Atwater Brewery: A pleasant surprise, Jenga, and stupid shootouts

Atwater Brewery is located at 237 Joseph Campau, Detroit

New look to an old place.

After visiting one of Detroit’s many classic church fish frys (there is a column unto itself). I decided to try to live a little and celebrate the first Friday in Lent the only way I know how – drinking. (After Stations of the Cross – no really an, old Polish lady conned me into doing it because she gave an extra piece of cake, no lie).

I wanted to hit up my new(ish) adopted Rivertown Neighborhood, but the bar I thought I would frequent turned out to be just a sit-down restaurant, so I ended up at Atwater Brewery, located here.

Atwater Brewery, located because it’s on Atwater Street and close to the Detroit River, is a classic Detroit brewery for all the beer snob aficionados. I’ve been there a few times in the stripped-down, industrial hall they serve beer in the same place they make it.

But tonight, much to my pleasant surprise, I stumbled upon an actual brewpub feel. Complete a bar, board games (including Jenga – more on that latter), tables and chairs and a complete brewpub craft food menu.

Holy shit, did I really just miss this place the last two times I visited here? What other clues have I missed?

Turn out, I’m not (that) crazy. Atwater Brewery just finished the new addition two months ago, adding a chill drinking scene to Detroit Eastside (the part of town that wasn’t devastated by the 1967 Riots, but at the same time is the not really a focus of the city’s revival). So it pretty much looks like 1967, for worse or better.

The place was hopping on a Friday Night, so I took a seat at the bar and ordered a Lager and took a seat.

Next to me was a man who worked as a security guard. He was on break, sipping from a glass of water and mowing down a burger that looked really good. (I didn’t order any food …. because you know, Lent). (Insert Catholic guilt here…. just know -- Lou Holtz is watching you).

The guard and I were shared a few words, commenting on Atwater’s improvements and the general optimism surrounding Detroit, and especially in the Rivertown District. We talked about the need for more places to attract young professionals – but how it’s all window dressing unless the city can figure out it’s education system. All in the schools, folks.

The guy’s break was over, so he checked out, and I ordered on of my personal favorite, the Dirty Blonde---I’m a big fan of German or German-style beer, not afraid to admit my biases.

I turned my attention towards the TV – holy crap, is KevinHart playing basketball. Turns out, the NBA All-Star Weekend is this weekend. But even better, the NBA hosted a Celebrity All-Star Game, and Kevin Hart was the point guard for a team.

Heck, this is better than normal NBA Basketball!! Brilliant idea, TNT.

While the game was happening, to my left I noticed a large room with a lot of people drinking and playing cornhole. I asked the bartenderess what was happening – she told me it was a private party.

Private party, meaning all the other plebs like me weren’t invited.

But outside the other room, Atwater Brewery offers a spacious environment. Plenty of room to watch one of the four TVs, and a dining area compliment with a chess board and other classic games, including Jenga.

While drinking my Dirty Blonde, I could see that just about everybody was in or group or celebrating some kind of Couples Night – hip, hip hooray for the writer by himself at the bar on a Friday Night.

The Red Wings were playing hated rival Colorado Avalanche, so I had that to pass the time when drinking by my lonesome self – thank the Lord of television, it really helps the socially awkward when we need it the most.

Pavel Datsyuk did his typically Pavel Datsyuk thing to tie it up 2-2 and send the game to overtime. Well, guys I will ordered a third.

I ordered the classic Atwater Purple Gang Pilsner – named after the Polish/Jewish gang based in Hamtramck that scared the crap out of Al Capone during the Prohibition Era.

While watching overtime, some dudes from the “cool kid party room” moved on over to the bar area for overtime. Turns out the VIP Room doesn’t have a TV…nerds.

I overheard one of the rather cute bartendress on how everything at Atwater, from the beer to the food and even the liquor, was made at the place. Now that’s impressive. To complement the new addition to the place, Atwater seemed to go out of its way to make it hyper-local. Not an original concept, but always nice – especially in a part of Detroit that really doesn’t receive a whole lot of attention.

After the five-minute overtime, the Wings and Avalanche went to a shootout (a complete crap way to decide the game, but Gary Bettman in his infinite wisdom doesn’t think fans like ties…because Gary Bettman thinks fans are morons…. did I ever tell you how much I hate Gary Bettman?)

Everyone was on the edge of their seats as Datsyuk (obviously) scored, then JENGA!!! Nearly scared the crap out of me, but apparently someone finally won at Jenga, with the giant blocks crashing down to the floor.

The entire brewery just stopped and starred at the group for a quick second, then went back to watching the game.

The Avalanche ended up pulling out the (superficial) win.

I went back to finishing by Purple Gang Pilsner, thinking Atwater has a solid beer lineup that might not be getting enough credit statewide.

All and all, I was super pleased with my Atwater experience. For a Friday night, the place wasn’t too backed, and the new addition is a nice touch.

I didn’t try out the food, again, Lent. So I have a good reason to comeback. Looks like a found my new local spot to go when I’m bored. All and all, good night.

But yeah, seriously screw Gary Bettman, shootouts aren’t even fun after seeing them for the 186^th time.

Thomas Magee’s Sporting House: Eastern Market, the Knicks and “matinée” Tuesday night drinking

Thomas Magee's Sporting House is located at 1408 E. Fisher Service Drive in Detroit

Ever go the matinee movies?

Show up around 2 p.m. (yes, I go to the movies by myself, don’t judge me) get a ticket to some film none of your friends wanted to see, get your pop and popcorn and walk into a 500-seat theater that’s completely empty.

Pick your ideal spot, sit down and viola, you got your own space.

Not many public places out there that are empty for your own personal enjoyment – but the small-time sports bar on a Tuesday night is one of them.

Enter Thomas Magee’s Sporting House – located here – OK, there were four other people at the bar when I walked in. But two walked out and the other two were sitting at opposite ends of the bar.

I took a seat in the middle (second time in six graphs I talk about where I sit…. weird). I ordered a Newcastle Brown Ale and took in the end of the Knicks-Thunder game.

Thomas Magee is a relatively new spot, established in 2013, located in the up-and-coming Eastern Market District in Detroit.

The bar has no food, but they allow you to check out one of the many food joints in the area. Pro tip: They tell me near-by Supino Pizzeria is pretty good.

A couple of regulars walked in and took a seat about four spots from me, ordering up two Budweiser’s and some vodka and Red Bulls – alright, these people are here to party.

It seems this was the fourth stop of the night and this was THE SPOT to close the night. It’s 8 p.m. on a Tuesday, and they are stop Number Four, well done. Well done.

They went on talking about the dude’s work/relationship problems – spoiler alert, not going well, but he’s taking it well. The two seemed happy-go-lucky people, and the bartender spent most of his time chatting with them.

To my right a few seats down was the only other person at the bar. He was drinking at Atwater and really getting into the Knicks game. I’m hoping he’s a Knicks fan, because he was yelling alone at a bar for a regular season game. So hopefully he is a fan, or he’s just insane……so fan?

Thomas Magee's is the go-to spot for major sporting events, especially for major soccer games or English Premier League matches (the bartender said it is a Liverpool bar – You’ll Never Walk Alone) so that’s always a big plus. It also is the outpost for the American Outlaws Detroit chapter and a place where Detroit City FC supporters hang out before/after matches.

The game itself was lackluster – I think NBA players realize the regular season is pointless and the effort reflects that.

Since a Tuesday night NBA was the big game on, there was much of a reason to go the sports bar. I resigned myself to this won’t be the most exciting post in the world. But the kid next me, this was everything.

The Knicks eventually won out, and the kid was doing fist bumps in the air – hey, some people Friday nights are on Tuesday. I ordered an Atwater Pilsner for next drink and the bartender was nice enough to talk Liverpool’s Capital One Cup victory. (It’s a soccer tournament nobody cares about…unless your team wins).

Wow, that could almost be an allegory with the kid and his Knicks game…but no, not that talented of a writer to think of that.

Thomas Magee's is a solid sports bar which I highly recommend, it has a good parking arrangement, which always appreciated in Detroit. It’s a tad unfortunate the place doesn’t have a grill – they do offer chips, but it is what it is.

My two beers totaled a $10 tab, which is pretty fair for two bottled higher-end beers. I know some beer snobs might get the touches and pitchforks out for thinking Newcastle is a higher-end beer, but meh. Come at me, hipsters.

I paid my tab and headed out the door and crossed I-75 overpass to the parking lot.

I have gone to Thomas Magee’s before, and the atmosphere on game day is excellent. During the Women’s World Cup, the bartender tells everyone to shut up and turns the volume up for the National Anthem --- it’s pretty darn cool.

I highly recommend visiting the bar the next time you’re in Detroit for a big sporting event, but it was nice to have a relaxing, matinée-type, atmosphere to unwind after work.

Even if you aren’t a sports fan, you should enjoy the choice of beer and liquor at the bar. And if you don’t like sports or drinking…well, I can’t help you there…sorry.

Thomas Magee, the sports bar that’s great for the game, and solid for Tuesday night “matinée” drinking.

BRONX BAR: Punk rock, pool and being content

The Bronx Bar is located at 4476 2nd Ave, Detroit.

Being content; the best feeling any person might be able to possess.

The state of knowing what you have, and being at peace with it.

Pretty much that sums up, the Bronx Bar, located here.

The semi-punk bar in Midtown Detroit makes no apologies for it being what it is; a place to listen to loud, 1980s punk rock, and give no apologies about not being the “typical” bar scene.

Wandering in a Saturday night, I wasn’t too much in the mood for conversation (heck, I started this crap-tastic blog up for Lord knows what reason).

The bar is a really solid staple of the Midtown Hipster/Wayne State scene. Good beer selections, a decent grill and an even more decent pool table.

I walked in around 9 on a Saturday night (cue Meatloaf tune from Rocky Horror Picture Show). The place was packed, so I took a seat at the bar the awkward “L” shape part of the bar. So there was some lady with her dude friend at my “9 o’clock” –Top Gun reference-- so in order to face them I had to turn 45 degrees to the right, which is awkward. (Wow, first story in, and I’m already incorporating geometry – evolving)

I ordered a Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout ($5) and just got lost in the music.

I wasn’t there much to socialize. Since I started living in Detroit, I made a promise to spend at least one night a week out somewhere, regardless what people in my circle of friends were up doing.

Saturday night seemed to be the night, and it was a pretty chill crowd at the bar (around 60 percent dudes and 40 percent dudettes). I enjoyed my first beer while absorbing the bar’s atmosphere.

Enjoying my weekend off from my job (more on that in latter blog posts I’m sure). I wasn’t much for making friends for the night. But seeing an empty pool table to my right, and an empty beer in my hand. I ordered up a Pilsner Urquell ($5) and put a dollars’ worth of quarters on the table and my name on the chalkboard.

I waited for a minute before a dude showed up to the table – sweet, loving playing against a complete stranger, less guilty about beating them that way (no, seriously, I pride myself on my pool abilities – everyone has their own knack, and I have billiards).

We started the game off, and when he hit a clean, solid break, my mind broke. “Holy crap, this dude knows how to shoot.” He went on a run of five balls before I got a turn.

Turns out he was just fooling around with his lady friend but knows how to shoot when its serious – well played dude, well played.

I made a late rally to make it close. By the end we were trying to play defense to avoid the other person from win --- I’m sure there is some sort of life analogy I could draw from that. But I was on my second Pilsner (I ordered an Atwater Dirty Blonde ($6), but the bartender handed me a Pilsner and I was in no mood to argue. Stoicism, it’s a great way to live.)

Eventually, I committed a table scratch after not hitting my target ball. I just realized these last six paragraphs don’t make sense for people who don’t play pool.

Well, it’s 1 in the morning as I’m writing this, so I sure as hell aren’t fixing it. Quick rundown, in pool (where you pay money for playing the game) you have to hit your own ball first – after calling the shot—if you don’t it’s a scratch and your opponent gets to place the ball wherever on the table.

After four turns of use going back and forth making safety shots – we both thought it was really intense, but I think the dude’s girlfriend was not happy. She was checking her phone asking when the game would be over, but the dude was getting into it.

So yeah, I ruined Couples’ Night, apparently.

After my loss, I roamed around the bar for a while. The place was hopping, even for a Saturday night. There wasn’t a place at the bar, so I resigned myself to roaming around the bar and putting another round of quarters on the table.

It seemed I was the only person at the bar who wasn’t in a couple or a group – such is the life of an amateur, snarky bar reviewer. Two other dudes were on the table, and took on the winner.

I may chalk it up to (ha, pool pun) the lack of interest in the game, but I didn’t play particularly well. It was getting late and I realized the odds of meeting anyone interesting were slim. Again, very loud punk rock bar, so it’s not ideal for small talk.

After I finished my game, I went near the bar to pay my tab and head out the door.

Midtown Detroit is definitely a nice part of town – albeit a little (sarcasm) hipster like. But whatever, the hipsters aren’t that bad, they tend not to mess with cars parked in the street.

Bronx Bar is a solid bar for solid people. Probably not going to win any “best places to socialize” award. But it knows what it is and who they serve – and you can’t help but appreciate that.

The Bronx Bar. A content bar for content people. And at the end of the day (Did I really use ‘at the end of the day’ as a closing – wow I’m rusty. Next post will be better, people.)

But back to the point at hand, isn’t a content bar really what we all want. A place to drink. A place to

chill. A place to be you – And listen to really loud punk rock music.