Live music lineup at El Meson
Hixson locationNick Lutsko, every Wednesday from 6-9 p.m.Tim Lewis, every Friday and Saturday from 7-10 p.m.Hamilton Place locationEddie Pontiac, every Friday and Saturday from 7-10 p.m.
EL MESON
Address: 248 Northgate Park and 2204 Hamilton Place Blvd.Hours: Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.Phone: 423-710-1201 (Hixson) or 423-894-8726 (Hamilton Place)
Last autumn, both El Meson locations expanded their bars to include additional seating, additional TVs, more margarita machines and more beers on tap. Now, the truth comes out.
"These bars were designed just for Cinco de Mayo!" Tony Ruiz, who owns El Meson's Hixson location, told me during my recent visit.
Sí, to say that Cinco de Mayo is a big deal to the Ruiz family, which owns and operates both locations, is an understatement. Each year, both locations boast a 21-and-up parking lot party complete with live music, taco trailer, Patron margaritas and more. Both events begin at 5 p.m. and end well, when everybody goes home.
"It's like a mini Riverbend!" said Raul Ruiz Sr., the Ruiz family patriarch who owns El Meson's Hamilton Place location.
This year Cinco de Mayo falls on a Friday, which is sure to make the celebration bigger than ever. But you won't want to wear yourself out too thoroughly; at El Meson, May is a big month.
The week following Cinco de Mayo, El Meson celebrates Mexican Mother's Day, which always falls on May 10. Accordingly, El Meson will feature food and drink specials "for all the madres," Raul Sr. told me.
A few days after that, El Meson celebrates American Mother's Day, which this year falls on May 14. Then, it will feature a bevy of brunch specials and, later, dinner specials.
Sí, between its parties, patios and live music throughout the week, late spring shines at El Meson - and now with bigger bars than ever.