On our way to meet friends at Main Street Bistro, we passed Murph's and couldn't help but think that that's where THE party in Lima was. Â The sounds of karaoke blasted out their open door and it sounded like everyone was having the time of their lives. Â As soon as we finished at the Bistro, a few of us headed back over to Murph's, sort of hoping there'd be a record playing that would come to a screeching halt when we walked in. Â Of course, we thought too much of ourselves as we were merely asked what we were drinking. Â I could not ask for a frou frou drink in this wonderful dive bar and I don't drink beer, so I couldn't respond "Bud Light" like everyone else... I choked. Â I asked for vodka and Sprite and got the strongest drink of the night in a big ol' red Solo cup with a BENDY STRAW! Â Kick ass.
Here are some of the firsts I experienced at Murph's:
- paid less than $10 for the above-mentioned drinks
- met an ex-Marine named Robert who now works as a DJ & Karaoke emcee (I have his card, if you're interested)
- got locked in the bar with the other patrons and laughed when the scrappy lady bartender waved away a potential customer knocking on the door's window
- danced to Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams, Skynard and Steve Miller Band
- booed with everyone else when the bartender yanked the plug out of the jukebox in the middle of "Jet Airliner"
- sat with a fella wearing a suit jacket (one of the wedding attendants), a guy in a cowboy hat and a lady in a neck brace at the same bar
For me, it was a hilarious, enjoyable, memorable evening, even though when I left I reeked of smoke (which was weird, 'cause I'd been told that Ohio was smoke free). Â For anybody living or passing through Lima, Murph's would be a fun place to meet some characters, rock out to karaoke, play some pool or darts and close the place down with some of Lima's finest. Â I loved it.