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EyeGuy

Joined 3 years ago

One of The COOLEST Bars Anywhere.. What makes a good bar? Most people would have to agree that it's the atmosphere and the crowd since you can pretty much get the same drinks at any bar. And this is why The Spider is one of my favorite bars anywhere...but I am very biased since I went to Case and lived in the nearby northside dorms in the early 80's when the Spider was called the Olive Tree...at least I think it was called the Olive Tree. It was some kind of "tree" since we always called it just The Tree. We drank a lot in college as it was nearly impossible not to stop in during our afternoon walk home from classes on the Quad. The Spider is housed in a converted old carriage house well off the street down a long driveway. It's kind of a secret hidden little bar in the woods which adds to its amazing charm and character. In the winter, the Spider is incredibly cozy with the fire going but it really shines in the summer either in the late afternoon or at night with live music. Hang out on the picnic tables under the canopy of trees while the music plays in the background and you will not be disappointed. The crowd is also very cool. Lots of well-educated undergrads and grad students mixed in with a regular crowd of ex-hippies. The students come and go but the regulars are what gives the Spider so much character. Martin runs one of the friendliest, most laid back bars you have ever been to. The bar inside is small but the low ceilings and walls of windowed doors creates an amazing atmosphere...perfect for hanging out with friends and having a few beers. In the summer with the inside bar doors open the place has a really airy hip feel and in the winter, it turns into a cozy cabin in the woods. There is no better place to relax and enjoy a beer during the afternoon or evening listening to cool music with a super cool friendly crowd in any season.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

This Case campus classic is a back-alley hideaway that boasts an eclectic crowd. Think the Chieftains hanging with doctorate Deadheads.. In Short
The Spider hides behind Arabica Coffeehouse in a semi-wooded nook that qualifies as an urban escape--with beer. The building (once a series of horse stables) maintains a rustic interior that opens to a patio with picnic tables. Invaluable on a beautiful summer night (short-term outdoor bars are scarce in the snowbelt,) the patio is the perfect place to sit-- a cool corner where music of all types drifts out from the main room.

The Draw
Anyone hoping to experience the Spider at its most intriguing can show up for the twice-monthly open-mic nights. But unlike most "open" sessions at area bars, there's no cheesy suit singing "YMCA." Whether it's an Irish reel band, a bongo-playing exchange student or an accordion player performing Italian silent film scores, you will always experience something that is hard to explain to the cul-de-sac gang.