Ribs And Beer, Some Of My Favorite Things

Last night I had a hankering for some barbecued ribs and so headed to one of my favorite bars, Pete's Waterfront Ale House.

Now I know that good bar etiquette suggests that you should know what you want when you belly up to a bar so as not to waste the bartender's time. I try to make a habit of this but sometimes circumstances don't allow it. Deciding on a beer at Pete's is one of these circumstances.

As I have mentioned before, one of the things I like about Pete's is not only the decent selection of beers they offer, but the fact that they change their offerings quite frequently. As a result you need to peruse the beer menu, thoughtfully posted above the bar, before deciding on what you want.

The Night's Offerings


After pondering for a few minutes I decided to start with the Palm Belgian Amber, and I thought it was a good decision. Leigh Ann, the bartender, agreed .

Leigh Ann Pulling My Palm


Palm is an old Belgian brewery that has been around from the 1700s so, as you might expect, by now they have the brewing process down pretty well. The Palm Amber is decently strong at 5.4% and is a nice golden color with a firm white head. Not too much hops that I could detect, but certainly not a sweet beer by any means. It was quite good.

A Palm In Hand


I generally like beers turned out by the Six Points Brewery located not too far from me in Red Hook, Brooklyn. When I saw the Six Points Ryetious I had to try it, and I wasn't disappointed.

Bar Man Being Ryetious


I think the Six Points Brewery is now going by the name Sixpoint Craft Ales. It looks as though they are in the process of setting up a website but as of today there is just a single page that is ready. This was a darker beer and was fairly hoppy. Not too heavy, and very drinkable.

Well, I came in for the ribs but, as always, I like to check the specials to see if anything looks particularly appealing.

The Night's Specials


The BBQ Jerk Pork Loin looked tempting, but it had been a long time since I had the ribs so that is what I settled on. There were a couple of beers that looked like they might go well, the Aecht Schlenkera Fastenbier and the Avery Collaboration Not Litigation. Leigh Ann graciously let me have a taste of each to help me make up my mind.

A Taste Of Each


The Avery Collaboration Not Litigation pours a cloudy dark amber and my first sip let me know this was not a beer to be trifled with. It is a hefty 8.72% alcohol and the alcohol comes through this flavorful brew. Because I only had a small taste and the alcohol came through so strongly I can't say that I had enough of it to give you much more information about how it tasted. I knew having a pint of this with my ribs might not be the thing to do though.

The Aecht Schlenkera Fastenbier is brewed by Brauerei Heller-Trum in Oberfranken/Bayern, Germany. This is a nice malty beer with enough hops to give it a bit of a bite. It pours dark and has a nice smoky nose to it. It also has a nice smoky taste. I like smoky beers and this is one of the best I have had. Not over-powering, but not so subtle that you have to search for it. It was a reasonable 5.5% and I knew it would go perfectly with the smoky taste of the ribs. I was right and I ended up having two pints (well, there were a lot of ribs).

Traditionally this beer is sold only during lent and because of the nourishing yeast used to make it the German's say "Brotzeit already included" "Brotzeit" is the German word for afternoon snack.

I think I am going back today though to have a pint of the Avery and I should be able to give you a better description afterwards. That is if I stop at just one pint. I must be strong.

Shoddy Reporting

Nothing infuriates Bar Man like shoddy reporting, particularly when it is on a subject dear to my heart, like bars, or beer, or drinking. This is a classic:

A Brewery, I Don't Think So


This article by Farnoosh Torabi appeared in Monday's edition of am New York, a free publication that is worth every penny of its price. Actually I am being a bit harsh. I read it on a daily basis although I have to say it is a pretty light read. Good to grab when you are getting on a subway though.

But I digress. The headline of this article might lead you to believe it will be about a brewery. I know, I am probably being a bit naive. But then the first line of the article is "An Upper West Side brewery has a noisy neighbor problem." And the caption of the picture is "Mark Bahna says his brewery has struggled since a development project started next door."

Personally, I don't think Mr. Bahna actually said that. Although the restaurant and bar that is being talked about is named Westside Brewing Co., no brewing actually takes place there. At one time, long ago, it may have been a brew pub (which is different than a brewery, by the way) but it hasn't been for many a year. You would think a reporter might have noticed the absence of any brewing equipment. The last time I was there they didn't even pretend to brew any beer, serving no beers that even carried their name.

Of course Ms. Torabi probably thinks the Heartland Brewery chain is made up of brew pubs as well. None of Heartland's locations have brewed a drop on their premises for many a year either, not since they expanded beyond two locations and decided it was more efficient (read that as cheaper) to brew their beers off-site and have them delivered. I will cut Heartland some slack here, they also claim that they have better quality control since they consolidated the brewing. And for awhile, maybe still, they had their brewmaster continue to do the brewing. Now don't get me wrong, Heartland still serves mighty good beers brewed to their specifications, they are just no longer brew pubs. Westside Brewery doesn't even bother with that.

You can go to Rocky Sullivan's in Red Hook and get beers fresh from the Six Point Brewery next door. And, by the way, I don't believe breweries, unlike brew pubs, are allowed to sell their beer for consumption on their premises. I am not sure what kind of an arrangement Chelsea Brewery in Manhattan has, but next door to the brewery proper is a great bar and restaurant where you can get their beers on draft. And mighty good beers they are too. As are the offerings from Six Point.

Further

Last Friday I decided to check out the buses (fans of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters will notice the reference in this blog's title) in my neighborhood. I am beginning to realize that these are an under utilized mode of transportation. The subways are crowded and you can't see where you are going, but they are fairly fast. The buses offer a more leisurely mode of travel and you can sight-see as well.

Just a short walk from my place is, I discovered, a stop on the longest bus route in New York. One end is in Red Hook, just a short walk from Rocky Sullivan's bar and the Six Points Brewery. The other end is in Long Island City. As you will see, I haven't gotten to that end yet. But soon, very soon.

The Bus, The Bus


Trust me, if the weather is decent waiting for a bus is much pleasanter than waiting for a subway. And Friday was a lovely spring day, just perfect for an excursion.

I have already taken this bus, the 61, to Red Hook so today it was off in the other direction. The objective was to take it to Long Island City, see what was interesting there or on the way, and then either stay or stop someplace on the way back. Well, the best laid plans of mice and men and all that rot.

Shortly before noon and after about twenty minutes on the bus it passed through Williamsburg. My traveling companion, the Mysterious Chinese Woman, decided she was feeling a bit peckish and wanted to stop for lunch. I, of course, am always ready for a beer so there was no argument from me.

A Beer Break


The bus stopped but a block from Rosemary's Greenpoint Tavern. This was bar number 634 back in the day of my 1000 bar trek and it hadn't changed too much. It wasn't as heavily decorated, but my last visit was shortly after the Fourth of July. It wasn't as crowded either, in fact at about 11:45 A.M. it was empty. Not even a bartender. Well, there was a bartender, it was the guy outside smoking a cigarette. He did come in and ask us if we wanted anything. I said he could finish his smoke because we weren't in any hurry. He came in anyway and I had a draft Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Beer Brunch


I got to watch Chuck Norris beat up someone on television to end another exciting episode of Walker, Texas Ranger and then it was time for a real lunch.

Just down the block was an interesting looking Pan-Asian restaurant that had a bit of a lunch crowd, so that was where we headed.

Red Bowl


They had a nice little menu and very reasonable prices. I could see why it was popular. The service was fast and friendly and you could look out the open front and watch the world pass by.

I decided to have a sake with my lunch and that turned out to be a tactical error. I assumed that I would just get a small glass but that proved not to be the case at all. Instead I was served a fairly good portion in a neat little carafe with a pocket for ice to keep the sake chilled.

A Serving Of Sake


The price was right, just $9 for the carafe, but the portion was a bit more than I anticipated. Nonetheless, I wasn't about to let any go to waste so I manfully finished it off as the Mysterious Chinese Woman looked on approvingly, or not.

Not Really Approving


Well, Bar Man's resolve faded like cheap madras shorts washed in hot water. It just didn't seem like such a good idea to get back on the bus so we decided to just wander around a bit and see what we could see where we were. It turned out to be a pretty good idea because not too far away we found a neat little surfer themed bar named, appropriately enough:

Surf Bar


It was pretty hard to miss considering the size of the sign painted on the wall. The appropriate surf themed signage (why does my spell checker not recognize that word?) hung outside the door.

Surfer Signage


Another digression. If I add "signage" to my spell checker dictionary it still flags it when the word is capitalized. Ain't that strange?

They had a limited selection of beers on draft but a larger selection of beers in bottles. I opted for a Blue Point Toasted Lager though because I like it and you don't see it everywhere. It also helps support the local economy because it is brewed on Long Island.

Toasted Lager, But Not Getting Toasted


The interior of the bar was a complete clutter of surfer themed stuff, just junk, and a nice collection of surfer pictures that looked like they were outtakes from a Gidget movie. I liked it.

Gidget Goes Surfin'


I really didn't check out the menu, but they had a row of tables with red and white checkered tablecloths lined up against the wall opposite the bar.

The Dining Area


They have a neat outdoor area where a few people were having lunch. It had a set-up for live music so I bet this place is jumping on warm summer evenings.

Outdoor Patio


The only thing lacking was an actual view of the water. On the other hand I could watch the construction project across the street.

A Wave Pool Would Be Nice


Well, it isn't going to be a wave pool. The bartender said he thought it was gong to be a six story apartment building or something. In Williamsburg six stories is a big deal. The building boom in Williamsburg hasn't abated too much, there are buildings going up all over. I can see why people like to live here though. Lot's of restaurants and bars, still reasonable prices, and just one subway stop from Manhattan on the L train.



We were going to take the bus home at this point but the Mysterious Chinese Woman decided she wanted a delayed dessert. I was hoping for an espresso and perhaps a Strega. We walked past Acqua Santa and decided to stop in.

Acqua Santa


The front door was locked and it looked empty inside but when we walked around the corner we saw that it had a nice little garden area that was open to the warm spring day.

The Garden Entrance


The Mysterious Chinese Woman got what she wanted, a nice piece of chocolate cake served with a delicious raspberry sherbet and sliced strawberrys.

Umm, Yummy


They only served beer and wine here so I settled for an espresso and a glass of their house red. Not a bad fall back, and it was a nice way to end our afternoon in Williamsburg.

Alls Well That Ends Well




Now that I know how easy it is to get to this neighborhood by bus I will be returning more often. By subway, from where I live, you have to take the G subway and that is notorious for being unreliable. The alternative would be to take the subway to 14th street in Manhattan and then transfer to the L train. Also not convenient and would take much longer. The bus is just perfect.

The Bus Back


All in all it was a fun afternoon even though it took that unexpected turn. Next time my resolve will be better, or we leave earlier and have lunch somewhere in Long Island City or on the way back. After checking the bus map I saw that Long Island City wasn't that much further.

Mexican Wedding

My friends Tom and Elba got married while I was in Puerto Vallarta and I was privileged enough to be invited to their wedding. It was a beautiful affair held at Le Kliff, a very nice restaurant perched on, hard to believe, a cliff.

Le Kliff


It is a bit out of town, close to Mismaloya, so you need to take a taxi. Luckily it is very easy to get a taxi from my place.

Taxis Always Available


Of course the easiest place to find them is right across from where I stay. They seem to like to cluster around the rock with a big "No Taxis" painted on it.

Local Taxi Stand


Back at Le Kliff they had set up the area where the ceremony was going to take place. I have to admit, if you are going to take the plunge, this place is a good place to plunge from.

Plungeable




Tom was all decked out in his finery and looked quite ready to take the plunge.

Tom, Looking Suave


Before the wedding started there was an open bar and delicious snacks. My favorite was the shrimp on a stick with a thin crunchy coating.

Appetizer Plate


Le Kliff is classy all the way. Even the banos was beautiful

Nicer Then Your Average Piss Trough


I kind of wonder what the women's room looked like.

After we were all seated Elba was escorted down the steps by her son, Chava.

Elba On Her Way Down


The ring bearer and flower girl waited patiently to play their role in the ceremony. They are two of Elba's grandchildren, Diana and Juanito

Waiting In The Wings


It was a lovely ceremony with both Mexican and American traditions. Tom is originally from Wisconsin but now lives in Mexico. Elba is from Puerto Vallarta. One of the parts involves the mixing of sand from the hometowns of both the bride and groom. This signifies that the two families are now united and, like the sand, can never be separated.

Saying The Vows


They certainly had a beautiful backdrop with the sun setting behind them.

Happily Married


As you can see, the sunset truly was magnificent.

A Beautiful Sunset For A Beautiful Ceremony


And, of course, there was the obligatory mariachi band playing in the background.

No Wedding Is Complete Without Them


After the ceremony there was a very nice dinner (I had one of the best steaks I have ever had) and dancing.

Aren't They Adorable?


Of course there was the traditional cutting of the cake and messy kiss afterwards.

Cutting The Cake


Messy Kiss


I sat with a bunch of nice people. The fellow, Rollie, is an architect and his wife, who is also Elba's niece, Dunny is a Computer Engineer. They both spoke very good English, which was good because I know about 10 words of Spanish and they mostly have to do with ordering beer and getting the check. Dunny just has a little boy who they named Giam (prounounced Yum)

Table Mates Rollie And Dunny


Not altogether unexpected, The Mysterious Chinese Woman managed to wrangle a wedding invitation as well. Either that or she just crashed the party.

Woo Woo!! I'm Here


One tradition that seems to be common between weddings in the United States and Mexico is the wedding singer. No wedding is complete without one and this one was pretty good. He is also a friend of the Bride and Groom.

Enrique The Wedding Singer


Of course with Elba you always know you are going to be entertained. No shrinking violet she. And it apparently runs in the family.

Elba And Her Daughter Marisol Singing


It was a very lovely ceremony and dinner and I wish Tom and Elba much happiness. I am already looking forward to seeing them all settled into their new casa (house) when I return to Puerto Vallarta next year.

Sad News

Well, it looks like some of the clouds surrounding the shooting at the Western Hotel in Callicoon have drifted away:

The gun that was used to shoot and kill Lori Schubeler last weekend belonged to the owner of the Western Hotel in Callicoon, who was handling it when it fired, Sullivan County District Attorney Stephen Lungen said Friday.

The 41-year-old Callicoon actress who was waitressing at the hotel bar early in the morning of last Sunday, April 13, was shot once in the left chest with the bullet entering her aorta and lung, the DA said.

Investigation revealed the gun, a .25 caliber semi-automatic, belonged to Joseph Naughton, 64, the owner of the hotel.

Lungen said the case will be presented to a Sullivan County grand jury to hear evidence. It will determine whether or not the shooting was a result of reckless conduct, criminal negligence or accident, said Lungen.

The gun and other forensic evidence is being examined by the State Police laboratory in Albany.

This will be my last post on the subject. I kind of drifted away from my normal subject matter, but this was a bit close to me. My next post will definitely be about the wedding in Mexico, a much happier topic.

Mystery Still Surrounds Shooting

Crime Scene


Nearly four days after the shooting at The Western in Callicoon the news about it is sparse indeed. In a small town where, supposedly, everyone knows everything about everything, nobody seems to know, or will admit to knowing, just what happened at the bar early Sunday morning.

What seems to be known is that the weapon was a .25 caliber pistol, old but no antique. Lori was shot near the heart, her aorta was severed, and she bled to death. Besides Lori there were two other people in the bar, Joe Naughton the owner, and an as yet unnamed third person.

One report stated that the shooter did not know the victim. If this is true then the shooter must have been the unnamed third person. However the various news reports have not only been sketchy, they have also been a bit inconsistent. Earlier reports seemed to indicate that the shooter did, indeed, know the victim. Also, one report called the shooter "the assailant" which kind of implies something other than an accident.

So far the police have not arrested anyone nor, apparently, have they concluded whether the shooting was an accident or not. Or, at least, they aren't releasing the information if it is known.

I do find it a bit strange that there is so little information being released about this tragic event. My personal interest lies in the fact that I have spent more then a little time at the bar here, have stayed at the Western Hotel numerous times over the years, and know Joe Naughton fairly well.

The latest news that I have found on this was in the Sullivan County Democrat, which you can see by clicking on the link below.

Shooting At The Western

Just thought I would post some breaking news about The Western Hotel, a place I not only drink at on occasion, but also stay when I visit friends in Callicoon, a small town in upstate New York.

CALLICOON - A 41-year-old Callicoon woman was shot and killed in the bar of the Western Hotel early this morning, the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office says.

Lori A. Schubeler, a long-time waitress at the hotel, was shot around 12:30 a.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sullivan County District Attorney Steve Lungen says police are still investigating whether the shooting was accidental or not.

No one else was injured and detectives are interviewing persons who were present at the time of the incident.

No arrests have been made, officials said.

I will keep you posted with any new developments.

Below you can see my original post about The Western Hotel, bar number 672 on my journey towards 1000.

672) The Western Hotel





This hotel was built in 1852 and still retains much of the same feeling of that long ago era. The current owner, a real character named Joe Naughton, has owned the place since 1969 and he and his wife Leona have spent a lot of time and energy selecting antique furniture and fixtures for the tap room, lobby, and dining room. The bar top itself is fairly new looking but I suspect that is just because it is so well taken care of. The front of the bar has a rough brick front and a brass rail The back bar is quite ornate with mirrors and cabinets with glass door at each end. There is kind of a plain red Formica top above coolers with wooden doors and silver latches and handles. A World War II era Marine issue shotgun with a bayonet hangs above the mirrors. The walls are dark red paneling and there is a new television above the jukebox on the wall opposite the bar. I don’t recall ever seeing the old one turned on though and this one was turned off too.

There is an old barber chair off to one side and an upright piano that was being played by a young girl who was attending a wake. Apparently it was just breaking up because there were a number of people at the bar saying their goodbyes. It was one of the cheeriest wakes I had ever seen. In fact I asked the bartender if there was a wedding party going on.

If you ever get to Callicoon be sure to stop in and say “Hi” to Joe. And if you want a place to stay, this is your only choice. Unless you want to stay at the Olympia next door.



I had a glass of Sarnac Pale Ale.