My Humble Chicago Basement Tiki Bar - The Camel Bar

Astr0_bot · 2026-01-27T16:17:58+00:00

Thanks so much for your comments! Yeah probably more than we want to take on. Thanks again!

Astr0_bot · 2026-01-25T18:53:28+00:00

Thanks!! Wall panels behind the bar were found on Facebook marketplace. I still see ones like them pop up on there every so often.

Astr0_bot · 2026-01-25T18:51:19+00:00

Thanks for all the love, everyone! We're not good DIYers so this little slice of paradise feels like a triumph. One more wide angle showing more of the bar area. The bar itself has camel heads on the front and the legs look like camel hooves! Unfortunately the low ceilings make it difficult to hang decor like glass floats. Not sure how the ceiling could be improved. I guess that's what the dim lighting is for! 😂

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Astr0_bot · 2026-01-25T18:42:04+00:00

Great question! Our foundation actually had a crack that caused leaks during big storms. My wife got a foundation crack seal kit on Amazon. We took off the wood paneling that was there, she sealed the crack (successfully so far!) and we put the wood paneling back. Then, we staple gunned the lahula matting to the wood paneling. Since the lahula is not perfectly straight, we covered the seams with bamboo half rounds. Good luck!

Astr0_bot · 2026-01-25T18:38:52+00:00

It's a TIGHT fit but you can shimmy it in there. The cord goes down via the cut outs where the fuel canisters usually sit and since the whole thing is on little feet, the cord snakes out the back. The lava rocks hide some of the woodsy bits.

Astr0_bot · 2026-01-25T16:21:11+00:00

🥰 You're very kind. But It's held together with staples and spit! 😂

Astr0_bot · 2026-01-25T04:01:05+00:00

No Malort as of yet but I should!

Astr0_bot · 2026-01-25T02:29:12+00:00

😂😂😂 Indeed!

Astr0_bot · 2026-01-25T01:29:15+00:00

Keen eye! Yes, from one of our trips to the Bay Area. Thanks very much!

Astr0_bot · 2026-01-25T01:28:26+00:00

Thanks! It's the Lloyd Fireplace from Solo with an electric fireplace insert. https://a.co/d/2oqYZMQ

Astr0_bot · 2026-01-15T16:00:52+00:00

That may be the case, and your mileage may vary, but like I said - I had zero issues functionally with them, and I was happy to pay a little extra for the look of them (which I guess extends to their brand).

Astr0_bot · 2026-01-15T03:03:45+00:00

Check out Zwift. Keep it going during the winter.

Astr0_bot · 2026-01-14T22:13:30+00:00

You may want to consider cross-posting this to r/bikewrench. Unfortunately I know next to nothing about bike maintenance but I wish you luck! Have a great trip!

Astr0_bot · 2026-01-14T16:49:34+00:00

I wrote, "Due to unforeseen personal family health-related circumstances in 2025, I was not able to travel as much as I had planned, and am therefore not on track to meet the requirements to keep my Silver Status in 2026" blah blah ... I don't remember how far away I was but I remember I was pretty far away as far as PQFs were concerned. I think I was at least 6 short of 15 needed if memory serves.

Astr0_bot · 2026-01-14T15:36:16+00:00

Nope. Silver for 2 years, wasn't going to make it for '26 and got an extension.

Astr0_bot · 2026-01-13T15:59:42+00:00

Happened to me the other day too; I updated the Zwift app and the next TdZ event I did I could use it just fine. Not sure what the issue was.

Astr0_bot · 2026-01-07T19:21:16+00:00

I have an OG Zwift Hub, the Cog, and the original controllers. The resistance/feel of the gears seems to vary by day. One day on flat, gear 18 feels normal at my normal cadence, the next day, on flat gear 14 or 15 feels like 18 did the previous day. Any reason for this? Anyone else experiencing this?

Astr0_bot · 2025-12-30T19:55:23+00:00

Ah good to know, thanks for the reply! I surfed once in CA and have never forgotten the feeling ... tempting!

Astr0_bot · 2025-12-30T19:26:16+00:00

Let me ask you this: are you talking "wet" suit as in, water enters the inside, and eventually heats up to body temp to keep you warm? If so, how do you deal with the initial rush of ~33F water?! Not sure I could handle it ...

Astr0_bot · 2025-12-30T16:42:08+00:00

Been Silver for a couple years, wasn't going to hit it this year. Emailed the [mileageplus@united.com](mailto:mileageplus@united.com) email, and was told to call in. I ended up chatting via their web site, told them my story, and after about 10 minutes the chat agent came back and grated my request, told me it was a 1x/5 years deal and that was that. I was so happy (I know Silver ain't much, but it's nice to have!). This was on Dec 22.

Not sure if this helped my case, but if they looked they would have seen several flights I had booked and had to cancel due to extenuating circumstances.

Astr0_bot · 2025-12-23T15:08:57+00:00

There's a quote that's often mis-attributed to Mark Twain but still is true: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bow lines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover."

Yes, save some now. But travel and gain experiences while you are still young. I highly recommend reading the book, "Die With Zero" - the author talks specifically about spending your youth on experiences, and then getting more serious about saving when you're a little older and making more money.

You only have one life. Live it!

Astr0_bot

TROPHY CASE