Central PA Living: Jerseytown Tavern
Snuggled into a northeastern corner of central PA, tiny little Jerseytown (pop. 184) is home to the Jerseytown Tavern, the (self-proclaimed) Bluegrass Capital of Columbia County.The Tavern is, basically, a house that's been converted into a bar and restaurant, and from what I understand, the food is pretty good. Next time, we'll go for dinner. Every Wednesday night, local musicians pile into this little road house and find a spot for themselves on their one small stage. With one condenser microphone between them. And they bust out some fiddlin', banjo-in', dobro-in', guitar-in', singin', butt-shakin', boot-scootin' down-home bluegrass and old-school country.And they do it all surrounded by some of the strangest decor I have ever seen in a bar.Look carefully over the guitarist's head. That's right. It's a "hang in there" raccoon, painted onto the ceiling tile. Every other ceiling tile has some kind of adornment on it, like a chess board full of bizarre.There's this zebra.And these floating space rabbits and bears. Are those rabbits wearing...is that lederhosen? No, no lederhosen. They're just wearing rompers. Boring floating space bunnies in rompers. But...why?This one is my personal favorite. It's former President Bill Clinton, playing saxophone.The entire bar is covered in wood etchings. Dig the squirrel who guards my beer.Bonus: They had some really good beers on tap.And then...the wooden support post...there's...uh...OK, OK, the decor is fun and quirky and all but, there's the music, right? We went there for the music. What about that?[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l0W20JQBNE&feature=youtu.be]Because that is how we roll in central PA.Sing it, Mary.Oh, we'll be back.See you at the Jerseytown Tavern, everyone!