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.

Grand Rapids Brewing Company: Lunch specials, directions and comfort

Grand Rapids Brewing Company is located 1 SW Ionia Ave.
in Grand Rapids, Michigan 

After making my next big career move. Hello Big Rapids, Michigan. (Read The Pioneer).

I resorted to spend my last few weeks in Grand Rapids the best way I can: Rock n’ Roll, French toast and random lunch adventures.

This post will be about the third adventure (sorry, just trying to keep the blog on focus).

Heading out for lunch on my week of vacation (best way to end your time at a company), I stumbled across a door with a large white banner above it that read ‘Lunch’. And lo and behold, it was the door to the GrandRapids Brewing Company (located here).

Well, the banner can’t lie. Must be a good place for lunch.  

I took a walk into the brewery and grabbed a seat at the bar.

GRBC is one of the staples of Grand Rapids’ downtown craft beer scene--that’s not named Founder’s. The building is as old as the city, with remnants of the old carriage doors still visible for customers to look at and contemplate the history of beer in the Furniture City….Or they don’t notice, and just ask for a Silver Foam.

I grabbed a seat at the bar. It was lunch time, so there were a few groups of people and more in the seating area and more at the bar.

The place has a front and back room, with a very unique stage for bands to play in the backroom. It is almost this balcony-type set up, with the listeners and patrons looking up to the second floor to see the musical act. So points for creativity.

When I took a seat at the bar, a rather friendly bartender laid before me a menu for the places craft beers and the lunch specials it had going on. 

The banner didn’t lie, this place was serious about lunch.

I ordered the Rosalyn Bliss Blonde (I know this place has the best Hefeweizen in Michigan, but it wasn’t offered at the time) and a sandwich that featured bacon, turkey and ham, can’t go wrong there.

NFL Live was on one of the TVs. 

I didn’t get to see much of the weekend’s actions, shows how much I care about ‘the most popular league in America’, but it was nice to get a rundown of what happened during the week. How Ron Jaworski can look at the same 5-yard passing rout five times in a row still beats me, and I write about sports.

I grew up in a Green Bay Packer household, but I have nominal appreciation for the team. I’m happy when they win, when they lose, meh. Life goes on.

The Bliss Blonde and sandwich arrived quickly, showing that the brewery wasn’t kidding when they said there were serious about providing a quick lunch.

The beer and the sandwich complimented each other nicely, and other sections on the menu are rather satisfying. (I was half tempted to try the pork and waffles—because that just sound delicious—but I knew I was going out that night, so I tried to keep it light).

The rest the patrons were also lunch goers, mostly professional types enjoying the classic ‘two-beer lunch’. And before you start judging, just remember that Harry Caray went to the bar over 1,000 in 1972, just for lunch only.

The bartender was really nice, asking what my holiday plans were. Turns out he knew where Jackson so, since his cross country coach had them race at Ella Sharp Park a lot. I’m not entirely sure what qualifies as a ‘good’ cross country course, but I guess Jackson has one. So horay for Jackson.

While I was finishing my sandwich, a man came up to the bar and wanted to know where 812 Fulton St. was. The bartender said that he ‘technically’ was on Ionia St., but Fulton St. was right outside, so it should be right around there.

Despite the rather competent directions, the dude still didn’t know what to do with this new information. I asked him if he was looking for E. Fulton or W. Fulton St. Since that does make a very big difference.

Grand Rapids Brewing Co. is a block away from the Fulton-Division intersection that divides the city, and thus, all the directions. The man said that he thinks he wants to head to 812 E. Fulton St, but he doesn’t know for sure.

Well, 50-50 odds. I told him to walk out the door and walk nine blocks to the right. If it turns out that he needs W. Fulton St. Turn around, and walk 16 blocks the other way. Then boom, you’ll be there.

I’m not an urban planner or a design major, but the way they laid out the city streets an addresses seems about normal to most people. Not this guy, unfortunately.

After giving (remarkable) directions, the bartender thanked me for the advice to the traveler and we went back to discussing our Christmas plans. Turns out he has to work the final shift before GRBC closes for the holidays, which I felt was rather unfortunate.

Turns out the place is going to pay him a little extra, and he enjoys being the last place to give out drinks to those who need a drink before spending a lot time with their families (which wouldn’t be me, no, never).

For my second beer I ordered a Senator Lyon's Stout, named after this guy. I finished off my plate and spent the rest of the time watching ESPN by myself.

I really enjoying going out for lunch and having time by myself. For my money, have time to think is a much under appreciated commodity these days. As Ms. Mia Watts of Pulp Fiction understands, 

long periods of silence shows that you are truly comfortable with someone. (Can’t believe it took me this long to work in a Pulp Fiction reference to this blog).

Seeing how it was lunch time, I decided to end it with only two beers. However, I highly recommend that visitors to GR (and folks that live there) try the phenomenal choices of beer and really solid food menu (not solid as in the food is solid, though most of it is. But solid in that it's pretty good).

If I had to some up GRBC in one word, I’d use ‘comfortable’. The place is really reserved, and the mostly wooden framework of the restaurant and bar give off a very welcoming feeling. It is a place that both craft-beer lovers and visitors to the city will love—conveniently located next to the Van Andel Arena, if you are catching a show or game there.

I paid my tab and bid adieu to the staff. As a walked back from downtown Grand Rapids, I began to reflect on what I will most about living here.

Yeah, the beer is an easy answer. But it’s not the right one.

Really the answer boils down to comfort. There is not a whole lot better than being with people that make you comfortable, truly comfortable. And for me, that is what makes a truly great bar, and truly great people. Comfort.

What makes a great bar or a great place to hang out is not the menu or the drink specials or even what people wear at the bar. It’s the people. It always has been the people, always will. People are awesome—it’s why I took up journalism—I gig where I get to write to and talk about my favorite thing, people.

However, no matter what awesome are comfort zones are, you have to leave them—or else you will forget why you were even comfortable in the first place…and that’s discomforting.

So I continued my walk (Mandatory: You’ll Never Walk Alone clip—God I hope Liverpool does better during the second half of the season), being glad of all the great things that have made me comfortable, but looking forward to the things that will make me uncomfortable—life is funny like that.

And with that in mind, I find moving to a new town, comforting.

………….

Oh, don’t worry. Barstool Banter is still happening. I said leave some things that are in your comfort zone, but don’t abandoning it completely.

That’d just be crazy.   

Schuberg's: Lobster Bisque, The Weather Channel and Don Quixote

Shurberg's Bar and Grill is located at 109 N. Michigan St.
in Big Rapids, Michigan 

In the latest chapter of my Don Quixote-like travels that make up the career of a 20-something journalists (in middle school we took a career aptitude test—I got forest park ranger—let that sink in for a while) my latest venture took me north to Big Rapids.

Driving around and trying to acclimate to the town (read: I was looking for a place to drink), I came across Schuberg’s Bar and Grill, located here.

Going into a new place, in a new town, I really didn’t know what to expect.

Walking in, I see the bar is decked out with Christmas lights, lunch specials on a chalkboard, a bunch of older ‘townies’ enjoying lunch and a guy named Hank (or at least he looks like a Hank) sitting at the corner of the bar downing a PRB while watching the Weather Channel.

I was in heaven.

I wiped the stupid smile off my face and walked up to the bar. I ordered a Great Lakes Brewing Company Christmas Ale and asked for a food menu.

To set the scene, the bar is made of oak and sits about 15 people. The sitting area has about eight tables, six were occupied—it was lunch time and the place was full of people who appear to be regulars. 

Along the back wall were some booths that had a few people that looked like Ferris State students (they’re easy to spot, they’re wearing hoodies and the one young women decided to not wear pants and just go for leggings). Bold decision, let’s see if it works out for her.

Heckler: When did this turn into a fashion column. You barley know how to dress yourself (Ho, Ho, Ho).

I ordered the bar’s soup of the day: Lobster Bisque and a grilled cheese sandwich. As I looked around the place, it seemed to be a pretty chill bar.

I was most intrigued by Hank (who I later found out was Norm—NORM!!! (I did it I found Norm. It didn’t hit me until by drive back to Grand Rapids, but still achievement unlocked **Final Fantasy Fanfare**)

God, I’m such a nerd…how is it that I have friends?

The Weather Channel seems just odd to me. Yeah, I get the point. I tells you what the weather, but a 24-hour network dedicated to the weather.

Weather on TV started out as a five-minute clip on your local news, with occasional updates throughout the day. And that is all you need. Done. Move on.

But for reasons unknown, The Weather Channel decided to ‘reinvent’ weather reporting. Fun fact: Anytime somebody pitches be something using the word ‘reinvent’ I hate them. You can only invent something once. If you improve on an already existing invention, it’s a new invention. No need for the ‘re’.

 But Norm was glued. Starting out with local on the 8s (turns out it’s going to snow in Big Rapids this weekend—note to self, buy more snow stuff) and the digesting a story on flooding in Mississippi or wherever, hell I was half-ass paying attention, it’s whatever state I want it to be for the purpose of the story.

My lobster bisque was very good and it was a solid grilled cheese. After glancing at the menu, I was really impressed with the food selection for what appeared to be a ‘mom and pop’ bar. However, I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised that the menu was solid. It was lunchtime, and the locals were gathered there, just go with what they know.

I was wearing a suit and reading the Big Rapids Pioneer at the bar—wearing a suit during midday at the bar: achievement unlocked, NEW LEVEL **fanfare**. Just breaking all sorts of berries today.

The bartender noticed my look and asked me for the occasion (more on that later). To be fair, just about everybody—save the FSU students and leggings girl—were in standard dress shirts and slacks.

The mood of the people seemed to be that they were all professional types, enjoying themselves in a very relaxed atmosphere. Very similar to Logan’s Alley in Grand Rapids of Conor O’Neil’s in Ann Arbor.

There were not a lot of people sitting at the bar, really just Norm and some other kid in his 20s ordering the soup—which I highly recommend if you make it up to BR.

I then started thinking that I look pretentious as hell ‘who wears a suit and reads the newspaper at the bar? You’re no Barney Stinson. But then I got over myself and convinced myself that I looked awesome.

If dressing in a tie and drinking midday is considered wrong and off-putting, then I’ll be perfectly happy drinking by myself, learning about the weather in Boston with Norm—I feel guilty for not trying to start a conversation with Norm, but I that would just ruin it.

Don Quixote didn’t care about what people thought about what he wore, so neither should I---that’s terrible advice. The only people who truly don’t care what others think or call psychopaths, they are the true defenders of the ‘I don’t care’ motifs.

I finished off my porter and my sandwich, I still had to work that night in Grand Rapids, so my trip to Schuberg’s had to be abbreviated.

As a history nerd, I did appreciate the Big Rapids and Ferris State memorabilia. It turns out Ferris State is named after its founder Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, who went on to be the Governor of Michigan and a United States Senator (the more you know).

The staff is really friendly and it has a comfortable atmosphere—really welcoming for first-timers. 

The beer selection is pretty solid, both on tab (about 10, eight when we discount Bud and Miller) and about 20 craft beer in bottle, even though the first beer I ordered they had out—so results may vary on the whole 20 different beers part.

I paid my tab and made my way to the door. The bartender waived (I’m guessing it was because of the suit, or hell, Big Rapids is just friendly for all I care).

There isn’t really a parking lot, since the bar is on one of Big Rapids’ main streets, but the street parking seems more than ample.

Overall my trip to Schuberg’s was nice. It is a very solid town bar—nothing too special, but it’s not going for it.

Big Rapids itself seems to be decent town, and Schuberg’s reflects that with a solid town bar—note to all the mayors in the world. If you want happy citizens, make sure you have good bars, it makes things easier.

I started walked by to my car, loosening my tie a little and looking at my faithful horse (read Buick Century), heading back out to see wherever my travels will take me next. Continuing on my mission to civilize.

Or at least tell you all where to get a drink, that works too.