NYCBP Blog

Yogi's has been closed since October, the football was over, and my main computer is still being repaired, so I tried to go to sleep early Sunday night. When I awoke, I saw the following text message from our good buddy, Paul Katcher:

This is BREAKING NEWS for nycbp.com. I just spotted the huge bear from inside Yogi's in the former Red Rock Roadhouse in the Upper East Side.

There have been rumors for some time that Tommy and Chardee will be moving into this location. Now there seems to be credible evidence that such a move may happen soon.

I just hope opening weekend is not the one I plan to go visit Amarillo, Texas! 10-4.

Labels: Eddie Goldman, Paul Katcher, Yogi’s

It has been two week, so why not revisit the Yogi's end-of-the-world one more time? I never did link to Paul's great post, or his photo album, from the last week there. I believe he was there 8 straight days or something. He writes:

It was where I drank with a porn star, a dishwasher, and a trust-fund millionaire. And I don't mean like over the years. I mean at one time. It was where I met tourists from countless countries, got flashed by bartenders as incentive to not leave (it worked), belted out the words to redneck country tunes, and drank way too much on a too-regular basis with suits, skanks, hippies, degenerates, alkies, perverts, Columbia students, mothers, and the occasional dumb shit who'd order wine.

He also has great photos from the end too. Thanks, Paul!

Can you believe it has been two weeks already? Is it time to get over it?

Labels: bartenders, patrons, Paul Katcher, photos, Tommy McNeil, upper east side, Yogi’s

Yogi's may have closed, but The Duck is a worthy sequel to that hit movie. On opening night, more than 70 customers jammed the new bar in Spanish Harlem, located at 2171 Second Avenue, between East 111th and 112th streets. Owner Tom McNeil was on hand, buying shots. "We're not discovering a new neighborhood," Tom told me, "we're ruining another neighborhood."

I got the first beer. It was served by Bobbie Jean, a Florida gal who used to work Thursday day shift at Yogi's. Bobbie Jean was called up yesterday morning and told to report to The Duck. Likewise for Kate, a cocktail waitress from The Patriot, who pulled her first-ever bartending shift in admirable fashion in the "back room" at The Duck. The flame-haired stunner served the drinks with a big smile.

Tom was asked about the name. The Duck was just a name he used on his business papers when he was trying to think of a name for the new place. He said it doesn't mean anything; but recently he found out that a firehouse around the corner from the bar has a duck mascot. Tom is encouraging customers to come in with letter "D" signs for the bar walls. He would prefer they be stolen, and in true Tom fashion, would most like ones that were shot off from "SOLD" signs. OK...

A few hours into the opening night party, after the jukebox started pumping out familiar tunes and the crowd picked up, Tom treated us with a free ribs spread from Green Apple BBQ, an excellent ribs joint at 362 East 112th St. "Try the pulled pork!" Tom told us, as he slapped down a tray of pig. Poor Kate, a vegetarian... it was dynamite food. So far there is only one giant TV in the front bar, but Tom says they are buying more. I hope they do not come from Yogi's... another great thing, and worth a trip soon, is the bathrooms are pristine. I predict within a week they will be destroyed.

Since I was the first customer, I got the first beer. A Bud Light. Another guy came in behind me and got a PBR. My first shot was Weller Reserve bourbon, on Tom, who said its much better than Jack. "It costs more, but I won't charge more," he said to me.


About the bar: It is twice the size as Yogi's. The front bar is smallish, with an unusual curve design. It has a high ceiling, perfect for dancing. However, it is not long, so it would be hard for more than one bartender to be back there. The back room is pretty long, and has a door that opens to the side street (112th). It has a pool table and lots of seats. The low ceiling would be good for midgets to dance on the bar.

Good news for country music lovers: the same jukebox CDs were moved from Yogi's. Even the song numbers are the same.

It was a great crowd on opening night. Some of the regulars from Yogi's came out, such as Paul Katcher (customer 3) and Bass Ale Man.

Expect good things from The Duck.

More photos here.

Labels: bartenders, dive bars, Harlem, Paul Katcher, The Duck, Tommy McNeil

It is doubtful that Yogi Berra ever set foot in any of the incarnations of the bar which currently shares his nickname. It is even less likely that he will be there to help close it, as he did last week with Yankee Stadium. But if he wanted to, he would have his chance next week.

I just got off the phone with journalist and drinker Paul Katcher. He had sent me a text message shortly before 11 PM Thursday night, from Yogi’s, with the dreaded news: the last night for this bar will be Saturday, October 4.

He said he had spoken with bartenders Patience and Brie, and that they had been told earlier today that the closing of Yogi’s will be sooner than expected, on October 4. I may head down there myself a bit later to find out more, and, of course, have a few beers.

Clear your schedules, friends, because Saturday, October 4, will clearly mark the end of an era in our rapidly devolving New York.

Labels: bars, beer, Eddie Goldman, Paul Katcher, Yogi’s