Happy Hour Mobile

In the interest of keeping you informed about new websites that might be of interest while at the same time shamelessly promoting myself, I want to introduce you to Happy Hour Mobile. There motto is:

"We find the bars you'll tell your friends about."


In addition to their website they also offer downloadable content.

To check out this nifty website, just click below:

Now, back to the shameless self-promotion. Mark, one of the creators of Happy Hour Mobile, interviewed me via e-mail regarding my journey through 1000 bars. I think he just wanted to see if I was still alive. Funny, now that I think about it, a lot of people seem to wonder about that.

Well, once we established the fact that I was still ambling off to get my nose wet now and again he sent me a list of questions to answer regarding what I had learned along the way and what I was up to now. The results are now posted in the "Featured" section of their website. Check it out if you want to.

I'll probably be having a pint or two with these guys in the near future and if I do you can be sure you will be reading about it here.

Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden Hours

If you go to the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden website you will see this:

Our restaurant hours are:
Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 6:00pm - 11:00pm
Tuesday closed (BBQ in summer 6:00pm - 11::00pm)
Friday 6:00pm- 12:00pm
Saturday 12:00pm - 12:00pm
Sunday 12:00pm - 11:00pm

The question that I have is On Saturday are they not open at all, or open 24 hours? I suspect they mean they are open from noon until midnight.

People do not seem to realize that there is really no agreed upon definition of 12:00 A.M. and 12:00 P.M. Just to give you an example of the confusion surrounding this, dictionary.com says "If it is 12:00 a.m., then it is midnight. If it is 12:00 p.m., then it is noon." However, the U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual says just the opposite. Kind of makes your head hurt.

A.M. means before noon, from the Latin ante meridiem. P.M. means after noon, from the Latin post meridiem. Therefore you really can't have a 12:00 A.M., which would mean twelve o'clock before noon; that is nonsensical. And, of course, the same goes for 12:00 P.M.

Now I know that this has little to do with the main thrust of my blog, but given the number of bars that continue to use 12:00 A.M. and 12:00 P.M. when they advertise their hours and that this is a bit of a pet peeve of mine, I thought I would share.

Of course anyone who advertises they are open from 12:00 P.M. to 12:00 P.M. really needs a proof-reader.

Dinosaur Barbecue - A Classic

Yesterday I headed up to Harlem to visit the now legendary Dinosaur Barbecue. The original opened in Syracuse, New York and a second was opened in Rochester, New York. The one in Harlem is their most recent addition, opening in 2004. And a welcome addition it is. I don't have a car and this one is just a subway ride away from where I live in Downtown Brooklyn. Admittedly, it is a kind of long subway ride, but one well worth taking. It is on 131st Street in Manhattan and about as far West as you can go. If you take the 1 Train to 125th it is just a couple of blocks away. I don't know why it has taken me so long to visit here, but you can rest assured I will be back again.

Dinosaur Barbecue


When we walked in we were greeted by the cheerful Sherry who guided us through the crowd to our table for four.

Cheery Sherry


While the rest of the group perused the extensive menu of barbecued goodies, I headed to the bar for a beer. No surprise there, I guess. Ginger pulled me a draft Rogue Dead Guy Ale.

Bar Man And Ginger At The Bar


They had the type of cluttered bar you would expect in a place like this and quite an extensive beer menu. I think they have 25 different beers on draft and a pretty decent selection of bottled beers as well.

A Suitably Cluttered Bar


Dinosaur Barbecue has a bit of a biker theme so the decor features a lot of pigs and hogs. I am not sure if these chopper sculptures were for sale, but the artist does sell some of his works. I failed to take down his name and contact information though, so if someone knows it, send it to me and I will update this blog to include it.

Sculpted Hogs Of The Riding Kind




And, of course there were also the hogs you can eat decorating the walls.

Hogs Of The Eating Kind




There was also had a neat variation on the dog's playing poker motif featured in a wall mural.

A Mixed Group


Now no amount of decorations will help if the food isn't any good, but that certainly wasn't the case here. Not only was the food delicious, it was plentiful as well. The menu on the wall was only a sample of what they had to offer, but it gives you a hint of what is available.

Hmm, Decisions, Decisions, Decisions


We settled on an appetizer plate for four that included deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes, chicken wings, and boiled shrimp. A great way to start. We followed that with an order of ribs that came with corn bread and your choice of four side dishes. We settled for coleslaw, baked beans, greens, and I forget the last one. Do you think one order of ribs were enough for the four of us? Check it out.

Not Only Great, But Plenty


The had a number of sauces available if you thought the ribs needed more flavor. They really didn't, but it was fun to try them out anyway.

Add Some Spice To Your Life, Or At Least To Your Ribs


Old movie posters graced the walls and all I could think of was "Damn, they just don't make them like they used to." I will have to check NetFlix to see if they are available.

Drive-In Double Feature




I recommend that you try this place in mid-afternoon when it is merely crowded. I would imagine that during lunch and dinner hours it would be packed. Be sure to bring a hearty appetite.

And, you might want to make your visit a high priority. It is located in an area that is being annexed by Columbia University, so how long it remains at this location is a bit of a question. Apparently Columbia University will help them relocate, but part of its allure is its current location amongst the auto repair shops.

What A Guy!!!

Sheesh, the other day I stopped into Pete's Waterfront Ale House and Guy was bartending. As usual we got to talking, I took pictures, he signed the necessary waivers and releases required for them to be posted (maybe he is in a witness protection program), and then I got pre-occupied and didn't put a picture up on my website. Boy, did I ever hear about it when I stopped in there today. So Guy, this one is for you. One of my favorite bartenders at my favorite bar..., I give you:

GUY


By the way, I took about a dozen pictures and he liked this one the best. You can imagine what the others must have looked like.

Guy told me that Tom Cruise modeled his role as a bartender in Cocktail after him. I can definitely see the similarities.

Birthday Party In Chinatown

Last Saturday we celebrated my Uncle's (kind of) 80th birthday party down in Chinatown. I guess he isn't really my Uncle, he is my Mother-In-Law's brother. But, in true Chinese tradition, if you marry into the family you are family. And who could complain.

It was going to be a somewhat classy affair and my Mother-In-Law said jacket and tie was required. I am not sure if this is what she had in mind, but she seemed happy enough when I showed up. I think I look kind of like Jack Nicholson, only when he was a bit younger and not quite as well-jowled as he is now.

Ready For My Close-Up


My Uncle seemed quite pleased with his party and, in my opinion, looked great for his age. I can only hope that I hold up as well.

Mother-In-Law, Uncle, and Auntie


The Mysterious Chinese Woman was there, of course, and she was looking might spiffy herself.

Spiffy Mysterious Chinese Woman


Of course my brother-in-law Jim was there as well, and you can pretty much tell that he, as usual, is up to no good.

About To Work The Crowd


Well, if you know anything about the Chinese, they love a good party. And a good party means good food. And plenty of it. Needless to say this would be no exception.

The first serving was crispy pork, and you can see that you need to be fast.

Delicious Crispy Pork


This was followed up by shark-fin soup.

The Soup


Of course crispy chicken is a must, and this was served with those puffy rice potato chip things that always show up. Some people seem to like them but I think they would be more suitable for packing material. The chicken was excellent though.

Chicken And Packing Material


Lobster is a requirement for any Chinese birthday. No matter what else you have, you must have lobster.

Red Lobster, But Not At Red Lobster


In true Chinese tradition, all fowl and, of course, the lobster is served with the head. This also is considered good luck and a must do.

Here's Looking At You


Next up was a crispy fish, well presented and most tasty.

Crispy Fish


And, of course, no Chinese feast would be complete without rice. Also, noodles are traditionally served at birthdays because they are long and therefore portend a long life.

Rice And Noodles


Finally, as the feast began to draw to an end we had little cakes and oranges for dessert. The oranges are also traditional and few meals end without them.

Cakes And Oranges


But those weren't Uncle's cakes. He got a special one which he generously shared with one and all.

Uncle's Cake


Everyone had a great time and, I believe, plenty to eat. If they didn't get plenty to eat it was only because they weren't quick enough.

ATLANTIC ANTIC - Part Two

And on to the rest of the day, and it was a full and fun-filled day.

Right across the street from Pete's Waterfront Ale House is Last Exit. In fact, once this was the long-time home of Pete's. I remember one night, long ago, that I was in there with a couple of friends and the Jagermeister Girls showed up. A night almost too horrible to think about capped off by an early morning subway ride out to Coney Island for a greasy breakfast and a ride on the Cyclone. The fact that none of us actually threw up was a minor miracle. But I digress.

Last Exit seemed to fixate on, well, I am not sure of the genre. Schoolboy erotic fantasy bands, I guess. I am assuming that schoolboys fantasize about erotic schoolgirls.





Now I did say that the Atlantic Avenue had a somewhat eclectic selection of foods, and this offering by Jolie, a mighty fine French restaurant, kind of proved the point.

Hmm, Yummy


I am sure they didn't let that head go to waste, it was obvious that nothing else did.

Picked Clean


Brazen Head was going strong and although they didn't serve any food, their mini-beer garden certainly drew a crowd.

Brazen Head's Beer Garden


They also had a stage set up and a dynamite group, the Dysfunctional Family Jazz Band, was putting on one heck of a show. And, they really were all family members. Whether they were truly dysfunctional, I do not know. One thing for sure, you don't have to polish your saxophone for it to sound good.

DFJB


Hank's Saloon was packed but I am not sure if these two guys out front were actually a scheduled part of the entertainment. They were the only ones who were soliciting tips from the crowd. They didn't sound bad though.

Street Musicians At A Street Fair


Of course no New York street fair is complete without roasted corn on the cob and jerk chicken.

Roasting The Corn


But not every street fair has Halal jerk chicken. Now that is what makes the Atlantic Antic so special.

Not Your Everyday Jerk Chicken


And, gasp, Bar Man discovered a bar that he has passed by numerous times without even realizing it was there. Downtown Atlantic looks, from the street, like a bakery. And it is. Supposedly their cheesecake rivals that of the more famous Juniors. If it hadn't been for the large sign, put up for the day, advertising Tommy Bahama Rum I would have passed it by again.

A Pleasant Surprise


Taking a closer look at their sign, I did see that it announces itself as a restaurant and bar, but in very small print.

Keeping It A Secret


The current New Jersey Nets will be moving to Brooklyn one day if they ever resolve all of the disputes about building the new arena in my neighborhood. I used to be an avid Knicks fan for a number of years. Season ticket holder, in fact. My interest started to falter when they brought in Isiah Thomas as the General Manager. Although I liked him as a player he almost single-handedly ruined the Continental Basketball Association when he was its owner. And I never did forgive him for saying that Larry Bird, one of my favorite players of all time, would have been considered just average if he had been black.

When he brought in Stephon Marbury I just gave up all together and haven't been back after that initial season. Anytime a now only above average point guard refers to himself as "Starbury" and proclaims himself as the best point guard in the NBA you know you are dealing with someone delusional. Plus, I never forgave him for bolting from the Timberwolves because he knew he could never be the star of the team. That role belonged to Kevin Garnett. And you will notice how well all of the teams he has been a star on have done. They always seem to get better when he leaves.

Oh, and if you think I might be a bit harsh on Isiah and Stephon, just look at the Knicks record of the past few years. And watch Dolan and Thomas lose that sexual harassment suit too. Remember, I am posting this before the verdict is out but I will eat this blog if they are not found guilty. Of course if I am wrong I will just delete this paragraph.

Ah, but I went off on another tangent there. Anyway, when the Nets do move to Brooklyn I may once again become a basketball fan. And I will be able to walk to the games.

Holding Out Hope


But, back to the Atlantic Antic. There truly was just about every kind of music on just about every corner.

Steel Drums


You Be The Judge


Some things, however, didn't attract too much of a crowd. Jeez, I wonder why. I mean who wouldn't want a patch of hair removed from their back in the middle of a crowd?

But, It Is Free


As the day began to wind down I headed back towards Pete's and stopped to listen to the band on the stage across from Magnetic Field, another great bar in the neighborhood.

Magnetic Field's Stage


I noticed that Pete's chef was taking a break and enjoying a cold one with the owner of Magnetic Field.

Taking A Break


Four of my friends had decided to call it quits but the four of us who were left decided to finish off the day by stopping into Pete's Waterfront Bar for some barbecued ribs and beef brisket. Award winning stuff, for sure.

Some Of The Awards


Thoroughly stuffed we toddled off home and I vowed to live a life of moderation. Well, at least until Saturday when the Mysterious Chinese Woman's uncle is throwing an 80th birthday party for himself in Chinatown. You better believe there will be a lack of moderation that night.

ATLANTIC ANTIC - Part One

It was a beautiful day yesterday, unless you were a Jets or a Mets fan. Well, anyway, the weather was beautiful and the Atlantic Antic once again lived up to expectations.

As usual, Atlantic Avenue was jammed with people from Fourth Avenue to, almost, but not quite, Monetero.

Curb To Curb People




I headed a bit west of the end of Atlantic Antic to take a peek at a Russian Navy training vessel that was moored there.

Russian Training Vessel


I guess we don't have to worry too much about the Russian Navy if this is what they are using to train their sailors. I suspect their Army uses wooden rifles.

As long as I was this close to the waterfront I decided, surprise, to stop in to Montero for a quick one.

Montero


My pal Pilar was there in her usual spot having a glass of white wine and before the Mets game even started she proclaimed that their season was over. I shall now call her Pilar the Prophet. She also proudly told me that she was a great-great-grandmother for the fifth time and had spent yesterday visiting the newest addition to her family. Good for Pilar.

As you can see, Montero is indeed just across the street from the end of Atlantic Antic.

So Close, Yet So Far


Heading back into the morass, La Mancha was doling out a dynamite Sangria and a nice selection of Spanish delicacies including one of my favorite, grilled sardines.

Making The Sangria


And Sardines Too


The music was already cranking up at The Chip Shop, a British themed bar that has very good fish and chips, as you might imagine.

British Rock


Just down the street is a very good Mexican restaurant, Mezcal, and they were already drawing a good crowd as well.

Mexican Street Food Right Here In Brooklyn


Right next door to Mezcal is my favorite, Pete's Waterfront Ale House. Their specialties today were pulled pork and pulled beef sandwiches. As you can see, they are serious about their food, everything was definitely being made fresh.

Pork Butts Ready For Pulling


And the crowds, knowing a good thing when they smell it, were queued up to get their barbecue fix.

Worth The Wait


Sam, the owner, as always, was keeping a close eye on things. The only complaint I have about Sam is that he takes himself well to0 seriously. He really needs to lighten up a bit.

Somber Sam


Not really somber though. Anyone who advertises his bar as having warm beer, lousy food, and an ugly owner isn't taking himself too seriously. As evidenced by the crowd, nobody else takes Sam seriously either.

And, to make things even better, one of my favorite bands, The Black Coffee Blues Band was playing out front.

The Black Coffee Blues Band








There was a lot more to see and hear and eat so I will post about the rest of the Atlantic Antic tomorrow. Stay tuned for more, this might give you an incentive to check back.

Preview Of Coming Attractions