A Round For the Bar

In '98-'99, my Dad and I went out to Indianapolis in January for the indoor midget races at the old Hoosierdome. We stayed in the motel at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which had a bar. Being the auto racing history nerd I was, I couldn't wait to have a couple in the room where so many all-time greats had raised glasses and hell. The actual bar was small, maybe 8 seats, and there were 4-5 locals having Friday afternoon drinks. We order drinks, and the bartender starts chatting with us. The locals join in, and a round appears, courtesy of one of the locals. Well, my dad gets the next one. Another local goes, then me. As the bartender walks by I hear him mention something about 'alcohol lottery', I say 'that sounds fun, how do you play?'. He looks at me and says 'you're playing now'.

 

Nice topic. I've always wanted to, but it'd have to be the right time and place. Closest we came was buying a couple next to us who seemed to enjoy good beer a bottle of a rare release (which they then shared with us).

Weak, but hopefully I still have time to pull it off for real.

 

I've always thought this only happened in movies or TV shows. It's a real thing?!?

 

My pockets are far from that deep (@AlcahueteJ ?).

In a reverse observation, I've never been in a bar where someone popped for a full round.

BTW -- "lost art?"

 

Where I live now, in some bars, especially older ones, there's a bell. If you ring the bell you're buying a round.

When I was first visiting Bellingham on vacation, I was few beers deep, and wandered into a little cantina that was attached to a Mexican restaurant. There were about 6-7 locals, another out-of-towner and me. All of a sudden, there's a shot of tequila in front of me. Iask the bartender, and she says one of the regulars had bought. A few minutes later, the other visitor bought a round. Then another local. Then me. By now, it's 10pm and the bar is dead, except for our little group. The bartender says, hey, why don't you guys help me close down, and we'll go to the beach. I pipe up, saying I've got a couple sixers in the rent-a-car. A local runs to the store for more beer, we wipe down tables, put up chairs, take out the garbage, and Joey does her check out.

We went down to Larrabee State park, went around the barrier at the boat launch, and sat out on the rocks until about 4am, then we went out to breakfast. I'm still friends with Joey and a couple others from that night 24 years ago. But some folks a round sometime, maybe magic will happen for you too.

 

At a High School reunion at a suburban motel, I showed up at the last minute without a ticket. I hung out in the bar with a couple of friends. People dropped in and out over a couple of hours. When we wrapped things up with the barkeeper, I was presented with a pretty hefty tab.

 

I've bought a round for a table, but not all of the tables. Who can afford that?

 

I'm still waiting for my first hole in one to cause the celebration. Ain't going to happen at my age.

 

Maybe back when beers were 50 cents, but at 9 bucks, F@#$ no!

 

It was long ago, in a very small bar.

Seriously now, only in situations where drinkers are taking turns. I remember a post open-bar situation at a wedding that I wish I hadn't agreed to. Cheers.

 

Every time I go to a bar and no one else is there, I do.

 

Done this many times.
Also done it when it was an almost empty bar and the couple of other folks in there were people I knew from being regulars.
But a packed bar, no way.

 

I guess that traditionally the groom's parents do this at open bar wedding receptions.

 

No, I’m an unpleasant, sardonic loner. I don’t mix well with others so I have never really frequented bars.

 

My 86 year old buddy (who’s an excellent golfer) bitched because some guy made a hole-in-one and didn’t buy a round for the house. The very next week, my buddy nails one. He walks into the bar and has to shell out $200+ even though he hasn’t taken a drink himself in 20 years!

 

I have a personal rule when I'm at a new bar (that has a chess set) - if they beat me in the first three games, I buy them a beer!