-poured drinks, a friendly and attentive bar staff, great regulars who may not know you but often recognize you and treat you as one of their own ... it's a good place.
There's something almost therapeutic to feel the crunch of discarded peanut shells underneath your feet as you walk in the door. Bellying up to the tin-covered bar to order a round of beers and seeing familiar and friendly faces lets you know that, even though you're on vacation or a long ways from home, you're still in your comfort zone.
Do you have a "vacation" or "road trip" bar? As always, use the Talkback feature below to share yours.
Talkbacks
Bobby T | Feb. 9, 2010 at 9:42 a.m. (report)
I think might have been Boxers Pub and the various places that have been in that space on W. 4th St. near Sheridan Square in the Village in NYC. If you saw DeNiro's "Night and the City," you saw Boxers. A lot of the movie was filmed there. For a long time, I kept ending up there on NYC visits, even though those visits were almost never planned. It may not have been the best bar in the Village, but I had some good visits there. Nowaways, I prefer the nearby Kettle of Fish, a long-standing Village tradition turned Sconnie bar thanks to a Badger State native owner.
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murf | Feb. 9, 2010 at 4:13 a.m. (report)
This summer you will be able to see Pat McCurdy perform outdoors at The Showboat on most Saturday nights.I have never been to a bar that hosts so many bachelorette parties during the summer.
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Gargamel | Feb. 9, 2010 at 12:35 a.m. (report)
I agree with Zappa on the Bayside Tavern in Fish Creek. I'm usually up there once a year and it seems like every other drink is on the house, and they're stiff too.
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Birky311 | Feb. 8, 2010 at 11:20 p.m. (report)
B&H in Oshkosh is a great place and Nate is a cool guy. Spent many nights and some days in there.
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booboo16 | Feb. 8, 2010 at 3:01 p.m. (report)
My home bar away from home is my former home bar. Having moved to the Twin Cities last year, I always enjoy going back to Stir on Wisconsin Ave when I'm in town.
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