Thursday, June 24th, 2010—Bar 165
Day 165—Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010
La Linea (Originally headed for Simone Martini Bar)
Bar 165 tonight on the crawl! Only 200 more to go, woo and hoo! One thing that’s been great about doing this is it’s brought me out of my comfort zone about going out and about in New York City. When I moved here 17 years ago I was running around like Eliot Spitzer in a whorehouse with a fistull of cash. I spent the whole year going to places and everything was new to me. Then as the years drifted by I stopped exploring and I realized that last year, outside of meeting friends or going to work, I barely left a five block radius around my apartment. Same bar, same diner, same deli, same bookstore and on and on. And I live in a city where there’s a bazillion choices and things to do! Anyway, when I started this I realized to keep it interesting I was going to have to go to all different kinds of bars to have different experiences, meet different kinds of people and have a variety of photos. Tonight’s choice is a good example. Last night I went to Subway Inn, which is the kind of bar I would frequent before I started this bar crawl. But if I went to dive bars every night it would get old, so I have to mix it up. Which leads us to tonight’s choice, Simone Martini Bar.
Up until this bar crawl, I think I had been in maybe one martini bar. I’m usually a beer drinker and I just never went. Since last night was a dive bar, I decided tonight to try a martini bar. I Googled around and found Simone’s Martini Bar, which got a good review in New York magazine and_cafe/ and it looks like an interesting bar, so let’s go find out. (And I’ll watch out for the Oompa-Loompa’s, Jaws!)
Okay, so I get to Simone's and after waiting about five minutes for the bartender to approach me, he tells me I can take a photo of him, but no photos of the bar. I decide to bolt and find another joint. He told me nicely, but the sound system was blaring, Copacabana by Barry Manilow and the red color scheme in there was burning my retina's. Time to move on. Goodbye Simone's, we hardly knew ye...and I'm fine with that.
And so, once again, I begin a lonely walk in search of a watering hole.
I read in EV Grieve that Cheap Shots had re-opened under a new name, but we were just in a dive bar last night, so I'll come back here another time.
I stopped here, gave the bartender my card and told her what I was doing. She looked frightened, went to the other end of the bar for five minutes and then came back and told me I couldn't take pictures in there. Fuck, this night is turning into a nightmare. At this point I just want it to end.
And so it's on we go.
Hey, a familiar face! It's Chris from Bar Veloce last week! And he's talking to Pamela, it's a small world after all!
Shit, d.b.a. is packed, no seats at the bar.
I saw this sign and thought about going in and then remembered I did it already! My mind is turning into mush!
This looks like a nice little oasis.
Half priced booze? Hello destination!
Lots of seats at the bar, aaah, I've finally found a place!
And super-cute bartender Robin serves up an ice-cold Corona. I always say a bartender can make or break a place and Robin's a great bartender. Friendly and anxous to chat. She's also an actress and a singer.
Cheers!
There's a nice area up front to sit and watch people on the street from inside the bar.
There's a full bar and frozen drinks are available at La Linea.
Some of the beer and wine available at the bar.
Robin at the bar.
I couldn't get anyone to pose for a photo, so for here on in, it's just Robin and me. Here's Robin with beer number two.
Peace and here's to beer number two!
And Robin serves up beer number three in a festive manner.
Thanks for the great hospitality, Robin! Beer number three and I'm over and out! Goodnight, everybody!
Review
La Linea bar is a nice little hideaway bar in the East Village. It’s got a cozy, woodsy, laid back feel and some of the friendliest bartenders in the city. There’s a nice seating area up front to gaze out at the street and people passing by and it’s a relaxed atmosphere inside.
There’s a full bar and they have an unbelievable happy hour, actually two happy hours. The first happens every day from 3pm to 9pm with half price specials on all alcoholic beverages. And Sunday through Thursday there’s the same deal with a late night happy hour that runs from 11pm to closing. Late shifters take note! Friday’s and Saturday’s DJ’s spin R&B, hip hop and reggae tunes.
Stop by and get happy houred at La Linea!
La Linea
15 First Ave., (Near 1st St.)
212-777-1571
22 Comments
Reader Comments (22)
Looks like Robin certainly knows how to emote...she ought to be modeling for beer adds professionally! Sorry you got robbed of your martini experience, Marty...but that's OK, I've been running the oompa loompa thing into the ground and I need to give it a rest. When I think of martinis, I think of an article in the national lampoon I saw decades back and the artwork that preceded it. 'How to Drive Fast On Drugs While Getting Your Wing-Wang Squeezed and Not Spill Your Drink', a Nat-Lamp classic from back when that rag was actually still funny, and very reminiscent of actual old times for me.
@Jaws: I remember that article! P.J. O'Rourke wrote it and it was one of my favorites!
Fuck that martini bar. Barry Manilow? Fuck that martini bar! I'll take La Linea and Robin's pretty smile any day of the week! Nice bounce-back, as always! I love how you hang in there and keep crawling no matter what they throw at you!
@Marty; ...and ol' P.J. really knew what he was talking about, didn't he? Especially about learning
how to roll after being ejected from your vehicle after you crash it.
So much for Batman...
ROBIN saves the night!
The perfect place to unwind after the snubs and snobs.
My My My My Corona!
Thanks Robin!
@"Boris": Perfect! She did save the night! Cheers to great bartenders like Robin!
That dive Cheap shots/Spanky and Darla's looks like a place to go back and check out when you are ready for another dive fix. Actually bars are more about the people and personality than anything else. Robin with her friendly smile made the place enjoyable for you, I think. With so much competition for buisness and those hard earned dollars, I can't began to understand the logic of not allowing pictures to promote an establishment. Bar owners, listen up, its free publicity you assholes,,,take it, or the bar across the street is gonna take it,,, how hard is that to understand.
Yay, Robin! Great smile - can't wait to see it on the silver screen! La Linea looks like a nice bar and what an awesome deal for second shifters. Plus, they have a blender! If New York gets the weather we've been having for the past few days, you might want to stop back for two of those frozen drinks...one to slurp on and one to pour over your head.
Robin is adorable and so sweet. That looks like a very fun and enjoyable little bar you found there Marty. I like it very much!!
@ Jaws , Wing - Wang , the only thing missing is the "H" , LOL .
Rejected twice , but made out nice !!
Cheers To Robin !!!
Hay just came out with this idea , you should give me the phone numbers of the place that rejected you & I will go to Subway Inn , get drinks sit at the phone booth & make prank phone calls to those shit holes looking for my pink elephant Al , Al who , Al Coholic .
@JHwang, great idea mate...classic Simpsons, "Bart Vs Moe".....we'll have to think up bout 3-4 hrs worth, get Marty to get a separate paypal account to cover the quarters for the phone booth.....
@fitzy and @JHwang: It is a good idea, but I'll be fucked if I'm paying for it! Use your own quarters, Jason!
hoo woo ! Those phone calls Remember me when I was kid and with my sister we were looking for the fucked up names in the phone book!
@Jason: One day, our kid will ask how he came to life, I will be obliged to answer " Well, like the Universe, with a Big-Bhwang !! hahaha !!!! Ching Chang Chong! (sorry I ate a clown this morning!)
TO ROBIN!!!
@Marty, hahahahaha, sounds like you & your beer fund have a very special relationship, the way it should be ol' mate....hahaha!
@fitzy: You got that right, mate! @ZioumZioum: I agree: TO ROBIN!
Man I would have a hard time with the rejection at the bars. Not to say they are rejecting you, but you know. Glad you keep it going though. Looks like a nice bar even if it seems you were the only one in enjoying it.
@kari: The rejection is tough, but this 365 thing needs to be done! And I'm taking it slow, one drink at a time!
On my vacation, I want to camp out in Robin's cleavage..........in fact i may move there permanently!
have said it before...will say it again...when one sees "Originally headed for" one knows that a GEM of a post follows...when i saw those pics of Robin i flashed to something else i read. somewhere.."they were heaving goddamit heaving"...KOC
rr
It's early in the morning & back with a request , Marty give Me a clue to where the last Bar will be !!
In fact maybe hide somewhere in the Marty Wombacher Show , so we have to find , an Easter egg from the Jesus Hole .
Please
Pretty Please
Maybe I need to steal your note book ?
@rr: You've memorized 99 Beers and I appreciate it! Loved that reference! @JHwang: Here's clue number one: It will be the 365th bar.