Tooey's Off Colfax

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Nightlife - Bars & Clubs

A hop and a skip off Colfax, a little nook called Tooey’s rests behind a make-shift patio and tin buckets stuffed with burnt butts. Although not much to look at from the outside, enter my dear, and let Tooey’s spice up a regular weekday night with city-gritty charm, Family Guy pin ball, (free) pool and a beanbag toss.

Located at 1521 Marion St, right behind Kinga’s, this modest venue has something for everyone save keg-standing frat boys or braless, miniskirt clad cheerleaders. Tooey’s opens at 2pm seven days a week for day drinkers and lushes alike. Free pool deserves another mention, and most nights of the week the crowd is thin enough so there isn’t a long wait, if one at all.

As for the patrons, they add the character. If a town is not but for it’s people, a bar is not but for its drinkers. A balanced mix of Colfax Crawlers, locals, urban hipsters, tattoo etched fellows adorned with forehead and lebray piercings, and booze slingers from around the ‘hood occupy the dozen barstools, plush modern sofas and a big, comfy couch facing the big screen where you can watch movies, play old school Nintendo or head bob to the slew of different bands and DJs mixing for the tiny masses.

DJs play every Wednesday where those who dig the beat can depend on the usual tastefully electronic mix without having to fight the volume to order a drink. As for bands, Tooey’s is by far the best venue to take in an intimate, modest show as there is no stage, so the band and the fan remain on the same level. Also, being that it is just a bar, there’s no pretentious sound system raping your ears and drowning out lyrics.

The bar is simple, but satisfying - basically just a beer and booze bar, lacking any fancy-pants cocktails or martinis. Honestly, the pomegranate muddled mojito drinkers aren’t welcome here. The bartenders put the drinks in your hand and the money in the register, omitting all the pleasantries and social palaver. The beer is cheap and the drinks are stiff.

And what else would make your local watering hole “sui generis” than depicting the extraordinary talents of artists local. The exposed brick walls are adorned with passion painted canvases, switching just often enough to keep fresh but remaining long enough to grab your buddies for a group critique. It's small touch that pushes Tooey’s a step above just another Colfax hole-in-the-wall.

No food is served but feel free to bring your own. The block isn’t short on cuisine providers. There is Papa Johns, Fat Jacks, Famous Pizza and Silver Mines all within walking distance.

So adorn yourself with Converse, skinny jeans and a scarf, polish your piercing and moisturize your tattoos. Get your drink and city culture on at this diamond in the rough.