Cowboys closing January 20 - any memories?

[The Goon]

From an opinion piece I read in yesterday's Herald, Cowboys will be closing down after January 20. The article mentioning another Cowboys opening, but it doesn't say where or when.

Sure, yeah, it's an awful place. Still, we all have memories (what we can remember) in that place. I've had people in Toronto ask me all about Cowboys. And I can't think of any other bar in town where I've made out with a co-worker or caught an impromptu wet t-shirt contest.

I haven't been there in a year (when I went to see Glass Tiger and Honeymoon Suite ), but I'm thinking of getting some friends together in the next couple of weeks to buy an overpriced beer there from an overchested bartender. Adios, Cowboys!

[Mike Oxlong]

$0.25 Draft night was a ritual for us there for a while.

That place isn't for everyone but it has lots of good scenery and plenty of friendly ladies. I have made a few good "friends" there over the years.

I heard a rumour that they are going to move it where "Metro" used to be down by Chinook.

[Nufy]

25 CENT DRAFT NIGHT...... (Insert Random date here....)

And the most wicked hangover afterwards...

I called my boss and plain told him..."I'm way too hungover to come in...."

He said....OK see you on Monday...............

[habernac]

Motorhead live in concert was a highlight there. I also remember how much I disliked their staff for the most part. Rude and ignorant are words that are much too nice for the doormen at that place.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Ask Simmer2 his feelings on this news.

[Red Mile Style]

Ah yes, the 25 cent draft and the green glow it made under the blacklight.

I will say this: during Stampede, helluva good time. I remember my buddies and I went there and they had the big tent set up and Shaggy was performing. My buddy was on the Stampede commitee and we faked our way backstage with the passes. The dude is a creep.

Ah Cowboys...

[Burninator]

I've heard that is moving to that parking lot across 9th, can't confirm that though.

I've had some good times there on draft night. Trying to stack all of our empty cups to the ceiling on the second level. Almost made it, only to have the bartender take them down the first time saying they were going to fall, which they did the second time causing cups to scatter everywhere, third attempt time didn't make it nearly as high as the beer had overcome us.

[RedHot25]

Ha, what a place.

A couple of lovely memories....

Watching a friend, while in school, tumble down one of the flight of stairs, with her drink in hand. She hit the bottom (she turned out to be ok), and then proceeded to get up, raise the class and say "hey, its ok its ok....there's still some in there! there's still some in there, its alright!" (she was referring to her drink). Amazing tumble and she just popped back up, concerned over her drink (likely a 25 cent-er).

Midget wrestling, and white trash nights. Ha...man oh man, too funny. (I got invited to both by a friend, just the spectacle is enough...).

And yup habernac, not me specifically, but I know plenty of bouncer/doormen stories that aren't the best at that place.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Ah the memories....
Almost never being allowed in and the manager telling one my friends "No Pak*s in here"

Good times, good times

[troutman]

Good riddance.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Ah the memories....
Almost never being allowed in and the manager telling one my friends "No Pak*s in here"

Good times, good times

Yup, have heard that in similar situations. A friend almost got denied once because a apparently a bouncer told her that she was "too brown". What a joke....(refering to the bar). (actually, the same one that took the tumble in...we were already in, she came in later with that story).

From that, all the way to ... a friend's friend being denied entrance because of her "skater shoes"...while three girls immediately behind, get let in - you guessed it, with skater shoes on and wearing pretty shoddy clothing.

[Cowperson]

There was an article in either the Globe & Mail, National Post or Herald the other day about this, saying Cowboys is one of those rare bars that has become legendary outside its local area . . . . the writer citing Sports Illustrated referencing it one time as an advantage to the Flames as one example.

Apparently, the author would pop up around North America, say he was from Calgary and people would ask him if he'd been to "Cowboys."

If someone has the link to that story it would fit nicely in this thread.

I was invited to a lot of Stampede parties there but never went.

In fact, never set foot in the place.

Cowperson

[SeeGeeWhy]

I am kinda with Troutman on this one. There are many more bars I'd rather spend my time and money at...

Not to say that it wasn't a city "landmark" and that many crackers enjoyed it while it lasted.

[The Goon]

I think it was that same Herald article I read in yesterday's paper, Cowperson.

I really did enjoy the tent over the back parking lot during Stampede.

I'll also miss the original Ceili's, as that rooftop patio is just amazing. The new Ceili's just doesn't measure up.

[TurnedTheCorner]

I've never darkened the doors of that pit. I never will. Good riddance.

[kermitology]

I don't have many pleasant memories of that place, but one that I always remember and laugh at is Frosh Week in like 2002. I was in the upstairs part of the place and fell and smacked my head on the couch they had up there. Don't remember much after that until my buddy Shak had me over his shoulder carrying me out. I wondered why I could see sky and the Cowboy's sign. He then threw me in his car and we hit a pot hole and I smacked my head again and don't remember anything else from that night.

I wasn't even severely intoxicated.

[The Goon]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

I've never darkened the doors of that pit. I never will. Good riddance.

That's quite an emotional reaction for a place you've never been to.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Apparently they are moving it to the Office Depot (Not Staples) that is on the NW side of downtown. At least that is what I heard.

As for memories, I've got some pretty good ones, and most of them involve being with one of the rugby teams I've been involved with over the last few years.

More than one occasion going with 30 dudes dressed as chicks,
Judging more than one bikini contest (I think it was Hawaiian Tropics, I can't be sure),
Getting loaded for free before amature strip night (the team was stripping), and too many Rugby Cabs to count.

I used to hate going there with just a few people and as such only did it a few times, but when you're going out in a group of 30 or more, there are few places better.

[Igottago]

The place is a ****hole. Been in once or twice, the only somewhat interesting memory I have is having drinks and a conversation with Jeff Cowan several years back. This was a night after the Flames were absolutely blown out by someone, I can't remember who, so we talked about how badly the team was struggling.

Other than that, as others have said, all I remember of the place is not getting in because of my ethnicity. A Calgary landmark indeed.

[SpitFire40]

The first Snoop Dogg concert during the Stampede inside the hot ass tent. Close enough to smell the weed stench right off of Snoop.

Good times, not to mention incredibly hot women grinding my leg without even saying a word... but hey, I ain't gonna complain. Go to town!