It’s a nice Saturday today. Mid 50's, sun, no wind, very pleasant. Tomorrow is Easter, and we all just went to church, so it’s time to for some fun now. Put on your drinking caps people, it’s time for this month’s Bar Exam!
6:52PM—Shuffles Saloon—I arrive at Shuffles in Halethorpe, MD. I didn't want to come here, I wanted to head straight to Baltimore, eat and then watch basketball. Al, who runs the bar with his father Doug, talked me into coming to Shuffles while he decided if he wanted to join me in my travels.
There are really no rules here, this is pure comic relief! Har-dee-har-har!
Okay, down the stairs we go!
It's empty in here! That’s Al behind the bar with Debbie (tonight's bartender). I order up a bottle of Amstel Light and tell Al that I'm leaving when I'm finished with it. He can join me or stay behind, but when this beer is history, so am I!
This bar has seen many unusual things and interesting people, thank God it can't talk! Seated at the bar, left to right: Al, Rob, Doug.
The patent-pending "Spike Tap Shot." Maybe these things worked like 20 years ago?
This is what you get here, nothing fancy just your basic bottled beer. And some nights that’s all you need, just ask Marty!
There's Missy playing the jukebox. I hope she puts on Van Halen!
The view from the back of the bar.
Let’s go up the stairs and check out the room up there.
The upstairs is not used a lot. Pool does get played once in a while, and bands have practiced up here before, but mostly it sits here in lonely darkness.
Back down the stairs we go. So far its been a real up and down night. Darts! And the door leading to the outside, let's see what's going on out there.
Up five stairs and here we are in the outside beer garden.
This is a big area out here with a few picnic tables and two horseshoe pits.
Ringer!
View from the other pit, looking towards the bar.
The beer window is unfortunately closed! I'll take that as a cue to head back inside.
Alright, we’re back inside, and I need an answer from Al about what he's going to do. It’s a real Clash type moment as we wait to see if he stays or if he goes!
Al, Rob and Missy, seated at the bar. Al and Rob have decided to bar crawl with me in Baltimore! Now, finish your damn drinks and let's go, already!
Assorted unlit liquor bottles behind the bar, standing attention and waiting to be poured.
The Coors sign behind the bar provides about half of the illumination in this place.
One last glance at Shuffles before we head out the door.
The door. (Jim Morrison flashback!)
8:13PM—Idol Hour—Baltimore! We finally got up here and Rob and Al couldn't wait to smoke a cigarette after a lengthy eleven minute ride here. Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em fellas!
It's really dark inside of Idol Hour. If the front door wasn't open and if I didn't lighten the photo up a little, you'd barely be able to see anything. No TV’s, no loud music, just a drinkin' and greetin' spot. I come in for the Dunkel beer!
Al and Rob toasting a velvet Elvis in the back of Idol Hour. Elvis never leaves this building.
8:45PM—Home Slyce—Of course Rob and Al have to smoke again, I need to bring some nicotine patches along with me the next time we all go out!
A shot of the back of Home Slyce.
A view of the front of the bar. This is one of my favorite new places that I've been going to lately. Good food and a good beer selection, and just enough TV’'s to watch sports on. On this night I have two Dominion Oak Barrel Stout pints.
10:12PM—Delia Foley's—I wonder what Al and Rob are doing out front?
Delia Foley's has a lot of space, great wings, and all of the traditional Irish beers/drinks. A solid stop on any bar crawl in this area ! I got a Harp here.
10:42PM—Muir's Tavern—The smoking twins burn yet another one before they head on in.
I love Muir's sign that hangs in the front window.
Muir's is a little cozy place with great people and really cheap beer!
Oh dear God! Al is singing karaoke! He chose Alabama, Mountain Music and actually brought the house down!
Did I mention earlier that it's a great night outside?
11:56PM—Southside Saloon.
I love this painting on the wall! This is a great bar too, a lot like Muir's, but a little bit bigger.
We all decided to get Bloody Mary's here! I ordered one, Al and Rob saw what I was doing, I vouched for their goodness and they wanted one too!
1:20AM—Back at Shuffles. The circle of life, for the night at least, is complete! Cheers everyone!
Further Reading: A Dozen Bars In NYC, Part I, A Dozen Bars In NYC, Part II and BBC Timeline.
