Welcome!
Some people collect autographs, some collect antiques, others collect stamps. My hobby is a little different, I collect bars. This site represents my collection, documenting each bar I visit.
This is not a review site, there's plenty of those already. Most posts in this bar diary are slice-of-life recaps of the half hour or so I spent having a beer. I hope you enjoy browsing through my collection!
--ScooterJA Few Random Favorites
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The Bulldog
11 May 2004(Downtown, Kansas City, MO) Scooter’s 17th bar, first visited in 2004. Specializes in prohibition-era and pre-prohibition drinks. One of the few bars in town that serves absinthe. Be sure to...
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HooDoo Brewing Company
29 November 2019(Fairbanks, AK) Scooter’s 1416th bar, first visited in 2019. This is one that I was unable to make it to the last time I was in Fairbanks, so I was...
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Mary’s Place
10 April 2015(Emporia, KS) Scooter’s 1082nd bar, first visited in 2015. One of the ratings I sometimes give when visiting bars in new city is, “This is the Zoo Bar of ____.”...
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Strawberry Hill Brewing
(Strawberry Hill, Kansas City, KS) Scooter’s 1838th bar, first visited in 2025. After a few years of delays, this finally opened in the Fall of 2024. But since it’s only…

Missy’s White Rabbit Lounge
(Downtown, Eureka Springs, AR) Scooter’s 1837th bar, first visited in 2025. Missy’s White Rabbit is located in one of the staircase alleys, either one flight down or 2 flights up…

Jack Rabbett’s Whisky Bar
(Downtown, Eureka Springs, AR) Scooter’s 1836th bar, first visited in 2025. This is one of two bars in the Basin Park Hotel, located on the 1st floor (which is actually…

Voodoo Lounge
(Downtown, Eureka Springs, AR) Scooter’s 1835th bar, first visited in 2025. This is the other bar in the New Orleans Hotel, at street level and tucked away in the back…

The Quarter
(Downtown, Eureka Springs, AR) Scooter’s 1834th bar, first visited in 2025. One of two bars in the New Orleans Hotel, I wouldn’t necessarily call this a basement bar because it…

Brews Taproom & Java Joint
(Downtown, Eureka Springs, AR) Scooter’s 1833rd bar, first visited in 2025. A combination coffee shop and craft beer bar. Also offered at least some cocktails — my wife got a…

Spring On Main
(Downtown, Eureka Springs, AR) Scooter’s 1832nd bar, first visited in 2025. This bar/restaurant is accessible only via an outdoor flight of stairs on the second floor of a downtown building….

Kon Tiki
(Downtown, Kansas City, MO) Scooter’s 1831st bar, first visited in 2025. I didn’t even know this tiki bar existed until visiting it on this Sunday afternoon for a birthday party….

Parkville Wine House
(Downtown, Parkville, MO) Scooter’s 1830th bar, first visited in 2025. This wine bar (which also features a curated set of craft beer) opened in 2024 in a converted house right…

Warbird Whiskey
(Downtown, Excelsior Springs, MO) Scooter’s 1829th bar, first visited in 2024. A whiskey/cocktail bar that opened a few months ago, this one with theme honoring American military aviation history. When…

Huey’s Hidden Vault
(Downtown, Excelsior Springs, MO) Scooter’s 1828th bar, first visited in 2024. This is a new whiskey, cocktail, and cigar bar that opened this past August. Don’t worry if you don’t…

The Undertow
(Orange Beach, AL) Scooter’s 1827th bar, first visited in 2024. One of the locals suggested we go here next. We were a little let down when we saw it was…

The Sloop
(Gulf Shores, AL) Scooter’s 1826th bar, first visited in 2024. We were looking for a true dive bar among a sea of touristy bars, and we struck gold with this…

Grassroots Garden Lounge
(Downtown, Smithville, MO) Scooter’s 1825th bar, first visited in 2024. While I was circling around the block after leaving the brewery I noticed this cocktail bar and decided to check…

WelCo Brewing Project
(Smithville, MO) Scooter’s 1824th bar, first visited in 2024. I was camping nearby at Smithville Lake and got bored one afternoon so decided to head into town to check out…

Ron’s Bar
(Petoskey, MI) Scooter’s 1823rd bar, first visited in 2024. While we were at the winery my wife asked one of the servers, “If we wanted to go to a dive…

Mackinaw Trail Winery, Brewery & Bistro
(Petoskey, MI) Scooter’s 1822nd bar, first visited in 2024. This winery / brewery is a few miles south of Petoskey. I’d originally planned to do a wine tasting or have…

The Back Lot
(Downtown, Petoskey, MI) Scooter’s 1821st bar, first visited in 2024. We were looking for someplace to get lunch, and I was charged with finding a place, but no one could…

Legs Inn
(Cross Village, MI) Scooter’s 1820th bar, first visited in 2024. This historic tavern is a must-see tourist destination at the end of the Tunnel of Trees scenic highway. It was…

Petoskey Brewing
(Petoskey, MI) Scooter’s 1819th bar, first visited in 2024. This had been on my must-visit list ever since I saw a picture of the building a little over a year…

Tap30 Pourhouse
(Downtown, Petoskey, MI) Scooter’s 1818th bar, first visited in 2024. Since this was right next door we decided it was a must-visit before heading out of downtown. Most of the…

Mitchell Street Pub
(Downtown, Petoskey, MI) Scooter’s 1817th bar, first visited in 2024. We had parked a couple of blocks away and shopped and a candy shop and a clothing store. I took…

Great Turtle Brewery & Distillery
(Mackinac Island, MI) Scooter’s 1816th bar, first visited in 2024. After high tea at the Grand Hotel we went to the bar at the top of the hotel, which offers…

Mustang Lounge
(Mackinac Island, MI) Scooter’s 1815th bar, first visited in 2024. While we were at the Pink Pony we heard about the oldest bar on the island, so headed over there…

Pink Pony Bar & Grill
(Mackinac Island, MI) Scooter’s 1814th bar, first visited in 2024. Our visit to Mackinac Island was kind of a spur of the moment decision. Upon arrival we had a great…

Vue Wine Bar
(Downtown, Charlevoix, MI) Scooter’s 1813th bar, first visited in 2024. It was too windy and choppy to put our kayaks into Lake Michigan, so we decided to drive down to…

New Holland Brewing – Holland Tap Room
(Downtown, Holland, MI) Scooter’s 1812th bar, first visited in 2024. This brewery has been on my bucket list for a few years, and today our driving route just happened to…

Barley & Vine
(Downtown, Platte City, MO) Scooter’s 1811th bar, first visited in 2024. Half brewery, half wine bar, this place opened (I believe) around the end of last year. I opted for…

Willcott Brewing Company
(Downtown, Leavenworth, KS) Scooter’s 1810th bar, first visited in 2024. As we walked in the door we were stopped by a lady who said “Here’s even more people I don’t…

VFW Post # 56
(Downtown, Leavenworth, KS) Scooter’s 1809th bar, first visited in 2024. We were walking from Fluffy’s to Willcott Brewing when we found ourselves in front of an open VFW that we…
Latest Posts
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#410: Time Out Lounge
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(40 Hwy, Independence, MO) Scooter’s 410th bar, first visited in 2007. I believe we played some Silver Strike here. I think this was also the place with an interesting men’s... -
#409: Secrets Lounge
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(40 Hwy, Independence, MO) Formerly Pizza Hut Scooter’s 409th bar, first visited in 2007. Several minutes after our arrival, the architecturally-observant D noted that he thought this place might have... -
#408: Hot Shots
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(Independence, MO) Scooter’s 408th bar, first visited in 2007. This bar was just a few hundred feet west of Doc Holliday’s but located in Independence. If laws prohibiting smoking in... -
#407: Doc Hollidays Bar & Grill
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(Knobtown, Kansas City, MO) Scooter’s 407th bar, first visited in 2007. Just down the road from Tool Shed, this place is also technically in Kansas City (just barely) and was... -
#406: Tool Shed Cocktail Lounge
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(Knobtown, Kansas City, MO) Scooter’s 406th bar, first visited in 2007. It was my turn to buy so B & D went to use the restroom while I ordered us... -
#405: Edge of Town
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(Blue Springs, MO) Scooter’s 405th bar, first visited in 2007. B had said we’d be carded harder here than any other place, and he was right. All 3 of us... -
#404: Wise Guy’s Bar & Grill
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(Blue Springs, MO) OUT OF BUSINESS Closed in early 2010, the vacant building then burned down on June 30, 2011. Scooter’s 404th bar, first visited in 2007. I’d always thought... -
#403: Firehouse Bar
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(Blue Springs, MO) Scooter’s 403rd bar, first visited in 2007. We played a made-up “Foods You Will Or Will Not Eat” drinking game, then noticed some “timely” fire related decor:... -
#402: Night Shades
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(Blue Springs, MO) Scooter’s 402nd bar, first visited in 2007. This bar had no sign and at the time wasn’t listed in Google, but we found the name on a... -
#401: Stick’s Bar & Grill
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(Blue Springs, MO) Scooter’s 401st bar, first visited in 2007. Pool hall. I can’t remember if we played any pool, but I’m pretty sure we introduced D to Silver Strike... -
#400: Special Kay’s Pub & Grub
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(Blue Springs, MO) Scooter’s 400th bar, first visited in 2007. When we asked for 10-oz draws our bartender asked us why we wanted such small beers. Not wanting to get... -
#399: Twin Stroke Bar & Grill
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(Blue Springs, MO) Scooter’s 399th bar, first visited in 2007. Despite how it looks in the photo, this place was pretty busy and we lucked into the last 3 open... -
#398: Trouser Mouse Bar & Grill
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(Blue Springs, MO) Scooter’s 398th bar, first visited in 2007. Blues, Jazz, Bluegrass, & Rockabilly venue in a strip mall. Several pool tables, too. The coin boxes on the pool... -
#397: Clancy’s Cafe & Pub
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(Blue Springs, MO) Scooter’s 397th bar, first visited in 2007. Lots of beers on tap, but nothing any of us hadn’t had before so we stuck with the basics. Too... -
#396: Gridiron Lounge
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(Downtown, Blue Springs, MO) Scooter’s 396th bar, first visited in 2007. The Gridiron is the end point for one of the world’s shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parades, an annual tradition... -
#395: Ranch House
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(Blue Springs, MO) Scooter’s 395th bar, first visited in 2007. Technically in unincorporated Jackson County, the Ranch House is believed to be the oldest bar in Eastern Jackson County, both... -
#394: Brio Tuscan Grill
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(Country Club Plaza, Kansas City, MO) Scooter’s 394th bar, first visited in 2007. Upscale restaurant lounge 500 Nichols Rd Kansas City, MO 64112US [launch map] (816) 561-1845 Visit Web Site -
#393: Mac’s South KC Jazz & Blues
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(Hickman Mills, Kansas City, MO) Scooter’s 393rd bar, first visited in 2007. Practically in Grandview but technically in Kansas City, Mac’s South KC Jazz & Blues is both a popular... -
#392: McFadden’s
Posted on December 2007 | No Comments(Downtown, Kansas City, MO) Scooter’s 392nd bar, first visited in 2007. Initially positioned itself as an Irish sports bar but it’s really neither. Food is good, service is spotty. Gets... -
#391: 13th Street Bar & Grill
Posted on October 2007 | No Comments(Downtown, Kansas City, MO) Closed, but a new bar has opened in the same location. This became the new location of Tarantino’s, and is now the Power & Light Grille.... -
#390: Paradise Pointe Clubhouse Bar
Posted on October 2007 | No Comments(Paradise Pointe, Smithville, MO) Scooter’s 390th bar, first visited in 2007. Golf course bar 18212 Golf Course Rd Smithville, MO 64089US [launch map] Visit Web Site