Players Pub\n424 S. Walnut St.
Drink: Beer and wine\nTheme: Live music
People call this bar thinking it's named "Playa's Pub," but it's actually "Players Pub," said owner Greg Hill.\n"It's driven by music," he said.\nPlayers Pub features live music every night of the week, with events such as a songwriters' showcase on Mondays, open mic night on Thursdays and a "truly fantastic" blues jam on Tuesdays, Hill said. The music theme has also found its way to the menu where "opening acts" refers to appetizers, "warm ups" to soups and "solos" to side dishes.\nLocal bands such as The Hot Carls have found a home at Players Pub. Band member and 2007 IU graduate Bjorn DelaCruz said The Hot Carls used to play in front of Jiffy Treet on Kirkwood Avenue before the restaurant was torn down.\n"We came to a Thursday open mic night (at Players Pub), and they invited us to play a weekend show," DelaCruz said.\nPlayer's Pub is not a college bar, but anyone over 21 is welcome to come, Hill said.\n"It's a place where people can come in, have dinner and watch a show," he said.
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Fairfax Inn\n8660 S. Fairfax Road
House Drink: The Scorpion\nMusic: Anything from Jay-Z to Kenny Chesney
The staff at the Fairfax Inn tries to make everyone happy, said bartender Jan Ley.\n"We can do slow, fine dining, but if you want me to sling you a beer, I can do that," Ley said.\nThe house drink is the Scorpion, a fruity drink that contains gin, vodka, rum and triple sec, served in plastic sea shells. A large serves four people and costs $15.\n"It's a grandma drink," Ley said. "Your grandma can drink it, then get tipsy."\nThe Fairfax Inn is more than just a bar; it's also a great restaurant, Ley said. It has specials every night, and Thursday's is a 12 oz. New York Strip with fries for $9.95.\n"I don't know where else you're going to find that," Ley said.\nEveryone is nice, and everyone on staff gets along well, Ley said.\n"We have fun here, and I think that's contagious," Ley said. "And we've got kick-ass food."
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Roosters\n3000 S. Walnut St.
House Drink: Cock Shot\nAttractions: Free chicken wings on Thursdays
With 20,000 square feet of space, Roosters is home to six pool tables, a sports room, a dart room and the biggest dance floor in Bloomington, said Michael Oransky, general manager.\n"The bar's big enough to do everything," he said.\nRoosters holds pool and dart tournaments Tuesdays, Latin dance parties Wednesdays and live bands Fridays and Saturdays. On Thursdays, acoustic night, the restaurant offers free chicken wings. Chairs are moved closer to the stage to make acoustic night more personable, Oransky said.\n"Between that and the free chicken wings, people go crazy," Oransky said.\nRoosters wants to compete with other places in town that book live music, Oransky said. It has a $50,000 sound system and plans to book nationally recognized bands in the future.\n"We want to keep getting bigger until we can blow the rest of these places out of the water," Oransky said.
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Port Hole Inn\n8939 E. Southshore Drive\nUnionville, IN 47468
House Drink: "We don't do this Red Bull stuff."\nAttractions: IU Police Department Capt. Jerry Minger performing with the band Justin Case
The Port Hole Inn has the best catfish dinners in Indiana, and probably the Midwest, said owner Richard Hollcraft.\n"You don't have to take my word for it," Hollcraft said. "Coach Knight used to like it."\n"And Larry Bird still does," said Richard's wife Karen Hollcraft.\nOther Hoosier celebrities such as John Mellencamp and the late IU football coach Terry Hoeppner have visited the Port Hole, Karen said.\nThe Port Hole Inn features live bands on weekends, and IU Police Department Capt. Jerry Minger will play Friday, Richard said. \nMinger performs in a four-person band named Justin Case. The band was formed nearly 20 years ago, Richard said. Minger can do an excellent Willie Nelson impression, Karen added.\n"If you close your eyes, you'd think it's him," she said.\nThe Port Hole Inn has existed since the 1950s and is the only bar and restaurant on Lake Lemon. The Hollcrafts have owned the Port Hole Inn for 12 years, but they have recently put "the local legend" up for sale.\n"That's really what the legend is," Richard said.
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The Office Lounge\n3900 E. Third St.
Attractions: Packaged liquor sold until 3 a.m.
Referred to as "World Famous" by its advertising, The Office Lounge is one of Bloomington's oldest bars, said owner Larry Arthur.\n"It's a great tavern or I would've gotten rid of it a long time ago," he said.\nThanks to its longevity, The Office Lounge is the only tavern in the neighborhood with a packaged-liquor store open until 3 a.m., Arthur said. Due to the age of the place, the liquor license allows for package sales, even on Saturday, until 3 a.m.\nPool is free from 8 p.m. to close Monday through Thursday, there's karaoke Thursday through Saturday, and food is sold until close.\nThere's never been a cover charge, and Arthur said there never will be.\n"If I can't make it on booze and food, I just need to go out of business," Arthur said.\nArthur said The Office Lounge is a "tavern," but he won't kick you out if you refer to it as a bar.\n"Call it anything you want; just come in and spend your money," Arthur said.
