• 
• SUNDAY May 19, 2013 F

One 12 Downtown’s strong point may be the atmosphere

I’m constantly hearing people comment on the status of “nightlife social opportunities” in Johnson City. That seems to be a hot topic these days.

While the Washington County options are more abbreviated than in nearby cities like Asheville and Knoxville, I’m excited about some of the improvements that have taken place in the local scene over the past couple of years. We have the boogie clubs, we have the pubs and bars, the coffee shops, and so on. Heck, even Taco Bell is open late.

I suppose there can never be too many sports bar in a college town, so I wasn’t surprised when I heard (actually read) on Facebook about a new sports bar — One 12 Downtown — opening at 112 Tipton Street in Johnson City. Of course, if people on Facebook call it a sports bar then it must be true, and even though there are large screens playing various games, One 12 Downtown does a better job of balancing the “pro sports” atmosphere with an upper-scale climate where non-sports folks can find enjoyment sipping drinks and listening to live music

The lights are dim, the room is very spacious and the overall mood is very social but still very relaxed. I went in a T-shirt and shorts, but most of the customers were in semicasual attire. I know several women who began their girls-night-out events at One 12 before going to see the recent “Sex and the City” movie, and if you are familiar with that genre then I’ll say no more. You get the picture.

There are drink specials throughout the week — bottomless mimosas, $2 pints, half-priced wine bottles, $3 wells, $4 martinis — along with discounts on burgers and other food items, all depending on the day of the week.

The drinks were fine but the food came out to be just average. I would not describe the food I had as bad, but for the price I paid I didn’t leave the restaurant grinning from ear to ear. Even worse was the fact that I received very slow service in my last visit.

The Bourbon Molasses Chicken was served with mushrooms and grilled onions along with a bourbon molasses sauce and Gouda cheese. These toppings were a nice combination, but there was too much of it and I had to scrape part of it away, and the sauce was excessive. The chicken also bordered on being overcooked. Overall grade: C. I had the cheese mashed potatoes, which were nothing more than a basic serving of potatoes with chunks of blue cheese. Nothing fancy. With the chicken, the entrée was $12.99, but if I was bidding for that dish I would not go a penny above $9.

The fish sandwich, at $8.99, was better — I’d give it a B — but I think fries should have been included. Other One 12 burgers include the Benedict Burger (with Canadian bacon and hollandaise) and the Santa Fe (with apple wood bacon, avocado and jalapeno sauce). The steak entrees range from $13.99-$18.99, and this includes one side.

It was the ambience of One 12 that I enjoyed most, and I’ll definitely go back, but probably just for appetizers. My favorite combo: fried pickles and a Bloody Mary.

Street Talk - What's happening now

• stararif46 comment on Do You Want to Visit Beautiful Bagan, Myanmar? - 4 days ago

  Do You Want to Visit Beautiful Bagan, Myanmar? Bagan, located in the central region of Myanmar, is home to the largest number of Buddhist temples, stupas, ruins and pagodas in the world. There are many reasons that the city makes a lasting impression on visitors, including the buildings which look romantic after the process of aging, the spire-fringed skyline, exotic cotton trees and horse drawn carriages that lazily carry tourists through the city. The city of Bagan offers a large number of temples for tourists to visit. Some of the most popular ones that are recommended by most tourists, tour guides and tourist maps, although large in number, still don't cover even half of the large collection. Bagan is a city that can be visited any time of the year because of its pleasant weather and no particular rainy season. It is a city that most would not want to miss with beautiful sunsets; beautiful local art including bamboo works and lacquer work and day trips to places like Mount Popa where tourists can visit a monastery that is built on top of a mountain.
  
  Some of them include Ananda Temple, which was built by Kyan-zit-tha, the third king and is considered the holiest temple in the city, Shwesandaw Temple, also known as the sunset temple as tourists especially gather during the evening to watch a spectacular sunset, Shwe Zigon Temple, which is a prototype monument built in the style of Myanmar, Thatbyinnyu Temple, which is the tallest pagoda that was built in the twelfth century, Shwegugyi Temple, a temple that has survived over the ages and stayed the most intact on the site, Manuhar Pagoda, a temple with a story about a king who poured all his emotions into the construction of the temple and Gawdaw Palin Temple, which is constructed by fusing the styles of Myanmarese and Indian. Tourists who still have the energy after visiting the various temples, pagodas and stupas in Bagan can also visit Bagan Archeological Museum, which may be ugly in appearance because of the mixture of the new and old architectural styles, but houses a large number of portable finds from the temples.

• stararif46 comment on Do you want AEM Gauges? - 4 days ago

  Do you want AEM Gauges? Do you want AEM Gauges? The AEM cold air intake systems were specifically designed to give your vehicle the extra boost in power and performance you've been looking for. At Autoplicity.com we offer a wide range of AEM intakes and AEM air filters so you can find exactly what you need for your vehicle.
  
  These high quality air intake systems deliver a blast of cold, clean air into the engine to aid the combustion process, immediately increasing horsepower, torque, and throttle response. These performance modifiers are comparatively easy to install and will make a huge difference in your driving experience. A high performance machine requires high performance auto parts, and we have everything you need to customize or repair your vehicle, from AEM Gauges and intakes to suspensions and brakes. Take a look at our selection and order your aftermarket auto body parts today.

• madcat_1 comment on Stone Wall at 11E Sports Bar - 3 weeks ago

  Come hang out with stone wall at the 11E sports bar in Mosheim, TN 5-3-13 from 8 to midnight.
  
  http://tricities.craigslist.org/muc/3757423018.html

• stararif46 comment on DreamTime Convertible Companion Wonder Pillow - 4 weeks ago

  Life is a journey, and wherever your journey takes you, you deserve to be comfortable. Life is a journey, and wherever your journey takes you, you deserve to be comfortable. DreamTime's Convertible Companion Wonder Pillow is your ideal personal travel companion for both on-the-road and at-home comfort and relaxation. It features a patented, two-way design that ensures tranquil time-outs anytime, anywhere. Your Wonder Pillow converts from a neck-cradling crescent to a restful rectangle with ease – just unzip, rearrange the fill, re-zip, and your off to a relaxing and comfortable journey. Remove cover and machine wash in cold water on delicate cycle. Tumble dry on low and remove promptly. Do not allow hull-filled insert pillow to get wet.
  
  Filled with natural, hypo allergenic buckwheat hull, DreamTime's Wonder Pillow provides adjustable support to your head and neck, allowing the muscles to relax and release stress and tension. The Wonder Pillow soothes sore, achy neck muscles while sleeping, resting or reading. Buckwheat hull doesn't compress, so your neck never gets strained, and buckwheat hulls natural properties allow air to circulate, so your pillow will stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Pillow's inner zipper provides easy access to the fill. If a less firm pillow is desired, fill can be removed and adjusted to achieve optimal comfort. You may seal and store excess buckwheat in a freezer for later use.
  Size: 13" X 10" X 3" (square configuration)'s Convertible Companion Wonder Pillow is your ideal personal travel companion for both on-the-road and at-home comfort and relaxation. It features a patented, two-way design that ensures tranquil time-outs anytime, anywhere. Your Wonder Pillow converts from a neck-cradling crescent to a restful rectangle with ease – just unzip, rearrange the fill, re-zip, and your off to a relaxing and comfortable journey. Remove cover and machine wash in cold water on delicate cycle. Tumble dry on low and remove promptly. Do not allow hull-filled insert pillow to get wet.
  
  Filled with natural, hypo allergenic buckwheat hull, DreamTime's Wonder Pillow provides adjustable support to your head and neck, allowing the muscles to relax and release stress and tension. The Wonder Pillow soothes sore, achy neck muscles while sleeping, resting or reading. Buckwheat hull doesn't compress, so your neck never gets strained, and buckwheat hulls natural properties allow air to circulate, so your pillow will stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Pillow's inner zipper provides easy access to the fill. If a less firm pillow is desired, fill can be removed and adjusted to achieve optimal comfort. You may seal and store excess buckwheat in a freezer for later use.
  Size: 13" X 10" X 3" (square configuration)

• larina comment on Affordable Kitchens For Sale Leeds - 4 weeks ago

  Affordable Kitchens For Sale Leeds. www.solidwoodkitchen.co.uk Full Affordable Kitchens For Sale Leeds £595. TEL - 01616-694785. Includes Appliances. Affordable Kitchens For Sale Leeds
  
  Affordable Kitchens For Sale Leeds

• madcat_1 comment on Stone Wall at 11E Sports Bar - 4 weeks ago

  Stone Wall Will be performing at the 11E Sports Bar in Mosheim,Tn May 3rd from 8 - 12. Come on down and we will dance the night away
  
  http://tricities.craigslist.org/muc/3757423018.html

Welcome New Friends

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•