The Townie Bar Challenge: Blackstone

Blackstone
503 Westbury Drive Suite 1
Iowa City

(I apologize for the awful pic. Next time I will take my tripod.)

Last night, Bobblehead and I checked out Blackstone for the third installment of our Townie Bar Challenge series.

Blackstone — voted the “Best of the Area” bar in 2010 and 2011 — is somewhat of an anomaly since it is located on IC’s eastern corner. It is in a cluster of small commercial buildings and across the street from townhouses — far from the usual dining and drinking scene downtown, along the highways, and in Coralville. However, more power to Blackstone for setting an example and providing food and libations on the mostly residential east side. For decades, the area Blackstone calls home was the site of a famous, family-owned junkyard located on the corner of Rochester and Scott. I cannot remember the name of the family — I am thinking Yoder — but it was annexed in the summer of 2001. I remember that because it was the subject of my first DI story. I kind of miss the junkyard, but suburbanization yields to nothing.

Parking is haphazard and inadequate. Turning onto Middlebury Road from Scott Boulevard, it is immediately evident none of the developers planned ahead (which seems to be law in Iowa City). Cars are parked along the narrow residential streets, spots provided on Westbury Drive, and a little lot adjacent to Scott. As far as I know, there is no direct entrance to Blackstone from the lot along Scott, and the spots on the east side of Westbury seem like an afterthought; it is a row of asphalt along the street curb (one has to hop the curb to park there).

Blackstone is not a townie bar in the traditional sense. I consider it more of a restaurant, but the bar area is separated from the restaurant, a feature Bobblehead really liked, so it is technically a bar out in the boonies. Setting up shop with our notebooks at a high table, we were very eager to see if the place could live up to its Best of the Area status.

I have been to Blackstone a handful of times, mostly to eat in the restaurant area, and always feel underdressed. Staunchly casual with a shirt, jeans, and running shoes, I looked like a bum compared to everyone in their weekend night/business casual attire. Slacks, sweaters, button-down shirts, dark colored Abercrombie jeans. Blackstone is where first dates are taken and the east side’s business class wines and dines with friends. The prices reflect it. However, it is easy to dispel the classiness and just enjoy a couple pints like a proud pleb.

While Bobblehead browsed the cocktail list, I asked our waitress (who appeared immediately after we sat down) for a “John’s Wit.” She looked at me, confused. “John’s Wit?” she said. After a second I corrected myself: “I mean John’s White Ale. Sorry.” She gave me the option of either a 16-ounce or 22-ounce glass; I took the regular pint. As I took notes before my beer came, a cover of “This Charming Man” played on the sound system. Not bad. Unlike at Shakespeare’s, the music was not noticeable; it was in the far background and undistracting. Other than the “This Charming Man” cover, I have no clue what else played while we were there.

Above the bar were four or five flat screen televisions and a number of other TVs were scattered around the bar. They were all tuned to ESPN or ESPN2. To my amusement, Friday Night Fights was on, but, for the most part, I was not paying attention. Bobblehead and I were deep in philosophical conversation. Despite the fact the music was turned down and there was no sound from the TVs, it was quite loud in the bar area.

I want to note that all three bars Bobblehead and I have visited have had TVs. I do not know if there is a bar in the IC area without TVs (there is even at TV at Dave’s Foxhead), but it is something I will keep an eye out for. I like visiting bars to chat, not watch TV.

Along with five rotating taps, Blackstone offers Bud Light, Coors Light, Miller Lite, Bell’s Two Hearted Ale (which I have yet to try), and John’s White Ale. After finishing my “John’s Wit” (which tasted like it was brewed by Peace Tree), I asked our waitress about the five rotating taps. It took her a while to remember and she eventually named four beers and John’s White Ale. I ordered a Rogue Chocolate Stout.

Blackstone’s selection of bottled beers was impressive. In the menu they are separated into their respective styles and each style includes a brief description. Among the styles were “Belgian ales,” “Bavarian hefeweizens,” “Amber & red ales,” and “Lagers.” There were even two selections for “Gluten free.” My only qualm with the list was that Xingu was listed in the “Stouts & black beers” category. Yes, it is technically a black beer, but I do not think it deserves the company of Guinness or Old Rasputin.

Overall: For the most part, our visit to Blackstone was uneventful and nondescript. To me there was nothing spectacular about the place — other than the fact it is frequented by many Best of the Area voters. It is a clean, classy joint on the east side — away from the traffic and Californicated hassle of Coralville and the west side. I can see how it would be voted the area’s best bar, but I think it lacks the character found at many other local establishments. Regardless, though, Blackstone is a nice place.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B.