Louisville and Southern Indiana Night Life: Review of The Rustic Frog

The Rustic Frog is a New Albany bar in southern Indiana that many people from Louisville find themselves frequenting.

The Rustic Frog showcases many independent bands and performers including many bands and comedians from Louisville. The bar has two floors of indoor fun and an outside area with entertainment, a deck, a bar and a sandy volleyball court. The outside stage is the largest outside stage in Indiana.

On Mondays , the New Albany bar has 50 cent beer nights which makes it easy on the pockets. There is a five dollar cover charge, but that is easily made up for after just a few beers. Unfortunately, this often results in extreme drunkeness and sometimes unruly behavior. For the most part, though, there aren't ever any problems, and guys certainly don't complain about girls' wild behavior during the hot body contests. Mondays and Tuesdays also have karaoke available, while Fridays and Saturdays usually have bands or DJ's performing. Sundays at the Rustic Frog are family day where people from Louisville or Southern Indiana can come and cook out in the large wooded area behind the bar near the volley ball court. Kids are welcome.

Some people find the Rustic Frog a bit too "redneck". As one comedian joked, they don't even have a door on the men's room and it's not uncommon to see the owner's dogs running through the bar. The owner's are certainly friendly, and are usually at the bar on any given night. Every one seems to know them, and they can often be seen standing outside talking with those visiting the bar. The whole bar has a small town "everyone seems to know each other feel" although tourists and out of town visitors seem to stop in regularly. The bar is on the way to or from the popular Indiana casino "Caesar's",which may have something to do with that, and many of the casino employees frequent the bar.

Since the smoking ban took effect in Louisville on July 2, 2007, banning cigarette smoking in bars, it will probably not be uncommon to find more Louisvillians crossing the bridge to frequent New Albany and Jeffersonville bars like the Rustic Frog, where smoking is still allowed. A well meant suggestion: If you're headed to the bars in Indiana, be sure to have designated drivers. Horror stories about Indiana police run rampant, however I have never seen police anywhere near the Rustic Frog. It's always better to play it safe. You never know how easy it might be to find yourself unable to drive - especially on fifty cent beer night. More information about the Rustic Frog is available at www.therusticfrog.com