Thursday, May 27th, 2010—Bar 137
Day 137—Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
Hiro Ballroom
Ding ding ding! Yes, that’s right the PayPal donation button is ringing again. Shannon Kennedy sent in a generous donation of $2.70 with the stated purpose on the PayPal receipt stating: “tip the bathroom attendant.” Shannon has a cool blog and you should check it out here: Green Monkey Tales. She found out about the 365 site through my friend, Gina’s blog, who gave me a shoutout the other day, so I’m giving her one back, she’s a great person, rides a motorcycle, is a wonderful writer and she just got married! Woo and hoo! And here’s her blog: A Muse In My Pocket. Thanks to both Shannon and Gina for helping out the 365 cause and tonight’s bathroom attendent!
And a second donation has also rang in. Brian Lee sent in a very generous donation of twenty bucks with this stated purpose on his PayPal receipt: “From an expatriated Peorian in San Diego...keep Jeff away from the brown liquor...dig the site...cheers.” Brian’s referring to Jeff Ulrich, an ex-Peorian who’s going to be making a guest starring appearance here soon. Stay tuned for that and thanks a bunch for the donation, Brian, get out here to New York and us three ex-Peorians will make a night out on the town of it!
Okay on to tonight’s bar crawl. It’s a first tonight because I got invited to a party, the first party yet on the 365 bar carawl! And since there’s a bar there, I can attend. If you read yesterday’s post, you’ll remember Georgia the editor from New World Library who saved the day by forcing all her friends to pose for pictures for me last night. Well, New World Library and a bunch of other publishing houses are throwing a party and she invited me to come to it and gave me a pass to get in. It’s at the Hiro Ballroom where I did a photoblog a while back at my first website, The Marty Wombacher Show. I was a guest at a Bebe Buell show, check it out here: Bebe Photoblog.
Okay, on to the Hiro Ballroom, a party with a bar! Perfect!
Here we are at the Hiro Ballroom, quite a crowd outside, I bet it's packed inside. Let's go find out.
Down the stairs we go.
Here's the DJ booth, but there's no DJ because tonight there's a live band at the party.
And here they are.
Tha band is called Sex Mob and they have a special guest star tonight.
And here he is on keyboards.
It's legendary keyboardist, Bernie Worrell, who's played with Parliment-Funkadelic and The Talking Heads.
Wow, the bar is packed!
And part of the reason for the packedness is bar-dwellers. At a venue like this you shouldn't hang out at the bar like these people are. Get your drink and get out of the way, and let others in. Bar-dwellers be damned! Why can't everyone just follow the rules? I really need a drink!
After much pushing and cajoling of the bar-dwellers, I get a much-needed beer. Aaah, all is better now.
I remember this guy!
Look at the crowd, how am I ever going to find Georgia and Monique?
Disco ball!
Okay, time to make my way through the crowd and find Georgia and Monique.
And here they are! Earlita from New Harbinger Publications is at the far right and Georgia is on the left. Monique is in the middle and I have to apologize for not hearing the name of the woman inbetween Georgia and Monique. I wish she would've given me a card like Earlita did because I'm almost deaf and with the band blaring I couldn't hear the introductions.
They graciously invited me to sit at their table and here I am with last night's blog savior, Georgia!
And here's Georgia with another guest who's name I couldn't hear. Damn my tinnitus!
And now for a brief Men's Room stop.
And I give Matthew, the bathroom attendant, Shannon's generous tip! I love it when things come full circle like this! Thanks for the party invitation, Georgia and Monique, keep in touch! And Goodnight, everybody!
Review
The Hiro Ballroom (underneath the Maritime Hotel) is a perfect party area. Three strategically located bars are in the ballroom, two on the first level and one upstairs. There’s a sprawling dance floor, a DJ area and a band stand for the live acts. Tables and banquettes are off to the side and upstairs is more of a lounge type atmosphere with a bar, long couch and comfortable banquettes and tables. The decor is Japanese inspired with a touch of Saturday Night Fever disco flourishes thrown in for good measure. Attica!
The Ballroom is utilized for private parties, like the one that Georgia and Monique graciously invited me too, plus it’s open to the public Friday through Sunday. There’s theme nights every one of those nights with Friday hosting the Base NYC which is a Korean-American party, they claim it’s the biggest type party on the east coast. Come and find out for yourself. Saturday is Skool night, where guest DJ’s spin old and new skool tunes plus hip hop and party classics. Every Sunday the club hosts a gay themed party call Cuckoo Club. A little something for everyone at the Hiro Ballroom.
Thanks to Georgia and Monique for inviting me to 365’s first party, it was a blast!
Hiro Ballroom
88 Ninth Ave. (Near 16th St.)
212-727-0212
14 References
Reader Comments (12)
If you like crowds, this must be the place!
Best photo so far: The bathroom attendant, Matthew, taking your money. LOVE IT.
I agree with Covet Sucks, great bathroom attendant shot! Very timely that Shannon sent in her donation before you went! And more guest stars on the crawl, thanks to Georgia and Monique for inviting Marty to the party so we could all go! Keep on crawlin'!
I love that full circle thing too! It makes it all worth it. How was Sex Mob? Any good? Great band name.
That looked like a great party/bar. I can't handle all those people like that anymore though. I'm getting stuffy in my old age I guess. Even going to the Blues Fest in Chicago is starting to get on my nerves. All those damn people and NO ONE follows the rules. Hmmph... That's when I leave and just hop over to Navy Pier.
@Gina: They were good, but loud and I'm almost deaf, so I couldn't hear a thing. My ear's are still ringing today.
Huh, I didn't realize that Hiro was under the Maritime. Looks like a cool place, but much like Gina, I can't handle those crowds anymore either. Too much work to get beers and the lines for the bathrooms? Oy, don't even get me started! Glad you had a good time, though. What the hell is Tiger beer?
Yeah I hate packed places... umm I kinda left a show early during a headliner last week cause I got claustrophobic... shhhh dont tell....
ok soo wow Bernie Worrell...
I did a little happy dance for you and starting humming parliament songs!!!
that is sooo cool Marty!!!!
and your Bebe thing was one of my fave things cause I just love her:)
@Biff: I don't know what Tiger beer is, but I think it's getting divorced soon.
And the beer cannot date in the meantime.
Great review Daddio!
Sounds like a good time, but I don't do well with huge crowds like that!
Love love love it Marty!!!
Bernie Worrell, is an amazing musician. I am a HUGE Funkadelic fan!!
Lookd like a great time and the wonderful gals at New Harbinger Publications seem so sweet and I am glad that you were able to meet them.
What a fantastic place Hiro Ballroom is, I love the decor and atmosphere.
a old german beer advertising says "Helping ugly people to have sex since...(can't remember the date) and is the Tiger beer says "Helping people to have lot of mistresses" ??? LOL