NYCBP Blog

Labels: Alyssa, beer, dive bars, Doc Holliday’s, Eddie Goldman

I guess turkey day is the start of what is called the holiday season. That is what all these incessant advertisements and commercials have been insisting, and they wouldn't lie, would they?

For some, this time of year is a busy one, pre-programmed to carry out shopping and all sorts of other rituals. The creative tendencies, whether produced by DNA, experience good and bad, or, more likely, some equation involving the two, tend to get overwhelmed or even crushed in this seasonal onslaught of conformity and commercialism.

Such a time is particularly difficult for those among us who think and, more to the point, act independently. Convention, custom, fashion, and the like count for naught to many of us, unless they can be shown to make sense, to be proved so.

But we, the independent and thinking folk, are a minority. Some of that is by economic necessity, as any economic system will not reward its outsiders.

So what do we do, while the prevailing mores, prejudices, and fears are utilized and manipulated to marginalize us? Sure, we all fight back in our own ways, to varying degrees of effectiveness. But alas, we are also very human, fallible, and emotionally vulnerable, too.

In the meantime, while the existing dumbness prevails, we need to feed our minds and spirits. What the dominant institutions cannot provide our critical minds, we find elsewhere, in the public houses, taverns, barrooms, and honky tonks. These crazy places may be our best refuge from all this insanity. Our problems may not be solved there, but our hearts and minds can be recharged so we can not only survive this season, but continue to go against the tide.

For us NYCBP'ers, this has become a harder task with the closure of so many of our bars like Yogi's this year. But they are still out there, so don't hesitate to free yourself from all this mindlessness. Have a rowdy good time, but remember to tip well.

Labels: beer, dive bars, Thanksgiving, turkey

So we finally heard from Jimmy Duff about what he is doing with his bar in Billyburg. It is moving about a mile next week. The scoop:

Some facts for ya:

The last night at DUFF'S present location is Saturday, November 29. "Last Call at North 3rd Street" (This location at North 3rd will remain open afterwards as Rock N' Roll dive bar THE BUNKER).

DUFF'S will be opening in our new location the following weekend at 168 Marcy Avenue in South Williamsburg, December 5th and 6th, along with all the DUFF's employees & jukebox. The new location is approximately 1 mile from the current North 3rd Street bar. We hope you'll join for some of the best parties of the year, and thank you for your continued support!!

Labels: bars, bartenders, Brooklyn, drinking, press releases

Wow. Imagine you are drinking at a bar on Amsterdam Avenue, and the next thing you know, your face is on fire? That is apparently what happened to a woman who was at Brother Jimmy's on the Upper West Side, according to a lawsuit detailed in the New York Post. "Lauren Sclafani, 31, says she suffered second- and third-degree burns on her face, arms and hands thanks to the Bacardi 151 stunt at Brother Jimmy's gone terribly wrong."

As "Great Balls of Fire" came on the jukebox, the bartender poured 151-proof rum across the bar and deliberately lit it on fire, according to a lawsuit she filed against the bar. The flame blew back into the bottle, turning it into a "flamethrower," said Sclafani's lawyer, Tom Moore.

"I was just about to leave, and the next thing you know, I'm lit on fire," Sclafani said. "My face was burning, my hands were burning, my clothes were on fire. I was just praying to make it stop."

That is damn horrific. How much do you think she will win? A million? More? Any of you guys ever seen this done at the bar? Red Rock West used to light their bar on fire for KISS' "Heaven's On Fire"... but the bouncers had the good sense to make customers step back 4 feet before the matches came out.

Labels: bartenders, patrons, upper west side

Well 2008 has been brutal to classic bars in Manhattan, and this was felt most on the Upper West Side. It looks like the P&G, which we have been following for some time. Is now about to bite the bullet. We got this message from our pal Robin, who was in town recently:

I had to visit my old drinking hole and check on its' status. I spoke to Andrew and then to Steve , who gave me the bad news of the final date for the P & G. It will occur on Dec 31. There is good news from Steve that the family will be moving the P&G to I think 86th and Amsterdam. Maybe you can clarify the location a little better. I understood from Steve the P&G neon will be going with them as will some of the rear bar. I was fortunate enough to hoist a few before it closes. I hope you do a little piece on your website. It will truly be missed.

This is pretty disgraceful to lose such a great neighborhood bar. We need a big NYCBP night out at the bar very very soon.

Labels: drinking, patrons, upper west side

I saw this on The Feedbag:

Village Pourhouse on the Upper West Side has implemented a new policy. If you take a cab to visit the new spot, the Pourhouse will match your cab fare in the form of a bar tab. For instance, if you are on the LES on a Saturday night and you are ready for a change of scene, but can’t imagine coughing up the dough for a cab to the Upper West Side, have no fear. Direct the cabby to Amsterdam between 108th and 109th, ask for a receipt when you arrive, and the bartender will start your tab with a credit for the same amount as your fare.

An excellent concept! Maybe Tommy should try this at The Duck?

Labels: drinking, patrons, upper west side

Labels: beer, country music, dive bars

Where to watch the election returns tonight? A bar? Your apartment? There is something about watching history being made in public, like you would have to watch a Game 7 of the World Series in a bar, right? And do you want to be at home, alone, with a big news story like this? As history is being made?

I think going to a bar, with lots of drinks and celebrating, would be a lot more fun. If the election is a big sweep, then it would be a bigger party. If McCain concedes early... oh well.

The Post has some choices, among them Nation on West 45th Street, where bartender Allison pours drinks. According to the Post, there are a lot of places that are ready to see the action...

Not since the Giants shocked the Patriots in the Super Bowl 10 months ago have

Manhattan's busiest bars been so excited about a contest. But instead of watching touchdowns, these crowds will be watching election returns.

"We're going to have a big crowd," said Stanley Meytin, a staffer at Southern Hospitality, a Southern-themed bar on the Upper East Side.

Over on Gothamist, they have some suggestions too.

If you want to have a drink in front of you while watching the results get tallied, there are innumerable of options. SideBAR and the Village Pourhouse are both hosting election day parties...complete with presidential and vice presidential look-a-likes who will pose for pictures with attendees. Obama Mamas and Macallan McCains will be served and an $11.04 Red, White & Blue menu will be available. Bonus: red and blue beer will be poured.

Have a great time tonight watching the election returns!

Labels: bars, Democrat, drinking, patrons, Republican