Friday, January 21, 2005

Polar Express

I went with my wife and two of her sisters to see The Polar Express at the Lincoln Center Imax theater yesterday. The last time we tried this the place was sold out so this time I ordered the tickets via the internet and then went early to pick them up. As it turned out this was unnecessary because the place was almost empty. It did, however, give me a couple of hours before I had to meet my group to hit a few bars. Right around the corner from Lincoln Center is Columbus Avenue, fertile territory.

103) Peter's

Between 68th and 69th on Coumbus, this is a nice drinking bar. A black and white photo of a female nude behind the bar along with a similarly themed statue (but wearing a Santa hat), mirrors and a very large and nice vase of flowers. The walls behind the bar are brick and there is a large Roman-style sculptured head hanging by the door. The back walls are primarily a dark red with Roman style paintings of female nudes and semi-nudes.

The bar itself is a nice, old wooden bar and there was great salsa and chips set out. There was a fairly loud crowd of younger regulars in the front and an older, quieter crowd of regulars in the back. I sat in the middle. In the back and through a door was an equal sized area with tables for eating.

I had a Samuel Adams Winter Lager

104) Caprice

Across the street and on the corner of 69th was this nice looking restaurant with a small horseshoe shaped bar in the front. It had two levels for dining and had a fairly decent crowd. The bar, small as it was, was doing a lively business as well so I sat there and chatted with a few of the more friendly regulars and the equally friendly bartendress.

I had a glass of red wine, Sordo Barbera D'Alba

105) Il Violino

Heading back toward the theater I passed this place on the way. It is right next door to Peter's and is on the corner of 68th and Columbus. Primarily an Italian restaurant, it has a nice little bar in the front and a friendly bartendress. The owner also stopped by and he was a very friendly guy as well so I chatted with him a bit about the state of the world and the good-old-days.

I had a glass of Chianti and an espresso and Sambuca to fortify me for the trip around the corner to the theater (well, it was cold).

Went to the movie and then we had dinner at Rolf's (referenced in a previous post). We all ordered the goose, a specialty this time of year, and it was delicious, as always with plenty to take home so I don't have to go out in the cold today (we may have a blizzard later as well).

Only 895 to go, slogging, or sloshing, my way forward.

Thursday, January 20, 2005

A Stroll Down (across) Old 18th

The weather was a bit on the chilly side, but a bit warmer than it has been the last few days. The sun was out as well and it was a very pleasant day. I decided to go back to my old neighborhood and hit a few favorites and some new places as well.

97) Old Town Bar & Restaurant

This place is just across the street and down the block from where I used to work so it is a place that I have been to many times in the past. It is on 18th street between Park Avenue South and Broadway. This place has been around since, they claim, 1892, and it looks it. The ceilings are high and quite ornate. Great memorabilia on the walls and an old-fashioned mosaic floor. It has a fairly long bar with an opening in the middle for the wait staff to enter and exit. The half of the bar toward the back is covered in marble and the front half is just a typical dark wooden bar. Everything in the place is old and worn and authentic.

There are several tables and booths and the place was packed. There is also an upstairs eating area and the kitchen is located up there. Behind the bar are a couple of old dumb-waiters, hand operated, to move the food from the kitchen to the downstairs area.

I had a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

98) Lucy

Just down the block from the Old Town is this relatively new place. It has a nice bar covered with panes of muti-colored plastic and lit from below. It has a large open area with dark-wood and old roof-tiles as decoration. Quite a pleasant place with nice overhead lighting. Looked to be white muslin wraped around frames which covered the lights.

From the back of the bar you can access ABC Carpet, one of the few "carpet" stores that are worth the visit. All kinds of interesting stuff on display and for sale.

There was a nice seating area in front with coffee tables and sofas and comfortable looking chairs. Interesting art work on the walls too. Latin American music was playing and the bartenders were very nice. The place was pretty empty though, maybe it is more of a night place.

I had a Makers Mark Manhattan and a small taste of a Mojita cocktail.

99) America

Maybe the largest actual bar in New York. It is built on a platform in the back of a cavernous restaurant and is rectangular with the bartenders operating out of the middle. It is made out of what appears to be a pinkish marble (or granite). The restaurant features a small, somewhat sickly green, Statue of Liberty but the walls have interesting murals on them and there is a neat neon modernistic sculpture hanging from the ceiling.

Because the place is so huge, even though it was largely empty it is extremely loud. There is large skylight over the bar but the surrounding buildings don't allow much light.

I was the only person at the bar so the bartender was free to watch the television after serving me a Samuel Adams Winter Ale.

100) Devi

I hit the century mark at this place across the street from America. This place has an Indian motif and beautiful lamps, imported from India, I was told, hanging from the ceiling. The downstairs had little seating enclaves with curtains that could be pulled for privacy. There was also an upstairs eating area. The bar itself was small, only six seats, and had neat purple lights hanging over it.

The waiters were wearing what looked to be orange jumpsuits and looked for all the world like those worn by prisoners. I mentioned this to the bartender and he said I was the first one to make that comment. Go figure.

I had a Peachy Canyon Zinfandel

101) Chat and Chew

I was going to call it a day after 100 but just couldn't pass by this old favorite of mine on the corner of 16th between 5th Avenue and Union Square West. This place looks just like a restaurant that you might find if you were in a small town down south somewhere. Quite authentic looking even though you know it was well designed. It is a real comfortable place to chow down on some real southern comfort food. Although I didn't eat anything today, in the past their meatloaf has been delicious.

I had a Brooklyn Lager

102) Steak Frites

Right across the street, and owned by the same people, is this place. It tries to give the appearance of a French bistro, but doesn't pull it off quite as well as Chat n' Chew pulls of the Southern cafe concept. I was a bit loaded by this time so didn't stick around long.

I had a Brooklyn Lager and headed for the subway and home.

Woot, I broke the century mark and have had a drink in one more place then there were dalmations in that movie whose title I simply cannot remember.


Tuesday, January 18, 2005

Smith Steet Saunter

Another cold day so I decided to stick close to home and hit a few more places on the ever reliable Smith Street. To think that just a few short years ago there wasn't really a single place on this street that you could go into to get a drink.

90) Vegas

A nice comfortable bar with friendly customers and a friendly bartender. A large, dark-wood bar with neat blue lights hung overhead. There is a pool table in the back along with a few sofas, small tables, and plush chairs. Some nice original art on the walls along with a few pictures of the old Las Vegas.

I had a Brooklyn Lager. It was two for one but, showing great restraint, I passed up the free one and headed next door.

91) Cholita

A Peruvian restaurant with a nice bar. This place had orange and red lights over the bar and Peruvian masks hanging on the wall. The food looked and smelled good. It is owned by the same people that own Coco Roco not too far away and I have eaten there and the food was, indeed, quite good. The chef at this place once worked at a major hotel in Lisbon so I assume the food here would be quite good as well. A very friendly bartender and his equally friendly friend at the bar said I should mention the pretty blonde, so I will.

I had a Dos Equis, the only draft beer they had. I was hoping for a Peruvian beer but made do.

92) Sample

Across the street was this little, and I do mean little, place. It had candles on the bar and maps hanging on the wall. Another place with friendly patrons and I had a nice conversation about, well, who knows what exactly.

I had a Hot Spiced Rum and it was quite good and really hit the spot on a cold night.

93) Boat

I walked by this place twice and couldn't find a name for it. It has a Pilsner Urquell sign in the window but no other name. I did, later find out the name of the pace is Boat.

This, again, was a very nice little place with a small bar up front. A couple of TVs that were showing an old film noir movie, Double Indemnity.

I had a Dewars and Soda

94) Chance

This was an interesting place, an Chinese fusion restaruarant with a nice bar in front. It had nice red lights over the bar and a wall of bubbling water behind it. The bartender was a blond guy with dreadlocks, but very friendly and quite competent. He made something called a Purple Haze for a customer and, because he had a bit left over, gave me at taste. Kind of like grape cool-aid and vodka but it was actually made with saki and Chambord raspberry liquer.

I ordered a glass of Shiraz and got a small bowl of wasabi peas and a small piece of chicken. It was happy hour here too and this time, because the wine was good, I did accept the second glass.

95) Cafe LULUc

A nice little bistro that had a small bar up-front.

I had a sambuca and espresso

96) Caserta Vecchia

This is a comfortable little restaurant that features brick-oven pizzas and, on a cold night, gave off a pleasant warmth. Just a little bar up front but a pleasant enough place.

I had a glass of chianti to cap off the evening.

Closing in on the century mark, I am taking tomorrow off and will close out my first 100 bars on Thursday. Only 904 left to go.

Monday, January 17, 2005

Nasty Monday

Well, today was Martin Luther King's birthday so a lot of stuff was closed and on top of it all it was a cold and nasty day. It snowed during the night so the streets were slippery, there was salt and sand everywhere, New York's idea of taking care of things, and, in general, it was a mess.

I headed into Manhattan to make the best of a bad situation.

84) Casa Mono

I got off the subway at 14th and was heading to Pete's when I passed by this place on Irving and 17th. It is relatively new, only open for a year or so. Before this it was a coffee shop and before that it was a bodega. Now it is a Spanish restaurant with two little bars and a very impressive wine menu. I ordered their house sparkling wine and was served a little dish of olives and a couple of little pieces of bread. A nice touch. The place has an open kitchen behind one of the two bars and looks to have a very nice menu. Lots of wine bottles on shelves around the place.

I had a Cava Mono, their house sparkling wine. A nice way to start off a dreary Monday.

85) Pete's Tavern

This is another New York classic on the corner of 18th and Irving. They claim to be the oldest bar in New York and the claim is seldom disputed. They opened in 1864 and managed to stay open even during prohibition. It is a real classic and if you are ever in New York should not be missed. They still had their ceiling covered with little red Christmas lights so it was especially festive.

I had a Pete's 1864 House Ale

86) Tracy J's Watering Hole

Moving up to 19th and cutting across towards Park Avenue South I hit this place. Another old favorite from when I worked in the neighborhood. The walls are covered with somewhat weird cut-outs of "jungle" animals and an increasingly large amount of memorabilia relating to the owner, Art Heyman. If you don't know who he is, stop in and you will find out. He is a fixture at the place. I will give you a bit of a hint, he once played basketball for Duke.

I had a Dewars and soda.

87) Duke's

What a transition, but I couldn't help it. Right across the street was Duke's. This place has a long history including, but not limited to, once being part of one of the largest restrooms in Manhattan when the place next-door was The Iquana. Now it is a "classic" made from scratch old down south type of restaurant and bar. Decent food and classic decor, including old Coke machines and a great pig hanging from the window. A bit too cute in some respects, but still a decent place.

I had a Bare-Knuckle Stout.

88) City Crab

Right next door and the former site of The Iquana, this really good sea-food restaurant and bar is another favorite haunt of days gone by. The large, sequined iguana that once hung from the ceiling is long gone and the smaller one over the door has been replaced by a large red crab. It is a two story place and the now infamous bathroom (gosh, I wonder what people used to do in there) is gone so you have to go upstairs to take a leak, or whatever. Part of the upstairs is right above Duke's.

I had a glass of white wine.

89) Angelo and Maxie's

Rioght across the street so I couldn't pass this up, but I probably should have. It was kind of like shooting fish in a barrel, but I think I was the fish that got shot. This is a classic, but relatively new, steak place. They used to have a seperate room in the back where you could smoke cigars while you ate your dead cow, but it has been closed down thanks to New York's no smoking laws. They still have a lot of cigar related memorabilia on the walls and a fairly decent selection of way over-priced cigars for sale.

The bartender was a friendly sort of guy and I ran into a couple that I have known for a long time. This combination did not work to my advantage as I ended up having three Maker's Mark Manhattans before stumbling home.

Closing in on the century mark, only 911 bars to go.


Nasty Monday

Well, today was Martin Luther King's birthday so a lot of stuff was closed and on top of it all it was a cold and nasty day. I snowed during the night so the streets were slippery, there was salt and sand everywhere, New York's idea of taking care of things, and, in general, it was a mess.

I headed into Manhattan to make the best of a bad situation.

84) Casa Mono

I got off the subway at 14th and was heading to Pete's when I passed by this place on Irving and 17th. It is relatively new, only open for a year or so. Before this it was a coffee shop and before that it was a bodega. Now it is a Spanish restaurant with two little bars and a very impressive wine menu. I ordered there house sparkling wine and was served a little dish of olives and a couple of little pieces of bread. A nice touch. The place has an open kitchen behind one of the two bars and looks to have a very nice menu.

I had a Cava Mono, their house sparkling wine. A nice way to start off a dreary Monday.

85) Pete's Tavern

This is another New York classic on the corner of 18th and Irving. They claim to be the oldest bar in New York and the claim is seldom disputed. They opened in 1864 and managed to stay open even during prohibition. It is a classic and if you are ever in New York should not be missed. They still had their ceiling covered with little red Christmas lights so it was especially festive.

I had a Pete's 1864 House Ale

86) Tracy J's Watering Hole

Moving up to 19th and cutting across towards Park Avenue South I hit this place. Another old favorite from when I worked in the neighborhood. The walls are covered with somewhat weird cut-outs of "jungle" animals and an increasingly large amount of memorabilia relating to the owner, Art Heyman. If you don't know who he is, stop in and you will find out. He is a fixture at the place. I will give you a bit of a hint, he once played basketball for Duke.

I had a Dewars and soda.

87) Duke's

What a transition, but I couldn't help it. Right across the street was Duke's. This place has a long history including, but not limited to, once being part of one of the largest restrooms in Manhattan when the place next-door was The Iquana. Now it is a "classic" made from scratch old down south type of restaurant and bar. Decent food and classic decor, including old Coke machines and a great pig hanging from the window. A bit too cute in some respects, but still a decent place.

I had a Bare-Knuckle Stout.

88) City Crab

Right next door and the former site of The Iquana, this really good sea-food restaurant and bar is another favorite haunt of days gone by. The large, sequined iguana that once hung from the ceiling is long gone and the smaller one over the door has been replaced by a large red crab. It is a two story place and the now infamous bathroom (gosh, I wonder what people used to do in there) is gone so you have to go upstairs to take a leak, or whatever.

I had a glass of white wine.

89) Angelo and Maxie's

Rioght across the street I couldn't pass this up. It was kind of like shooting fish in a barrel, but I think I was the fish that got shot. This is a classic, but relatively new, steak place. They used to have a seperate room in the back where you could smoke cigars while you ate your dead cow, but it has been closed down thanks to New York's no smoking laws. They still have a lot of cigar related memorabilia on the walls and a fairly decent selection of way over-priced cigars for sale.

The bartender was a friendly sort of guy and I ran into a couple that I have known for a long time. This combination did not work to my advantage as I ended up having three Maker's Mark Manhattans before stumbling home.

Closing in on the century mark, only 911 bars to go.


Sunday, January 16, 2005

Weaker End

Well, I was just going to go down to the deli and get a beer to bring back and drink while I watched the Vikings/Eagles game. The wife then said that as long as I was going out for a beer I might as well stop into a bar so it would count. Ever the cheerleader. Anyway, I decided to take her advice.

83) The Archieves Restaurant and Bar

This is a bar in the Marriott hotel just down a couple of blocks from my place. It is on Adams Street which, if you cross the street becomes Boerum PL (but nobody seems to know what the PL stands for). It is also known as Brooklyn Bridge Blvd. because, if you stay on it heading north, you will cross the Brooklyn Bridge. But enough about geography.

This is a very nice hotel bar as you would expect in a relatively new hotel. It is finished in dark wood and the bar-top is marble. The bartender was very friendly and we chatted about the Jets horrible loss the previous night. There is a wall of windows that, unfortunately, looks out upon a dreary Supreme Court building.

I had a Sierra Nevada and snacked on the contents of a little bowl of snacks.

Hardly worth mentioning, but now there is only 917 bars left to go.

Weak End

Well, the week-end arrived and it was a bit of a weak end. However, it was somewhat planned for and, actually, a bit better than expected. I had friends come visit in Brooklyn (all the way from Long Beach, Long Island) on Saturday and we had dinner and hit a few spots. The Jets lost a close-one and today I will simply vegetate and see what the Vikings end up doing. Go Randy (and never was a name so appropriate). Can't even buy a beer in a store until noon on Sunday in this town, but, I will have one at home and call it a day.

I am writing this on Sunday but I hit the following bars on Saturday night.

77) Pacifico

This place on Pacific between Smith and Boerum, is as close to an authentic Mexican bar that you will find outside of Mexico. An outdoor area (although it is a bit cold for it now), two enclosed porches, a bar covered with ceramic tiles, a fireplace (well, you don't actually see too many of those in Mexico) and great Margaritas.

I had two margaritas.

78) Bar Tabac

A neat French bistro on Smith Street, old fooseball table, mainly French staff and customers. I had a drink at the bar to keep my record intact and then we had dinner in the back. Food was great and they have the best mussels I have ever eaten. We got two orders for appetizers, one in a wine sauce and one in a light mustard sauce. Heaven in a shell. I actually had three drinks here (a glass of wine and another Ricard) so you know that I am not going to go the distance tonight. I am, of counting the one I had at the bar.

I had a Ricard for an aperitif. For those of you who don't know, this is an anise flavored drink similar to Pernod (which was introduced after absinthe was made illegal in 1915). Actually, both Pernod and Ricard are made by the same company, Pernod Ricard.

79) Angry Wade's

This is a very nice sports bar up the street from Bar Tabac. Pool table in the back, friendly staff and friendly crowd.

I had a Samuel Adams.

80) Zombie Hut

Nice place, kind of across the street from Angry Wade's, and one of the few Tiki bars around. The owner of Angry Wade's stopped by and said he would buy me 100 beers if I actually completed my thousand bars in a year. I almost feel like I have gotten a corporate sponsorship. This guy also does a five borough bar trek every once in awhile and invited me to join in the next time. That should be fun and up my numbers. You have to have at least one drink in each of New York City's five borough's, Brooklyn, Manhattan, The Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island.

I had a Mai Tai but was told that the next time I come in I should have a zombie. By now I felt like one.

81) Sur

My second to the last stop on the way home and I remember almost nothing other than the fact that I was there and had a drink.

I had a beer, but what kind I do not remember.

82) Ambar

This was my last stop on the way home and I did recover a bit. Heading back toward what I hope is home I made my last stop and had the bartender write the review:

"Down to earth neighborhood bar with a touch of the Carribean. Good music. Good drinks."

I had a Red Stripe and that was it for the night.

Well, you can probably see why I am taking today off except for one beer to straighten myself out a bit. Note to self, do not start off the night by having 5 drinks in the first two places. I am no longer a young man.

Moving in on the century mark with 82 down and a mere 918 to go. I will easily hit one hundred by the end of the next week.