CLUB WATCH
Hip and funky Faso's is worth the long, strange trip
In decor and spirit, Faso’s captures the hipness of the Flower Power era
What a long, strange trip it was. I saddled up solo on a Thursday during a great deluge of a rainstorm and knew I was onto something special the second I walked into Faso’s Grateful Bear. Entering via the side entrance, I knew I was going to like this place. The inner atrium was decorated with vintage posters from Big Brother & the Holding Company, the Grateful Dead (obviously) and other classic concerts from the heyday of Flower Power.
Jess (a no-nonsense bartender with a winning personality) served me a pitcher of Labatt Blue with a glass mug and a double of Wild Turkey 101 in a glass snifter for $12. The bar top was custom-designed with stars and a galaxy of glitter under the black lighting and the front entrance was lined with lava lamps. An obscure Social Distortion song played on the neon jukebox and two patrons discussed the upcoming roller derby season. A stripper pole on a raised stage accented a front corner.
I couldn’t help but wander around to look at all of the posters, pictures and collectibles from the Love Generation and beyond throughout the bar. The front half displayed photos of the owner, Chris, with Willie Nelson, Ray Manzarek (the Doors), Wavy Gravy, Tommy Chong and dozens of other celebrities over the years. A number of glass cabinets in the back were jam-packed with Beatles, Rolling Stones, Robert Crumb, Timothy Leary and Monkees memorabilia: bobbleheads, ticket stubs, lunchboxes, guitars and autographed artwork. As a collectible fanatic, I was fascinated and jealous at the same time.
A walk toward the back patio led me through a smaller room decked out with an orange chair shaped like a hand, a Jerry Garcia puppet, fluffy cotton clouds hanging from the ceiling, and a large television with an Intellivision game system hooked up to it. The deck was decorated with ocean waves and a lower deck was filled with sand and Tiki torches.
Around 9 o’clock, the bar filled up almost instantaneously with a chill, co-ed crowd of attractive young singles as the open mic started on stage. My friend Jon and his wife, Kari, arrived and we marveled at the small water fountain in the front while digging the music in the back.
I tried to take note of all the keepsakes and trinkets in one trip, but it was statistically impossible. Friends have been urging me to visit Faso’s since it opened five years ago now I know why. It’s a feast for the eyes and ears, and a testament to most of the best music from the 20th century. For a Buffalo bar that’s only been around for a little while, there’s a lot to like and a million and one visible reasons to tune in, turn on and order a cold one. •
Faso’s Grateful Bear Bar & Grill
1506 Abbott Road Lackawanna
Scene: Everything you loved about the ’60s shoehorned into one convenient location.
Drinks: A wide selection of obscure bottled beers featuring Magic Hat, Sierra Nevada Summer Fest and John Labatt Classic. Great hard liquor prices.
Dress Code: Hippie casual. Grab your tie-dyed shirt and some stonewashed jeans if you want to blend.
Music: Open Mic Thursdays and live bands on Fridays featuring Metalworks and Love Puddle
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