This article was published in the LEO on April 25, 2007 about New Albany.
I LUV NEW ALBANY
Most Louisvillians rarely cross the great divide that is the Ohio River. But I grew up in Southern Indiana, and I'm here to tell you something: Hoosiers know how to drink.
I'm not just talking about Rich O's, the well-known center of the Kentuckiana beer universe. There are at least 15 places to get your drink on, and that's just in and around New Albany alone: You've got Steinert's Tavern, with sports on TV and/or live music pretty much all week; you've got the Grant Line Road strip that includes the aforementioned Rich O's plus The Menu, Kelsey's Bar & Grill and Jack's; you've got the well-traveled Sam's Food and Spirits (try the steak bites); and you've got the downtown watering holes on Market Street.
And, at the end of Floyd County on State Street, there's Tucker's American Favorites Bar & Grill, which also serves as an Indianapolis Colts fan bar, and Sammy O's, just up the road on Paoli Pike, that serves the country-music crowd much like Jim Porter's and Coyote's do in Louisville.
I ventured to New Albany recently with a couple of friends in search of places we'd never been, and Michelle Voyles, the friendly bartender at Tucker's, not only sold us a couple of $1.50 longnecks but pointed us toward Mac's Hideaway.
Tucked into a small strip-mall complex just of Charlestown Road, Mac's might be the Back Door of New Albany, as it's open until 3 a.m. nightly, has plenty of seating, plus video games, pool tables, pub food and more. The specials when we were there included $1.75 domestic drafts and $2 margaritas.
Bartender Jenny Huffines said Mac's is a regular spot even for some Louisvillians. "It's kind of close-knit here," she said. "Everyone knows everyone. And if you don't you feel like you do."
But it was Hugh E. Bir's downtown on Market Street in New Albany that really captured our hearts. This is like a Germantown gathering spot, brimming with chatty locals and cheap beer. The $1 Bud and Bud Light drafts were enticing enough but Kenny Rouck, the friendly bartender who claims to work 11 a.m.-3:30 a.m. shifts daily, also helped us feel at home in the unfamiliar environs.
And at 10 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, owner Hugh E. Bir (yes, that's a real person) and his band play live music ranging from Hank Williams to Gordon Lightfoot - on a stage that appears to be fashioned from an old shuffleboard table.
Keep the frosty ones coming, Kenny. I may never go home again - Kevin Gibson
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9 comments:
Kevin did a great job with this article. It's more evidence of the potential we have in New Albany.
Couldn't agree with you more, new albanian. Several people are working together to help Hugh E. out, he and his Concrete Canyon Cownboys!
A 60 year old business in downtown 'burbs with a 40 year old musician/bar owner has definitely owed some respect from our diverse community...especially since it's been deemed historical.
We have no doubt we can bring this building back to it's old glory; help restore facades, windows, tuckpointing (I could go on)...but this is one ex-Marine, great Democrat, who's word is gold people like me support...just to help all of us to show the potential we do have to be the great City we all want to achieve.
One building at a time, right? That's all I can take on my plate right now.
My daughter (baby) has been diagnosed with Graves Disease and neuroblastoma (still looking that one up)...my now thirteen year old grandson's foot has become infected. It seems the Doctor left part of that bone fragment in there.
MeeMaw ended up at the Floyd Memorial Hospital herself Wednesday eve, and still not back on my feet.
When it rains it pours.
I am feeling the election turnout if going to be sparse. I look for the turnout to truly come out in the Fall.
Peace.
Sorry, hee hee, make that the Concrete Canyon Cowboys (Crowboys...toooo funny).
Keep us posted on the progress with his building. Just because it's not my preference for hanging doesn't mean it's not worth helping to preserve. There are many of us who'd pitch in labor to help out.
And I can't thank you enough for those kind words. It will take a lot of people and government's help, i.e., DNA, HPC, etc. He's a musician and a bartender -- not a paper work kind of feller. It's truly a museum inside. His "family tradition".
Thanks again; hopefully we can share a cigar (it's got to be good) in there at least on a Friday night when the "fiddler" is in the house. What a show!
Take care -- too many drugs in my system from the hospital to keep on going. You know how that is....
Thanks for that. I know that we had a misunderstanding for a while with regard to my fictional references, but please understand that none of us harbor any ill toward the owner or establishment, and Kevin's piece in LEO was yet another affirmation that it's an institution, and one that we need downtown as one of several anchors for the emerging entertainment district.
I'm enthused to hear that there'll be work on the exterior; you don't want to alter the character, just preserve the structure so the character can remain for generations to come, both as building and establishment. It's admirable stuff, and as I said, keep us posted.
Surely will...thanks again as all support will be needed.
Appreciate it. Now, I just have to get well so I can get "mine" well, and then we're back to work on the paperwork.
Peace.
While Rich O's was a gimme and Hugh E's has certainly earned its spot as an institution on Kevin's list, I was most surprised by the comparison of Mac's to the Back Door.
I've only been in Mac's a couple times but as someone who wasted considerable post-midnight hours at the Back Door as a more youthful person, that's pretty heady stuff.
Count me in for Hugh E's building rehab. I'm sure there's a lot of us willing to help.
Thank you kind sir. Mac's seems to have moved from where I remember it being...just not sure.
Good pictures were taken and accompanied this article; I simply don't having scanning abilities, per se, yet.
Thanks, again.
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