Caboose Lounge

Caboose Lounge‎

120 E Atherton Rd #120
Flint, MI‎

(810) 743-8000‎







When to go: Tuesday $1 Domestics
When not to go: When you should be at your daughter's wedding
Baby Powder: Available if you need it
Johnny Vegas: NO!
Credito? No
Urinals: Dual
Outside seating? HELL YES! And you can see trees and weeds!

Theme: Bar

This bar is an extension of the patrons living room. 90% of the bar sat at one long table. There were about 4 "Norm!" moments while we were there. And although none of us were Norm, no one minded a few strangers drinking beers and watching the Wings with them.

I hate taking photos at the bar. This was the worst place to do it. If you were throwing a party and some strange dude started walking around, taking pictures of people and your stuff, you wouldn't like it and you might hit them with a pool stick. I felt like I would be invading these folks home.

This is a small bar. Its about the size of living room in a trailer. When we sat down the other table shifted their table to make a little room for us. They joked about the room and then went back to talking about superior lawnmowers, healthcare, and damned fools.

There was a dark black spot on the television screen. While watching the hockey game we were making jokes about an extra puck on the ice but didn't want to be loud about it. later a regular said "It's hard to watch the game with that damn 2nd puck on the ice."

Small Bar Charms:

• One can lean over from the table to get your beer from the bar
• Tell a joke to your table and the whole bar can enjoy it
• Heats up faster in the winter
• Easier to make new friends
• Tête-à-tête
• Cheapest way buy the bar a round
• Bartender can take entire bars order without moving

Small Bar Suck:

• Farts
• Heats up faster in summer
• One damned fool ruins the bar
• Toilets underneath the sink combos
• People nosing in on my tête-à-tête
• Speaker systems meant for the Palace
• When regular loses his job, profits drop by 33%

C & S Red Ribbon Bar

C & S Red Ribbon Bar

2809 Fenton Rd
Flint, MI 48507

(810) 766-9908

Nights to go: Any
Nights not to go: Not sure yet
Urinal: NO ITS A TROUGH!
Word I didn't know that I didn't know how to spell 10 seconds ago: Trough
Computers Available for paying public: One
Paying Public: Full Bar -1 (freeloader ask for a second after Rob bought him a round)
Is there a house game? Yes
Is it easy? No, its not

Rob and I had many adventures last Saturday night only one I can talk about due to legal concerns. Thats a joke or is it? After a quick round and watching a one man karaoke show at Stumblin' Inn, Rob and I stumbled into Red Ribbon Bar. I had been there once before last spring with my sister-in-law Andrea for a few cold Ones. We shared a pitcher and a dude turned around in his bar stool and stared at me for 45 minutes.

That was my first experience. I figured I was in for similar treatment this trip. This time around I the only staring was coming from me directed towards the HUGE frosted pitcher and frosted glasses. Far too often I am subjected to pitchers fresh out of a hot-hot-hot dishwasher that are still warm to the touch when served with formerly cold beer. Its a bad sitiuation that makes us all uncomfortable and leads to me not coming back. On this night though, things were good. I asked the bartendress about the ring game. She explained the game and I'm going to try to remember exactly what she said, "Turn on the light and put the ring on the hook." Shoot, I can do that. But I didn't. So I drank more beer and listened to the juke box.

Sights to see when traveling through the Red Ribbon Bar.

• Famed sign celebrating its 2nd place finish
• Cooler labeled "Stroh's Light"Urinal trough
• A computer that is connected to THE INTERNET
• Tables
• Properly spelled signs (I love those!)
• Chairs
• Jukebox
• House Game
• Parking
• Beer can collection
• Foods
• Internet
• Video Game
• Cheap Beer when game is on

Stumblin' Inn

Stumblin' Inn

3504 1/2 Fenton Rd
Flint, MI 48507

(810) 239-0930

Nights to go: When you are already drunk and you want to walk home and you live in my house
Nights not to go: Most often
Prices: Depends on who the bartender is
Urinals: Yes
Colors: NO
Awesome sign: Yes
Johnny Vegas in a tube: Yes. There are regulations
Stink like Dorals when you leave: yes
Plastic: Shots are served in it
Plastic: Not accepted for payment

Stumblin' Inn is really close to my house. I go there when there is no beer in the house and I'm in the mood for flat beer. Now I bet you are thinkin' I'm being an ass. I am. This place bugs me every time I go. And for some reason I still go.

I've had a shot and beer there for $3.00. It was an 8 oz. beer chaser with a regular shot of swill. Few weekends later I was considered crazy by the bartender for sugesting anything like that was ever served there. I got 12oz beer and a shot for $5.00. Few weeks ago I got the same thing for $5.75.

Stumblin Inn is full of some characters. First time there I grabbed a pitcher at the bar. Emily grabbed a table for us. Earl and Jeb lean over from their table and tell Emily that she is looks bangin' in her top (in a very nice way and not like a couple of creeps that flirt in pairs). Emily demurely smiles. The dudes suddenly see her MF engagement ring. They, being gentleman in a harsh and changin' world, apologize. They totally respect her for being able to settle down. Its just not for them.

Quite often at Stumblin' Inn there are folks new to drinking and have reverted back to girls at a junior high dance. They tend come into the bar yellin', then run outside screamin', then some other newcomer follows her outside and repeat.

Stumblin' Inn is fun because:

• Prices vary from week to week, day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute, bartender to bartender.
• Urinal Height is non-standard
  
• Colors aren't tolerated
• Live DJ
• Pantera on the juke box
• Drink in the alley
• CNN on the big screen
• Conveniently located on street
• Colloquial Suffixes
  

JW's Music Factory‎

JW's Music Factory‎dress:Removal requested ()Restore requested

617 South Dort Highway
Flint, MI 48503

(810) 234-0020

Nights to go: Every night is karaoke
Nights not to go: When the theater students show-up
Waterfall: Yes
Stage: Yes
Glowing Greek Columns: Yes
Living Room: Yes
Follow Karaoke Rules: No
Kids sing Karaoke: Yes, one day a week

To dudes (Erroll and Chase) were singing sad old country songs when we walked in. It was nice going in here and hearing normal people singing instead of the next American Idol contestants that seem to frequent this place. Since the last time I was in JW's they had added a living room. I wanted to drink there but we wouldn't be able to see the stage well. This is one of the few bars in in Flint with a mildly unique interior.

Karaoke here is good. The sound is fair but you get a stage, lights, and a large library of songs to make up for it. I've been here on nights when the place is absolutely packed and there is no room to move. Go on a Saturday or Friday if you dig that. We were there on a Wednesday and it was a great level of not-so-busy. I'll probably come back but, the service was not so good and the DJ skipped my friend three times in the rotation. That pissed me off but, not until after I sang my songs.



Karaoke Rules for Singers and DJ's
For Singer's:

1. Sing. The words are on the screen. It's easy.
   
2. Don't sing in groups unless there is a part for each person, like a duet or Bohemian Rhapsody.
3. Don't sing Bohemian Rhapsody.
4. Clap and yell and High-5 when people finish singing.
5. Songs to not: "Black Velvet," "Me and Bobby McGee," "You Outta Know," "Picture," "Ice Ice Baby," "Baby Got Back." Some of these are karaoke cliche. Some are hard to sing. They all suck. Very few people do a great job. You know who you are. Most people do a terrible job. Thats probably you.
   
6. If your friend is singing pay attention to him/her.
7. If your husband is singing don't start a conversation with someone at the table about what Kenny Loggins songs were on what movie soundtracks because he's trying to sing a damn love song to you.
8. Jumping in on someone's song is a jerk move. Everyone in the bar likes you a little bit less now. And the singer thinks you should be shot with pig guts.
   
9. Buy the DJ a drink.
10. Be cool.

For DJ's

1. Don't announce "After Jenny is Rob" and then after Jenny say "We need Angie to come up here now."
2. Don't sing every other song. Sure the regulars love it, but you're making a lot of other people not your regulars.
3. If a wedding party comes in and the bride wants to sing a song, let her, don't made the maiden of honor bribe you.
4. Have songbooks by artist and songbooks by song. Have more by the artist than song.
5. Replace broken mics. Sure they are a lot of money, but a broken mic at a karaoke bar is pointless.
6. Don't skip a person in three times in rotation.
7. Be cool.

Terri's Lounge

Terri's Lounge

2605 Fenton Rd

Flint, MI 48507

(810) 235-8941

Overheard: Dude looking for a ride home because he was fresh out of jail for beating ex-wife's friend's ex-boyfriend: "Yeah I got dropped off here after they let me outta jail. I'm gonna need a ride home."
Fascinating fact: Terri is owner's ex daughter-in-law
Spell check: YES!
Bartendress has beautiful white teeth: affirmative
Bicycle parking inside: Yes (but you may need to be VIP)
Need to run from parking lot to building: Which one?
The one on the other side of the street behind the closed-up building: Medium
And the one behind Terri's?: Medium



Even with the bit of amazing jail time eavesdropping we may have gone on a boring night. I've driven by this place a million times and it seems to always be busy. It was between pool leagues and business was slow. We caught it on an off night. Kim the bartender was really nice and tried to recruit us into the pool league. I am a terrible pool player and can't even think of the last time I held a pool stick. Burgers were inexpensive and not to bad. Comparable to a Halo burger 10 minutes before close. Jukebox was loud and had AC/DC and Celine Dion (rad). Think I'll come again on a busier night and see if it gets better. Right now this place is so-so but deserving of a second interview.

In Numbers:

• 78: Days since last shooting (as of 02/25/09)
• 1: Burgers you get for free after buying 1
  
• 12: Pool tables with green felt
• 5: People on a pool team
  
• 0: Pool tables with red felt
• 2: Beers on tap
• 1.50: Dollars (American) it takes to buy domestic bottles on Sunday and Thursday
• 1: Bucket you get when you buy a bucket of Budweiser Light cans
• 6: Number of cans are put into a bucket
• ~400: Ice cubes in bucket
• 0: Ice Cube drinking at Terri's
• 1: Lights Emily almost broke
• 5: Family's favorite alcoholic drinks
• 1 in 4.23: Chance I had to win the 7 spot Club Keno game
• 0: Dollars (American) I won
  

Timothy's Pub

Timothy's Pub
2890 Robert T. Longway Blvd Flint,
MI 48506

(810) 239-0972

Nights not to go: Night before you're performing surgery
in the morning
Nights to go: Monday Men's Night/Wednesday Karaoke
Cute Waitresses: Yes
Bartender wearing a vest: Yes
Need to run from car to building: Low
Fireplace: Hell yes!

Avg Age: 55

If your grandparents are up from Florida and miss playing cards at the club house they should come out to Timothy's. We were there on a Monday night and it was Euchre league night. I've never played Euchre at a bar and I don't know if that is really common. And I didn't see one idiot with sunglasses, a baseball cap, and a welders mask, trying to hide his tells.

Zach (or Zac or Zak?) is a damn good bartender. He said one time, way before he was a bartender there, he punched his uncle in this very same bar (which doesn't mean what you think it does).

Men's Night is also on Mondays. Andy's wife (sorry ladies) said in the past she never knew were to find many eligible bachelors in one place (I totally paraphrased that and she said it much funnier). Which makes me think its not so much for the ladies to go find men, but, for the men to not be found by their ladies. IN-FRIGGIN-GENIUS

In the end, a certain side of me loves Timothy's Pub. Its feels like going to a relatives house on Thanksgiving, if all of your relatives were drunk, they mostly left you alone, and they charged you for dinner. The beer is just left of free, there seems to be a lot going on every night of the week, and it was a comfy place to chug some swill.

• Fact: Timothy's Pub has no graffiti on their bathrooms walls
• Fact: You can get breakfast anytime of the day
  
• Fact: Timothy's Pub is largest consumer of Miller Lite in Genesee County
• Fact: The best night to go is Monday night.
• Fact: The best night to go is Wednesday according to the the waitress that works on Wednesday
• Fact: I hate taking photos in a bar.
• Fact: They have Buzztime trivia and the Texas Hold'em
  
• Fact: You will hear cowbell on a Monday night
• Fact: Even though there is a Men's night, there is too much wood trim and wooden decoration for this to be a gay bar
• Fact: Their website is crap but just informative enough for intrigue
• Fact: Zach recommends the Steak and Onion Sandwich
• Fact: Beer was so cheap that when my wife told me not to spend too much money or get too drunk, I was only able to do one of those.
• Fact: Our generation won't be able to retire and move to Florida. Timothy's Pub will have to do.
• Fact: Leprechauns have giant packages and even bigger fingers.

Soggy Bottom Bar

Soggy Bottom Bar
613 Martin Luther King Ave.
Flint, Michigan 48502

810.239.8058

Nights not to go: Fridays its College Night.
Night to go: Wednesday Karaoke
Cute Bartendress: Yes
Handsome Bartender: Shoot, I don't know
Need to run from car to building: Medium-low

It isn't any coincidence that Soggy Bottom is next to a fancy men's clothing store and a men's hat shoppe. The Soggy Bottom Bar is a classy establishment. They even have a dry erase board in the bathroom so the next guy can improve your dirty jokes and booby pictures. It's the kind of bar that makes you feel like you're not in Flint anymore (hardly any broken stuff). It's got a lot of dark wood, stained glass lamps and a small but stellar draft beer selection. The night we were there they had Bud, Bud Light, Killian's, Guinness, Bud American Ale, Heineken, Bass, and Goose Island 312. They used to have live music on the weekends with a cover charge, too many people packed into tight quarters, and the music was so loud it prevented conversation with the dude trying to hustle you at the pool table. NOTE: They no longer have live music with cover charge.

We recommend that you go in the early part of the week when you can hang out in mostly dark recesses of the bar with the regulars. Although we've avoided this place in the past, on our most recent visit Courtney convinced us (partially by playing the 90's channel on satellite radio) that we have to come back more often. Al B. Sure! to come back.



Drink at Soggy Bottom to:

• Be in cool looking bar.
• Drink from looks-like-more-than-a-pint pints
• Choose from a choice beer selection
• Pay a good price
• Chat up a good looking bartender lady (beer wench is archaic, right?)
• Sit in 98% matching chairs
• Not notice any broken stuff
• Enjoy live entertainment on the weekends
• Enjoy karaoke!
  
• See some dudes get a pizza delivered to the pool table
• To get a lot of head on your mustache

Don't drink at Soggy Bottom if:

• You need to sit more than 4 to a table
• Huge awesome murals with a scary lady freak you out
• You get offended when no one offers you a slice of pizza
• Drinking draft Busch Light was your plan
• Paying a cover is lame to you
  
• You were hoping to get shanked in the parking lot (Durant Hotel is getting renovated and the homeless moved across the street)
• You are afraid of anything north of the river (even if its just 2 blocks)
• You're afraid of monkeys