OCT 10, 2024 | FEATURES | By Esabella George (Features Section Editor)
Apologies boys, us girls’ drinks are half off, but that is not even our primary incentive. Emma Langas ‘25, Jess Duran ‘25 and I have created quite the streak for ourselves, devoting our Thursdays, habitually and religiously as of late, to the wonderful bar-grill-pub establishment, O’Furry’s. The incentive I elude to is far greater than only spending $2.50 on a beer, or just $2 on a standard cocktail for our being “ladies,” but it is the sonic thrill and vocal enchantment that persuades us to return time and time again to Karaoke night at the end of our very busy Thursdays.
Initially, my friends and I (fellow seniors Ruby Murray, Maddy Meister, Nathasha Finklestein, Charlotte Agliata and Georgia Rankin) first heard word of O’Furry’s and their tireless dedication to feminism, the voice as an instrument, as well as musical covers (that should not often ever have been covered by certain (I won’t name names) regulars), and ladies drinking half off, from a now graduated, dear friend. Sam Asher ‘24 referenced the charming, yet oddly chilling-in-temperature bar, quite casually. She invited a group of my friends and me to try the wings and sing karaoke with her crowd.
Turns out, she had caught word of the establishment from another former senior, Evie Levy ‘24, who describes: “I spent months fantasizing about the perfect tavern. The kind of place you feel you have stumbled upon in the middle of the forest, on the search for magic beans or something like that. I wanted to walk in and feel like the entire place was going to ‘uproar’ into song and dance. Genuinely, O’Furry’s has fulfilled all my wildest expectations. The community is so supportive and fantastic. It’s more of a community bar than a college bar, which I feel adds to the appeal as it’s a great alternative to Tony’s on a Tuesday.”
I will admit, it can be hard sometimes to trust someone’s recommendation, and even harder to start traditions with a group of busy seniors. But after taking her advice, we embarked to this destination consisting of sheer joy — our current weekly glimmer into stardom; we finally know what it’s like to be superstars. This tradition began during 8th Block last year, and it met its end when we all went our separate ways for the summer with one grand promise: to make this tradition outlive the graduation of our friends of 2024 who founded the CC/O’Furry’s collab.
Last Thursday, we arrived at O’Furry’s earlier than usual. It has become a thing now, to arrive earlier and earlier each week, for we just can’t quite wait to get started, and get our names signed up for the song(s) we have planned to sing all week. And, most importantly, our appetites were saved these past two Thursdays for the “Basket of Wings” which cannot be ordered past 9:45 p.m.
While a trio performed ABBA’s “Honey, Honey,” we arrived Thursday, Oct. 3, (a notable national holiday for…some people), love was in the air, and I immediately placed an order of “the best wings in the springs” for $15.99. Asa Gartrell ‘26 joined the three of us this week, and once the wings arrived, he declared: “The best wings in the Springs, has a nice ring to it!” Not only does it have a great wing to it, it is an entirely true statement.
It was Asa’s very first time in the space, and as devoted O’Furry’s regular who spent her twenty-first birthday at the pub last May, Natasha Finklestein ‘25 put it: “It’s so familiar to anyone who goes, even if you’ve never been there.”
After trying to recount other places we have had wings in the Springs, the options were limited, but that is beside the point because, trust us, they are the best wings. We paired them with the “Zuchs and Shrooms,” which were breaded, deep fried snacks we couldn’t get enough of.
All this eating and chatting, talking philosophy department (shout out!) was happening while we were serenaded by not-so-Billy Joe-Armstrong belting “Wake Me Up, When September Ends.” How neat a song choice, I thought, for September just ended! We shared the space this week with such a lively crowd of bridal showers, men who are just there for the limitless and large football screens and pints, as well as the mid-thirty-year-old men who wanted to thrash their balding heads around to perform some “scream-o” or Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.”
Emma Langas lives to tell the tale of her selection: “I began my journey with an appetizer of “Wide Open Spaces,” by the maligned girl group “The Chicks”, appealing to the country-loving crowd while refusing to pander to George Bush supporters. I finished off the night with “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” which melted my swing dance partner’s heart. What a repertoire, Emma! It is a gift to be amid such a vocalist, and I wonder if those fortunate enough to work with her at the Writing Center are aware of those chops! She transcended the idea of dividing vocal parts, for Rachel Berry and Jesse St. James came out for the four minute and 27 second masterpiece.
And no one at O’Furry’s can get enough of a duet! Jess recounts, “To start off the night, my boyfriend and I did a duet to “How Deep is Your Love” by the Beegees, and while the correct note may have been hard to find, the depth of our love was not.” Audience members were welcomed by Jess and Asa to dance in the middle of the tables, a space allocated for all sorts of support to your friends up there. She goes on, “to end the night, I sang “Rumor Has It” by Adele, and my alto voice found a new companion in the award winning singer.”
There is no slacking at O’Furry’s. The good news is that it is almost impossible to mess around. I decided this was the week to perform Linkin Park’s “In the End,” which after just a single note of the backing track, got the men to my left, our future swing dance partners, incredibly excited. I had made an assumption this was a song encapsulating their middle school years, and I knew I was correct when I heard: “Oh this is a great fucking song.” I did it! I cracked O’Furry’s.
After being asked to sing a duet with a stranger (a common thing to do here) of “A Whole New World,” I proceeded to sign my name up for my next song, Oasis’s “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” It would be unfair to call anything the “crowd favorite,” and I won’t do that. Instead, I will argue that there was a unifying, collective sigh that was healing, something that is special to only O’Furry’s. The lyrics, “but don’t look back in anger, I heard you say,” lyrics I’ve heard a hundred times, came to life in a crowd of strangers. You just, you feel so seen.
After a night being taught to swing dance by two charming lads, hanging out on a beach volleyball court that we weren’t using, and taking advantage of the limitless amount of times we can put our name down with a new song, the cut off of Karaoke lands at a little after 11 p.m. There’s still time to invite a group of UCCS girls to come over to do more house Karaoke at a house on Weber Street, which Maddy Mesiter ‘25 has done. If you want to take a lingering visual of the ambiance with you, Ruby Murray ‘25 has been overheard saying: “It’s a mix between How I met your Mother and Girls.”
One thing that comes with being a regular at an establishment like a bar or small town coffee shop is that the snarky bartender, the karaoke “game master,” or the amiable bartender will come to know you and your orders, habits…and vocal range even. We were welcomed by the not-so-nice bartender, who had grown cold toward our group and liked to take his anger out on us. After throwing a straw at Emma this past week, exclaiming: “I hate you, Emma,” and last week mocking Jess for ‘incorrectly’ ordering a drink, we can no longer cling to the hopes of getting a free drink or two, here and there. At least the female bartender apologizes for his behavior (it’s what women always have to do, clean up for the actions of their male coworkers).
Anyway, see you next Thursday!!!