Sparky's rounds up country-style nightlife

Months ago it was called Sparky's Sports Bar. There are several sports bars in Carson City, but no bars where customers can ride " at their peril " the mechanical bull and enjoy country music. So Nathan Fried, the general manager of the newly named Sparky's Country Roadhouse in Quail Park Plaza contacted a mechanical bull owner, and now it's bucking away Saturday nights from 9 p.m. "until butts give out."

"We're all country here now," Fried said before opening at 11 a.m. "Daily we have a DJ playing country music, and then on weekends we have a live band for dancing " all country music, of course. Some rock, maybe." The band Rustlers is from Gardnerville, he said.

The original Sparky's had been open for six years when, three months ago, the change was ordered. Now a large dance floor looks over three pool tables (gotta have those for a country spot). The bar sits in an island overlooking both the dance floor and the bull pit. Around the walls are 46 TV sets, all usually tuned to a computer controlled satellite system to offer a choice of star country performers.

"We've a complete kitchen with everything from burgers to T-bone steaks," said Fried. "It's a pub-styled menu."

Other amusement include Tuesday Beer Pong, where small glasses of beer are stacked up and contestants try to land a ping pong in opponents' glasses.

"We do karaoke on Wednesday nights with 50-cent draft beer. Monday night we have football from the National Football League, all the games that are played," said Fried. There's also line dancing instruction on Thursday nights.

Sparky's caters to special parties and is already booking private Christmas affairs. Call 886-7530 to plan a party.

The physical address in 2310 S. Carson St., inside the quad that includes a Starbuck's and Ming's Chinese restaurant. There's plenty of parking in the college-quad like campus.

"Yeah, we think we're the only country-branded restaurant in town. Not a whole lot of people know that we're the place for good old country music," said Fried. "And the only place in town where you can try the mechanical bull. It's a real ride."