Competing "BarSprawl" Tells PubSprawl To Go To Hell

Feb 17, 2007

	BarSprawl Co-Founders Colin Kolakowski and Peter Papadalopolis

Although the PubSprawl is now in its 11th year, many in Chicago want to remind St. Patrick's Day revelers that the PubSprawl is not the only game in town. I met up with the co-founders of a competing bar crawl, the BarSprawl (www.barsprawl.com), at a Dunkin Donuts in Rogers Park.

"So what that PubSprawl is in it's 11th year?" screams Colin Kolakowski in between sips of Dunkin Donuts coffee. "Me and Pete are exactly in our 11th year too. PubSprawl isn't the only crawl around you know. We've been doing it better - "

"And longer," adds BarSprawl co-founder Peter Papadalopolis.

"- yeah, and longer, than the PubSprawl! We're gonna kick it's ass on the party-ometer again this year," continued Colin without missing a beat.

Last year's fellow BarSprawler, Bill. (Photo courtesy BarSprawl.)

Colin and Pete are on a crusade of sorts to win over the hearts and minds of Chicagoland St. patrick's Day revelers. For 10 years now the two have promoted their competing BarSprawl only to have it overshadowed by the PubSprawl.

"It's a travesty!" yells Colin as he paces the floor of Dunkin Donuts. "PubSprawl is like one of those businesses like Microsoft or Old Navy - you know, a monopoly! We, on the other hand, offer choice - an alternative.  And the cool thing is we're finally winning over the people. They realize now that if you truly want to party your ass off, you come to BarSprawl."

"Yeah," adds Peter. "Like last year we had a guy named Bill join us for half of the day. He was awesome. And we hope he comes back."

"And brings chicks."

"Well, yeah," Pete says nodding his head.

	Colin & Pete "Beer Bonging" in 2005. (Photo courtesy BarSprawl.)

"Listen, PubSprawl has a website, but who cares? We have a website too! And it was built right from the start! Pete built www.barsprawl.com like 10 years ago and it's still kickin' - like Aerosmith or The Police. I think PubSprawl re-did their site like 3 times already? What's that all about?"

This year the co-founders are stepping up their publicity efforts. Colin expalins, "We were trying to think of a good way to really get the word out about our kick-ass bar crawl and then it hit us -,"

"MySpace," Pete says with a smile.

"Yeah, MySpace. Dude, that's the best way to get the message out - not just to Chicago, but like the whole f*cking world! Can you imagine that? Can you imagine some f*ckin' Indians or Canadians like joining us in getting f*cked up this year? It could happen now thanks to MySpace. I mean, that would ROCK! You don't see PubSprawl doing promotion stuff like this. I mean, it doesn't even have a MySpace page! We're the ONLY bar crawl out there on MySpace and we're telling the whole world."

"Yeah, and that's like thosands of people," adds Pete.

"Tell him the cool part," interrupts Colin with a smirk.

Good times. Colin hitting Pete in head during BarSprawl 2004 festivities.

"Oh yeah," smiles Pete. "Almost immediately, after just creating the page, like this guy Tom wanted to be our friend."

"See?" smiles Colin. "That Tom guy knows. He knows where the party's at!"

Colin and Pete high five each other. "If there's one message I want to send people this year, it's 'F the PubSprawl!'"

"Yeah!" repeats Pete. "We need to make that this year's t-shirt."