Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Bookies back for second year near Comerica Park

With baseball season just around the corner, it never hurts to poke around the ballpark looking for a pre-game and/or post-game beer stop. After all, you can't fit everybody into the Elwood.

I was pleasantly surprised then, when a presumably homeless man who insisted I call him Shorty escorted me from Grand Circus Park to the front door of Bookies, at which time he asked that I help him overcome his diabetes by helping him buy a chicken sandwich. I'm no doctor – I'm just telling you what he said.

Anyway, Bookies moved about a year ago from its former home in the street level of the Book Tower on Washington, when the owners realized that it felt strange to be the only tenant left in a 38-story building. They landed just a few blocks from Comerica, and built a bar that, in just one season, quickly became a Tiger fan favorite. The one-room, high-ceiling bar features a bunch of flat-screen TVs (does this even need to be pointed out any more?) and a great menu. They've also got a rooftop patio. I haven't been up there yet, but I'm going back soon to take a look. Shorty said he'd show me the way.