My friend Andrea just invited me to attend a birthday party at McCabe’s in Santa Monica, so being the freak who has to know what she’s getting herself into I had to look it up on CitySearch.
Folding chairs on a flat floor make for aching spines and bad sight lines, but the genuine warmth of the venue and high quality of the performers keep Westside folkies and Hollywood hipsters coming back.
McCabe’s Guitar Shop on Pico, I had heard about it on the periphery but never thought of checking it out. Apparently, not only is McCabe’s a purveyor of fine musical instruments, specifically acoustic and folk instruments, but they have sold-out concerts all the time. Beck, Etta James, The Ditty Bops and Tom Waits have performed here.
However, the night of the party McCabe’s site said that there was a sold-out show for Geoff Muldaur. That’s a weird place to have a birthday, I thought. This Muldaur apparently was a founding member of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band and his shows have been described to be “positively transcendent.” That’s really nice but wuh-hut?
I called Andrea to make sure. Nooo, she meant McCabe’s Bar and Grill just up the street on Santa Monica Boulevard. Oh damn. THAT McCabe’s is the often overlooked sports bar that I pass every day on the way to Busby’s or work. Usually dead, according to Drea, this place was now packed with birthday party attendees playing shuffle board, pool and foosball. Nothing really to write about, just another sports bar–happy hour 5-7pm with $5 appetizers; Jameson and Coke $6.50; multi-television screens with sports. It was a good crowd but, I kept in mind that 99% of the turnout was for the birthday party. I think for a Saturday night, most people flock to Busby’s–the upscale sports bar/dance club–down the street.
Still, I think I’ll come back later to check out this McCabe’s happy hour since it’s so close to work and all. Blah.
_McCabe’s Guitar Shop
3101 Pico Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 828-4497
Cross Street: 31st Street
McCabe’s Bar & Grill
2455 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 264-9704
Cross Street: 25th Street