The Beginning

When I began the process of writing this book last year, I had no idea where to begin. I have learned a lot between now and then. It was suggested that I start a blog on the subject to see if there is any interest out there. After retiring from the federal government in 2006, I had way too much time on my hands. I wanted to do something that was interesting and informative at the same time while having fun in the process. I loved photography, but really didn't have the time to really explore the interest. The first thing I did was buy an expensive, professional DSLR camera and I went out and took pictures, mostly of landscape and my son's baseball games.

I had an idea early in 2007 to write about my favorite bars and taverns. Since my wife and I traveled the country a lot with her job, I have been to a number of really cool bars, some dives and others that had rich histories that dated back to the late 1800's. So with camera in tow, I began my tour of bars and taverns in Arizona in August-October 2007. The intention was to write a book about my favorite bars, which totaled about 25 at the time, in Arizona, Colorado and Ohio (Where I currently live).

The first bar I visited in Arizona led me down a path that would soon lead this project way out of control. You see, as I was taking pictures in the first establishment someone came up to me and asked if I was doing a story about the bar for the paper or a magazine? When I told him I was writing a book about my favorite bars and taverns his eyes lit up and said what a great idea it was and if I like the place I was photographing, he had more suggestions for me. It was like this at every place I went to! Before I knew it, my list of 25 had grown to over 40 in less than 2 weeks of starting out on this journey. I now have over 80 bars, taverns, pubs, saloons, micro pubs and microbreweries under my belt with literally an endless number to do!

In future entries, I will include a sample chapter and share photographs of some of the most interesting bars. I think what I am trying to do here is to get people to start thinking back to a time when the corner bar or tavern was a meeting place, your place. A place where no one judged you and you can have friendly and sometimes not so friendly discussions with friends or other patrons in the bar. As I point out in the book, bars should not be looked at as just drinking places but as an American institution full of memories, history, laughter, love and even sorrow. We have toasted happy events in bars and have also drowned our sorrows. Bars are the embodiment of Americana and I hope you all think so as well.

I will end this post for now with two things to note.

• The picture of me in my profile was taken at the Royal Oaks in Youngstown, Ohio. At least 6 generations of my family have drank in that bar and it holds a lot of memories for me.
• The working title of the book is: On and Off the Beaten Path. The Hitchhikers Guide to Bars, Taverns, Pubs, Saloons, Micro Pubs and Micro Breweries in America.