Mustache mania makes magical Mondays, plus ping pong, at Square Room

Photo by Keven Reed

Suspiciously pencil-thin mustaches help Lisa Cyr, Kari Foster and Rebecca Baker blend into the Mustache Monday scene at The Square Room.

Photo by Keven Reed

Dustin Burnett and Avi O'Grodnick compare their handlebar mustaches during The Square Room's Mustache Monday Mash-up.

Photo by Keven Reed

Suspiciously pencil-thin mustaches help Lisa Cyr, Kari Foster and Rebecca Baker blend into the Mustache Monday scene at The Square Room.

Photo by Keven Reed

Susan Key, left, models a bushy ‘stache while Taylor Brown gets by on an abundance of beard at The Square Room.

Photo by Keven Reed

The Mustache Bar offers assistance for keeping mustaches manageable during the Monday Mustache Mash-up at The Square Room.

Monday nights are usually pretty boring by nightlife standards, especially during the summer. Blame it on my distaste for televised baseball, or the fact that everyone I know is usually sick of going out by the conclusion of the weekend.

Whatever the case may be, it takes a pretty compelling argument to get a group out on the town at the start of the week.

Thankfully, The Square Room has started a brave, new kind of happy hour to lure the crowds out for a cheap, fun Monday evening.

For those keeping score, the Square Room garnered the top spot in 2008 out of the overwhelming list of bars and music venues I visited last year. Since opening in November they have brought an eclectic mix of indie-rock, adult contemporary and pop artists to Knoxville, several playing to sold out crowds.

Located just behind its counterpart on Market Square, Café 4, the Square Room continues to surprise me with various forms of entertainment throughout the week. Beginning as what seemed like a strictly restaurant/music venue combination, it has also become somewhat of a hip early evening hangout spot for the Sundown in the City crowd, as well as those desperately searching for an entertaining happy hour.

The Square Room’s Monday Mustache Mash-up is anything but your typical happy hour. Running 5-9 p.m. Mondays, the mash-up truly encompasses all the silliness that comes with being a mustache connoisseur.

The Square Room changes its setup just a bit, adding quite a bit more seating than is usually available during their shows. While I’m not sure what ping-pong has to do with having a mustache, the inclusion of a ping-pong table just in front of the stage is certainly welcome, adding an extra element to the evening. Besides, anyone can play ping-pong.

A DJ keeps the music coming throughout the evening, playing a wide range of classic songs from the likes of Radiohead, Neil Young, The Who and the Rolling Stones. For the visually compelled, there are screens on either side of the stage playing an assortment of random videos, including concert footage, internet shorts and clips from mustache contests. Mustache envy might be afoot.

Of course, the real reason to come out is the happy hour deals — and the Square Room delivers. Domestic tall boys and an assortment of draft beer, including Fat Tire, are available for $2. If beer isn’t your thing, the place still has you covered with a small selection of red and white wine available for $2 by the glass — just be careful not to dye your ‘stache red. If for whatever reason you happen to be stache-less on a Monday, the drinks only go up to a still-reasonable $3.

In addition to the beverages, the bar also offers mustache care products and novelty items including an assortment of grooming supplies, corn cob pipes, playing cards and matches as well as complimentary Tic-Tacs.

You can also order food at the bar if you happen to get hungry. Most of the food runs about $7 or more, but even the french fry basket we ordered was very much worth it.

Don your ‘stache and head down to the Square Room for one of Knoxville’s most entertaining Monday nights.

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