Loose Cobra

I’ve just eaten dinner. Kridz left to go play pool at Amvets. I walk down the street to Jupiter’s downtown. I enter. I have a whiskey. I’m talking to friends. Suddenly, Joe Fun, from out of nowhere says «Hey VOIGIL, you want to go to Tolono to Loose Cobra».
My initial reaction: «Hell no! why would I want to go to Tolono?»
He says «ok».
Then I’m like, wait… I want to have an adventure. It’s been a while since I’ve done something out of my comfort zone (which consists of about 7 bars in downtown Champaign). I ask when he’s coming back. He says he has rehearsal for the band in Urbana at 9, so by 9. I think… WTF? Lets go.
I get into his car. He needs new struts, every time he hits a bump or a pothole, there’s a rattling noise that comes from the front drivers side tire area. We proceed the 10-​ish miles down 45 to the thriving metropolis of Tolono. I ask, where’s this place again? He says, it’s in blah blah blah, right next to the library. I think I may have been there once before, to play pool, a long time ago. As we are driving, we go past the roller rink. I toss the idea out of an adult fun time, with Joe fun! We consider the idea. Rent the roller rink. Get a dj in. Get beer in there (one time special permit possibly, if they don’t have a liquor license). And then, have joe fun’s adult fun time. He mentions doing something for charity, because Joe is awesome like that. We wonder how many people we could get signed up for this thing, he’s like «20?» and i’m like 200! If we get the right people involved, we can pack the place. It could be fun.
We get there, I have not been there. It’s across the street from that place. It’s not at the old rademakers either. It’s not at that tiny place next to the train tracks either. It’s right next to the library (I think it’s the library).
We go in. The bartender is Matt Talbot from the band Hum. He may also own the place. There are 2 pinball machines, one is the Sopranos game, I think the other was the kiss game (i’m probably wrong on that). There are devil boxes in the back. There is a wide open space in the middle, where apparently, Tolono’s guitar circle sets up and plays. That or just someone with a steel guitar decided to show up around 8.
I go to do outside things, and think to myself, geez, when was the last time I left CU?
The answer would be xmas, going up to my sister’s in Lockport. I should really get out more. I need more adventures. I am out a lot. And I always have a good time, I spread my time out between multiple places… I just don’t go too far away from those places.
The bar has a nice liquor selection. It’s not the variety you will get at Seven Saints, but there’s enough good things to tide you over. When everyone else at the bar is drinking BMC, you can have a decent whiskey and not look like the pretentious douche at the bar. But, don’t be surprised if the bartender (in this case Matt) thinks «it’s been a while since I’ve tried that one» and pours everyone else in the place a taste of that beverage (and then you get a bigger splash in your glass than the rest got).
There are hundreds of records against the wall. If you go through them, you will get lost, but you will probably find something rare and good. He’ll be playing something when you go in. I’m sure if you looked through, he’d play whatever you picked.
There’s a stage in the middle of the parking lot. Right in the middle. They do outside shows with various bands in the summer. The drinks are cheap. The sign says Beer… FANCY Beer.
From the parking lot, in the heart of Tolono, you can look up and see the stars.
I ask Joe what his band will be doing at coverup. He actually tells me. (No one else tells). He trusts me, I guess. He says «Katie perry». He shows me the shark costumes that someone will be wearing.
We drive back. He drops me off without so much as even a kiss goodnight!

Pretty great place, pretty great people… Most of the time that is. Really good beer and whiskey selection. Well worth the drive.