Sara Bozich

Year in Review: 2009

I know this is so, like, yesterday but I feel like 2009 truly zoomed by. I'm excited for 2010 and all it may hold, but last year noted some important changes - both personally for me and for the area in terms of nightlife.

My world changed significantly when my boyfriend and I bought a house, moved, rescued a badass dog and got engaged. I also wrote my first book, a Hershey travel guide, and hosted nearly half a dozen book signings throughout the area.

As for the bar, restaurant and lifestyle scene, we saw quite a few changes. These 20 come in no particular order.

Pints Bar & Grill

In the revolving world of Harrisburg bar names, another old, then new, now new again bar reopened its door this week. Pints Bar & Grill, a Pittsburgh Steelers-themed sports bar, opened up shop at what was Tara Station (which was Tara Station, nee Epic).

Pints is open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, adding from noon to 2 a.m. Sundays during football season.

The menu offers typical sports pub fare, like wings, burgers, etc. The specialty is a 16 oz. NY Strip for $11.95.

Entertainment goes beyond sports on TV:

• Monday is blues night with Blues Society of Central PA
• Wednesday is karaoke night
• Friday night, Pints will host DJs
• Saturday catch live acoustic bands

Check my column this Friday for details about Pints' first Mini-Golf Tournament.

Weekend roundup 4/2

Holy busy first week in April! I'm still trying to decide whether to cover St. Thomas Roasters or the new jazz club in Lancaster for my next column (will depend on who and when I can get to come with me). There is a ton going on this weekend, so let's get to it:

• HYP's First Friday HH is at Tara Station from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Do a walk-through of the city's arts offerings with First Friday. Check out Arts at 510, Mantis, Gallery Blu, Art House Lounge, Art Association of Harrisburg, Susquehanna Art Museum as well as event sponsor, HMAC.
• Catch Nate Myers & the Aces at Suba Friday from 9-11 p.m.
• Tomorrow, ABC's tapping their coffeehouse collaboration, Cornerstone Espresso Stout.
• Weather-permitting - Brewhouse Grille (not Brew City Grille, Mom) has their deck open, plus tomorrow is Firkin' Friday - come in at 4 p.m. for the fresh Troegs Pale Ale - while it lasts.
• Hershey Theatre is showing James Bond classic, Dr. No, on Saturday.
• For "date night" on a budget, try Doc Holliday's on Wednesdays - Dinner for 2 plus a bottle of wine for $29.99. 
• Phillip Arthur's Old Fashioned Ice Cream opens this weekend. Spring hours are from noon to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Weekend Roundup 1/15

Holy crap is it going to be tense this weekend for Pennsylvania football fans. I know where I'm watching, but if you're still looking for just the right spot, the esteemed yet youthful Dan Victor will have a front page story in Sunday's Patriot-News regarding the breakdown of Eagles v. Steelers fans in central Pennsylvania - including the appropriate bar to get your drink on for the game. Here's what else is going down:

• Check out Quizzo tonight at Suba from 7-9 p.m.
• And ... Go early because Suba (which now open Tuesday-Saturday) is featuring a new happy hour special from 5-7 p.m featuring 2-for-1 tapas, half price sangria and other drink specials. Best cocktails in town!
• Flinchy's has live Maine lobsters for $20 on Thursday nights. Don't worry, they cook them before forking them over. Plus, Philly Cheesesteaks are just $5 all weekend long ... if you're into that football team or whatever.
• Jersey Mike-approved and XPN-hosted, check out the free show at ABC tonight featuring The Shakletons, Perkasie and Slimfit.
• A new menu is on tap at Molly Brannigans. Don't forget they're your soccer headquarters. Open at 9 a.m. on Saturday for live games from Europe. 
• Sunday is Chocolatefest!
• On Monday, Cafe Atlantis is hosting a five-course wine dinner. Call 364-5845 for reservations.
• Also, Tara Station is open! Check out today's column for the scoop.

Closed: Tara Station

**UPDATED 1/15/09** Tara Station is OPEN. See my column for details.

**UPDATE** Tara Station is temporarily closed and will reopen under new management next week.

From Jersey Mike: Tara Station has closed.

From their Myspace page:

TARA STATION IS CLOSED ON 4TH STREET PERMANENTLY

Tara Station is no longer under the ownership of Stuart Delves and Brad Straub.
Dave "Dego" Domitrovich, Kerri Staub, Jim "Cleveland" Repka, Frank Lentz, and Scott "Carp" Donohue are also no longer affiliated with the 4th Street location.
The bar has been taken over by the landlord.
For details, come to McGraths Pub on 2nd and Locust Street tonight.
We are all ready there getting completely wasted and telling stories of all the good times.

Tara Station is down but not out, relocation will occur in the near future.

Look for all of the Tara Station crew in a new location to be announced soon!!!

Thank you all for your support and love.

You have all made the last year and a half a rockin' time!

Tara Station 1-Year Anniversary

Stop into Tara Station tonight for their First Birthday Bash. Dress in your best 80s attire!

End of year wrap-up

I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas. Here are a few year-end tidbits about local bar/restaurant happenings in the New Year.

• Blue Bistro & Wine Bar now offers free wifi. Sure, it's not your typical venue for such a thing, but why not finish that column over a glass of Sauvignon Blanc?
• ABC hosts the always-talked-about Benevento/Russo Duo on January 18. Get your tickets now.
• The Coliseum will begin hosting service industry nights on Sundays in January. (By the way, the new web design is an improvement!)
• Jim Norton from the Opie & Anthony Show touches down at Doc Holliday's Comedy Zone on Jan. 4-5.
• Both Spice and Tara Station are slated to renovate during the first month of 2008.
• Did you know Stallions has a new women's bar called Twin Peaks? Check it out.

Also, in today's column, see the new Lancaster Brewing Company in Harrisburg, opening any day now at the old Doc Holliday's on Eisenhower Boulevard.

If you have any other bar/restaurant tips or news, let me know me at sara.bozich@gmail.com.