Day 39—Wednesday, February 17th
Bourbon Street Bar and Grille
Ding, ding, ding! That’s the sound of the donation board going off!
Yesterday I got notice that my friend in Chicago, Aaron Smith had sent 365, 40 bucks via the Paypal donation button! A very generous donation and I thank you Aaron! Aaron is the drummer in the band The Joans (as in Joan Crawford, as in “No more wire hangers!,) check them out at their MySpace page here: The Joans on MySpace. Aaron wrote their signature song, “Mad At The Dirt,” and it’s a featured video on the Logo Channel. You can keep it in the top ten by voting here: Vote for the Joans! You can vote as may times as you want, so vote often, I do! Here's the video:
Later on, I got my mail and found this envelope in with my many bills:
I opened it up and out this fell out:
A twenty dollar bill from my pal, Mark Barra! Mark used to write a humor column for my magazine POP called, “Barra Barra Barra!” These days Mark is Director of Weekly Newspapers for Pantagraph Publishing. Here's their website: Pantagraph Publishing. Don’t tell them you ever worked with me, Mark, you’ll be banished from the publishing industry immediately!
Thanks guys, I appreciate the fundage!
Okay, on to the bar crawl. I just realized I missed the Mardi Gras this year, Fat Tuesday has come and gone. But no problem, there’s a place here where Mardi Gras goes on seven days a week, all motherfucking year long! And the place is the Bourbon Street Bar and Grille, so paint your faces, grab your beads and let’s go!
Here we are, Bourbon Street in New York City.
It's a full house and it's the day after Fat Tuesday. This place packs them in!
Mark asked in his letter that I use part of his fundage for a Corona with a lime in it. The lovely and friendly bartender Sarah happily obliges and flashes the 365 card as well.
My patented fishhook pose, number 3117.
Seated next to me was Elvis, a Bourbon Street regular. Everybody knows this guy in here!
Some of the New Orleans motif in the bar.
The view of the bar from my bar perch.
Keith was the other bartender on duty.
Ashlee and Jesse were two of the waitresses working the tables.
And Rachel was the third waitress on duty.
The bustling bar at Bourbon Street.
This party was enjoying the New Orleans festivities. From left: Kelly, Veronica, John and Emily.
The dining area upstairs.
A birds-eye view of the bar from the second floor.
Cheers from Katie and Ric!
Review
It’s Fat Tuesday seven days a week at Bourbon Street Bar and Grille. Immediately upon entering you’re bombarded with New Orleans imagery from the wrought iron balcony to the fluttering gas lamps to the gonzo stuffed alligator hanging over the bar you’ll swear you’ve left the theater district and descended into the French Quarter. It’s a friendly place where the bartenders and waitstaff treat first-timers (like myself) like a life-long regular. The clientele is a lively mix of regulars from the neighborhood, wide-eyed going on pie-eyed tourists and after workers destressing New Orleans style.
In keeping with the New Orleans motif there’s plenty of top shelf booze to be had here. Beer lovers can drool over a beer selection that includes over 20 drafts and 18 bottled selections including New Orleans very own Abita Turbodog. In addition to the beer and full bar, Bourbon Street has an extensive bourbon and wine list on the menu. A favorite here is the New Orleans Hurricane which is a potent bargain at five bucks a drink.
And if you come with and empty stomach, don’t worry, Bourbon Street has a menu as big as its giant mahogany bar. The cajun styled menu includes Smothered Chicken and Grits, Shrimp Creole, Cajun Jambalaya and an open face BBQ Beef Sandwich. What caught my eye on the menu was the Alligator in the Blanket. The menu describes it as: Alligator sausage stuffed with apple, cheddar and bacon wrapped in a flaky pastry with honey mustard. I need to try that on my next trip here! There's also a second floor for upstairs dining which is a little quieter than the non-stop Mardi Gras party on the first floor.
Bourbon Street Bar and Grille
346 W 46th St (Between 8th & 9th Ave)
212-245-2030