A Weekend In The Tuscaloosa Bars, Tailgate Party & Stadium During ‘Tennessee Hate Week’
We rolled into town, did our equivalent of the Elephant Stomp through the bars, Rammer Jammered our way through the tailgate party on the Quad and watched Bama beat a heated rival in Bryant-Denny.
PubClub LIVE – the Internet’s only nightlife and entertainment show broadcast over Facebook from bars and other lively locations – spent three days doing a series of live shows from the University of Alabama on the Third Saturday of October. Or, as it is otherwise known in these parts, “Tennessee Hate Week.”
All the videos and photos can be viewed on the PubClub LIVE Facebook page at: facebook.com/PubClubLIVE.
“Wow, I’ve lost my voice,” I said after it was all over, something echoed by co-host Soul Cole and photographer/video photographer Jack Fleming.
You better take a deep breath because here’s what we did and where we did it.
Thursday: Innisfree Pub Downtown Tuscaloosa
Our host “Bama” Jerry Swindle, had set us up to broadcast live from one of the top college bars in all of America, Innisfree Pub in downtown Tuscaloosa.
Not only that, he stocked it with gorgeous and fun girls from the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority house. Well, needless to say things went quite well there, as we spent two hours doing segments featuring interviews with the girls, students, alumni, bar patrons, a trio of adorable bartenders and the owner, Trip.
The highlight was the closing video of us all dancing and singing the “Alabama version” of the most popular song on campus, “Dixieland Delight”. You have GOT to watch this video!
Friday: Lunch At Dreamland & College Nightlife
The next day, we went to Dreamland Ribs where Soul Cole and Jack got their initiation to a “must-do” place to eat in this college town. There, we were joined by world-renowned travel writer and video host Rick Griffin of Midlife Road Trip. Rick taught me – a Dreamland veteran, by the way – a big mistake I was making eating those ribs. That is captured in one of the three videos we posted from Dreamland (we even went into the kitchen!).
From there went into Bryant-Denny Stadium where Bama Jerry showed us the Sky Box we would be in for the game (yes, we were watching the game from a Sky Box!!!), paid homage to Alabama’s National Championship head coaches at the statues outside the stadium and popped into a souvenir store on The Strip where Soul Cole got an Alabama shirt and Jack (an Ohio State fan from Columbus, it must be noted) purchased and then donned a Bama hat.
By this time, Bama Jerry was getting thirsty so we popped into a bar on The Strip called Gallette’s. It’s the closest bar to the stadium and the second we walked in, Soul Cole, Jack and myself took one look at the bartender and said, at the same time, “er, we’re going live RIGHT NOW!
So we did and watch the video to see this girl. Oh my!
For dinner, we went to Chuck’s, Bama Jerry’s favorite restaurant, where we admired several well-dressed and beautiful Alabama girls on the sidewalk as we waited for a table.
Then we went to Five, a quiet lounge, where we did a live shot after I ordered its signature drink, a multiple-rum concoction called a Category 5 as we discussed why you can’t get a Jack Daniels drink in Tuscaloosa during Tennessee Hate Week.
Then it was off to Moe’s BBQ, a rocking downtown bar with a band (and more beautiful Alabama girls), back to Innisfree where we were now rock stars and bypassed the long line around the block and interviewed several more beautiful Alabama girls.
Are you beginning to notice a trend here?
By this time it was 2 a.m., and why stop there, so we went to Gallette’s, a bar on the University Strip. As we were finishing our last beers, someone came up to us and said, “hey, I heard you guys were in town” (hey, news travels fast!). It was the bar’s owner, Derrick, and he invited us back the next night to do the show live on the raging stage after the game. Which we did, of course, and it was awesome! The video and photos – all on the PubClub LIVE Facebook page – speak for themselves. Keep reading for more on this and some eye-popping photos from on stage.
Saturday: Alabama Football Game Day – Tailgating & The Sky Box
Kickoff was not until 8 p.m., and we arrived on campus at 4. We went live from the tailgate party on the Quad several times, doing interviews with fans – I gave Soul Cole and Jack some Alabama football questions to ask people – and talked to more gorgeous girls. I even chatted with the saxophone section of the Million Dollar Band; I am a MDB alumni and this was a cool moment for me.
Bama Jerry has a very social Sky Box, so watching the Tide on the field turned out to be secondary to the socializing. Tho when Tua went down, there was definite concern throughout the entire stadium. At halftime, Bama Jerry escorted us to the north end zone party at a place called The Zone. Game, what game!? There were carving stations and temporary bars all over the place.
On the way back to the Sky Box, we met more beautiful Alabama girls and interviewed them with the game serving as a perfect backdrop. Tho with those girls, it’s doubtful anyone will notice the perfect backdrop. Roll Tide on PubClub LIVE!!!
Saturday Night Post-Game Bar At Gallette’s & Bear Claw
When we walked up to Gallette’s, the door guy said “I know you guys, come on in!,” which made us feel kind of special. Derrick was DJ’ing, and waved us on stage. When he announced “the TV boys from LA are here” over the microphone, the place went nuts.
Suddenly there were a dozen girls dancing on stage with us, guys and girls were reaching for us from the front rows – the scene was like a major concert – and we all felt like big-time rock stars.
We were live for 15 minutes and, not wanting to overstay our welcome, retreated to the bar to catch out collective breaths. Wow what an experience!
Later, we went to Bear Claw, which was slowing down just at closing time. We then hit the streets because, like using that white bread with the sauce at Dreamland BBQ, we wanted to soak in every drop of our time in T-town.
Not A Sunday Fun Day
The next day, we didn’t say much because none of us could talk! And that was just fine with us. Bama Jerry kind of liked that, too, after putting up with us the past three days and nights.
So we shall be back, to the University of Alabama and other college campuses. Jack of Jack Fleming Photography hails from Columbus and vows we will have an equally good time at an Ohio State game.
Until then tho, sore throats and all we only have one things to. say in conclusion: Roll Tide on PubClub LIVE!!!
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