I didn't hit any bars yesterday but took a bit of a busman's holliday by going to a Superbowl party. I can't exactly say it was a break from drinking. But all things in moderation.
Today I took the subway into Manhattan, got off at 14th and walked up to 23rd. I passed a lot of bars on the way, but those will be saved for another day. Today my objective was a relatively modest one, walk from Park Avenue South to 7th Avenue and hit the bars along the way. There were only four so this was a fairly easy task.
167) Live Bait
This place, at 114 East 23rd Street is a real classic. Gives you the ambience of a small bar in a Southern rural area. It has been around for quite awhile, but certainly is nowhere as old as it is made to appear. Decorated just right to convey that ambience without being overly cute about it. Madi Gras beads strewn about the place and tastefully placed around the neck of the stuffed alligator in the front window. They have a small oyster bar but it wasn't set up yet.
I had a draft Abita, brewed in Louisianna, keeping with the theme of the place.
168) Outback Steakhouse
Just down the street a bit at 60 West 23rd Steet was the Outback Steakhouse. Well, they have a very nice bar, and it is one of my favorite chain restaurants. The bar area is separate from the dining room so if you didn't know you were in an Outback Steakhouse very little here would let you know. Sadly, they only serve one Australian beer and, in my opinion, it is far from one of Australia's best. It is interesting because, in keeping with the somewhat Australian theme of the decor they have a big Toohey's Ale sign, they just don't serve it.
I had a draft Foster's.
169) The Limerick House
Across the street from the Outback Steakhouse is this old Irish bar. I remember if from when it was located on 2nd Avenue, but I guess it moved a few years back. The manager and I chatted about some of the bars that were in the old neighborhood, a couple of which I have already hit (Molly's and Rolf's). Kind of a traditional Irish bar, a back area with a table and a nice overhead stained glass light. The walls are kind of a pinkish red and the place was decked out, such as it were, for Valentine's Day. There is an old piano but, sadly, the piano player recently passed away. They do have a woman who comes in and plays the guitar on Sunday afternoons for the brunch crowd.
I had a Dewars and soda.
170) Francisco's
This is a nice Spanish restaurant at 159 West 23rd Street. It has a fairly large bar in the front. The place is decorated with mounted fish and a bunch of the largest lobster claws I have ever seen. And when I say big, I mean big. The weight of the lobster is written on the claws and I think the biggest one that I saw was 23 pounds. The manager said that size lobster gives you about 4 pounds of meat because so much of the weight is in the shell. I also learned that male lobsters have, proportionally, much smaller claws than females. They are also shaped differently, longer and narrower while the females are much "fatter" looking.
I had a glass of merlot and called it a day.
Not exactly heading down the home stretch, but only 830 left to go.
Monday, February 07, 2005
Saturday, February 05, 2005
One For The Weekend
Well, I had kind of planned on taking the weekend off, but it was a nice warm sunny day and I kind of thought it would be nice to go for a walk. There is a bar that I have passed by but never stopped into before so I thought this would be a nice time to do it.
166) Freddy's
On the intersection of Dean and 6th Street in Brooklyn is this classic neighborhood bar. In the front window is a stuffed shark (or a plastic replica) and a couple of spike high-heel shoes. Behind the bar is a stuffed, and framed, bat and a large skull of unknown origin. One mirror behind the bar is festooned with pictures of people giving the camera the finger. Lot's of old books strewn about and copies of Lurch magazine available for browsing. There was a very strange montage of video clips compiled by the owner playing on the TV (the clips were playing on the TV, not the owner). Old 1960's Batman, what looked to be Mexican horror movies, kung-fu, very weird but quite engrossing. The whole place is strewn with old "stuff" and you could probably go in any number of times and not really see everything. They have a back room where a variety of entertainment is featured later in the evening. There is a painted tin ceiling and old lights with fans overhead. The bathroom features better than average graffiti.
I had a draft UFO Hefeweizen from Harpoon.
Well, only one today, but you can only chop a forest down one tree at a time. 166 down and 834 to go.
166) Freddy's
On the intersection of Dean and 6th Street in Brooklyn is this classic neighborhood bar. In the front window is a stuffed shark (or a plastic replica) and a couple of spike high-heel shoes. Behind the bar is a stuffed, and framed, bat and a large skull of unknown origin. One mirror behind the bar is festooned with pictures of people giving the camera the finger. Lot's of old books strewn about and copies of Lurch magazine available for browsing. There was a very strange montage of video clips compiled by the owner playing on the TV (the clips were playing on the TV, not the owner). Old 1960's Batman, what looked to be Mexican horror movies, kung-fu, very weird but quite engrossing. The whole place is strewn with old "stuff" and you could probably go in any number of times and not really see everything. They have a back room where a variety of entertainment is featured later in the evening. There is a painted tin ceiling and old lights with fans overhead. The bathroom features better than average graffiti.
I had a draft UFO Hefeweizen from Harpoon.
Well, only one today, but you can only chop a forest down one tree at a time. 166 down and 834 to go.
Friday, February 04, 2005
Across The Bridge
It wasn't too bad a day out. Kind of chilly, but much warmer than it has been. I decided to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge into downtown Manhattan and hit a few bars.
162) The Beekman Pub
This place, on Beekman Street, is about one block from City Hall in downtown Manhattan. About a four or five block walk once you come off the Brooklyn Bridge. It is an old Irish pub that has been around since at least the 1920's. It is a very nice place with a fairly large dining area as well. The bar has nice stained-glass lamps overhead. There is a framed Kevin McHale jersey that he signed hanging in a prominent position by the door. I mentioned it to the bartender, I am from Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota so am a big McHale fan. It turned out that the bartender had also been in Minnesota for a few months. In 1977 he tried out for the U of M hockey team as a walk-on but didn't make it. We chatted about Minnesota, hockey, Herb Brooks, and other Minnesota trivia. The place was pretty packed with people grabbing hamburgers and such for lunch.
I had a Highlander Scottish Ale
163) Ryan's Sports Bar
This place was kind of like a mini-Beekman Pub at 46 Gold Street between Fulton Street and Eden's Alley. It also was very crowded and noisy and was a very nice, cosy type of place. Lot's of TVs about the place showing ESPN and ESPN 2. I fixated on a woman's 9 ball tournament. They must get a lot of customers from Verizon in here because there were several "Keep Verizon Jobs Here" stickers about the place.
I had a Murphy's Irish Stout
164) Reds
I headed along the East River and just at the edge of the touristy area (well, alright, just inside) was Reds. Kind of a strange place in a way, the longer I was there the more it grew on me. It had a tin, or tin-like covered bar and floor to ceiling windows wall-to-wall. This made it quite bright. Had a vaguely Mexican look to it with sombreros behind the bar and large, mural-like pictures of Mexican Indians on the walls upstairs. The large overhead lights looked like something out of Star Wars, like large bowls with vaguely alien life-forms trying to escape. Not sure what that was all about. The TV was over the frozen-margarita machine at the end of the bar where I was sitting so I watched ESPN greates Superbowl moments while eating corn chips and a real nice and quite spicy salsa.
I had a Dewars and soda
165) Fraunces Tavern
Heading south back towards the area that I was at yesterday I stopped in at this venerable institution. This place is at 54 Pearl Street right on the corner of Broad Street. For those of you interested in such things, it is where George Washington gave his farewell address to the officers of the Continental Army in 1783. There is, or was, an attached museum at one time. The bar is to the left when you enter and the eating area is to the right. I headed left. Although this place could easily have become a tourist trap, it most decidedly didn't and is pretty much of a local watering hole for those that work in the area. It gets especially lively later at night. There are a few artifacts, or replicas of artifacts (the copy of the Constitution is probably not real) strewn about but nothing overbearing. A decent enough place to pop into for a quick libation.
I had a Dewars and soda and headed to the subway and home.
I probably am going to take the weekend off as far as my odyssey is concerned. A bit ironic in away, a lot of people only drink on the weekends. I have some things that I need to do on Saturday and then I am going to a Superbowl party on Sunday. I am sure there will be a bit of drinking, but nothing that can be counted, unless I can convince people to watch the game at a sports bar. Pretty unlikely though.
Well here we go again, 835 left to go. Still a lot, but certainly looks a lot more manageable than it did a mere month ago.
162) The Beekman Pub
This place, on Beekman Street, is about one block from City Hall in downtown Manhattan. About a four or five block walk once you come off the Brooklyn Bridge. It is an old Irish pub that has been around since at least the 1920's. It is a very nice place with a fairly large dining area as well. The bar has nice stained-glass lamps overhead. There is a framed Kevin McHale jersey that he signed hanging in a prominent position by the door. I mentioned it to the bartender, I am from Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota so am a big McHale fan. It turned out that the bartender had also been in Minnesota for a few months. In 1977 he tried out for the U of M hockey team as a walk-on but didn't make it. We chatted about Minnesota, hockey, Herb Brooks, and other Minnesota trivia. The place was pretty packed with people grabbing hamburgers and such for lunch.
I had a Highlander Scottish Ale
163) Ryan's Sports Bar
This place was kind of like a mini-Beekman Pub at 46 Gold Street between Fulton Street and Eden's Alley. It also was very crowded and noisy and was a very nice, cosy type of place. Lot's of TVs about the place showing ESPN and ESPN 2. I fixated on a woman's 9 ball tournament. They must get a lot of customers from Verizon in here because there were several "Keep Verizon Jobs Here" stickers about the place.
I had a Murphy's Irish Stout
164) Reds
I headed along the East River and just at the edge of the touristy area (well, alright, just inside) was Reds. Kind of a strange place in a way, the longer I was there the more it grew on me. It had a tin, or tin-like covered bar and floor to ceiling windows wall-to-wall. This made it quite bright. Had a vaguely Mexican look to it with sombreros behind the bar and large, mural-like pictures of Mexican Indians on the walls upstairs. The large overhead lights looked like something out of Star Wars, like large bowls with vaguely alien life-forms trying to escape. Not sure what that was all about. The TV was over the frozen-margarita machine at the end of the bar where I was sitting so I watched ESPN greates Superbowl moments while eating corn chips and a real nice and quite spicy salsa.
I had a Dewars and soda
165) Fraunces Tavern
Heading south back towards the area that I was at yesterday I stopped in at this venerable institution. This place is at 54 Pearl Street right on the corner of Broad Street. For those of you interested in such things, it is where George Washington gave his farewell address to the officers of the Continental Army in 1783. There is, or was, an attached museum at one time. The bar is to the left when you enter and the eating area is to the right. I headed left. Although this place could easily have become a tourist trap, it most decidedly didn't and is pretty much of a local watering hole for those that work in the area. It gets especially lively later at night. There are a few artifacts, or replicas of artifacts (the copy of the Constitution is probably not real) strewn about but nothing overbearing. A decent enough place to pop into for a quick libation.
I had a Dewars and soda and headed to the subway and home.
I probably am going to take the weekend off as far as my odyssey is concerned. A bit ironic in away, a lot of people only drink on the weekends. I have some things that I need to do on Saturday and then I am going to a Superbowl party on Sunday. I am sure there will be a bit of drinking, but nothing that can be counted, unless I can convince people to watch the game at a sports bar. Pretty unlikely though.
Well here we go again, 835 left to go. Still a lot, but certainly looks a lot more manageable than it did a mere month ago.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Fame and Fortune
Well, not exactly fame and, certainly, no fortune, but the New York Post did print a nice little article about my quest in today's paper. It is in the Pulse section if you care to check it out. Please note that in the second paragraph where it said that "Since he started on New Year's day, Walker has bent an elbow at 155 bars..." they really mean I had bent an elbow. I was being interviewed in Walker's. Also, I hit the 155 bars yesterday, the day after the interview. An editor did call me up after I got home yesterday to get the updated number so it is accurate as of this morning. Also, I am much better looking in person than in the picture, but I did like the comment about my bright eyes and clear skin. Maybe I can get some kind of an endorsement deal for vitamins or a skin-care product.
156) Delmonico's 2000 Bar & Grill
This place is an adjunct to Delmonico's, one of the uber restaurants in New York. They are located in the heart of Wall Street, right on Beaver (go figure) and is the place where I have paid the most so far for a drink. $10.00 for a Dewars and soda and then they added the New York City sales tax (no other place except maybe that TGIFs has ever done this). Anyway, this drink cost me $10.86 without tip. Now I will say they poured with a heavy hand so I am not really complaining all that much. I mean we are in the heart of the world's economy and there were a lot of suit-and-tie guys sitting around drinking martinis. Made me somehow happy.
The bar is really nice old horseshoe shaped bar. The door is a revolving door like you once saw in department stores. Venetian blinds over the two front windows. Dark wainscoting with a panel of scenes of New York done to look like old charcoal drawings on parchment. Very interesting. A place where deals are, or should be, getting done.
I had the aforementioned Dewars and soda.
157) Ulysses'
Moving about a block from Delmonico's is this place. If you walk down Mill Lane into Stone Street you will walk right into this bar. It has a really large bar, the length is the width of a block, and you can enter from both ends. There are a lot of pictures of James Joyce hanging on the wall. The street that it sits on from where I walked in is cobblestone and it is blocked off from traffic. In the warmer weather they have outside tables and it is quite festive. Very European in concept.
I had a draft Chimay, one of my favorites, and not too readily available.
158) Cassis
Down the block, almost next-door, is Cassis. Walking into the place was an experience. It was warmer today than usual so a lot of snow and ice was melting. Apparently the waterspout next door was backed up so there was a shower, no exageration, of water spewing over the entrance. I got drenched. They give you nice napkins to wipe off and an umbrella service to get out, but getting in was interesting.
Anyway, this place also is the width of a somewhat narrowing block, but has no back entrance. It has brick walls and interesting paintings on the wall. The back of the bar had some real nice liquor cabinets with stained-glass fronts. They had nice little red stained-glass lights hanging down over the bar. The rest of the place had those same lights that reminded me of the principal's office. Somehow more relaxing in this context though.
The owner wanted me to say that it is "located on a coble street which reminds you of Europe. Warm, intimate ambiance, great food and a fun crowd." I saw no reason to disagree. She also pointed out that a prominent beam in the middle of the place was actually a part of a beam that was in the great fire of 1815 when, apparently, the whole neighborhood (warehouses, at the time) burnt down.
Anyway, I drift.
I had a Dewars and Soda
159) Gerardi's
More of an Itallian restaurant, but with a nice little bar at one end, if you can find it. This is a fairly large place that does have entrances on both streets. It also has two levels. Well, I left Cassis and entered through the restaurant side. I walked right up the stairs to the dining area, but the bar was not there. I then went back downstairs and wended my way through a labyrinth of rooms to the front. There they had a nice little bar and a very friendly bartender. It turned out we both knew a few of the same bartenders. She is Russian so we chatted about some of the few places we knew in Brighton Beach, places. She taught me a Russian toast that I can only spell as "poe hali" and means, essentially, Let's go.
I had a glass of Ruffino Chianti
160) Waterstone Grill
The last of the restauraunts on this reconstructed cobblestone street. Another pleasant place with real Irish bartenders and what looked to be decent bar-food. I was getting hungry by now. It turned out that they also knew the same bartenders as the woman next door knew. Small world.
I had a Samuel Adams Winter Lager
161) White Horse Tavern
Well, now I moved out of the cobblestone area and headed to my subway stop. I knew, however, I that I was going to pass by and stop in at the White Horse Tavern. This is an older place that makes no pretences about it. Mostly older guys reading the racing forms and watcing OTB. Great steam-table though so I had a corned beef sandwich with mustard on rye. But I ate it sitting at the bar so it all counts.
I had a Dewars and soda.
After I got home from my round of bars I got a call from KROC and did a radio interview that they aired. They did a good job of editing it, I actually sounded much better than I thought it should have after just coming back from having a drink in six different bars.
Now here we ago again, the pain at the end of every post, only (1000 - 161) = X left to go, where X equals the number of bars left to go. Email me with your answer.
156) Delmonico's 2000 Bar & Grill
This place is an adjunct to Delmonico's, one of the uber restaurants in New York. They are located in the heart of Wall Street, right on Beaver (go figure) and is the place where I have paid the most so far for a drink. $10.00 for a Dewars and soda and then they added the New York City sales tax (no other place except maybe that TGIFs has ever done this). Anyway, this drink cost me $10.86 without tip. Now I will say they poured with a heavy hand so I am not really complaining all that much. I mean we are in the heart of the world's economy and there were a lot of suit-and-tie guys sitting around drinking martinis. Made me somehow happy.
The bar is really nice old horseshoe shaped bar. The door is a revolving door like you once saw in department stores. Venetian blinds over the two front windows. Dark wainscoting with a panel of scenes of New York done to look like old charcoal drawings on parchment. Very interesting. A place where deals are, or should be, getting done.
I had the aforementioned Dewars and soda.
157) Ulysses'
Moving about a block from Delmonico's is this place. If you walk down Mill Lane into Stone Street you will walk right into this bar. It has a really large bar, the length is the width of a block, and you can enter from both ends. There are a lot of pictures of James Joyce hanging on the wall. The street that it sits on from where I walked in is cobblestone and it is blocked off from traffic. In the warmer weather they have outside tables and it is quite festive. Very European in concept.
I had a draft Chimay, one of my favorites, and not too readily available.
158) Cassis
Down the block, almost next-door, is Cassis. Walking into the place was an experience. It was warmer today than usual so a lot of snow and ice was melting. Apparently the waterspout next door was backed up so there was a shower, no exageration, of water spewing over the entrance. I got drenched. They give you nice napkins to wipe off and an umbrella service to get out, but getting in was interesting.
Anyway, this place also is the width of a somewhat narrowing block, but has no back entrance. It has brick walls and interesting paintings on the wall. The back of the bar had some real nice liquor cabinets with stained-glass fronts. They had nice little red stained-glass lights hanging down over the bar. The rest of the place had those same lights that reminded me of the principal's office. Somehow more relaxing in this context though.
The owner wanted me to say that it is "located on a coble street which reminds you of Europe. Warm, intimate ambiance, great food and a fun crowd." I saw no reason to disagree. She also pointed out that a prominent beam in the middle of the place was actually a part of a beam that was in the great fire of 1815 when, apparently, the whole neighborhood (warehouses, at the time) burnt down.
Anyway, I drift.
I had a Dewars and Soda
159) Gerardi's
More of an Itallian restaurant, but with a nice little bar at one end, if you can find it. This is a fairly large place that does have entrances on both streets. It also has two levels. Well, I left Cassis and entered through the restaurant side. I walked right up the stairs to the dining area, but the bar was not there. I then went back downstairs and wended my way through a labyrinth of rooms to the front. There they had a nice little bar and a very friendly bartender. It turned out we both knew a few of the same bartenders. She is Russian so we chatted about some of the few places we knew in Brighton Beach, places. She taught me a Russian toast that I can only spell as "poe hali" and means, essentially, Let's go.
I had a glass of Ruffino Chianti
160) Waterstone Grill
The last of the restauraunts on this reconstructed cobblestone street. Another pleasant place with real Irish bartenders and what looked to be decent bar-food. I was getting hungry by now. It turned out that they also knew the same bartenders as the woman next door knew. Small world.
I had a Samuel Adams Winter Lager
161) White Horse Tavern
Well, now I moved out of the cobblestone area and headed to my subway stop. I knew, however, I that I was going to pass by and stop in at the White Horse Tavern. This is an older place that makes no pretences about it. Mostly older guys reading the racing forms and watcing OTB. Great steam-table though so I had a corned beef sandwich with mustard on rye. But I ate it sitting at the bar so it all counts.
I had a Dewars and soda.
After I got home from my round of bars I got a call from KROC and did a radio interview that they aired. They did a good job of editing it, I actually sounded much better than I thought it should have after just coming back from having a drink in six different bars.
Now here we ago again, the pain at the end of every post, only (1000 - 161) = X left to go, where X equals the number of bars left to go. Email me with your answer.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
A Long Stroll But Few Bars
I figured today, because it was fairly warm and the sun was out, I would just take a bit of a stroll and limit myself to just three bars. I did more than anticipated yesterday and that, coupled with a fair amount of wine at dinner, led me to believe today should be a day of moderation.
153) La Nostra Soria
In Park Slope on Seventh Avenue this place is more of an Italian restaurant than a bar, but they do have a nice little bar with a huge metal eagle sitting on the end. The bartender was very nice and I chatted with her while I enjoyed:
A glass of 2003 Stella Sangiovese (a red wine).
154) Snooky's Pub
Down Seventh Avenue a bit is this nice old neighborhood bar. It had six TVs but all of them were off except one showing CNN. There were pictures of old Yankee's teams adorning the wall, but I forgive them. It had a nice long bar and wood plank floors. There were a couple of ladies sitting at one end of the bar doing crossword puzzles and everyone seemed to know everyone else and were all quite friendly. I told them about my quest and passed out a few of my cards. The bartender wanted me to say that she was an "Attractive, older bartender with a great personality and a loyal following." She really wasn't older, at least by my standards, but she was attractive. And remember, this is only my second stop of the day.
I thought they had a pretty decent crowd in there seeing how early it was, but I was assured that if I came back after 5:00 P.M. the place would really be jumping. No reason to believe that it wouldn't be, but I am afraid I will have to pass for the time being.
I had a draft Anchor Steam.
155 Tea Lounge
Now this was a bit of a stange place, for a bar, on Union Street between 6th and 7th Avenue but closer to 7th. More like a 60's kind of coffee-house, but with internet access. Kind of like a beat Starbucks with a little bar in the back. Mostly a college-aged crowd banging away at their PCs and a few young mothers with kids in tow who looked like they gathered there on a regular basis. Even though it is called the Tea Lounge, they did have a large Tiki carving on the bar and a surfboard propped up against the wall. They had 9 draft beers, including a Chimay, and a sign that said no Budweiser. The Doors were playing on the sound system.
They had neat overhead fans shaped like leaves and a set of the same shaped fans mounted on one of the walls, but these went back and forth. Lots of sofas and plush chairs strewn about with coffee tables. It looked like a lot of the crowd just used this as their living room, and I could see why they would. The place was pretty packed. A large selection of coffees and teas and a nice selection of pastries.
I had a Lindeman's Cassis (black current) Lambic Begian Ale.
I thought 155 was a nice number for the day so I headed on home. I had a fair ways to walk so I stopped into Hank's and used the bathroom. Of course the bathrooms are for customers only so I had a Dewars and soda but, because I have been here before, cannot count this towards my thousand. The guy next to me was kind of in the bag and said he gave a stand-up comedy routine at a club up the street. He tried to try out a routine on me that involved someone defecating in a supermarket aisle. I chugged my drink and bolted.
Only 845 left to go. I was thinking about trying to hit 200 bars before I leave for Mexico on the 16th, but I have some family gatherings to attend and a Superbowl party on Sunday. Probably won't be able to make it but we will see how it goes. Might be spending some time with my mother-in-law celebrating the Chinese new year. We are moving out of the year of the monkey and into the year of the rooster, whatever that may mean. I think 175 bars before I leave with a few days off before departure to pack and stuff is a more reasonable goal.
153) La Nostra Soria
In Park Slope on Seventh Avenue this place is more of an Italian restaurant than a bar, but they do have a nice little bar with a huge metal eagle sitting on the end. The bartender was very nice and I chatted with her while I enjoyed:
A glass of 2003 Stella Sangiovese (a red wine).
154) Snooky's Pub
Down Seventh Avenue a bit is this nice old neighborhood bar. It had six TVs but all of them were off except one showing CNN. There were pictures of old Yankee's teams adorning the wall, but I forgive them. It had a nice long bar and wood plank floors. There were a couple of ladies sitting at one end of the bar doing crossword puzzles and everyone seemed to know everyone else and were all quite friendly. I told them about my quest and passed out a few of my cards. The bartender wanted me to say that she was an "Attractive, older bartender with a great personality and a loyal following." She really wasn't older, at least by my standards, but she was attractive. And remember, this is only my second stop of the day.
I thought they had a pretty decent crowd in there seeing how early it was, but I was assured that if I came back after 5:00 P.M. the place would really be jumping. No reason to believe that it wouldn't be, but I am afraid I will have to pass for the time being.
I had a draft Anchor Steam.
155 Tea Lounge
Now this was a bit of a stange place, for a bar, on Union Street between 6th and 7th Avenue but closer to 7th. More like a 60's kind of coffee-house, but with internet access. Kind of like a beat Starbucks with a little bar in the back. Mostly a college-aged crowd banging away at their PCs and a few young mothers with kids in tow who looked like they gathered there on a regular basis. Even though it is called the Tea Lounge, they did have a large Tiki carving on the bar and a surfboard propped up against the wall. They had 9 draft beers, including a Chimay, and a sign that said no Budweiser. The Doors were playing on the sound system.
They had neat overhead fans shaped like leaves and a set of the same shaped fans mounted on one of the walls, but these went back and forth. Lots of sofas and plush chairs strewn about with coffee tables. It looked like a lot of the crowd just used this as their living room, and I could see why they would. The place was pretty packed. A large selection of coffees and teas and a nice selection of pastries.
I had a Lindeman's Cassis (black current) Lambic Begian Ale.
I thought 155 was a nice number for the day so I headed on home. I had a fair ways to walk so I stopped into Hank's and used the bathroom. Of course the bathrooms are for customers only so I had a Dewars and soda but, because I have been here before, cannot count this towards my thousand. The guy next to me was kind of in the bag and said he gave a stand-up comedy routine at a club up the street. He tried to try out a routine on me that involved someone defecating in a supermarket aisle. I chugged my drink and bolted.
Only 845 left to go. I was thinking about trying to hit 200 bars before I leave for Mexico on the 16th, but I have some family gatherings to attend and a Superbowl party on Sunday. Probably won't be able to make it but we will see how it goes. Might be spending some time with my mother-in-law celebrating the Chinese new year. We are moving out of the year of the monkey and into the year of the rooster, whatever that may mean. I think 175 bars before I leave with a few days off before departure to pack and stuff is a more reasonable goal.
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
A Bit of Wall Street
I know, I said because it was my wife's birthday I wasn't going to go out today. But about 10:30 A.M. I got a bit antsy and decided to go out. I downloaded about two hours of birthday related songs, promised I would be back by 2:00 P.M. and headed out.
I took the subway to Bowling Green which, for some strange reason, is tiled in orange. Anyway, I got off and walked up Beaver Street until I hit:
147) Killerney Rose
On Beaver Street from one can enter, is this somewhat huge Irish bar that has been around for ever. It has a great steam table where for less than $8.oo easy you can stuff yourself with one of the best corned-beef and cabbage dishes ever.
This place is long, the width of a block. There is also an upstairs area with a separate lounge. I debated about whether or not I could go up and count a drink (it does have a somewhat different name K.R. Lounge) but decided I couldn't
I had a Guiness Stout, very well pulled, and headed out the other door and across the street to:
148) Mercantile Grill
Another nice little restaurant and bar. Built into an old building, unlike Killerney Rose which is old, it still gives off a nice glow and was an enjoyable stop.
I had a Dewars and soda.
149) The Full Shilling
Up the street a bit was this place. Another authentic Irish bar that has a bar that was supposedly brought over from Belfast and is 105 years old. Apparently the whole interior of the bar was shipped over from Ireland and reinstalled. It looks it. A very nice place indeed.
I had a Dewars and soda.
150) La Borsa Di Roma
A very nice Itallian restuarant bar just a bit further up the street but on the other side. Not a large bar but decent enough. The front was padded leather so it made it very comfortable to stand and lean your knee up against. There was a rifle hung on the back wall and it kind of reminded me of Shaun of the Dead. The walls had old copper cooking utensils hung here and about and some other stuff that was either farm equipment or instruments of torture. Not a real bar crowd so I had a quick
Glass of Chianti and headed down the street.
151) Captain's Ketch
This place, still on Pearl Street, has a nice rectangular bar, dark wood, fairly classy. I was actually headed back to the subway when I spotted it and felt the compulsion to stop in. The walls are adorned with nautical pictures and paraphernalia. Unlike the place that had the rifle, this place had old harpoons. Forget Shaun, I am now thinking Jaws.
I had a Dewars and soda.
Now, I really should just go home and take a nap until it is time for dinner. Sometimes, however, fate intervenes. A reporter from one of New York's papers wants to meet me at a bar and interview me for an article that may appear on Thursday. I will say no more about this because, in all liklihood, nothing will come of it. I will keep you posted (hint, hint).
I have to shower and make myself presentable for the rest of the night. Will update this with this evening's encounter tomorrow morning.
152) Walker's
On 16 North Moore Street, on the corner of Varick Street, is this old bar. This neighborhood is full of new places but Walker's is one of the originals. It has an ornate tin ceiling and beige plaster walls with relief designs. Plank wooden floor and a nice old, well worn, dark wooden bar. The lights hanging over it reminded me, for some reason, of the lights we used to have in our grade-school classrooms. Or, more than likely, in the principal's office. The back of the bar was also old and wooden and had a few large mirrors. There were a few tables scattered about for drinking and eating and a larger back room for dining as well.
I met up with the reporter and a photographer for my interview about my quest. It seemed to go fairly well, a lot of pictures were taken and we talked for almost an hour. Supposedly an article will appear in tomorrow's paper. If it does I will give you the details. Of course it could also simply end up in some editor's wastepaper basket.
I ended up drinking a couple of draft Boddington's Ale and then toddled off with the wife for dinner a few blocks away at Chanterelle, a great restaurant but one with no bar.
I know this gets boring, but I feel compelled to do it anyway; 848 bars to go.
I took the subway to Bowling Green which, for some strange reason, is tiled in orange. Anyway, I got off and walked up Beaver Street until I hit:
147) Killerney Rose
On Beaver Street from one can enter, is this somewhat huge Irish bar that has been around for ever. It has a great steam table where for less than $8.oo easy you can stuff yourself with one of the best corned-beef and cabbage dishes ever.
This place is long, the width of a block. There is also an upstairs area with a separate lounge. I debated about whether or not I could go up and count a drink (it does have a somewhat different name K.R. Lounge) but decided I couldn't
I had a Guiness Stout, very well pulled, and headed out the other door and across the street to:
148) Mercantile Grill
Another nice little restaurant and bar. Built into an old building, unlike Killerney Rose which is old, it still gives off a nice glow and was an enjoyable stop.
I had a Dewars and soda.
149) The Full Shilling
Up the street a bit was this place. Another authentic Irish bar that has a bar that was supposedly brought over from Belfast and is 105 years old. Apparently the whole interior of the bar was shipped over from Ireland and reinstalled. It looks it. A very nice place indeed.
I had a Dewars and soda.
150) La Borsa Di Roma
A very nice Itallian restuarant bar just a bit further up the street but on the other side. Not a large bar but decent enough. The front was padded leather so it made it very comfortable to stand and lean your knee up against. There was a rifle hung on the back wall and it kind of reminded me of Shaun of the Dead. The walls had old copper cooking utensils hung here and about and some other stuff that was either farm equipment or instruments of torture. Not a real bar crowd so I had a quick
Glass of Chianti and headed down the street.
151) Captain's Ketch
This place, still on Pearl Street, has a nice rectangular bar, dark wood, fairly classy. I was actually headed back to the subway when I spotted it and felt the compulsion to stop in. The walls are adorned with nautical pictures and paraphernalia. Unlike the place that had the rifle, this place had old harpoons. Forget Shaun, I am now thinking Jaws.
I had a Dewars and soda.
Now, I really should just go home and take a nap until it is time for dinner. Sometimes, however, fate intervenes. A reporter from one of New York's papers wants to meet me at a bar and interview me for an article that may appear on Thursday. I will say no more about this because, in all liklihood, nothing will come of it. I will keep you posted (hint, hint).
I have to shower and make myself presentable for the rest of the night. Will update this with this evening's encounter tomorrow morning.
152) Walker's
On 16 North Moore Street, on the corner of Varick Street, is this old bar. This neighborhood is full of new places but Walker's is one of the originals. It has an ornate tin ceiling and beige plaster walls with relief designs. Plank wooden floor and a nice old, well worn, dark wooden bar. The lights hanging over it reminded me, for some reason, of the lights we used to have in our grade-school classrooms. Or, more than likely, in the principal's office. The back of the bar was also old and wooden and had a few large mirrors. There were a few tables scattered about for drinking and eating and a larger back room for dining as well.
I met up with the reporter and a photographer for my interview about my quest. It seemed to go fairly well, a lot of pictures were taken and we talked for almost an hour. Supposedly an article will appear in tomorrow's paper. If it does I will give you the details. Of course it could also simply end up in some editor's wastepaper basket.
I ended up drinking a couple of draft Boddington's Ale and then toddled off with the wife for dinner a few blocks away at Chanterelle, a great restaurant but one with no bar.
I know this gets boring, but I feel compelled to do it anyway; 848 bars to go.
Monday, January 31, 2005
Back to 34th
I went back to 34th to have lunch with my wife and my sister-in-law at La Garia. This was a place that I had a drink, a glass of wine, last week. Obviously I am not counting this one. However, after lunch I did make some progress.
141) La Bella's
Kind of a restaurant/bar/pizza place combination. A fairly large place on the corner of 32nd Street and 2nd Avenue. Nice brick pizza oven and interesting overhead track lighting, but not much else going on.
I had a draft Birra Moretti
142) Waterfront Ale House
This is the Manhattan presence, corner of 30th street and 2nd Avenue, of Peter's Waterfront Ale House in Brooklyn (see an earlier post). The place looks remarkably similar to the place in Brooklyn. A couple of people sitting there that seemed to know a bit about beers and bars so I had a pleasant conversation.
I had a Czar Imperial Stout, quite tasty and strong.
143) Paddy Reilly's Pub
This place on 2nd Avenue, across the street from the Waterfront Ale House, serves nothing but Guinness on draft. It has the look and feel of a real Irish pub, with a back room with banquettes and tables for sitting around and chatting and the Pogues on the juke box. A decent enough place to pop into for a beer on a somewhat chilly afternoon.
I had a, let me think, Guinness.
144) Bistango
Down a block on the corner of 29th and 3rd Avenue was this Itallian restaurant Right on the corner and had a huge antique copper espresso machine in the front window. It had a decent sized bar.
I had a Chianti.
145) Porta Rossa
Another Italian Restaurant that served as a stop-in place as I made my way toward the subway. It is on Lexington Avenue between 30th and 31st Street. Not much to distinquish it but it had a bar and I needed to use the bathroom.
I had a glass of Chianti
146) Artisinal
This is a quite classy restaurant that is known for its cheese selection. And I don't mean just any old cheese. This place probably has the largest selection of cheeses of any restaurant in the United States.
They also have a fairly decent bar set a bit up from the rest of the place.
I had an espresso and a Sambuca.
Well, that isn't a bad start on my journey. 146 bars the first month with only 854 left to go. Tomorrow is my wife's birthday and we are going to go to Chantrelle's, one of our favorite restaurants. I will have the full wine course with my dinner but will not count it because it is served at the table. I don't think they have a bar, I haven't been there in a long time, but if they do I will have a pre-dinner libation and count it. Otherwise, no progress tomorrow. Unless my wife lets me pop in for a drink at the bar across the street either before or after dinner.
141) La Bella's
Kind of a restaurant/bar/pizza place combination. A fairly large place on the corner of 32nd Street and 2nd Avenue. Nice brick pizza oven and interesting overhead track lighting, but not much else going on.
I had a draft Birra Moretti
142) Waterfront Ale House
This is the Manhattan presence, corner of 30th street and 2nd Avenue, of Peter's Waterfront Ale House in Brooklyn (see an earlier post). The place looks remarkably similar to the place in Brooklyn. A couple of people sitting there that seemed to know a bit about beers and bars so I had a pleasant conversation.
I had a Czar Imperial Stout, quite tasty and strong.
143) Paddy Reilly's Pub
This place on 2nd Avenue, across the street from the Waterfront Ale House, serves nothing but Guinness on draft. It has the look and feel of a real Irish pub, with a back room with banquettes and tables for sitting around and chatting and the Pogues on the juke box. A decent enough place to pop into for a beer on a somewhat chilly afternoon.
I had a, let me think, Guinness.
144) Bistango
Down a block on the corner of 29th and 3rd Avenue was this Itallian restaurant Right on the corner and had a huge antique copper espresso machine in the front window. It had a decent sized bar.
I had a Chianti.
145) Porta Rossa
Another Italian Restaurant that served as a stop-in place as I made my way toward the subway. It is on Lexington Avenue between 30th and 31st Street. Not much to distinquish it but it had a bar and I needed to use the bathroom.
I had a glass of Chianti
146) Artisinal
This is a quite classy restaurant that is known for its cheese selection. And I don't mean just any old cheese. This place probably has the largest selection of cheeses of any restaurant in the United States.
They also have a fairly decent bar set a bit up from the rest of the place.
I had an espresso and a Sambuca.
Well, that isn't a bad start on my journey. 146 bars the first month with only 854 left to go. Tomorrow is my wife's birthday and we are going to go to Chantrelle's, one of our favorite restaurants. I will have the full wine course with my dinner but will not count it because it is served at the table. I don't think they have a bar, I haven't been there in a long time, but if they do I will have a pre-dinner libation and count it. Otherwise, no progress tomorrow. Unless my wife lets me pop in for a drink at the bar across the street either before or after dinner.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Smith Street Clean-up
I took yesterday off and was relaxing today when the sun came through the window and I was motivated to get up and go out. Figured maybe I could catch a few places on Smith Street that are usually closed during the day but might open for Sunday brunch. My instincts proved to be deadly on:
135) Apt. 138
This place, on 138 Smith Street, has a nice dark distressed bar (not old, but made to look that way) bar. It has about a dozen small tables with one large dining table set in the back against windows. One wall is brick and has a lot of what looks to be original art work and the other side covered with wallpaper that had a vaguely forest like look to it.
I had a Newcastle Brown Ale
136) Banania Cafe
This place was jammed with a brunch crowd. It is fairly small and the bar is more of a service bar than anything else, but it did have three stools so I am counting it. I ran into a friend of mine that used to work at a now closed place not far from where I lived, so we chatted. It is a great place to go to for brunch if you don't mind a crowd and waiting, which I do.
I had a draft Merlot, yes, a draft Merlot.
137) Village Pub
Downstairs from Village 247 is this place, and it is a real find. You go to the back and take the steps down from the little outdoor seating area. You walk into a small dark bar with a large screen TV showing the Miami/Houston game. They have strange plaster reliefs of faces that appear to be in anquish gracing the walls. The bar looked like it had been painted with the same grey stuff they use on Navy vessels to keep you from slipping. They had a real old shuffle-board table. And I mean really old. Strewn about the place were all kinds of strangely decorated beer mugs, the theme of which I did not fully understand.
I had a Steelhead Scotch Porter, made by Mad River brewery located in Blue Lake, California
138) Cubana Cafe
This is a real small place but had the look and feel to it of a small place in the Cuban section of Miami. It had a little bar in front, blue ceramic, and a small sidewalk area in front. I sampled some of their crispy fried plaintains with chimithurri.
I had an Appleton rum and Coke.
139) Mancora
This is a Peruvian restaurant with a small bar up front. One large wall has a mural of people casting nets for fish on the sea. They have nice red and purple lights hanging over the bar. An interesting picture of two elderly people starring into each others eyes in the front.
I had a glass of Merlot and headed home.
Now, I was going to call it a day but then the wife and I decided to go out for dinner so we went to a place that I knew had a nice little separate bar.
140) Thai Grille
This place is on Henry Street just about on the corner of Clark Steet. This is a nice Thai restaurant that has a separate bar area, almost another room altogether. It is a small place, nice dark bar with overhead lights and bird cages hanging in the front window. A couple of regulars at one end of the bar watching a ventriliquest on the Comedy Network station and comparing him to someone who, every once in awhile, had a similar, but much better act, on the Ed Sullivan show.
I had a Singha beer and then went to the next room and had dinner. We shared Spring Rolls and then I had breast of duck and my wife had the whole red snapper. Great food and the snapper was extraordinary.
Not a bad day, and I am now down 860 bars to go.
135) Apt. 138
This place, on 138 Smith Street, has a nice dark distressed bar (not old, but made to look that way) bar. It has about a dozen small tables with one large dining table set in the back against windows. One wall is brick and has a lot of what looks to be original art work and the other side covered with wallpaper that had a vaguely forest like look to it.
I had a Newcastle Brown Ale
136) Banania Cafe
This place was jammed with a brunch crowd. It is fairly small and the bar is more of a service bar than anything else, but it did have three stools so I am counting it. I ran into a friend of mine that used to work at a now closed place not far from where I lived, so we chatted. It is a great place to go to for brunch if you don't mind a crowd and waiting, which I do.
I had a draft Merlot, yes, a draft Merlot.
137) Village Pub
Downstairs from Village 247 is this place, and it is a real find. You go to the back and take the steps down from the little outdoor seating area. You walk into a small dark bar with a large screen TV showing the Miami/Houston game. They have strange plaster reliefs of faces that appear to be in anquish gracing the walls. The bar looked like it had been painted with the same grey stuff they use on Navy vessels to keep you from slipping. They had a real old shuffle-board table. And I mean really old. Strewn about the place were all kinds of strangely decorated beer mugs, the theme of which I did not fully understand.
I had a Steelhead Scotch Porter, made by Mad River brewery located in Blue Lake, California
138) Cubana Cafe
This is a real small place but had the look and feel to it of a small place in the Cuban section of Miami. It had a little bar in front, blue ceramic, and a small sidewalk area in front. I sampled some of their crispy fried plaintains with chimithurri.
I had an Appleton rum and Coke.
139) Mancora
This is a Peruvian restaurant with a small bar up front. One large wall has a mural of people casting nets for fish on the sea. They have nice red and purple lights hanging over the bar. An interesting picture of two elderly people starring into each others eyes in the front.
I had a glass of Merlot and headed home.
Now, I was going to call it a day but then the wife and I decided to go out for dinner so we went to a place that I knew had a nice little separate bar.
140) Thai Grille
This place is on Henry Street just about on the corner of Clark Steet. This is a nice Thai restaurant that has a separate bar area, almost another room altogether. It is a small place, nice dark bar with overhead lights and bird cages hanging in the front window. A couple of regulars at one end of the bar watching a ventriliquest on the Comedy Network station and comparing him to someone who, every once in awhile, had a similar, but much better act, on the Ed Sullivan show.
I had a Singha beer and then went to the next room and had dinner. We shared Spring Rolls and then I had breast of duck and my wife had the whole red snapper. Great food and the snapper was extraordinary.
Not a bad day, and I am now down 860 bars to go.
Friday, January 28, 2005
Final Friday in January
My sister-in-law wants to meet my wife and me on Monday somewhere around 34th and 3rd and I am supposed to pick out the restaurant. Needless to say I was more than eager to research the area.
128) Back Porch
Right on the corner of 3rd and 33th. It has a decent black bar set off from an area with a few tables and stools. Bit of a raised seating area in front and a bigger seating area in the back and on the side. It also has a nice outside seating area that would be fun in the summer.
The bar area seems to have become overly excited about Margarittavile Tequila becoming their house brand. There is even a picture of the owner and Jimmy Buffet. Man, am I impressed. What I was not impressed by was paying $10.00 for there house margaritta straight-up. Not worth it at all. Can't even imagine what they charge for their 42 ounce frozen margarittas. Anyway, not a place that I would ever return. Couldn't even taste the tequila.
I had the Margaritaville tequila margaritta and regret it.
129) Cinema Cafe and Bar
This is on the corner of 3rd and 34th. It is kind of a small place with windows all around. It has a small black lacquer bar bar. Decorated with movie posters and has movie screens in the back and front where they show films at night. Small round tables with plush chairs in front and small square tables in the back with less plush chairs.
I had a Magner's Irish Cider.
130) XII
This was right around the corner from the Cinema Cafe and Bar, on 34th. A nice big bar, granite looking plastic top and back lighted purple plastic front. Very European looking. Had 6 large television above the bar and anothe 8 strewn around. Also had small televison screens mounted on the beer spiggots. Six of them. The bartender said it was the only place in the United States that had them. Not sure what the point was seeing as how there was no sound and all they were showing was MSNBC.
Keeping with the numerical theme I had a Magic Hat #9
131) Patrick Kavanagh's
On Third, between 34th and 33rd. Another classic Irish bar. The bartender noticed that I was left-handed and, because he was ase well, we chatted about being left handed. Not a whole lot one can say about another Irish bar.
I had a Guiness.
132) La Giara
Just down the block. Well, I found the place where I will be having lunch on Monday. Great little Itallian restaurant. Very friendly owner or manager. I asked for a red wine and he went gave me what he thought was his best. Then he gave me a nice piece of focaccio to go with it. It tasted great. Great place, in my opinion.
I had a glass of Coppertino Riserva 1999 from Italy.
133) Mercury Bar
A sister of XII. A relatively small place that still managed to fit in two fairly large bars. People were very friendly but one was trying to get me interested in Florida real estate. Go figure. Apparently she had just gotten a job selling real estate and was about to move down there. Still, I enjoyed myself and chatted for a bit with the bartendress who lived on Staten Island and gave me some pointers about bars I should frequent when I get there.
I had a Maker's Mark Manhattan
134) Suspenders
I was going to head home but I really had to take a leak. I got off the subway at Wall Street and this place is easy to find. Right at ground zero and packed with off-duty cops and firemen. Nice place, but what I really needed was the restroom.
I had a Dewars and soda and jumped back on the subway and went home
A better day than I had hoped for. I will be taking the weekend off I think. Maybe just one drink to get the number to a nice 135. As it stands now I have 866 to go.
128) Back Porch
Right on the corner of 3rd and 33th. It has a decent black bar set off from an area with a few tables and stools. Bit of a raised seating area in front and a bigger seating area in the back and on the side. It also has a nice outside seating area that would be fun in the summer.
The bar area seems to have become overly excited about Margarittavile Tequila becoming their house brand. There is even a picture of the owner and Jimmy Buffet. Man, am I impressed. What I was not impressed by was paying $10.00 for there house margaritta straight-up. Not worth it at all. Can't even imagine what they charge for their 42 ounce frozen margarittas. Anyway, not a place that I would ever return. Couldn't even taste the tequila.
I had the Margaritaville tequila margaritta and regret it.
129) Cinema Cafe and Bar
This is on the corner of 3rd and 34th. It is kind of a small place with windows all around. It has a small black lacquer bar bar. Decorated with movie posters and has movie screens in the back and front where they show films at night. Small round tables with plush chairs in front and small square tables in the back with less plush chairs.
I had a Magner's Irish Cider.
130) XII
This was right around the corner from the Cinema Cafe and Bar, on 34th. A nice big bar, granite looking plastic top and back lighted purple plastic front. Very European looking. Had 6 large television above the bar and anothe 8 strewn around. Also had small televison screens mounted on the beer spiggots. Six of them. The bartender said it was the only place in the United States that had them. Not sure what the point was seeing as how there was no sound and all they were showing was MSNBC.
Keeping with the numerical theme I had a Magic Hat #9
131) Patrick Kavanagh's
On Third, between 34th and 33rd. Another classic Irish bar. The bartender noticed that I was left-handed and, because he was ase well, we chatted about being left handed. Not a whole lot one can say about another Irish bar.
I had a Guiness.
132) La Giara
Just down the block. Well, I found the place where I will be having lunch on Monday. Great little Itallian restaurant. Very friendly owner or manager. I asked for a red wine and he went gave me what he thought was his best. Then he gave me a nice piece of focaccio to go with it. It tasted great. Great place, in my opinion.
I had a glass of Coppertino Riserva 1999 from Italy.
133) Mercury Bar
A sister of XII. A relatively small place that still managed to fit in two fairly large bars. People were very friendly but one was trying to get me interested in Florida real estate. Go figure. Apparently she had just gotten a job selling real estate and was about to move down there. Still, I enjoyed myself and chatted for a bit with the bartendress who lived on Staten Island and gave me some pointers about bars I should frequent when I get there.
I had a Maker's Mark Manhattan
134) Suspenders
I was going to head home but I really had to take a leak. I got off the subway at Wall Street and this place is easy to find. Right at ground zero and packed with off-duty cops and firemen. Nice place, but what I really needed was the restroom.
I had a Dewars and soda and jumped back on the subway and went home
A better day than I had hoped for. I will be taking the weekend off I think. Maybe just one drink to get the number to a nice 135. As it stands now I have 866 to go.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
A Long Walk In The Cold
It was another bitterly cold day and I decided I would try to find a place that I had not been able to find the night that my friends came over, Frank's Cocktail Lounge. It was a long and cold walk.
122) Junior's
Just up the same mall where I had my drink at TGIFs, and then a bit to the left. Known more for their cheese cakes, Junior's also sports a very nice bar stuck in the middle of a large cafeteria seating area. Junior's, besides their cheese cakes, has a very nice restuarant, just try their corned-beef sandwich on rye one time.
The bar is a nice sized horseshoe shaped affair and they had peanuts, pretzle-nuggets, and corn-chips and salza on the bar.
I had a bottle of Guiness Stout (don't usually see it in bottles, but Junior's has no draft beers).
123) Mooney's
After walking for a long ways I finally came upon Monney's at 353 Flatbush Avenue. Believe me, I walked a long bit, all the way to the Army Plaza subway station. But because it was a bitterly cold, but sunny day I actually, in a perverse sort of way, enjoyed myself.
This is a real classic divey Irish pub. I know it gets to sound like a cliche, but what can I say. Three old black guys at one end of the bar watching The Lonesome Dove on the television in front, and a staggering guy at the other end shouting on CCN on the televison their. Everyone was pleasant tough, and the bartendress was a lovely Irish lass.
I had a bandy and 7-up.
124) Chocolate Monkey
Just a bit closer to home on Flatbush I ran across the Chocolate Monkey. A relatively new place that is just starting to open for lunch. I am still running across too many places that don't open until 4:00 P.M. or 5:00 P.M. They are standing in the way of my progress.
This place was a combination of brick and yellow plastered walls. Friendly bartendress and a small room in the back with a pool table. Neat place and I would certainly go again.
I had a Meyer's and Coke.
125) City Lighting
Just down the street was this place. New and built into a space formerly occupied by a hardware store. It is a decent looking place with interesting lighting hung about. Only seems fitting given the name of the place.
Not sure if it was quite open yet because the guy behind the bar didn't know how to make a Maker's Mark Manhatten so I didn't get one.
I had another Meyers and Coke. And it was a stiff one.
126) Frank's Cocktail Lounge
Finally found the place I was looking for. If you ever saw a street map of this area you would know how easy it is to get confused. The place was not quite open but I had been there before and when I asked if I could just get a drink I was ushered in.
This is another of the old classics that you hope will neve go away. Small, but cozy intimate in a way that most places aren't. A very mixed crowd later at night and everyone feels welcome.
This man knew what I was asking for so I had a Maker's Mark Manhatten.
127) Bacchus
Heading home along Atlantic Avenue I kept my open for one I hoped would be open and, lo and behold, it was. Bacchus, despite the name and the grape vines and wine press featured in front, is not a place of Roman debauchery but, instead, a French bistro type of place. Quite small with a tiny bar it is, nonetheless, an neat place to sit and have a glass of wine. The guy sitting next to me was the owner of Tabac (see a previous post) so you know this is a fairly tightly woven French community we have here. Adds to the whole international flavor of the neighborhood. Got to love it.
I had a glass of Bordeaux and an espresso and made my home through the bitterly cold wind.
Facing the howling winds I managed to exceed even my own expectations and hit six bars today reducing the number left to visit to a mere 873.
122) Junior's
Just up the same mall where I had my drink at TGIFs, and then a bit to the left. Known more for their cheese cakes, Junior's also sports a very nice bar stuck in the middle of a large cafeteria seating area. Junior's, besides their cheese cakes, has a very nice restuarant, just try their corned-beef sandwich on rye one time.
The bar is a nice sized horseshoe shaped affair and they had peanuts, pretzle-nuggets, and corn-chips and salza on the bar.
I had a bottle of Guiness Stout (don't usually see it in bottles, but Junior's has no draft beers).
123) Mooney's
After walking for a long ways I finally came upon Monney's at 353 Flatbush Avenue. Believe me, I walked a long bit, all the way to the Army Plaza subway station. But because it was a bitterly cold, but sunny day I actually, in a perverse sort of way, enjoyed myself.
This is a real classic divey Irish pub. I know it gets to sound like a cliche, but what can I say. Three old black guys at one end of the bar watching The Lonesome Dove on the television in front, and a staggering guy at the other end shouting on CCN on the televison their. Everyone was pleasant tough, and the bartendress was a lovely Irish lass.
I had a bandy and 7-up.
124) Chocolate Monkey
Just a bit closer to home on Flatbush I ran across the Chocolate Monkey. A relatively new place that is just starting to open for lunch. I am still running across too many places that don't open until 4:00 P.M. or 5:00 P.M. They are standing in the way of my progress.
This place was a combination of brick and yellow plastered walls. Friendly bartendress and a small room in the back with a pool table. Neat place and I would certainly go again.
I had a Meyer's and Coke.
125) City Lighting
Just down the street was this place. New and built into a space formerly occupied by a hardware store. It is a decent looking place with interesting lighting hung about. Only seems fitting given the name of the place.
Not sure if it was quite open yet because the guy behind the bar didn't know how to make a Maker's Mark Manhatten so I didn't get one.
I had another Meyers and Coke. And it was a stiff one.
126) Frank's Cocktail Lounge
Finally found the place I was looking for. If you ever saw a street map of this area you would know how easy it is to get confused. The place was not quite open but I had been there before and when I asked if I could just get a drink I was ushered in.
This is another of the old classics that you hope will neve go away. Small, but cozy intimate in a way that most places aren't. A very mixed crowd later at night and everyone feels welcome.
This man knew what I was asking for so I had a Maker's Mark Manhatten.
127) Bacchus
Heading home along Atlantic Avenue I kept my open for one I hoped would be open and, lo and behold, it was. Bacchus, despite the name and the grape vines and wine press featured in front, is not a place of Roman debauchery but, instead, a French bistro type of place. Quite small with a tiny bar it is, nonetheless, an neat place to sit and have a glass of wine. The guy sitting next to me was the owner of Tabac (see a previous post) so you know this is a fairly tightly woven French community we have here. Adds to the whole international flavor of the neighborhood. Got to love it.
I had a glass of Bordeaux and an espresso and made my home through the bitterly cold wind.
Facing the howling winds I managed to exceed even my own expectations and hit six bars today reducing the number left to visit to a mere 873.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
A Walk To DUMBO
DUMBO is a new neighborhood being carved out of what was an area of just about nothing but warehouses. DUMBO stands for Down Under the Manhattan, Brooklyn Bridge Overpasses. or something like that. All up-and-coming neighborhoods have to have an acronym of some kind. Doesn't make much sense though. Anyway, it was a fairly nice day when I started out so I walked down to the neighborhood.
118) Pedro's
This place is on Jay Street and Front Street. It is, I reckon, just outside of the now upscale DUMBO area. It kind of has to be seen to be believed and you might want to get their soon. The way some of the old classics like Between The Bridges get demolished, it wouldn't surprise me to see this one go under too.
It is a classic dive place not unlike something you would see in Mexico. In fact, I was the only gringo in the place. Of course there was just me, the staff, and two customers. The place has a dark bar and a few tables. They serve decent food at reasonable prices out of a steam-table type of affair. Cuban sandwiches, nachos, that type of stuff. The place has a great mural on the wall outside and during the summer you can sit out on their porch.
The beers are only $2.oo and they have music at night.
I had a Corona
119) Superfine
This place is just down the block from Porfirio's and pretty clearly delineates the old neighborhood from the new. This is one of the newer and more trendy bars in the neighborhood. It is in a former warehouse and is fairly large and cavernous. It is decorated nicely though so it doesn't feel cold. There is a nice bar and a bright orange pool table off to and above the bar a bit. Neat pictures and art on the walls (DUMBO is known for its galleries) and a judicious use of flashing Christmas type lights give the place an interesting feel. Reggae on the sound system.
I had a Brooklyn Porter
120) Pete's
This place, on Old Fulton and Water Street is right across the street (just about) from the East River and has a nice view of the river and Manhattan from the set of windows facing that direction. It has been around since 1894 so it is a classic old Italian restaurant. It has a nice bar and was already decorated for Valentines Day. For some inexplicable reason they were playing country-western on the sound system.
I had a Makers Mark Manhattan and headed back in the direction of home.
121) La Traviati
Got to Montague Street and decided to hit one last bar (and one of the last bars on that street left to hit) before I went home. This place is on the other side of Armando's and this was my first time in the place.
It is a nice Italian restaurant that, for some reason, displays pictures of what appears to be Parisian street life and cafe scenes on the walls. It does have a nice little bar though and they still had their Christmas tree on display on their patio.
I had a glass of chianti and called it a day.
Only 879 left to go.
118) Pedro's
This place is on Jay Street and Front Street. It is, I reckon, just outside of the now upscale DUMBO area. It kind of has to be seen to be believed and you might want to get their soon. The way some of the old classics like Between The Bridges get demolished, it wouldn't surprise me to see this one go under too.
It is a classic dive place not unlike something you would see in Mexico. In fact, I was the only gringo in the place. Of course there was just me, the staff, and two customers. The place has a dark bar and a few tables. They serve decent food at reasonable prices out of a steam-table type of affair. Cuban sandwiches, nachos, that type of stuff. The place has a great mural on the wall outside and during the summer you can sit out on their porch.
The beers are only $2.oo and they have music at night.
I had a Corona
119) Superfine
This place is just down the block from Porfirio's and pretty clearly delineates the old neighborhood from the new. This is one of the newer and more trendy bars in the neighborhood. It is in a former warehouse and is fairly large and cavernous. It is decorated nicely though so it doesn't feel cold. There is a nice bar and a bright orange pool table off to and above the bar a bit. Neat pictures and art on the walls (DUMBO is known for its galleries) and a judicious use of flashing Christmas type lights give the place an interesting feel. Reggae on the sound system.
I had a Brooklyn Porter
120) Pete's
This place, on Old Fulton and Water Street is right across the street (just about) from the East River and has a nice view of the river and Manhattan from the set of windows facing that direction. It has been around since 1894 so it is a classic old Italian restaurant. It has a nice bar and was already decorated for Valentines Day. For some inexplicable reason they were playing country-western on the sound system.
I had a Makers Mark Manhattan and headed back in the direction of home.
121) La Traviati
Got to Montague Street and decided to hit one last bar (and one of the last bars on that street left to hit) before I went home. This place is on the other side of Armando's and this was my first time in the place.
It is a nice Italian restaurant that, for some reason, displays pictures of what appears to be Parisian street life and cafe scenes on the walls. It does have a nice little bar though and they still had their Christmas tree on display on their patio.
I had a glass of chianti and called it a day.
Only 879 left to go.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
A Sloppy Stroll
The weather was warm, the sun was out, it was sloppy as hell. All of the snow we had gotten the past few days had started to melt so the streets, and some unshoveled sidewalks, were full of slush. Nonetheless, it was a pleasant enough day so I went for a bit of a walk.
112) Sonny's
This place at 305 Smith Street is a bit further up then most of the other bars and restaurants on a street now known as Restaurant Row. More of a dinner with a small, light colored bar. This whole place is quite light with a large window in front. Interesting paintings on the wall that somehow conveyed the feeling of the 1940's. All Beatles all the time on the sound system. At least for today. They have a large outdoor patio in front of the place (it is on a corner) but the weather wasn't quite right for enjoying it.
I passed on their house brew and had a draft Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
113) MeKong
I headed over to 5th Avenue in Park Slope and came upon MeKong. This is a nice Vietnamese bar and restaurant. It has a nice dark bar with large bulbed lights hanging overhead. The walls are orange and there are pictures of Indochina/Vietnam circa 40's and 50's I would guess.
There were tables about and a nice comfortable seating area in front with a sofa and coffee table. The staff was primarily Vietnamese but the bartender was not, although he appeared to speak it fluently. A little girl was running around so I guess this is a family place. I had some spring-rolls at the bar and they were some of the best I have ever had.
I had a draft Kronenbourg 1664
114) Lighthouse Tavern
Just down the street was this pleasant neighborhood type of bar. It had a long, dark bar and a decent beer selection. There was a little outside area and a back-room with couches and a coffee table and a pool table off to the side. There was also a dart board and a table piled with board games. Looks like it would be a very comfortable place to sit for awhile and maybe play parcheesi with friends.
I had a Blue Point Winter Ale
115) Moutard
This is a fairly large French restaurant on the corner of 5th and Carroll Street. It has a nice zinc colored (not sure if it really zinc though) bar up front and a good sized dining area in the back and tables along the walls. Decorated with ceramic mustard jars and a nice mosaic floor. Captures the feel of an upscaled French Bistro. I have eaten here in the past and found the food and service to be worth the visit.
They were out of sambuca so I had a Giuliano and espresso
116) Fashion Cafe
This is an interesting place on Flatbush Avenue between Atlantic and 5th. It was pretty dead when I was there, about 3:30 P.M. but looks like it could be quite packed at night. The did have the posts out front for velvet ropes so who knows.
The decor is a bit hard to describe, pictures of fashion models on the wall and headless torsos decked with fashionable clothing strewn about the place. The bar was nice and the guy behind the bar, who wasn't really a bartender but was filling in until the real one showed up, made a credible drink.
I had a Maker's Mark Manhattan
117) Brooklyn Tavern
This place is just off Atlantic Avenue on 3rd Avenue, kind of around the corner from Hank's which I have written about earlier. It is a nice, dark place that has a fairly large garden area behind the place. Again, a bit too cold to enjoy it today but worth a visit in the summer.
I asked the bartender to make me something warm and she did.
I had a hot toddy made with brandy and it hit the spot and sent me on the way home with a nice glow.
Moving along, 883 to go.
112) Sonny's
This place at 305 Smith Street is a bit further up then most of the other bars and restaurants on a street now known as Restaurant Row. More of a dinner with a small, light colored bar. This whole place is quite light with a large window in front. Interesting paintings on the wall that somehow conveyed the feeling of the 1940's. All Beatles all the time on the sound system. At least for today. They have a large outdoor patio in front of the place (it is on a corner) but the weather wasn't quite right for enjoying it.
I passed on their house brew and had a draft Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
113) MeKong
I headed over to 5th Avenue in Park Slope and came upon MeKong. This is a nice Vietnamese bar and restaurant. It has a nice dark bar with large bulbed lights hanging overhead. The walls are orange and there are pictures of Indochina/Vietnam circa 40's and 50's I would guess.
There were tables about and a nice comfortable seating area in front with a sofa and coffee table. The staff was primarily Vietnamese but the bartender was not, although he appeared to speak it fluently. A little girl was running around so I guess this is a family place. I had some spring-rolls at the bar and they were some of the best I have ever had.
I had a draft Kronenbourg 1664
114) Lighthouse Tavern
Just down the street was this pleasant neighborhood type of bar. It had a long, dark bar and a decent beer selection. There was a little outside area and a back-room with couches and a coffee table and a pool table off to the side. There was also a dart board and a table piled with board games. Looks like it would be a very comfortable place to sit for awhile and maybe play parcheesi with friends.
I had a Blue Point Winter Ale
115) Moutard
This is a fairly large French restaurant on the corner of 5th and Carroll Street. It has a nice zinc colored (not sure if it really zinc though) bar up front and a good sized dining area in the back and tables along the walls. Decorated with ceramic mustard jars and a nice mosaic floor. Captures the feel of an upscaled French Bistro. I have eaten here in the past and found the food and service to be worth the visit.
They were out of sambuca so I had a Giuliano and espresso
116) Fashion Cafe
This is an interesting place on Flatbush Avenue between Atlantic and 5th. It was pretty dead when I was there, about 3:30 P.M. but looks like it could be quite packed at night. The did have the posts out front for velvet ropes so who knows.
The decor is a bit hard to describe, pictures of fashion models on the wall and headless torsos decked with fashionable clothing strewn about the place. The bar was nice and the guy behind the bar, who wasn't really a bartender but was filling in until the real one showed up, made a credible drink.
I had a Maker's Mark Manhattan
117) Brooklyn Tavern
This place is just off Atlantic Avenue on 3rd Avenue, kind of around the corner from Hank's which I have written about earlier. It is a nice, dark place that has a fairly large garden area behind the place. Again, a bit too cold to enjoy it today but worth a visit in the summer.
I asked the bartender to make me something warm and she did.
I had a hot toddy made with brandy and it hit the spot and sent me on the way home with a nice glow.
Moving along, 883 to go.
Monday, January 24, 2005
Village Idiot
I took the weekend off, nasty weather and I needed a break. This morning I had an appointment for an eye-exam in Manhattan at 9:15 A.M. Got done at 10:00 A.M. and, even for New York, that is a bit early. Particularly because I was in an area with no Irish bars (they often open at 8:00 A.M.) Nonetheless I headed to the Village and, having a nose for a bar, scored my first drink at 10:45 A.M.
106 Monte's
This place is on 97 MacDougal Street, right in a bit of the heart of the West Village. It has been around forever. It hadn't really opened yet but I asked if I could have a glass of wine and was welcomed in with open arms by the owner, Gionvanni Mosconi. I had my wine, he poured me some more, it was great. We talked for about an hour about stuff. This is what makes bars in New York what they are, you never know what type of person you might run into. Giovannin was from Italy but grew up on London.
This place has a nice, dark bar up front, is very small, has great pictures on the wall, just a place you should see if you are ever in the area. I would certainly go back for dinner one night.
I had a glass of red wine but I don't know what kind. The owner was pouring and I thought it would be impolite to write down notes.
107) Le Figaro
This place is at 184 Bleecker Street and is primarily a coffee and dessert place. They do have a bit of a nice bar up front. The bartendress was from Java (we are going a bit on the international theme today) and very pleasant. Most people are, if you are nice to them.
Good jazz on the sound system, nice curved wooden bar.
I had a Sambuca and and Espresso.
108) Off The Wagon
A good name for a bar if ever I heard one. Bartender wanted me to make sure that I mentioned they had 13 TVs. This is another place that has a nice old, dark, curved bar and makes you just want to sit and have another.
They have a fooseball machine, two dart boards, and two tables set up just for beer pong. If you don't know what that is, you will have to email me for an explanation.
The comment from the bartender was "A great place for a game of beer pong and many, many, many shots."
I had a Guiness
109) Le Quinze
This is on Houston Street (pronounced "How Stun" unless you really want to be identified as an out-of-towner). It is a great French restaurant owned by a former Italian rugby player. Hence, all kinds of rugby memorabilia about the place. Quite nice, and keeping with the international theme of the night, given that the bartender was from Bulgaria. She was very pleasant and we chatted about all kinds of stuff, as you usually do when you are on your fourth drink shortly after noon.
Her comment was:
"You are always welcome to our place. I'll be here to serve you a nice hot drink and to give you a smile. Have a wonderful day."
A lovely person. I asked her what I should have to take the chill off and I had:
A rum with hot water, honey, and lemon.
110) Minetta Tavern
This is another Village original, or at least has been around since 1937. Great Itallian restaurant bar and, because it is so early, just me and the manager. She was from Florida, where my sister lives, so we chatted a bit about Florida. The wall featured caricatures, pictures, and newspaper articles about the once and somewhat current famous.
The bartender was from Florida and, seeing as how there were not too many other people in there (none) we chatted a bit. My sister lives in Florida so we had a few things in common. Actually, going to bars in the morning is kind of fun because you get to see them when they are just opening up.
I had a glass of Chianti
111) John's Bar
Another great classic. This place is on 90 Greenwich Avenue, my last stop on the way home. One of the coolest of just having a drink bars that I have ever been in. A couple of other regulars and a bartender and, by the end of it, we all seem to have been getting along. Of course I was also half in the bag by now.
The woman running the bar made these comments:
Small, friendly neighborhood bar. Last of the neighborhood bars in the West Village, where you can still get a bar for $3.00 (note, that is for a Coors Original Light only). Very narrow, shelves full of old nicknacks and a neon sign outside that just say's "BAR."
I would certainly recommend that if you ever have the chance you stop into this place.
I had a Guiness.
Well, there you have it. After a two day lay-off I jumped back in with six and was home before 3:30 P.M. New York, you got to love the place. Just 889 left to go.
106 Monte's
This place is on 97 MacDougal Street, right in a bit of the heart of the West Village. It has been around forever. It hadn't really opened yet but I asked if I could have a glass of wine and was welcomed in with open arms by the owner, Gionvanni Mosconi. I had my wine, he poured me some more, it was great. We talked for about an hour about stuff. This is what makes bars in New York what they are, you never know what type of person you might run into. Giovannin was from Italy but grew up on London.
This place has a nice, dark bar up front, is very small, has great pictures on the wall, just a place you should see if you are ever in the area. I would certainly go back for dinner one night.
I had a glass of red wine but I don't know what kind. The owner was pouring and I thought it would be impolite to write down notes.
107) Le Figaro
This place is at 184 Bleecker Street and is primarily a coffee and dessert place. They do have a bit of a nice bar up front. The bartendress was from Java (we are going a bit on the international theme today) and very pleasant. Most people are, if you are nice to them.
Good jazz on the sound system, nice curved wooden bar.
I had a Sambuca and and Espresso.
108) Off The Wagon
A good name for a bar if ever I heard one. Bartender wanted me to make sure that I mentioned they had 13 TVs. This is another place that has a nice old, dark, curved bar and makes you just want to sit and have another.
They have a fooseball machine, two dart boards, and two tables set up just for beer pong. If you don't know what that is, you will have to email me for an explanation.
The comment from the bartender was "A great place for a game of beer pong and many, many, many shots."
I had a Guiness
109) Le Quinze
This is on Houston Street (pronounced "How Stun" unless you really want to be identified as an out-of-towner). It is a great French restaurant owned by a former Italian rugby player. Hence, all kinds of rugby memorabilia about the place. Quite nice, and keeping with the international theme of the night, given that the bartender was from Bulgaria. She was very pleasant and we chatted about all kinds of stuff, as you usually do when you are on your fourth drink shortly after noon.
Her comment was:
"You are always welcome to our place. I'll be here to serve you a nice hot drink and to give you a smile. Have a wonderful day."
A lovely person. I asked her what I should have to take the chill off and I had:
A rum with hot water, honey, and lemon.
110) Minetta Tavern
This is another Village original, or at least has been around since 1937. Great Itallian restaurant bar and, because it is so early, just me and the manager. She was from Florida, where my sister lives, so we chatted a bit about Florida. The wall featured caricatures, pictures, and newspaper articles about the once and somewhat current famous.
The bartender was from Florida and, seeing as how there were not too many other people in there (none) we chatted a bit. My sister lives in Florida so we had a few things in common. Actually, going to bars in the morning is kind of fun because you get to see them when they are just opening up.
I had a glass of Chianti
111) John's Bar
Another great classic. This place is on 90 Greenwich Avenue, my last stop on the way home. One of the coolest of just having a drink bars that I have ever been in. A couple of other regulars and a bartender and, by the end of it, we all seem to have been getting along. Of course I was also half in the bag by now.
The woman running the bar made these comments:
Small, friendly neighborhood bar. Last of the neighborhood bars in the West Village, where you can still get a bar for $3.00 (note, that is for a Coors Original Light only). Very narrow, shelves full of old nicknacks and a neon sign outside that just say's "BAR."
I would certainly recommend that if you ever have the chance you stop into this place.
I had a Guiness.
Well, there you have it. After a two day lay-off I jumped back in with six and was home before 3:30 P.M. New York, you got to love the place. Just 889 left to go.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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