Red Bones is back in business

Red Bones Den, the legendary tavern on the northside of the park on the northside has reopened on 4/1 after a hiatus since last summer.

Red Bone has owned this joint since before I was born in 1972. He is originally from Arkansas and opened up the tavern at the tender age of 26, and by the time he got it open he had only the change in his pocket. From what he says, he had to run out to the store to get change for his customers on the first day of business. I would have loved to been at that party.

Red Bone has a country house he shares with his lady Diane. She is a dignified and wonderful woman. The man is also very smooth and has the classic old school tavernkeeper vibe, but with far more charmed and relaxed hustle. And you know the man is both a little bit country and a little bit city when he gets his Lexus stuck in the mud out in his country compound. It sank as it sat over the winter and now has to be dug out. He loves his country compound over in Illinois. He has an interesting nickname for his "headquarters" out there and loves it when others refer to his old-fashioned nickname for the HQ. The man owns damn near half the county he is in out in the country.

The place is perfect for the late afternoon sip. That is the best time of day for a drink. It settles one's soul after a day of travail. The amateurs do not drink at that time of the day, and there is a calm at the corner tavern where the people can really connect without distraction. So the next time you are thirsty and rolling through the north side, consider making a pit stop at Red Bones. It is at Vandeventer and Kossuth, just on the north side of Fairgrounds.

There is much love and respect coming from the owner of the tavern on the southside of the park on the southside to the owner of the tavern on the northside of the park on the northside. I hope to someday still be at this game here at the Royale 35 years after starting up the Royale.

Check a fine review here. I heisted the image above from skip to tha lou. I had another pic, but I can't get it off the camera.