The Fan Club, affectionately referred to as “The Old McDonald’s” by the League of Liberal Libations, oozes character. Years ago, when I lived only a few blocks away when it was called the Little Leaf Tavern (it was originally a McDonald’s with arches), the gaggle of guys who lived in Oakbrook next door to me would yell over the fence almost nightly, “Brad, ya wanna go to McDonald’s?” On one such night, after way too many beers, neighbor Kevin asked a bunch of drunks at the bar back to the hot tub. As if she were in an episode of “Flavor of Love,” an extremely drunk woman stripped off every piece of clothing, sat on the side of the tub — and then fell headfirst into the mud. After that, we’d make every outing to McDonald’s a scouting mission for the muddy naked chick.



This year, after post-Thanksgiving golf with the League, we stopped off at the Fan Club before poker night. I didn’t see Mud Girl, but I did find plenty of what I’d always enjoyed at this bar — a friendly staff, cheap food, cheap drinks, pool and a million Coors paraphernalia. Being older and wiser, I asked the bartender for a new drink, and he was only too happy to oblige with Lime Creamsicle, a martini glass filled to the sugar/nutmeg rim with Ketel One vodka, Midori, sweet and sour, cream. I’d rather immerse myself in one of these than a hot tub any night.



[Fan Club, 8315 83rd Ave. S.W., Lakewood, 253.584.1290]