Where do I park?

We have decided to dedicate some time to a question we get asked quite a lot: where do I park?

The answer to this question is, it depends on the night.  On weeknights, we recommend parking on Lapham Boulevard.  There are generally plenty of spaces next to Bryant’s or across the street. 

On a weekend, the Lapham Boulevard spaces fill up fast.  Most people’s first instinct is to drive down 9^th to look for parking.  This is not the best idea.  Many residents of this neighborhood don’t have off-street parking (garages weren’t that popular in the 1890s), so they will be competing with you for the limited number of parking spaces.  Plus, 9^th street is strangely dark and hard to navigate. 

Instead, head ½ block south of Bryant’s on 9^th Street.  There is an amazing, huge, well-lit parking lot that is owned by the city.  There are over 250 parking spots in this lot.  Park here and walk the ½ block-

it is the easiest place to park.

The history of this parking lot is interesting for those who remember when the city wanted to turn Mitchell Street in to a walking mall, as was popular in the 1970s when suburban malls were rapidly becoming the preferred shopping centers.  The idea was to close off main urban shopping streets and raze the buildings adjacent to the shopping street to create large parking lots that would appeal to shoppers.  The results were not good and most of the stores on Mitchell Street closed during the 1980s, leaving only the remnants of a bad idea.  The last department store on Mitchell to close was Goldmann's Department Store, which used this lot until 2007 when it finally closed its doors (on a side note, as of 11/9/2013, the Goldmann's building is for sale- you should buy it and help us bring back retro Mitchell Street!).   

We hope that someday shoppers will again flood to Mitchell Street for Christmas Shopping and holiday cheer, but for now there are plenty of parking spaces for you and all your friends!

November Cocktail of the Month: The Great Pumpkin Drink

Here at Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge, November always marks the beginning of our favorite time of the year- the Holiday Season.  The fall crisp air, the festive parties, and (of course) the cocktails.

The Great Pumpkin Ice Cream Drink
Only $5 during Old Fashioned
Cocktail Hour!

This is the time of year we start moving away from the clear spirits of summer in to the dark spirits of winter.  ‘Tis the season of Whiskey, Brandy, and Calvados, mixed with amaros and spices most commonly associated with winter dishes and desserts.  Who doesn’t like the flavors of cinnamon, cardamom, and clove on a cold snowy day? 

The most exciting holiday drinking tradition is when we take these traditional flavors and mix them with ice cream, creating the most delicious Wisconsin pastime- the ice cream drink.  During the winter months grasshoppers, brandy alexanders, and cherry benjamins become as popular as popular as scarves, hats, and those funny little furry boots. 

For our November Cocktail of the Month, we have decided to go 100% in to the Holiday Season and offer our Great Pumpkin Ice Cream Drink for a very special price during Old Fashioned Cocktail Hour.  No subtlety here- just pure pumpkin goodness, ginger, and spices mixed with the finest ice cream.  And as always we top our ice cream drinks are topped with homemade whipped cream. 

Stop in for Old Fashioned Cocktail Hour, from 5-9 Tuesday through Thursday to get our small Pumpkin Ice Cream drink for only $5.  Ice cream not your thing?  We have over 45 other cocktails on special for half price.