Wednesday, July 7th, 2010—Bar 178
Day 178—Tuesday, July 6th, 2010
Antarctica
Okay, so we’re in the middle of a blazing heat wave here in the Baked...err...I mean Big Apple. It broke 100 degrees today and I think it’s going to do the same tomorrow. So what better place to go to when it’s hot than Antarctica? Okay, I wish I had the dough (see PayPal button to the right) to go to Antarctica (see PayPal button to the right) but it’s hard enough scraping together cab fare home from some of these places (see PayPal button to the right.) (Okay, the subliminal begging portion of this post is over.)
There’s a bar on the corner of Spring and Hudson in Soho called Antarctica, so of course I have to go there tonight to try and beat this heat. Will it live up to its chilling name? Let’s go see.
Wow, the cabbie actually has his air conditioner cranking full-blast! This is a good sign!
And here we are, Antarctica. I hope it lives up to its name, because it feels like the Sahara desert on this side of the door.
They have benches outside, but no one's going to sit in them on a hot night like tonight.
Aaahh, I'm hit with a blast of air conditioning as I walk in. And due to the fact that we're coming off of a three day weekend and the heat means a slow night at most bars including this one. Which is fine with me, I feel like just chilling out, literally.
And here to help the chilling process with an ice-cold drink is the lovely and friendly bartender, Kim.
It's so hot, I opted out for a beer and got one of their giganzo mixed drinks instead. A 16 ounce vodka and OJ for six bucks, not bad! Cheers!
However if you are in a beer mood, there's a good selection to be had here, check it out.
There's leather-lined banquettes opposite the bar for comfortable seating.
If your name is on this magic board, you drink for free! Sadly the name was Satoko and not Marty. And yes, there was a Satoko that came in that night, according to Kim. She had four pints of Guinness on the house.
Dave and Sean were holding down the end of the bar and having some drinks to beat the heat.
Some of the draft beers available at Antarctica.
There's a pool table in the back.
And a list of rules to follow on the wall. They take their pool playing seriously here! I like number 10 the best.
Ed and Lisa were perched at the bar and loved the 365 bar crawl idea. They said they'd tell a million and ten people. Okay, I'm counting on you!
The best seat in the house, with a nice view of Hudson Street.
The well-worn bar at Antarctica.
And now the bad news, I have to leave and go face the heat again.
But the good news is my tiny little window unit is still cranking out chilled air. Aaahhh! Goodnight, everybody!
Review
Antarctica is a bar that lives up to its name in the middle of a heat wave in the Soho section of downtown Manhattan. It was an oasis of cool air and cheap booze and an all around good time. All the ingredients of a top-notch neighborhood bar are here: long wooden bar, friendly bartender, spacious area with tables and banquettes for seating, good jukebox and a pool table. And they take their pool playing seriously here. Rules are posted on the walls and team award plaques are hung nearby. The vibe is friendly and casual and the drinks are priced for a recession-friendly good time.
There’s a large selection of ice-cold (hey it’s Antarctica, what do you expect?) bottled beers available and some of the draft choices include: Stella Artois, Guinness, Brooklyn Lager and Samuel Adams. Mixed drinks are served in 16 ounce pint glasses and are available for between five to seven bucks a pop. Domestic pitchers of beer can be had for 10 bucks apiece and imported pitchers go for fifteen a pitcher.
Every night is “Name Night” at Antarctica. If your name matches the name on the board, you drink for free from 5pm to 11pm, Monday through Friday and 7pm to 1am on Saturday nights. You can check to see the month’s names at their website (listed below.)
Antarctica
287 Hudson St. (@Spring St.)
212-736-1575
2 References
Reader Comments (31)
A tall screwdriver on a hot day was a good choice. Kim looks like a fun girl, blond flowing hair and a nice smile. Antarctica is another great choice as it is a real bar bar. Gotta stay true to those charming old dives,,,a dying breed in America so its our job to visit them as often as possible.
Drink wise, I see we're slumming a little on this visit Marty...vodka and orange juice, a white trash trailer court classic! Does the trick though, so no complaints! Another classic example of an endangered species...the good old neighborhood bar where everybody knows your name! And Kim fulfils your daily babe quota for the crawl...very easy on the eyes!
Antarctica is a fab song by The Weepies, but there's nothing to cry about here! Great worn bar, solid pool table (nice call on the rules), comfy booths, awesome floors, lovely bartender, and even a first aid kit that looks like a little lunchbox! All good. Plus, they give valuable advice (real winners tip). Thanks for the tip on this place, Marty!
And, Dave, I love your shirt.
i'm bacccccccccccccccccccckkkk. Some catching up to do. yeah nice bar but if you want an even nicer bar - the skinny is it. don't tell me you went there already!
http://theskinnybarlounge.com/
@nick beal: Welcome back, Kotter! Haven't been to The Skinny yet, but it's on the calendar! Let me know when you want to join the crawl again!
Another cool bar with a title to match, good choice for the summer heatwave crawl!
Hey Marty!
My mother and brother were visiting New York city over the long weekend. I should have told them to check out your site so they'd know where to get some good drinks for reasonable prices. I'll definitely be looking up some of these places the next time I'm there.
Keep on drinking NYC dry!!! ;)
Antarctica... and I thought Australia was "Down Under!"
I guess they'd really qualify for the upside down 365 logo shirts.
Glad you beat the heat in a cool looking place with a good crowd.
Ed and Lisa, we're counting on you.
"Boris"
@Darleya: Let me know when you get to NYC and you can join me for a drink or three on the old crawl!
a perfect place to chill on a hot summer night. that drink is huge and looks deelish!
Will do @Marty!
Ehhh, looks alright. But any place called Antarctica, I will never step foot into. I know you hate the heat Marty, but I love it! Especially when it's about 90 degrees.
I can't believe how expensive beer has gotten! A guy could go broke...Sheesh!
OOOOH woodchuck cider....
was thinking of cracking one of those open here....
I love that stuff.. but 6 bucks for that and the stella seams steeep...
Gotta tell the kids they need to donate to you... I feed them they should give up ice cream money for you to drink beer!
@Gidget: Ha ha ha!
Looks like a cool place to go on a hot NY night. Glad to see Coopers was on the beer menu too.
@Boris, good onya for the work ya doin' on the downunder 365 gear...
on the Antarctic front....it was funny on the flight home from San Fran to Syd i sat next to a young fella who was a firefighter from Denver,on his way with a team to do specialist training in Antarctica.....when i said "WTF mate??? firefightin' trainin' in Antarctica? are you pullin' the piss? the closest tree is in Tasmania...its all just ice & snow down there big fella".....he went on to explain how the stations/buildings are built close together to combat the Antarctic winds,& if there is a fire they spread bloody quickly...they were on their way to do containment training in extreme conditions.....mmm ok... i shut up then....he was a good bloke....
& heres cheers to all the fireys & rescue workers downunder & above!!....
oh yeah not a bad pub too...
Peace, love and understanding is a good motto for life, as well as pool. And that is the most random set of names on their Name Night. Makes me want to follow their site, hell someone from my family's name might actually pop up and that never happens.
peace love & understanding. who's your favorite beatle? mine's ringo.
Happy birthday Ringo!
@Marty. Sure soon real soon.
http://www.accuweather.com/en-us/ASI/AF/AF025/Bagram/forecast.aspx
THIS IS HOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's to Hot to think .
hot...hot...hot...i'm having a hard time just functioning...but 365 just keeps showing us bars and babes...without skipping a beat how does he do it?...inquiring minds want know...KOC
rr