Saturday, November 20th, 2010—Bar 314
Day 314—Friday, November 19th, 2010
Blarney Rock Pub
Once again, I don’t want to blog about my work, because I don’t want to get dooced, but I will tell you this, sometimes work sucks. This was one of those nights. Not that there was a lot of work to do or that it was hard work, just a big tub of frustrating bullshit smeared all over bright blue moldy bread and now it’s a little after three in the fucking morning and I have to go out and do the bar crawl. A lot of nights this is fun, some nights it’s not. This is one of those nights where it’s not. Luckily, I’ve kept the Blarney Rock Pub in my back pocket for a night just like this when I kind of want to go and just fucking get it over with. It’s only three blocks from where I work (it’s right next door to last Friday’s bar, Hickey’s when the BBC were in town), so let’s go and put on the happy bar crawler face. Sometimes you have to be an actor for this shit. This is one of those nights.
Goddamn, the streets are deserted out here, a fear has just swept over me that maybe the Blarney Pub will be closed and I won't find another bar. I know I've said I'd start all over again if I missed a night, but I just made a mental note to go into hiding if the Blarney is closed.
But thank god it's open. Let's start the crawl, it's late...well, really it's early, in the morning that is.
And there's plenty of places to sit. Most normal people are home by now, it's nice to be among the non-normals.
As I approach the bar the bartender and this fellow are in deep discussion. Let's go and say hi and more importantly, order a beer.
And the introductions are made. This is Conor, the friendly bartender who happily serves up a beer.
And the fellow he was chatting with is Mark. Both Conor and Mark are from Ireland and they are both gentlemen, scholars and nice guys to share a beer or three with.
Three sips into my beer and Conor buys Mark and I a shot of whiskey, I like this place!
A picture of the bar from my point of view.
Tim was the other hospitable bartender on duty and he flashes the 365 card.
Sports pennants hang over the bar.
Here's Brianna and Tom who's in town from, Annapolis, Maryland. This is their first time at the Blarney Rock Pub and they found it because they're staying across the street. I recommended Hickey's to them as well.
Tim chats with some of the remaining people at the bar.
A shot from the far end of the bar.
When you gotta go, you gotta go. Be back in a minute.
Hey, where's everyone going? The night has just begun!
Empties are stacked on the bar...
The stools are all empty except for mine...
And chairs are stacked on tables. Okay, I can take a hint...goodnight, everybody!
Review
There’s a bunch of Blarney Rock/Stones bars dotting the streets of Manhattan, so how do you tell them apart? Simple, you don’t. Just go in, get a beer, if you watch sports look up at one of the TV’s, if you don’t, get another beer. There’s plenty available. There's a nice bar area in here with tables off to the side and a dining room in the back.
In addition to a full bar with a good selection of draft and bottled beers, The Blarney Rock Pub has food to offer and there’s all your usual pub food suspects availabe such as: Chicken Fingers, Buffalo Wings, Mozzarella Sticks and Onion Rings. There’s a good selection of sandwiches and three types of burgers with the Irish Burger which is topped with Irish bacon, cheddar cheese, mushroom and onions being the most tempting. Some of the house specialites include: Irish Sausage, Beans and Chips; Beer, Battered Fish & Chips; Hot Open Reuben and a Philly Cheese Steak.
As is the case with several of the Blarney bars, this one is close to Madison Square Garden, so if threre’s a concert or a game, it’s a great location to stop in for a pre-game/show drink. If you’re a local, this is the time to avoid this place like the plague.
Blarney Rock Pub
137 W. 33rd St. (Near Seventh Ave.)
212-947-0825
----------------------
Bonus Video: The Joans with “Joan Crawford Goes To Hell.”
Aaron Smith is a sometime commentator here at 365 bars and he’s also appeared several times in person on the crawl. He’s also the drummer with the fabulous band, The Joans. And they have a new video out for their song “Joan Crawford Goes To Hell.” It’s hilarious and here it is. Enjoy!
----------------------
Bonus Photos From Tim Clack When He Was In New York City
Clacky took lots of photos when he visited here last week. Here’s a few for today and there’ll be few more tomorrow. Take it away, Clacky!
The awesome Manhattan Skyline south bound.
The Empire state building...Been there. Done that.
Terry (of the legendary BBC) ordered the Chicago Dog at the Jack Russell. Good from far, but far from good.
A Giants fan who was kind enough to pose with this strange beer drinking contraption. It says trouble to me.
Marty and Shannon with Karen and John from Grade "A" Fancy. Howdy guys!
25 Comments
Reader Comments (25)
You just got in under the wire! Nice bar and glad you made it so you didn't have to disapear! LOL!
C'mon Marty...grunt...errr...you can make it...errr...just a little bit further....ennnnerrrr...just 51 more bars to go and then you can write your book...errr...great Joans video, more award winning photos from Clackey!
@Jaws: Thanks for the support! I need it!
@365: Dude you could have held out another 2 months to write the Boy Who would be a Fire Truck and you could have had an insane chapter about the year long bar crawl. The Rolling Stone 30th anniversary story was great piece but not as great as the incident where the guy crapped on his wife! Hahahaa! But I'm not half way through it.
You made by the skin of ya balls on this pub. Hope you've got a few more close bars that you've saved up for in case you get stuck again. But a nice little place all the same...I like the bars with all the knick knacks and sports pennants and the dark dive vibe.
All heil King Budweiser!
Did you go back to work after the Blarney?
I'm going to work today for a few hours before I officially start on Wednesday.
Hang in there, Marty, the finish line is nearer everyday. And the Blarney Rock is a great ace in the hole. Love that joint.
'Ello Tim Clack! Thanks for posting the nice pic of Karen and I — if I could type this upside down I would, but you get the general idea.
Nice place!^^ I'll remember this place when I go to NY!
Nothing better than a cold beer!!! \o/
@Clacky Downunder: Don't worry, the bar crawl will be duly noted in my book about this whole thing. And as far as work goes, I'm not talking!
@Ned Sparks: It is a great Ace in the hole. Hope to hang out with you and Karen soon.
@Anna: When you come here let me know if you want to join the bar crawl!
@Marty: I dunno? ... that was not 1 hour in the bar? 365 more posts after today !!! Yea !!!
The BBC ate at the Blarney Rock on Monday before we left ... that place has always been a favorite of ours. Get the tuna melt there! There's lots of Blarney Stones around ... but there is only ONE Blarney Rock ... !
@Clacky: those dogs sucked badly ! to call that crap Chicago dogs is criminal !
The Rules:
1. I must spend at least one hour in a bar every every day for 365 days in a row.
2. If, for whatever reason I miss a day, then I start all over.
3. I have to have at least three drinks in the bar.
4. I will put up a posting of the bar the day after, usually in the afternoon or early evening.
5. I won't repeat any bars except on the 365th day, when I may or may not return to my favorite bar of the adventure.
Get the chicken cheesesteak with mozz cheese in there....awesome sandwich!
Ok,,,I like the low smooth ceiling at this joint. It's next best after tin. I like the sticker on the wall which I also have "9-11-01 we will never forget". Tim Clack took postcard quality pics,,,good job mate.
now where do i start this rant...commentary...bunch of words that don;t mean shit to a tree...either the clock above the bar was way off and last call is at 4 A.M. i think you made the "mandatory" one hour stay...
clacky...thanks for the great shots...don;t know if you've got to the "gin house" yet but that and the "ritchie havens worst night" were...ahh...
jaws...you couldn't keep cedric under control...
365...new obsession ...time...is on my side...won't let me...has come today...this will be the last...was gonna key some other shit but...KOC
rr
Not that there was a lot of work to do or that it was hard work, just a big tub of frustrating bullshit smeared all over bright blue moldy bread and now it’s a little after three in the fucking morning and I have to go out and do the bar crawl.
gosh GENE looks like they forgot to set back the clocks...hell could be like where i do my time and every clock in the the place has a different time...some are "off" by hours...the ones i go by when i running a step or two behind...KOC
rr
I think the Blarney Rock is on Mountain Standard Time ... maybe the owner is from Denver ?
good point...KOC
rr
@Gene: You're relentless today! I guess somebody has gotta be the referee....but, in Womby's defence, he did make the bar before closing time and a post was made....I'm not exactly sure what a Chicago Hotdog should be but the general vibe was that anyone that was in our group that was not Australian didn't approve of the Chicago Dogs at the Jack Russell. I think Shan had a bite and she liked it, but then again, to us a hotdog is a hot dog....If you ever get down here you'll eat meat pies...they're all different....some are amazing some are terrible....GO EAGLES!!!
@365: I'm willing to believe that there was more than one standard drink in that shot of whiskey.
@All : Thanks for the nice comments on my photogenism. One of these day's when I get more confident with it I will build my own website and maybe sell a few. New York is a city that is prime for taking photos. From the tops of sky scrapers to dingy alley ways and the streets of the East and Greenwich villages, it's a constant window of opportunity. Damn, I hope to get back there soon. I've been rather jaded the last few days not knowing when we're gonna see our new friends again or when I'm gonna get to watch football in a more beer friendly time slot.
clacky...not sure what a chicago dog is either...the place down the street from where i live bills it as follows...Chicagoan
Lettuce, Tomato, Mustard, Celery Salt, Hot Relish & Pickle...KOC
rr
@GENE: Most places have been well over an hour, so this was close enough. I actually think I was in there an hour, but like I say, if not, it was maybe five or ten minutes. And I can't stand Chicago dogs or their deep dish pizza!
I so need one of those, I went to pee signs! Twice this year I have been at a restaurant with my son, had to take him the bathroom and our food was cleared when we got back. Ugh.
I met dooce last night! Beyond awesome! I'll be writing about it as soon as I figure out how to get my computer turned back on...
@kari: How did you meet Dooce last night? I'll be looking for a post over at your blog!
Goodness Marty! What time were you there? I've never seen you close a place down on the crawl!
@Meleah: I was there till four in the morning, an early morning bar crawl!