By Hannah Nusser
Walking into Howard’s Club H from the brilliant autumn afternoon, my eyes take a few moments to adjust to the abrupt darkness I’ve plunged into. The bartender says, “It’s brighter in here during the day.”
Some write it off as a “biker bar” as they hurry past in search of a more mainstream hotspot. Others describe it as grungy, a “townie” bar. The regulars, like bartender Colleen Jenkins, call it their second living room. One thing about Howard’s Club H is for sure, whether you like it or not, the bar has a personality all its own.
The exterior is painted a modest brown, with a small orange sign hanging next to the obtuse brown doors. Band stickers cover the doors and walls; there are next to no windows. One bare brick wall is scribbled with black marker graffiti. Oh, and what looks like a state-of-the-art light show is projecting from the stage a few feet from the bar.
Howard’s Club H has become a staple of the downtown Bowling Green bar scene. It opened in 1942 where the Wood County Public Library is currently located. Howard’s moved to its current location, 210 N. Main St., in 1973. Buildings may change but one thing hasn’t: Howard’s Club H was built on the foundation of bringing live, local music to the downtown bar scene.
“Live music is one of those mainstays in life like eating food,” Jenkins said. “It’s always been a popular thing … we are a rock bar through and through.”
Bringing in big name bands in rock and blues, Jenkins said the bar strives to have a local act at every show. Howard’s has live shows Wednesday through Saturday nights, with a live show every Wednesday.
James Gregg, a Howard’s regular and staff security member, said the grunginess is all just part of the Howard’s Club H charm.
“There are cigarette butts stuck in the walls that have been there for thirty years, there are potato chips on the ground that have been there probably just as long,” Gregg said.
The atmosphere is laid back and carefree, Gregg said, with townies strung about the bar, all old friends who have been going there since they were teenagers.
“We’re all kind of a family,” Gregg said. “At nine o’clock at night you can still find townies hanging out, just sitting, talking, having fun.”
The best part about Howard’s, Jenkins said, is its unpretentious nature as compared with other popular nightclubs in Bowling Green.
“You don’t get dressed up to come here even if it’s the weekend,” Jenkins said. “You just kind of hang out and drink beer and get super wasted. It’s a really fun bar, I’ve always loved it.”
To learn more, visit www.howardsclubh.com.
Some write it off as a “biker bar” as they hurry past in search of a more mainstream hotspot. Others describe it as grungy, a “townie” bar. The regulars, like bartender Colleen Jenkins, call it their second living room. One thing about Howard’s Club H is for sure, whether you like it or not, the bar has a personality all its own.
The exterior is painted a modest brown, with a small orange sign hanging next to the obtuse brown doors. Band stickers cover the doors and walls; there are next to no windows. One bare brick wall is scribbled with black marker graffiti. Oh, and what looks like a state-of-the-art light show is projecting from the stage a few feet from the bar.
Howard’s Club H has become a staple of the downtown Bowling Green bar scene. It opened in 1942 where the Wood County Public Library is currently located. Howard’s moved to its current location, 210 N. Main St., in 1973. Buildings may change but one thing hasn’t: Howard’s Club H was built on the foundation of bringing live, local music to the downtown bar scene.
“Live music is one of those mainstays in life like eating food,” Jenkins said. “It’s always been a popular thing … we are a rock bar through and through.”
 |
| Photo from Facebook |
Bringing in big name bands in rock and blues, Jenkins said the bar strives to have a local act at every show. Howard’s has live shows Wednesday through Saturday nights, with a live show every Wednesday.
James Gregg, a Howard’s regular and staff security member, said the grunginess is all just part of the Howard’s Club H charm.
“There are cigarette butts stuck in the walls that have been there for thirty years, there are potato chips on the ground that have been there probably just as long,” Gregg said.
The atmosphere is laid back and carefree, Gregg said, with townies strung about the bar, all old friends who have been going there since they were teenagers.
“We’re all kind of a family,” Gregg said. “At nine o’clock at night you can still find townies hanging out, just sitting, talking, having fun.”
The best part about Howard’s, Jenkins said, is its unpretentious nature as compared with other popular nightclubs in Bowling Green.
“You don’t get dressed up to come here even if it’s the weekend,” Jenkins said. “You just kind of hang out and drink beer and get super wasted. It’s a really fun bar, I’ve always loved it.”
To learn more, visit www.howardsclubh.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment