Sunday, November 1st 2009
This is it
By Jonathan Warobick
Nestled away mid-block between Jefferson and Milwaukee streets downtown lies the oldest, and one of the most unique bars in the city, if you can find it! This Is It! must be experienced to be understood. The place is a cozy, albeit well-known, little secret. There is no signage outside the bar, so half the fun is in locating it. Visitors at This Is It! are treated to a comfortable and friendly atmosphere that is a refreshing change within the scene. I would describe the interior décor as "grandma’s rec-room retro", dominated by a bar that runs the length of the place, with several cushy "half-booths" running parallel. Stained-glass lamps, red-carpeted walls, and frequently changing holiday directions give the place a fun, pleasantly garish feel. This Is It! boasts a very diverse clientele, most elude to the flamboyant side, but one of the few "straight-friendly" bars downtown attract the college students, to white collar professionals, to the older patrons who have been regulars since the place opened its door nearly 40 years ago. The bartenders are fun and friendly, the drinks are seriously cheap, and you’re more likely to catch sports or Adult Swim on the bar’s television than a parade of tired dance videos. But, rather, the music is controlled by you the customer, in the form of a generously-stocked jukebox midway through the bar. Check out This Is It next time you’re in the mood for something different!
Listing: This is it
Neighborhood: East Town
