The Heorot of Muncie, Indiana

You know, Muncie isn't known for a lot of things. It's smack dab in the middle of the mid-west, and for those of us that live in that region...we come to live with a sense of boredom and malaise. Or at least, a strange sense of hibernation for about half the year when it's so cold that we could swear we lived in Alaska. So when you live in an area like that, every business that you can find and enjoy becomes important in your life. In Boston, they have Cheers. In Muncie, we have The Heorot.

Named from a location in the famous epic, "Beowulf", the bar is not your traditional college-town sports bar. In fact, it's less of a party bar and more of a geek dwelling. (Though to be fair, I do see my fair share of businessmen and college students in there on any given night.) If you're not much of a partier, then I would recommend that you stay out of there on weekend nights, but that rule applies to any bar.

What makes it so non-traditional? Well, for starters, it's the décor. Any, "Lord of the Rings" geeks out there? Well, if there are, allow me to just take a moment to compare the place to, "The Prancing Pony". It's dark, there are long wooden tables, rustic looking walls, swords, shields, and a giant dragon that appears to be weaving in and out of the high-ceilings and rafters. On a good night, smoke comes from the dragon's mouth. For a movie geek, it's a pretty darn cool location, especially if you look for ambience in a bar or restaurant.

The drink of choice at The Heorot is beer, any kind of beer. Foreign, domestic, bottle, tap, lager, ale, cider, stout, porter, whatever you are looking for, they will have it. There are regular deals and sales that take place during the year and the drinks are very affordable, especially if you're the kind of person who just goes in for a pint or two every few weeks. It's just about the cheapest and most atmospheric recreation you'll find in Muncie. Even going to the movies is more expensive than The Heorot. I had a friend visit from Atlanta recently who was shocked to hear the total amount she would be paying for her pint, stating that it was half as much as she would pay in Atlanta. (That's one of the great qualities of the mid-west, low cost of living.)

Just as a heads up, they do allow smoking. So if you're allergic, I'd pass on visiting this bar anytime from the early evening on. Before those hours, it's usually smoke-free. I also want to mention the staff, as they are a really great group of people. The owner is friendly and present a lot of the time, the door man works every night, and once he checks your i.d., he won't forget you. The bartenders are great about recommending drinks for you if you want to try something new, and by all means, you definitely should at the Heorot. Because the selection is so unbelievably large. It's a unique spot and one of the best places to visit in Muncie, Indiana. It's definitely worth a visit if you pass through town and can't stand mainstream "club" environments full of drunken college kids. If you end up living nearby, consider joining the club at the Heorot that states if you drink every beer within the Heorot in one year, you get your name on a plaque in the bar.The huge selection of beer.The over-crowded weekend nights.