It’s time for my weekly outing to a bar on Sunday, my favorite night of the week to go out and booze it up at a local tavern. Tonight I’m headed to a bar on Main Street I haven’t been to in decades, The Basket Case. Let’s go, check out this legendary Peoria dive bar and see, if by some miracle, I can score a swizzle stick!
As always, if I can't get a ride on my Sunday night out, I take a taxi. No D.U.I. for me, and I always use the Elite Taxi Service. Maybe that plug will get me a discount next week!
And here we are at the Basket Case, I love that sign, I think it's the original one. The entrance is in the rear in the back of the building.
The neon signs lead the way to the entrance.
Ha, this place hasn't changed a bit, same old horseshoe bar. There's plenty of seats, let's grab one and get a beer.
Okay, I had a little problem here. The bartender was really nice, but she kind of kept freaking out when I would ask her if I could take her picture. She kept telling me she would, "think about it." But after asking her about six times and getting this same response I just gave up. Like I said, she was real nice, but it would've been nice to get a yes or no answer instead of, "Ask me later, I need to think about this." But I've decided that whenever a bartender refuses to let me take a photo, I'll put up this picture of Sean Penn beating up a photographer. So here you go!
Here's a unique taps shot for Spike, totally nude for once!
A shot of the back of this no-frills bar.
There's tables and chairs in the room directly left of the bar.
I love this sign. It ain't Vegas in here, baby!
I'm wondering if this Christmas tree is lit up all year round? Oh well, it'll give us a good excuse to come back in a couple of months and see.
Here's a shot from the other end of the bar.
Here's a special guest star! MBIP reader and commenter, Scott showed up to claim his tickets to the Insane Night Of Comedy that he won by being the first commenter to ask for them on this post. I'm going Saturday night and hope to see Scott and all of you out there!
I love the lights hanging over the horseshoe bar.
Here's a longshot of the left-hand side of the bar.
The Basket Case has nightly Karaoke and this gentlemen is starting out the night crooning a country tune I've never heard of.
This fellow is the host for the karaoke and here he's dueting with a woman at the bar.
Whenever karaoke begins, it's the perfect time to switch over to hard liquor, so I ordered my double gin and tonic and sadly, there's no swizzle stick. Somewhere in Peoria there's got to be a swizzle stick, but not tonight. Oh well, at least the drink is good and strong!
I love the paneled walls in here, it makes you feel like you're in someone's basement bar.
Check out this great sign in the bathroom!
I tried to get an obligatory mirror shot on the mirror on the towel machine, but just got the top of my head. Maybe I shouldn't have had that third double gin and tonic!
Closer, but still no cigar.
Oh well, when all else fails, go to the full length mirror, flip the bird and call it a night!
And speaking of calling it a night, it's a rosy cab ride home. See you all tomorrow!
The Basket Case
610 W Main St.
Peoria
309-676-2273
Further Reading: Peoria Journal Star, Peoria Night Out and facecrack.
Bonus Kickstarter Linkage!
Those of you who have been following my blogs through the years will probably be familiar with my friend, Joe Freedman. Joe and I both lived in New York at one time and now we’re both in “P”-towns. I’m in Peoria and Joe’s in Portland. Joe and his wife, Ilisha create and design some of the coolest things you’ll ever see in your life, check some of them out here: LEAFpdx.
Joe and artist Virginia Flynn have designed a Hansel and Gretel shadow theatre book and it’s something like you’ve never, ever seen. Go and check it out at the Kickstarter page. It’s truly original and unique art, something that’s in short supply these days.
Bonus Swizzle Stick Art From Jaws!
Well, I finally scored a swizzle stick! Jaws the Cabbie sent in this custom made piece of swizzle art to go with this post. Hmmm, going to be a little tough getting this into a drink though! Thanks, Jaws!
