Sin City Sounds Spotlight - Happy Holidaze-The 12 Bars Of Christmas 2004

#1 - Terrible's Casino
Brookelyn and I met up with Tim and Sheila, and thus began the 12 Bars of Christmas. Brookelyn's goal was to get a person from each place to sign her stomach with indelible marker. She was successful! A bunch of construction workers bought us drinks, but failed to meet us at the Double Down after they went home to get "gussied up."

#2 - Pink Taco
Senor Ducky joins us at the Hard Rock. There's a Christmas party joining on, so we aren't the only weirdos. Tim and Sheila drink tequila shooters. Brooke and I don't cuz we already had not one but two drinks at Terrible's.

#3 - Alexis Park Lounge
The remodeled lounge is kinda hidden down a hallway. A guy is vacuuming as we approach and we hope it isn't closed. Gary the bartender is really sweet and Korby finally catches up to us. We chow down on bowls of pretzels with tremendous zeal. There's a drapery hanging from the ceiling that looks like a giant squid.

#4 - Hamburger Mary's
Toni James wanders in just after we arrive. Drinks are served in huge tumblers, plus it's happy hour. No one tries the Gay Fuel but there is much talk about it.

#5 - The Front Door
Tim and Sheila's friend, Carl(?), joins us as we crash a Christmas party. So does Rebecca. The pre-teen girl at the door gives us all drink tickets, which are promptly revoked. We were also served some appetizers, and they couldn't take those back. Bartender Lindy thanks us for livening things up.

#6 - Free Zone
Here's where things start to get crazy. "Hustler" Mike and his wife, Stella, are waiting when we get there. Brookelyn is happily swinging from the stripper pole. Korby gives the rest of us a quick pole dancing lesson. Jon Lee wanders in. Rebecca wants to start a tap dancing troupe. It's the last happy hour of the night; the drinks are strong and cheap, just like we like 'em.

#7 - Double Down Saloon
Ginger Bruner, Linda Tannenbaum (wife of local weatherman Nate) and Michelle join our band of happy drunks. There's more than a dozen of us now. Someone breaks out the songbook and we all belt out Mojo Nixon's version of "We Three Kings." Toni James signs Brooke's tummy next to the Holiday Ass Juice (the corn makes it special!) sign.

#8 - The Buffalo
Rockstar lawyer Vinny (and a couple others who's names escape me) join the trek. The Buffalo doesn't have a ladies room, but they have lots of Christmas lights to get us in the holiday spirit.

#9 - The Office Bar
The Office Bar is decked out for the holidays and we take over the place. Talitha put on her Christmas cardigan to join us. Jon Lee writes on Brooke's rib cage.

#10 - Hofbrauhaus
When we embarked on our journey, the plan was to only drink in every other bar. Very few of us followed that sage advice, including me. People were giving me shots (including Chris, the nice Hofbrauhaus barkeep), so I kept drinking them, as one tends to do. Therefore, as the evening progressed, I didn't take many pictures or retain many details.

#11 - Hamada
This was a good choice because people really needed some food at this point. However, the sake didn't mix well with everything else, just ask Rebecca.

#12 - New York Cafe
We made it to the end! The bar was packed, the bands were loud, and I have to thank Jon and Alex for looking after me when it was all over. Oh yeah, Gary (last photo) wasn't even with us for the 12 Bars, he just looks like he was.

A huge thanks to everyone who came along!
Next year's 12 Bars Of Christmas should be even better!

Happy Holidaze 2004 Map