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SUMMER '09: NIGHTLIFE: Bars on the beach

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Booze and the beach go together like...we had a really good analogy, but forgot it after too many margaritas. It's summer, so it's time to break out the fruit drinks you may be too embarrassed to buy any other time of the year. And there's no place better to enjoy them than at one of the area waterfront bars, all of them inevitably overflowing with fellow summer revelers and kitschy personality. Below find a list of some of the most notable beach bars, along with some of their signature summer drinks. If you don't see your favorite on the list, let us know at rochestercitynewspaper.com.

Marge's Lakeside Inn (4909 Culver Rd, 323-1020) is considered by most to be an institution. A Jimmy Buffett-style oasis on Lake Ontario, not far off from Seabreeze Amusement Park, Marge's offers its patrons an escape to the tropics right here in Western New York. The inside is decorated with fishnets, a bamboo ceiling, and several photos documenting the bar's long history as part of the lake community. Marge's also boasts scenic beachfront, where customers can grab a seat to enjoy a "Rum-Rita." Half frozen rum runner, half margarita, the drink includes amaretto, white, spiced, and dark rums, triple sec, tequila, grenadine, orange juice -- the list goes on. Marge's also has a house shot: Wisniowka is a 100 proof cherry liqueur, which owner Francine Beth says, "kicks many ailments." Keeping with the laid-back vibe, Marge's opens Wednesday-Friday "around" 5 p.m., Saturday-Sunday "around" 7 p.m.

"We get a pretty low-key crowd here," says Julie Blood, bartender at the Bayside Pub (279 Lake Rd, Webster,323-1224). The Bayside is a cash-only, unpretentious little spot that offers a comfortable stop for anyone just looking to sit outside and enjoy a beautiful day on the water. Outside in the back, Bayside has a good-sized patio area with a dock for folks coming off the lake to tie up and enjoy a drink.  Bayside serves your standard beers ,such as Sam Adams on tap and Corona in bottles, but for those looking for something different, it also sells Victory Brewing Hop Devil Ale. On the weekends Bayside offers live entertainment that livens the place up even more. The Bayside is open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday noon-10 p.m. Drop in either by car or boat.

Abe's Waterfront Boathouse Bar & Grill (8527 Greig St, Sodus Point, 315-483-4444) has a lot to offer someone who is looking for a day out on the water.  The indoor bar nearly stretches the entire length of  venue with an extensive selection of beers on tap. Abe's has a creative line of specialty drinks as well. The Captain's Barbados Punch consists of Captain Morgan's spiced rum, pineapple juice, and limejuice, with triple sec. The Haus Call is made with Black Haus (a blackberry schnapps) and an energy drink. Along with a spacious outdoor deck and gazebo that houses live music on the weekends, there is the large upper deck known as The Crow's Nest. With its own bar, it's a fantastic place for a private gathering on warm summer night. Abe's is open Mondays 4 p.m.-close, Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-close, and Sunday noon-close.

A few doors down in Sodus Point you'll find Captain Jack's Good Time Tavern (8505 Greig St, 315-483-9570). Decorated with a moose head, a bear skin, a dinghy hanging from the ceiling, and a wood-carved mermaid, the place calls to mind a cross between a maritime hang out and a hunting lodge. In the corner next to the popcorn machine stands a life-sized monument of Captain Jack himself wrapped in twinkling lights. Behind the bar Sam Adams's Summer Ale and Ithaca Nut Brown can be found on tap. Captain Jack's also carries an impressive bottled beer list, with Blue Point Toasted Lager and Otter Creek Copper Ale, to name a few. If beer doesn't strike your fancy, you can also enjoy a pina colada made with light rum, coconut cream, and crushed pineapples. Although you out-of-towners might not be alone: "We get a lot of tourists during the summer," says Tammy Reynolds, a bartender at Jack's. Open Monday-Saturday at 11 a.m., Sundays at noon, and with an outdoor deck and tiki bar Captain Jack's conjures up exactly what the name implies. 

Tucked behind the Inn on the Lake in Canandaigua  is The Sandbar (770 S Main St, Canandaigua, 394-7800). An open-air bar on the edge of Canandaigua Lake, it offers a taste of a surfer's life style. Complete with a kayak mounted above the bar and neon palm tree-decorated Corona signs on the wall, The Sandbar also has live entertainment on the weekends. Boaters can dock right next to the bar and order any one of the beers on tap, including Custom Brewcrafters' Special Canandaigua Lake Ale. Also available at the Sandbar is the Blue Whale. Made with vodka, orange juice, pineapple juice, blue curacao liqueur, and sweet & sour mix, this refreshing drink can be just the thing to hit the spot on a warm, sunny day on the lake. The Sandbar opens Monday-Friday at 4 p.m., Saturday-Sunday at noon.

Comments for "SUMMER '09: NIGHTLIFE: Bars on the beach" (1)

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Francine Beth said on Jun. 18, 2009 at 1:36pm

Thanks for including us in your summer article. The pictures that you took look fabulous. Just have one correction....Marge's hours in the summer are: Mon - Friday "around" 5 and Saturday & Sunday "around" 2. : )

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