Wednesday, December 1st, 2010—Bar 325
Day 325—Tuesday, November 30th, 2010
The Watering Hole
Another day and another donation rolls in to help me make it to the home stretch. Mark Aleks sent in a generous donation of ten bucks to buy a couple of beers tonight. He’s also sending something else that will possibly really help me out on the old bar crawl. Mark is affiliated with a company called, Zaca and they make an item called, The Hangover Topical Patch. It’s a patch that guarantees a hangover free morning. He’s sending me a sample and I’ll give it a test run next week on the bar crawl. I’ll have to have more than my usual three or four drinks to really test it out, but hey, this is all in the name of science! Thanks a lot Mark for the donation and for sending the Hangover Patch, I look forward to reporting on it. I have to confess to being just a little leery of patches though. I tried the smoking patch and it didn’t work. I could never get the fucking thing lit!
One of my favorite blogs, EV Grieve notes that the Nassau Bar may be in trouble and gives linkage to my post on that fine bar. Check it out here: Another bikini bar on the endangered list?
Okay, on to the bar crawl. I took a cab home from last night’s bar and as we were cruising down 19th Street I noticed a bar I had never seen called The Watering Hole. I made a mental note to check it out sometime and so tonight that’s where the crawl is going. I have to go because I want to get this note out of my mental, it’s itchy!
On my way to the bar I saw a statue of a baby Jesus in a pizza parlor and for some reason it really freaked me out. Especially since he's kind of dressed up like Freddie Mercury.
Lovely!
And we're here! Let's go inside and get watered down.
It's dark and festive all at the same time in here and plenty of seats at the bar. Looks like we're in for a good night.
And Dennis the friendly bartender promptly serves up a beer.
Cheers!
The view from my perch at the bar.
An electric snowman hangs on the wall. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere I go.
A vintage black and white shot of Grand Central Station hangs on the wall.
A nice leggy shot of Marilyn Monroe.
Tables and chairs are lined up opposite the bar.
Mbacke was the chef on duty for the evening...
And here's Kurt sampling some of Mbacke's fare. He declared it, "Delicious!"
There's a full dining area in the back of the bar.
And meanwhile, back at the bar...
Things have picked up. Pretty crowded for a Tuesday night. Let's go say hi to some people.
Josh and Karen were seated next to me and asked that I take a photo with one of their friends.
So of course I did. From left: Josh, Tanya and Karen. Nice people!
Here's Sean, who's the head bartender at Craft. He's holding a cocktail book that's a reproduction of a vintage publication from Cocktail Kingdom.
Here's Sean with Rufus and Richie who work in the kitchen at Craft.
Okay, somebody put on, "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey and it's time for one last look out the window and then get out. That song always gets me a little miffled. Goodnight, everybody!
Review
The Watering Hole is just as its name implies, nothing fancy or spectacular, just a nice neighborhood bar to have a drink or three. Maybe four. The walls are brick and lined with photos and Christmas lights and the bar is long and wooden. There’s tables and chairs opposite and in the front and back and the crowd is mainly locals from the neighborhood. The jukebox runs constantly, but it’s played at a conversational level and the bar has a friendly vibe to it.
There’s a decent selection of beers available and a full bar of liquor awaits you at The Watering Hole. Happy hour runs for four hours from 3pm to 7pm with four dollar well drinks, beer and wine to be had. After the happy hour if you need to soak up some of that alcohol, they do serve food. All the standard bar fare is here: Buffalo wings, nachos, burgers, sandwiches and wraps. But if you’re in the mood for a full dinner, that can be available too. Some of the dinner fare offerings are: Cajun Meatloaf, served with garlic mashed potatoes; a 14 ounce New York Cut Sirloin Steak; Sizzling Fajitas and Fried Catfish and Chips. Monday through Friday, from 11am to 4pm, there’s a burger special where you can get a burger and a beer for twelve bucks.
And if you’re into karaoke, that is big here and it happens Wednesday through Saturday from 10pm to 2am. If you’re not that into karaoke, simply go on a Tuesday night like I did.
The Watering Hole
106 E. 19th St. (Near Park Ave. South)
212-674-5783
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Bonus Booze Cartoon By Jaws!
1 Reference
Reader Comments (19)
I did karaoke once in my life...only once while I was drunk out of my mind. The selection was 'Dynamo Hum' by the late great Frank Zappa. I woke up the next day with a crippling hangover and saying to myself;...what...have...I...DONE?!?!?!
Ok, nice stop on the crawl,,,,that thing on the sidewalk looks like a cranberry donut upshucked. Really cool electric snowman. And its always great to see a blond pretty girl (Karen) with the hair flowing,,,and let's not forget the vintage cash register,,,always a sign of a good bar.
Loved the Jesus/Freddie Mercury reference! LOL! I'll see you in hell! Nice stop and I agree with Al, Karen's a lovely addition to the crawl (as is Tanya)! Always love to see the different folks in the bar.
How can a bikini bar be in trouble? Guys? Now that is an acceptable amount of christmas lights. Love how the mirror shot doesn't look like a mirror shot, just like you're hiding out behind the cash register. btw - tried to click on your miffled link at work and it was blocked under "tasteless" hmmmm.
@kari: The bikini bar's in trouble because yuppies want to turn this whole city into one big shiny T.G.I. Friday's. That's weird that the miffled link was blocked where you work. It's just a link to the Urban Dictionary with this entry:
Miffed + Baffled = Miffled.
A malaprop from "Made in America," the final episode of The Sopranos. Tony offers Paulie a promotion, but Paulie doesn't accept right away. Tony is a little miffled.
"Lots of people are miffled about the final episose of the Sopranos."
OMG! That statue of baby Jesus does look like he's dressed up like Freddie Mercury! Loved the leggy shot of Marilyn Monroe. Overall, this bar sounded pretty cool! I like the more laid back places.
Well, helloooooo Watering Hole! I like your style, what with your brick walls and that snazzy old cash register. Just the right amount of mood lighting and Christmas kitsch, too! I've always loved that photo of Grand Central. Had never seen the shot of Marilyn, but that pose looks a little too much like Pilates to me, so I'll pass. Anyhoo, looks like this place draws a nice, friendly, happy crowd - and the bar food sounds good. Hey, speaking of food, next time I'm in town, let's use your new connections to pack our knives and go to Craft! That's one of Tom Colicchio's spots and I've always wanted to try it. Me likey the tasty vittles.
@Biff: Sean invited me to stop in for dinner, so be on the lookout for that!
Fine, but I'm making you take me back after the Crawl has come to a Crlose. By the by, I just noticed that you're down to 40 days and 40 nights! Does that mean I have to start calling you Jesus?
@Biff: No, please call me Freddie instead!
Found your blog via EV Grieve. This is really something what you're doing! Love all the photos and all the people you meet. Only 40 to go! Keep up the good work! P.S. Loved the Nassau post by the way!
The BBC has been here also :)
It used to be Tracy J's Watering Hole ... now it's just "The Watering Hole" - and I'm sorry to see Art Heyman go from his perch on the front window stool in the corner to greet you. People enjoyed the charm and character of what it was and when you got a chance to see Art, he would relive for his customers (that cared to listen) stories of his time as a guard at Duke and on the Knicks.
NASSAU BAR .... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Too bad they were closed that Saturday, and we couldn't get Clacky & Shannon inside :(
@Anon: Thanks, glad you found the blog!
@GENE: The thing with Nassau isn't for sure, but I have a feeling when that area gets yuppiefied, it'll be history. I'm definitely going back before that happens and hopefully Tiffany will be on duty!
@365: The BBC tried to take us there after Burger Shoppe. Was fucking closed on a Saturday night. What a gyp! We sure made up for that by going to about 20 more bars....and dancing like a ninja.
I can't handle that Journey song. I'd never heard it before Glee did it and I never want to hear it again.
Miffled I am.
I'm all for the Watering hole but haven't you been there before on the crawl? I've gotta check that out.
To 40! To Noah Wombacher!
@Biff: It will rain beer for 40 days and 40 nights. All non beerlievers will surely perish.
@Jaws: Once again you've done us all proud. I did a duet with my mate singing Welcom to The Jungle. We one a shot of jack Daniels each. I quickly spewed it back up on the bar floor. Thats success for ya!
Good pick marty, I love how a lot of these littl bars have marilyn pics everywhere. And you're right when don't stop beleivin comes son its time to go!
@365: Apologies Marty. I must have been smoking crack because you haven't been to the watering hole on this here bar crawl before this.
@TheChief: It's an unwritten bar-crawling rule!
@Clacky: How's about passing the pipe this-a-way? I'll need it for the last 40!
@365, well I work for conservative central, Urban Dictionary has bad words in it. Very tasteless. Hope they don't monitor how many times I have typed fuck on this computer.
The Watering Hole is a nice unpretetious place with very friendly smiling patrons inside. I like it!