Hippies and Harley's in Emporia, Kansas: A Barhopping Guide

Emporia may be small, but it is also a college town, which means there are a variety of places to party and drink with friends. I've been out with quite a few people, and I have found that the types of places people like to drink are amazingly diverse. A bar that I would find to be over-crowded is often the perfect place for some of my friends, and a bar that I find to be exceptionally comfortable is often too seedy for other people. That being said, it can be difficult to find the right bar for your own, personal, drinking experience. That is where this series of articles comes in. I will evaluate a variety of elements of many bars in Emporia so you won't have to search the town yourself.

Hippies and Harleys sits just off of Commercial street, a short walk from campus and an even shorter walk from some of the other local bars. However, it is often missed because it is not close enough to Commercial street to be easily seen, and it is not flashy enough to attract the attention of someone not looking for it. If you go looking, Hippies and Harleys is located at 10 W 8^th Ave.

Atmosphere

Hippies and Harleys has atmosphere in spades, but not necessarily the atmosphere many patrons will be looking for. This bar can only be described as tiny, dingy, and run-down. There are a few tables, but there is very little space to walk around in this bar and the bar, the tables, the floor, everything is slightly dirty. Nothing about this bar screams high-class. If you stop by, be prepared to squeeze into this little hole-in-the wall and stay put.

Entertainment

Hippies and Harleys has no real entertainment besides drinking and talking. There is no jukebox, no pool tables or darts, and never any live entertainment. Basically, this place is designed for only one thing, getting drunk.

Drinks and Prices

Here is the biggest plus side of Hippies and Harleys; they have cheap drinks. Although the drinks are not the best in town, they are some of the cheapest. If you are looking to get drunk on a small budget, consider stopping by here. The atmosphere is definitely improved if you can't really focus because you've drank so much.

The bar, however, does not take plastic or checks (not that many bars take checks). If you want a drink at Hippies and Harley's, the only way to get it is to pay with good ol' cash. For many barhoppers, this is a problem as many people do not carry cash. If you want to spend some time at this bar, bring just enough cash to pay for your drinks, then hop off to the next bar.

Clientele

The patrons of Hippies and Harleys can be a bit... unusual. Many of these men and women are more than friendly, but they are there for the one reason the bar was designed: to get drunk quickly and cheaply. This means that they are often so drunk they can barely speak and either overly friendly or angry.

Further, beware of people who will want to beg money out of you. The first time I went to this bar, I was immediately hit up for money by a woman who claimed she needed gas money to go see her kids (the least she could do was come up with a new story). It took me a second to realize that she was hanging out at that bar because it was cash only, which meant she knew people had to have cash to give her. At any other bar, she could not guarantee that people actually had cash to hand out.

Essentially, the clientele can be strange, but many people find the bar welcoming and the people there friendly. Just be prepared.

Summary

If you are looking for high-class anything, Hippies and Harley's is not for you. However, if you are looking to get drunk quick and cheap around a unique and interesting (if a little scary) group of people, you might just stop by and give this bar a shot.