The Champaign Center Partnership continued its 13 Thursdays campaign last week with an adult pub crawl in the heart of campustown. For $20 per person, participants received three drink vouchers to be used that evening (one at each of the three bars visited: Legends, Murphy’s, and Firehaus), and a meal voucher which could be used during the event or redeemed at a later time.
“Our goal with the Pub Tour was to introduce the community to these great pubs when it’s fairly quiet on campus,” said Erin Lippitz, Executive Director of the Champaign Center Partnership. “We had quite a few participants tell us they hadn’t visited campus in years and were impressed by the new developments they saw.”
Upon the conclusion of the tour, attendees were treated to a street corner concert performance by the New Riders of the Golden Maize.
Below, Erin Lippitz hosts the 13 Thursdays event.
Legends, located at 522 E. Green Street, was the first stop. Manager Tracey Herbert likes to think of his establishment as “the only bar on campus that isn’t a campus bar.” Opened in 1998, Legends’ signature drinks are the Neon 99 and the Legends Sunrise.
General Manager Tracey Herbert
Legends Sunrise
Legends Nacho Supreme
Murphy’s Pub, just a block away at 604 E. Green Street, was the next stop. Manager Robert Pinto states Murphy’s is a great place to bring friends. Patrons are able to “come in, sit down, and have a conversation they can hear.” Pinto also promises that Guiness will always be served in a glass. Always. Murphy’s proudly sports 25 different draft beers and a variety of whiskeys.
Manager Robert Pinto and Bartender Nicole Gasparich
Irish Nachos
The final stop of the tour was at Firehaus, located at 708 S. 6th Street. General Manager Emily Cain has been overseeing the establishment since 2006. She is proud that Firehaus is an Official Blackhawks Bar (as are Legends and Murphy’s), and she is pleased that many of the U of I staff stop in during the week for lunch. Cain strives to make Firehaus a comfortable environment not only for University students and staff, but the “townies” as well.
Managers Emily Cain and Justin Gilles
The Jake Burger
Upon conclusion of the tour, local band Riders of the Golden Maize performed on the corner of Sixth and John for patrons and passers-by alike.
All three establishments have specials running in conjunction with the 13 Thursdays campaign. To learn about these specials and upcoming 13 Thursdays events, please visit the Champaign Center Partnership website for more information.
All photos by Scott Wells.