The other day I was in a think-tank meeting with Stephanie, Susie and Briaun, three of the MBIP think-tank consultants and the subject of armwrestling came up and all of us agreed that it’s kind of a lost sport. You don’t see people armwrestling anymore. Well we decided to change all that by starting a year-long MBIP armwrestling tour. And what better place to do this tour than in the bars in and around Peoria. I thought I’d start challenging bartenders to an armwrestling bout when I go out for my Thursday beers. And we’re starting this year-long tour at Mike’s Tavern, the place that I ended my 365 Bar Crawl! And so let’s go get this armwrestling tour started!
Here we are at Mike’s Tavern, a legendary West Peoria watering hole and the perfect place to start this armwrestling tour!
I think I spy a couple of familiar faces over there at the bar...
It’s Todd and Michelle, looking great as always! I’m happy that they’ll be witness to the very first MBIP vs. Bartender armwrestling bout! And speaking of bartenders...
Here’s the guy I’ll be armwrestling with, Brett, tonight’s bartender at Mike’s! Brett’s a good guy and looks like a tough contender. What we’ve decided we’re going to do for these bouts is that if I win, I get a free beer, if the bartender wins, he can pick two people in the bar that I have to buy a beer for. I have to admit to having a case of the butterflies before this inaugural MBIP vs. Bartender challenge!
Let’s loosen up by taking a walk around the bar.
Here’s Eric, Shawna and Tracey who were relaxing at the far end of the bar.
Mike’s now has gambling machines in the back room where the jukebox used to be.
And there’s a new-fangled TouchTunes jukebox on the wall opposite the bar. Lots of changes have happened in here since the last time I was in here! I’ve stayed away too long!
There’s three of the beers on tap here at Mike’s...
And here’s five more at the other end of the bar. These are new too, at least to me, as I said, I’ve been away from here for too long!
Love this Kramer’s menu behind the bar and the crazed baseball player behind it!
And you’ve gotta love the collection of beer cans and bottles behind the bar that haven’t been dusted since 1975!
I’ve never seen this, it’s Shannon and Roy’s wedding picture from the paper! Great photo of them!
I always have to take a moment to look at this picture of Shannon’s dad, Tony, and pay tribute to the man who owned and ran Mike’s for years. R.I.P. Tony, you’re certainly missed in here!
Here’s Chris and Jen, Chris owns nearby bar, Champs West and we’re overdue for a visit there. Maybe that’ll be the next stop on the armwrestling tour!
Speaking of armwrestling, I haven’t eaten anything since lunch. I need to fuel up for the upcoming bout..
So I got a pile of nuts from the Cup-O-Nuts jar. Once this pile of nuts is eaten...
The armwrestling competition will begin! Here’s Brett and I shaking hands and now the action begins!
It’s Mad Dog Marty vs. Bad-Ass Brett in the first bout of the MBIP vs. Bartender armwrestling tour! Gentlemen, let the armwrestling begin!
Here we go!
I knew I was in trouble from the start! Brett has a vice-like grip and after about five seconds...
I was down for the count! The agony of defeat! Oh well, there’s still 51 weeks to go, so stay tuned to see who wins next week, MBIP or the bartender!
And here’s the champion of this armwrestling bout, Brett with the two people he picked for me to buy beers for, Todd and Michelle! This was a fun start to this armwrestling tour and I think I need to start jerking off...I mean working out to strengthen my arm for next week!
MBIP Armwrestling Tour 2015-2016
Friday, October 23, 2015
MBIP - 0
Bartenders - 1
Mike’s Tavern
626 N. Cedar Ave
West Peoria
Related Posts: Two Beers And Some Nuts From The Nut Hut @ Mike’s Tavern and Lots of Beers @ Champs West (With A Quick Stop At Moxie’s ReSale Boutique).