I originally wrote this article as a staff writer for the now defunct MetroSyracuse.com. It is actually unfinished but is only missing the wrap-up.

Where's the Bull?

Staff writer Spooky reports on Daisy Duke's in Armory Square

    Let's face it. Tailgaters just didn't cut it as a happening Saturday night hangout in Armory Square. It had its good days, when a sporting event was on television, but near the end, they were bringing in maybe twenty people at any given time on a Friday. It's a pretty big space, with a large, paved yard that looks out upon a busy street, so the few patrons were swallowed up by empty space. Occasionally, the crowd would swell a little, but for the most part, it wasn't a huge success. Goodbye Tailgater's, hello Daisy Duke's.

    Saturday night I ventured out with 5 other people and spent a couple of hours at Quigley's in Hanover Square, warming up with a few drinks. I couldn't wait to go to Daisy Dukes for the first time, and invited several people I didn't know to join us. I'd heard all about the country theme, as well as the star attraction: a mechanical bull.

    Let's dispel the rumor that they play country music at this bar. When I went in, they were playing modern rock, which suits me just fine, as I hate country music. Anyway, it was a full house. We waited only a few minutes to get in, and there was (get this) a ONE DOLLAR cover charge. Since a single buck didn't hurt my wallet, I didn't mind paying a cover. I asked the bartender for a dirty martini and he gave me some strange sort of margarita in a plastic cup. It tasted ok, so I drank it, but it gave me heartburn.

Now that we had drinks, it was time to find the bull. Fighting my way to the back of the room was difficult, but I was determined, unlike my friends, all but one of whom left because it was too crowded. Lo and behold, at long last, there it was! There was no shining, glowing aura of light, we'll save that for the Holy Grail, but it was the first mechanical bull I had ever seen and I couldn't wait to get on it. So, of course, there was a hindrance.

    A note to Daisy Dukes: Put up a frigging sign. There's an employee standing in the far back corner with a clipboard, so we push our way back there, wait in a line, only to find out that this is the "unofficial" line where people who have no idea where the line is get in line. Humans are essentially conformists; it's our nature to get into a line. Any idiot knows that a line of people waiting means that if you want in on the common purpose, then the line is the place to stand.     

    Finally, I reach the guy with the clipboard, only to be told that I need to go to the side of the ring, where no one has a clipboard, and get in line there. This is the invisible line, where the people don't look at all like people waiting; they look like spectators.

    With my two dollars in hand, I get into the ring and cross it to get to the guy with the clipboard, whose sole purpose seems to be to take names and tell people where the line is. Does this make ANY sense??  Anyway, the five seconds I spent riding the bull was some of the most fun I've had all year! I laughed the entire time and I recommend it completely. Oh, and don't worry about falling off. It's like falling on a mattress, so there's nothing to lose!