DOWNRIVER PIT STOP

   I cheated on Tony last week.

   The night before Thanksgiving, the much touted “BIGGEST BAR NIGHT OF THE YEAR” found all quiet on the Bug Juice front.  Anthony and I figured it was best not to be bleary eyed and gassy on Thanksgiving, so we decided that the Wednesday before would be a good time to shut it down (we also decided against going out on the Friday after for reasons still not clear to me at this time).

   I sat in our tiny kitchen Wednesday night and suggested to my hard working/hard cooking wife that getting out of the house, even for a little bit, would be a good idea.  I suggested a coffee and pastry at City Brew in Allen Park.  But Andrea, God bless her, had a little something harder than coffee in mind.

   My son Max had been touting Downriver Pit Stop as a good spot to get a drink.  His bar buddy, Natasha moved to this joint from Dunleavy’s and was now patrolling behind the bar with family members.  Max also said he and friends were heading there on THE BIGGEST BAR NIGHT OF THE YEAR.  

   Andrea thought that this was a good recommendation and that we should call Max and let him know we would be stopping in at Downriver Pit Stop for a drink.  I was not so sure.  I liked the idea of getting a drink.  I liked the idea of checking out Downriver Pit Stop.  I wasn’t so keen on being there with with Max and his cronies.  What would we talk about?  They’re not interested in  U-M football or 70’s nostalgia and I’m not interested in texting or television shows with zombies.  In my mind, pick another bar. 

   So off we went to Downriver Pit Stop.

   Pit Stop is easy to find on the southwest corner of Allen and Goddard Road in Taylor.  Downriver-ites may remember this space as Gering’s, a long time local beer and burger joint.  The bar does not look any different on the outside, but once inside my wife and I noticed a few changes.

   While hard to pinpoint exactly, the interior had a generally cleaner and more spiffy appearance.  The lighting appeared to be enhanced, but not to the point of being obnoxious (like a vampire, I crave dark).   A long bar dominated one wall, a variety of booths and tables surrounding, pool table in the rear.  There is a small dance floor in one corner with a tight area for band, DJ, or in tonight’s case, karaoke.  Cozy.

   Andrea and I immediately spotted Max with his friends Luke, Sheila and Jay sitting at a four person booth in the corner.  We greeted the kids, saw that there was no place for us to sit either at their booth or nearby and told them that we would find a spot on the other side of the pub.  Sitting in a tavern twenty yards away from my oldest son and not drinking with him felt strange. 

   The strangeness went away in a hurry.  I would get some alone time with my beautiful wife, something I don’t get enough of (I must do better).  I sometimes forget that she is a great audience for my humor (?) and that we can talk about lots of stuff besides the kids and home.  Commenting on each karaoke performance was big fun and we marveled at their guts.    

   Pit Stop had two waitresses working the room and one stopped by immediately and took our drink order.  It was a little tough to get her to stop by a second time and we resorted to asking her partner for help.  After that it was smooth drinking.  During the course of our stay, I had three beers and Wife had one plus a mixed drink.  Including tips, this cost a measly $20 with a couple of singles left over.

   For diversion and conversation, you can’t beat karaoke.  There was a steady stream of singers with the emphasis on country.  But, in the course of the night we heard Adele, No Doubt and The Allman Brothers.  One long haired, scarf wearing dandy rocked the mic with Sweet’s Ballroom Blitz, complete with high pitched accents.  Very brave.

   Andrea noticed that the crowd was demonstratively supportive of all singers.  They would high five them upon leaving the stage, call out personal congratulations and in the case of the Gwen Stefani impersonator, dance enthusiastically to their efforts.  I, on the other hand, noticed that the crowd was pure downriver.  Dressed casually, lots of bald heads and facial hair (mostly on the men), and loud. 

   Periodically, Max and Luke would stop by our booth, pull up a chair and talk (I like that the young ‘uns paid tribute to their elders by coming to our table).  Max was keenly interested in knowing how much we liked his recommendation, as if he had a personal stake in the joint (probably his affection for Natasha).  Luke talked Thanksgiving and his role in the cooking (who knew the kid specialized in deviled eggs?).

   It is tough to recommend a place based on the activities of THE BIGGEST BAR NIGHT OF THE YEAR, but I have a good feeling about Downriver Pit Stop.  If you like a neighborhood vibe, good prices and all things downriver, give it a try.  As an aside, I understand that the food is good and a bit more ambitious than the norm.

Cheers! Jim

PS  Andrea and I snuggled together on the same side of the booth, and after a couple of drinks, she affectionately rubbed my bald head.  Eh tu, Tony ?