Westbound Boarder

Just when we thought that we had seen it all in the Vail Village we were introduced to the Steve Meyer show this year, and thank goodness we were! It takes place at ‘The Club’ (as we mentioned in our Vail review last year, this bar is on Bridge Street and is our favorite bar in the village and worry not because this place is the farthest thing from a ‘club’- rather a club mockery) and if you are lucky enough to be in the Vail Village on a Wednesday or Saturday night during the winter season you can witness the insanity that is Steve Meyer.

Before I start though I should admit that I don’t traditionally care for comedy shows and am easily bored by them. So I really was not especially excited about attending the Steve Meyer ‘Comedy Show’ as I had my opinion about what a comedy show is and what it was going to be like. The Steve Meyer Show doesn’t feel like a comedy show per se- rather a gathering of friends shooting the s#it - it is intimate and personal and such a great time.

"The Good Times Man"

With all of that said, I am not exactly sure if words can do the ‘good times man’ justice. Steve Meyer is an experienced musician who has turned his plethora of original songs and cover pieces into a 2.5 hour comedy show.  He picks his own victims out of the crowd and spares no one in the process. If you are a women with perky ‘tickets’ or a man in a fedora, consider yourself fresh meat and expect to be incorporated into the show. Don’t fret about it though - Steve will break the ice by challenging you to a drink race (you take the tequila and Steve will chug the beer and somehow he finishes first, this guy is not only a professional musician…). He finds the rowdy ones and invites them on the stage, he finds the rich ones and has them buy the bar a round and he finds the ones hiding behind their friends and challenges them to a shot on stage.

Andrea and I with "Big Tickets" lady

If the excessive drinking is not enough for you, well, then good…because his jokes are vulgar, offensive, inappropriate and all around hilarious. He is nonstop action between the shots (which he shares), the spotlight he puts you under (literally) and the mockery he makes out of each person in the audience. The Steve Meyer show really is such a good time, do not go all the way to Vail, CO without fitting him in. I promise you, you will NOT regret it (although maybe your pride will - see for your self check out our full album on flickr).

Andrea taking shots with Steve

Shots with a stranger, thanks to Steve

Alright everyone, listen carefully. As our marvelous trip to Vail, CO (and yes, it really is like nothing on earth), has come to an end, I am here to tell you about the village hot spots and our personal favorites. So first things first, you go to Vail to snowboard, and as you already know from Andrea’s Vail Resort Review, this mountain is legit.  So I am going to tell you about where to eat, drink and even shop. You’re going to be tired after a long days riding so we recommend the following (before and after the hill) destinations…

Resturants: We ate at several different places during our trip to Vail, but a few places stood out among the rest, both for their food and drink and their class.

• The French Café: Start your day at the French Café. You can find this authentic gem in Lionshead Village where you’re bound to pick a breakfast that will keep you fueled through your lunch hour. With bona fide pastries such as hearty eggs, potatoes, meat and toast platters, you really can’t go wrong with any selection on their menu. Oh! An added bonus (for those of you who are bilingual), you can even order in French. Parlez-vous français?
• Garfinkels: After a long day on the hill you must ride straight down the Lionshead Village where you will find Garfinkel’s Restaurant and Bar. This cornerstone sits at the base of the Eagle Bahn Express Gondola and offers awesome food and drink specials nearly every day of the week. This is not just a regular restaurant though. Garfinkel’s offers a chill ski-town bar/grill atmosphere (the boys loved this place!), with a quite sizeable sunny deck where you can enjoy a frosty beverage while admiring at your latest triumph (the Rocky Mountains that is). As those who work at Garf’s put it, “seasons pass by, memories are created, good times are had, and lifelong friends are made. The walls inside tell the stories of the past with photos of patrons, athletes, and events gone by. You could be one of them.” Nothing short of a fantastic time is guaranteed when you choose Garf’s as your après ski destination; believe me.  Garfinkel’s is packed nearly every hour of the day, for a very good reason.
• Centre V: So Garf’s sounds a little too chill and laid-back for you? Or you just want to class up your Vail experience? Worry not. Leave the guys at Garf’s and make your way (about a 1 minute walk from Garf’s) over to Centre V. This place offers a killer happy hour (we recommend the Arabelle Martini or the Hot Butter Nut), and they even offer complementary pomme frites (French fries)! You can enjoy the beautiful atmosphere in their oh-so-comfortable spacious booths all the while listening to relaxing (but not too loud) live music. Centre V is absolutely 5 stars!

Nightlife: So now that you know where to fuel up before and after conquering the Rockies, it’s time to discover the night life in the Vail Village. After experiencing Vail Village with the locals, four nights in a row, Andrea and I narrowed down our night time destinations to our two favorites - The Club (not so much a ‘club’) and Whiskey Jack’s (previously known as ‘Ski Bar’).

• The Club: Don’t let the name ‘The Club’ deceive you. This place is the farthest thing from a ‘club.’ Come here for some hilarious post ski entertainment, enjoy live cover bands that comically harass the crowd, and prepare yourself for all kinds of rowdiness! Wear whatever your heart desires (as many are still in their ski gear), bring $5 for the cover on Saturday nights and hike on over to Bridge Street to find your self at The Club.
• Whiskey Jack’s: Another favorite of the trip was Whiskey Jack’s. With free beer for the locals on Thursdays (but who’s really asking if you’re local?), and themed nights five days a week, you’re bound to have a great time at this recently remodeled establishment. You will find snowboard memorabilia adorning each wall, 5 flat screen TV’s, a snow machine, an amature stripper pole, a pool table and even a chalkboard to write about your most recent powder sesh.

Enjoy these two late night local hot spots and don’t leave them without a shot of rumplemints (the bartender will know what you’re asking for - it’s a local favorite).  OH! And before you head home, a stop at Vendetta’s Pizza is a requirement!  But don’t let the seemingly long lines deter you; it’s worth it. Your delicious made to order (that’s right, you pick your toppings) late night pizza will save you from that AM hangover so you can yet again conquer the Rockies in the morning.

So hit these aforementioned hot spots and your trip to Vail will surely be a success. Have you already been to Vail before? Let us know what your favorite spots were by leaving us a comment so everyone can be prepared for their next trip to heaven on earth!  Still haven’t gotten enough of Vail? Stay tuned for our review on the largest hillside Burton Shop, centrally located in Vail’s Lionshead Village.