Moline: in Review

Well, it's the morning of my last day in Moline, Il. I have to say, my reactions to this town are mixed. Since I'll be coming back here in six months or so for some more training, I went a little bit out of my way to find out a few good places to eat, and I found them. First off, Moline is the headquarters of John Deere. The man moved here some time in the mid to late 1800s and set up shop, and the rest is history. His house overlooks the river front from on top of a large hill, and it's a mansion. The town is under going a revitalization of the river front, and my hotel, the Stoney Creek Inn, is right on it.

The Stoney Creek wasn't my first choice, as the recommended hotel was the Radisson, which is just across a park. I found the Stoney Creek to be a nice hotel, with nice sized rooms, and very comfortable bedding. There is a nice indoor pool, and a bar with friendly service, and a nice screened in patio with a good view. The view, however, does include a large concrete bridge that crosses the river to an Army Arsenal. Apparently this is the last Arsenal that still makes howitzers and this sort of thing. While, that is pretty cool, it doesn't make for a nice view. My problems with the hotel? Well, the website led me to believe that there was a restaurant in the hotel, and THERE IS NOT. All the other guests that were in the same class as I was agreed that it was sort of misleading. There is a free breakfast, but it is the most basic continental I've seen. Enough to get the job done, and that's it. I've made a habit of grabbing a custard filled donut and a cup of coffee each morning and heading back to the room. They also have a substance that is labeled "Fresh Florida Orange Juice" but I assure you that the only thing correct in that label is that it is colored orange. It tasted more like bad Tang.

Then there is the bar. The bar was staffed by a different person each night I went there. They had an expected collection of bottled beers, and they claimed to have a full "hard liquor bar." I'm not sure why it was pointed out that it was a liquor bar, but maybe they were heading off potential trouble of people asking for salad. I guess that's right out. Anyway, the first night I asked them which Bourbons they had, and when the list started with Jack Daniels, I knew I was in trouble. She didn't mention Maker's Mark, which I only found out about when I spotted a bottle tucked away behind some boxes. So, I asked her for a Manhattan, with the makers mark, and I recoiled in horror as the drink was made. A proper Manhattan is made in a cocktail shaker, but in a situation like this, I was not surprised to see it mixed directly into a glass (I've made them this way in a pinch myself), but it obvious that the woman had read about the drink once, and was struggling to recall exactly how it was made. I stared to interject and that's when she quickly grabbed a bottle of sweet vermouth, sprinkle a bit on top, and then add soda water. She garnished it with a cherry and presented it to me with a bill for $5.00. Against my better judgement I took the drink, thinking it best not to upset her since I didn't know that she wouldn't be working again, and headed out to the deck to my work in private. I retired a little disappointed, but little did I know, there would be more to come. I didn't go to the bar the next day, but the following, there was a young man working, who thank the lord, simply said they didn't have the materials to make the drink properly. I just had a makers, and all was well. the next day (my final day ordering anything from the bar), there was a different woman working. I asked her for a makers and water... how could this get messed up, right?

wrong.

She proceeded to take a pint glass, fill it a 1/4 of the way with makers, and then fill the rest of it with water. The whole glass. she then turns to me and says, "I hope it's not too strong." I muttered to myself that I didn't think that would be a problem. I tried to explain to her that the drink wasn't acceptable, but she had it in her mind that she had made it too strong, and kept offering to put more water in it. I ended up getting a miller light. Enough is enough. Anyway...

I have found Moline to be a friendly town, with good people, and a lot of tractors and combines. I would stay at Stoney Creek again, but only if the Radisson was full. Next time I come, I'll be calling at least 4 months in advance to make sure I can get in at the Radisson, which has a TGI Friday's attached to it. There is a vibrant and healthy bar scene in Moline, and there is a definite German influence. I'll talk more about that another time, because there are definitely some bars worthy of notice here.