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« Friday, August 27th, 2010—Bar 229 | Main | Wednesday, August 25th, 2010—Bar 227 »
Thursday
Aug262010

Thursday, August 26th, 2010—Bar 228

Day 228—Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
The Frying Pan

First off, Happy birthday to 365 commentator and occasional guest star, Jason Hwang! Have a great birthday, Jason, even though you have to work overtime on your special day. Cheers!

One of the places I’ve been meaning to go to this summer is a bar on a boat called The Frying Pan. And no I’m not going to make the obvious “dive bar” joke here that’s used in every review...oh shit, I just did. Anyway, this lightship which is docked at the Chelsea Piers was built in 1929 and from what I’ve read it sunk to the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay, then got salvaged and now it sits at Pier 66. A floating bar, perfect for a three hour tour. Let’s go before the weather starts getting rough.

Here we are at Chelsea Piers, I think I see it off to the right.

Let's walk the plank to the bar on the boat!

And there's the boat itself. This is going to be great!

Wait a second...what does that sign say? "Bar below?" The bar's not on the boat? Motherfucker, what a gyp. Gilligan!

The bar's on the pier and I was thinking it would be a tiki bar or something, but it's this. Kind of a plain Jane bar. And when I asked the bartender if I could take a picture of him serving me a beer, he just grunted and said, "have her do it," while pointing at another female bartender who didn't look too thrilled to be there. I decided to pass.

Most of the patrons here tend to stand and sit in big groups behind the bar.

They stand in rings like this and from what I could overhear talk about their jobs and occasionally text other like-minded people while talking about their jobs.

What's crazy is that there's tons of tables and space off to the side and in the front, but everybody crams into one space at the back like they've been sheep-herded there.

There's all these tables open and space up front...

But everyone chooses to stand in a crowd in the back talking about bullshit. For some reason this bugged the shit out of me. I didn't see one person enter this place alone. People arrive in packs and talk loudly about their bullshit jobs. Attention everyone: Unless you work in a brewery or a pharmaceutical company that can send me a steady supply of Percodan, you're working a fucknuts job like I do and no one cares to hear about it. Break away from the pack and sit at a fucking table in the front and spread things out a little bit. Sheesh!

Portrait of a frustrated and disappointed bar-crawler. I decided to take a few shots of the Manhattan skyline and call it a night.

The view is spectacular from here, but no one at the bar seems to notice or care, they'd rather stand in a circle, talk loudly, text and perform a social circle jerk of sorts.

Another shot as I sit at my table far from the pack.

And one final shot as I drink my third and final beer and get the fuck out of this place. Birthday boy Jason Hwang told me the vibes were weird in here and I decided to come anyway. Okay Jason, you told me so, I'll listen next time! Happy birthday!

And so what I hoped would be an epic end of summer night, turned out to be an epic fail. Oh well, you can't win them all, hopefully I'll have better luck tonight.

Review
Okay, so the bar’s not in the actual ship, it’s on the pier and it’s kind of nondescript. There’s an abundance of tables and the view from many of them is fantastic on a clear night. Unfortunately most of the people that come here prefer to assemble in the back behind the bar in big groups and talk about work and text people on their texting thing-a-be-bobs. It’s a little sad and quite unnerving. The cliental is mainly young, upwardly mobile people who gather like sheep behind the bar, talking loudly about their jobs and texting on their texting thing-a-be-bobs. The bartenders are busy and not too friendly, but having to serve this crowd, I don’t blame them.

There’s a full bar here with about a half dozen bottled beers and a few drafts. There’s also food to be had including: a Grilled 8 Oz. Sirloin Burger, Sliced Skirt Steak, Jamaican Jerk Rubbed Half Chicken, and a "Clam Bake" On The Hudsonwhich offers littleneck clams, jumbo shrimp, mussels, corn on the cob and steamed red potatoes.

If you like to text while drinking in a group of 20 people herded in the back of a bar while wearing Gap clothing, this is the place for you. Enjoy!

The Frying Pan
Pier 66 (@26th St. and the West Side Highway)
212-362-4453

Update: Continuing on the Ginger/Mary Ann theme, Jaws just sent in this fantasy graphic he worked up today. Nice shirt, Jaws!


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Reader Comments (42)

Packs of Yuppies will always ruin a bar and you are right about the sheep mentality of them and how they travel in herds. Better luck tonight!

August 26, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterBarfly

You're still providing a public service by warning us all about the program people at places like the Frying Pan. And this installment did give me a pleasant flashback to my Jr high school days and my recurring fantasy of doing a three way group grope with Ginger and Mary Ann down by the lagoon!

August 26, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterJaws the Cabbie

P.S. Happy birthday, Jason!

August 26, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterBarfly

@Jaws: That brings up the age-old question: Ginger or Mary Ann? I was always a Mary Ann guy myself.

August 26, 2010 | Registered Commenter365 Beers

Mary Ann, fo shizzle. But I don't think that even a special appearance by the young Mary Ann playing a game of "juggle the coconuts" with me could get me to step foot into/onto/underto this bar. Far too many button-downs after dark. And if the bartenders aren't happy, then neither am I! Thanks for the warning, Gilligan! Ahoy! Avast! Alee! Port! Starboard! Hey...I wonder if there's a Trekkie bar in Manhattan?

August 26, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterBiff

"Dude", "Beat Me Senseless", "The Crowd" looks like something from a "Career Day" "Operation".
To the "Status Clingers" on this "Sinking Ship" "What's Your Problem?"
It seems they just "Don't Care". I'd rather "Question Authority" and keep my "Back Against The Wall" than feel "Trapped" with these "Rats Of Reality".
Personally, "I'm Alive", and instead of getting "All Wound Up" in "Living" in what these think "The American Way" is, I'd rather become a "Product Of My Environment" and go out and get "Wild In The Streets" "When The Shit Hits The Fan".
That being said, I'm "Shining Through The Door" and I'm "86'd (Good As Gone)"

OK, so much for using Circle Jerks titles in my comment.
PS
Happy Birthday "Monsieur" Jason.

August 26, 2010 | Unregistered Commenter"Boris"

I thought i heard someone say juggle the coconuts..........so i thought i would peek in! Not to worry........I'm minding my T and A's! Happy birthday to Jason! Good night..........I'm off to New Orleans!

I can't believe those idjits would rather stand in the back than at the front, looking at that beautiful view!!! Such a waste--or else they're just too mondo-dismo and city-hardened to notice it anymore. I STILL get goosebumps when I drive into Chicago at night, and I've been here 13 yrs.

Marty, you look very "Nancy Walker-ish" in that photo. Do you have any Bounty paper towels on you? ;-)

Happy Birthday Jason!!!

August 26, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterAaron

@"Boris:" Great Circle Jerk quotes, Daddio!

@Professor: Have fun in New Orleans, send photos!

@Aaron: It's the quicker picker upper!

August 26, 2010 | Registered Commenter365 Beers

sorry you had a bad night, but i loved the skyline pictures! happy birthday to jason! and funny one by jaws! LOL!

August 26, 2010 | Unregistered Commenterrita r.

Well, Ill be sure NEVER to visit that place!

August 26, 2010 | Unregistered Commentermeleah rebeccah

Marty, thats too bad about that bar. I walked by there early one evening on the way to another place down by the WTC and thought it might be a nice stop off point next time I was down that way. Still might be worth it for a late lunch before the pod people show up.

Oh yeah, Maryanne for sure, with a side order of Ginger :)

August 26, 2010 | Unregistered Commenterctfirefighter

@ctfirefighter: The sad thing is it could be a great place, but the crowd, bartenders and lame bar wreck it. A late lunch might be a good time to go there. I was there around 9:30pm and I can only imagine the happy hour crowd nightmare.

To Mary Ann!

August 26, 2010 | Registered Commenter365 Beers

Happy Birthday Jason
and can i have Mary ann but with ginger's tits?
they were perkier.. but she didnt age as well:(

August 26, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterGidget

@Gidget: You'll have to ask Sherwood Schwartz.

August 26, 2010 | Registered Commenter365 Beers

It's a place to go if you are college or just-out-of-college aged for some mid-afternoon drinks with friends. I was there a week ago with a group of friends. You did not visit at the ideal time (or weather). I doubt this place would be much fun in the evening or without bringing along a pack of friends.

August 26, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterMike W.

@Mike W: I think you're right, a better daytime spot than night time. The trouble is, I'm allergic to sunshine and not a fan of the daylight hours.

August 26, 2010 | Registered Commenter365 Beers

To Jason! Joyeux anniversaire! Have a good one!

August 26, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterLuc Ramone

Thanks to all for wishing me Happy Birthday !!
That Bar is to noise !! Me & ZioumZiuom hanged out at that pier right next to the Bar & sometime the smoke from there grill would be all over that neighborhood , & 1 time they had a live band & me & her sat on our bench ( OK it's not really ours , but we claimed it !! ) & it was loud enough that we enjoyed it & had our night time picnic . We drank our Beer in a cleaned out empty sour cream container ( sour cream is creme fraiche in france ) since we didn't have empty ice tea jars .
Cheers !!

August 26, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterJHwang

Forgot to wish Jason a happy birthday! Ooops! Hey, Jason - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

August 26, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterBiff

Although you might not have had a great night, I still think this would be a place i'd like to check out. I might go a bit earlier to try and catch the sunset! :)

August 26, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterThe Naked Potato

Yeah! Jason said it all! That place suuuuuck ! And our bench is indeed OUR bench!
One time two people sat on OUR BENCH before us, so we sat on the one near to it, and I started to sing some Opera very aloud and as bad as I could do !! Then I yelled "Oh! My vagina is soooo itchy!!!!" and finnaly they got scared and left !! haha and we got back OUR bench !

@ my future: Re joyeux Anniversaire Jason! Don't forget to bring your stylish shoes and dress in Paris since I take you to ......? .... HA HAaaaa ! ..... TO ......? ...... TO ..... Shit! my keyboard is blocked !!!! Can't write the name ! MOUHAHAHA HHAHAHAH AHAHAHH :D

@ Jaws: Always excellent cartoon ! HAHA

August 26, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterZioum Zioum The Chainsaw

Happy birthday Jason! Zioum Zioum...someday your life story is going to be a movie and I'm going to be the first one in line for a ticket!

August 26, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterJaws the Cabbie

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