I’m writing from the Handlebar.

It’s a “spokeeasy” in downtown Russellville that sits right across from the local bike shop. The fact that it exists at all still amazes me. You see, Pope County is a dry county, which means you have to drive to Blackwell, aka “The Well” to find the nearest liquor store.

If you’re a native Arkansawyer, this won’t come as a surprise, but I’ve had many long conversations explaining dry counties to friends outside the Bible Belt.

Growing up, Russellville was essentially a “Dry Town” (which also happens to be the name of my buddy Adam Anderson’s band). We didn’t just lack liquor stores; there were no bars. No after-work beers.

Thanks to the big hearts and deep pockets of those who shall remain unnamed, all that has changed.

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Russ Vegas's downtown now boasts not only the Handlebar, but also Fat Daddy’s, the Old Bank, Point Remove Brewery, and more. A couple of years ago, our city council even voted to allow an “Entertainment District." Which basically just means you can carry your drink around from venue to venue.

As we approach Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for how far my little town has come. I like beer as much as the next guy, but this is bigger than beer. These fine establishments provide a place for our community to flourish.

It’s kind of like church. There’s music and wine. Heck, the Handlebar’s filled with people who'll share pews come Sunday.

God is in this place. He’s in the conversation I had with a friend from fifth grade a minute ago. A woman who just caught me up on the 30 years that have passed since I sat beside her in Mrs. Dane’s class.

God is in the music, too. He moves in mysterious ways, folks. He’s not just confined to Sunday morning worship services. No sir. The Holy Spirit likes to get down on Saturday nights, too.

I can hear him in the voice of Louie Pardue, a singer/songwriter down from North Carolina. Louie’s here to partake in a weekend of music out at Dr. Jim Lieblong’s house. Jim is a dear family friend and a man who knows the power of music, the power of people.

For a column that started off about liquor licenses then weaved its way around to God and the Great Melody that connects us, it’s fitting that we end with the one thread that connects the bars, the beers, the music, and the church — people, some really fine folks I'm thankful to call friends.

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