pop-we Dinner Club Reviews the Fire Barn Sports Bar & Grill

Fire Barn's Waterloo location

Fire!!! Fire!!! Nope it is not a fire just the Fire Barn Sports Bar & Grill in Waterloo, NE. Scott picked this spot because of Waterloo Days and he'd ate there a lot since it was down the street from where he had worked. Also, coming up on the 10th anniversary of September 11 the population-we™ Dinner Club ventured out to this local restaurant that pays tribute to firefighters. The Fire Barn is located in a small Waterloo strip mall at 2601 River Road Drive.

This establishment when you enter is like most sports bars or is it? It is very open with several booths along the walls and tables scattered elsewhere. Obviously the décor is like a firehouse with various pictures, helmets, gear and fire hose on the walls. There is even an authentic firehouse pole between a couple booths. The far wall has a long bar with a lot of glass behind it; a mirror, several glass cooler doors and televisions hanging above. Not to mention there are many more flat screens around the rest of the establishment.

Authentic firehouse gear & pole

The menu is mainly bar food except a few entrees such as the fried chicken, which takes about 25-30 minutes to prepare, but it is good and well worth the wait. They also serve pizza and ribs. We also like their jalapeno poppers and wings, which have five signature Fire Barn sauces.

The night we went we had eight people, most of which ordered the fried chicken. I ordered the Fire Barn Philly, which I thought was very good. It had the usual philly ingredients -- but then they add their hot sauce -- which they use on the their hot wings. It was spicy but not too over powering. As a side, you can get chips (which they make on site); however, fire chips, wedges or fries are extra.

You can check out their complete menu at http://www.firebarnsportsbar.com/. Here you can check out lunch and dinner specials as well picture of both their locations: Papillion and Waterloo. All in all, their Waterloo location hands down accomplishes their motto “Fire Barn: Here to Serve You!”

After compiling the surveys from the other foodies the pop-we Dinner Club gives Fire Barn: 3.7 star average on a scale of 1-5.

Atmosphere/Decor – 3.67

Cleanliness – 3.67

Wait Staff – 4

Menu – 4

Food Presentation – 3.33

Food Portions – 4

Food Taste – 4

Cost (was the cost worth meal?) – 4

Noise Level – 2.67

Overall Experience – 3.67

Fellow population-we™ readers, if you've been to the Fire Barn leave us a comment and tell us what you thought?

Want to do this yourself? To review how to start your own dinner club, visit our January post about doing just that. Remember it is a template; tweak it to fit you and your friends’ tastes. pop-we Dinner Club: good food…good friends…good times.

-population-we™ blog post by Brian Brown

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pop-we Baseball Highlights Texas Rangers Proposed Memorial Statue for Fan Lt. Shannon Stone

Lt. Shannon Stone

The Texas Rangers announced that a statue is in the works that will memorialize Lt. Shannon Stone who died after an accident at their stadium earlier this season. The statue will depict Lt. Stone and his son Cooper and will likely be placed outside the home plate entrance to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington by the start of the 2012 season. The Rangers will pay for the bronze artwork which Lt. Stone's wife Jenny and other family members will help design and create.

In a statement by Jenny Stone she said, "Shannon and Cooper had a special relationship, and we are touched and grateful that it will be memorialized at one of their favorite places, Our hope is that this statue will not be a symbol of our family tragedy but rather a reminder of the importance of a family's love -- love of each other, love of spending time together, and love of the game."

Rangers President and CEO Nolan Ryan said that the statue will be a tribute to all baseball fans. "We feel that this statue will be a most fitting tribute," Ryan said. "It will not only serve to honor Mr. Stone's memory, but also to recognize Rangers fans and baseball fans everywhere."

Stadium flags at half staff day of funeral

Lt. Shannon Stone attended the Rangers game on July 7 with his son Cooper. He died after reaching over a railing and falling more than 20 feet as he attempted to catch a ball tossed by Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton. After the accident the Rangers increased safety measures at the ball park, which included raising the height of the rails, placing new warning signs, a pre-game announcement and active security guards offering friendly reminders not to lean on the railings.

Lt. Stone was a true hero who served as a firefighter in Brownwood, Texas, since 1993. He had twice been voted firefighter of the year and had risen to the rank of Lieutenant. He had been involved in the disaster relief efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Ike in addition to fighting wildfires.

The statue will serve as memorial, tribute and symbol. The relationship Lt. Stone shared with his son Cooper as baseball fans will be immortalized in bronze. That bond has been passed along by countless fans who have spent time at ballparks with their children. Generation after generation have shared baseball one season to the next.

Baseball season spans the best seasons of the year. It's part of the baseball lexicon. Spring training. Boys of summer. Fall classic. Three seasons for a father and child to share the sunshine and hot dogs while rooting for their favorite player to get a hit.

The most important message offered by the completed statue will be to cherish your time with your children.
- population-we™ blog post by John Bohan
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