Field Trip: Nubs Pub

 Another winter and another field trip to Nubs Pub at Nubs Nob in Harbor Springs, MI.

 Nubs Pub is notable for its to frills relaxed atmosphere.

 Boyne Highlands in the distance.

 Nubs Nob with Little Traverse Bay in the background.  The best skiing in the Midwest.

 The slopes close at 4:30 after a day of skiing.  Time for some Apres Ski while the groomers head out to set the table for night skiing.  The view from the deck at Nubs Pub.

 Nothing beats a beer in the sun after a long day of skiing.

Field Trip: The Sand Bar Saloon

The Sand Bar is right in the middle of the tourist zone in Saugatuck, MI, surrounded by ice cream parlors and galleries.  That is what makes it stand out.  In this era of smoking bans the Sand Bar reeks of cigarettes.  The blues play almost exclusively on the jukebox, and if you walk by on a weekend night in the summer and look in the window you are sure to see the back side of a blues band.  The only downside is the prevalence of Michigan State memorabilia.

Field Trip: The Mitchell Street Pub, Nubs Pub, The Noggin Room

A ski weekend in Petoskey, Michigan resulted in a flurry of tavern-going.  Up first was the venerable Mitchell Street Pub.  Its one of those peanut shells on the floor places and seems quite popular with the locals.  It was a frigid night and the place was hopping.

Next up was Nubs Pub for some apres ski time.  This place is really hopping from 4pm to 6pm on the winter weekends in the interim between day and night skiing.  The coolest thing was that they were showing a women's world cup ski race on the TV's and people were into it. When Mikaela Shiffrin of the US pulled off the win with an awesome final run the whole place erupted in cheers.

Nubs Pub was primarily serving tap beers from the nearby Petoskey Brewing.  We had several of the Mind's Eye PA.  Good stuff.  I've been driving past this building on my way to ski since I was a kid.

Finally there is the Noggin Room in the basement of the Perry Hotel in downtown Petoskey.  As you can see from the picture, its not your typical hotel bar.  Instead its a nice cozy subterranean den where you can stay warm on a cold northern Michigan night.

The Noggin Room is in the basement of the Perry Hotel.  The historic Perry was built in 1899 and once hosted a 17 year old Earnest Hemingway.  Its a great spot with bay views and walking distance to all the downtown taverns.

Field Trip: Flann O'Brien's, Boston, MA

An Irish bar in Boston with a bartender fresh off the boat from Ireland.  What could be better?

Field Trip: The Bookstore, Wellfleet, MA

Successful tavern night at the Bookstore in Wellfleet.

Field Trip: The Bum Steer, Spearfish, SD

Kicked the Great American Roadtrip off in style with a stop at the Bum Steer, on the edge of the Black Hills.  A can of Crow Peak Brewery's Canyon Cream Ale goes nice with the steak.  For those with more time and want the real thing, a trip up into Spearfish Canyon is reportedly quite scenic.

Owen's pro tip: order the brisket sandwich.

Field Trip: Rockefeller's Raw Bar

Happy hour at Rockefeller's in North Myrtle Beach, SC features 45 cent oysters, a couple of Dos XXs, the infamous Steam Pot (shown above), and the opportunity to dine in the glamorous presence of this lovely lady:

Field Trip: Nubs Pub, Harbor Springs, MI

Nubs Pub. Harbor Springs, MI.

Drinking Hawk Owl watching the snow come down. Gearing up to head back out on the slopes.