Martin Juredine, the longtime owner of the Barking Spider Tavern, elected to stick to selling only beer and wine at this rustic eastside institution for a couple reasons. For starters, "whiskey drinkers," as he called them, tended to get a whole lot rowdier than their beer- and wine-sipping counterparts. But mainly it was because whiskey drinkers are less likely to pay attention to the music. We lost Marty a couple years back and many years too soon. But his spirit and example live on, both through his longtime customers and his daughter Jenna, who hasn't missed a beat since officially grabbing the reins. While we adore the hideaway locale and the leafy dog-friendly patio, it's the music that brings us back time and again. Who needs a schedule when you know that come hell or high water, the Spider will have some kick-ass bluegrass, country or indie rock band taking the stage just about every night of the year. And there's never a cover charge; guests just tip what they want, because that's the way Marty wanted it. "The bands probably deserve more money," he once said. "But we do give them respect while they are playing, which is something they don't always get at other bars."
11310 Juniper Rd., 216-421-2863
