The Empire Room: A swanky bar you can't miss (it's between the ribs and alleys) that's open when it is

Empire Room: Not an obvious place

The hairy guy's report:

One afternoon a couple weeks back, the hairy guy was on the west side, about to drive over the Liberty Bridge, when barbecued ribs came to mind. It happens. He crossed the river, rounded the turn onto Washington and,  (pardon the pun) right on cue, saw a sign for BBQ at the Rusty Saw Smokehouse adjoining Washington Lanes.

Harry walked into the closest door -- next to a sign for the Rusty Saw -- which put him not into the restaurant but into the Empire Room bar.

Weekday afternoons aren't the biggest time for bar business, for sure, but the bar was dark and deserted, without even a bartender -- which was intriguing but had nothing to do with ribs. And walking through the bar into the Rusty Saw was well worth it. The decor is vintage 1965 but it all looks brand new, like a set for "Mad Men." The ribs were great and the side of baked beans would have been a meal itself.

But later, on a full stomach, the totally empty bar, which has a lounge feel and a blues motif, seemed worth investigating. Would we be left singing the blues in the dark by ourselves? Not at all, it turned out.