Saturday, August 28th, 2010—Bar 230
Day 230—Friday, August 27th, 2010
Flannery's Bar
Before we start the crawl tonight, I was summoned over to Mark Burger Bar on St. Mark's Place. Their slider eating competition has gotten up to 20 sliders and I told Chef Eric to call me if there's a competitor coming over to try and break the standing number. Well, he said tonight someone was coming at 8pm, so I decided to take my dinner break and check it out. So it's off to Mark we go.
Here we are back at Mark Burger Bar.
Trevor tried to beat the record a few hours earlier, but only made it to 11 sliders. A noble try though. Trevor has a website devoted to food and you can check it out here: Burgasm.
Here's Chef Eric and Angie in the background. It's 8pm and the challenger is supposed to be here. Hopefully he'll show up soon, as I'm on my dinner hour.
The son of a bitch never showed up! So 20 is still the number to beat. If you think you can do it, let me know and I'll show up and document it.
So now it's on with the crawl. Okay, I’m in my typical burned-out Friday mood. I’m not in much of a bar-crawling mood, so I’m going to go to a classic Irish bar called Flannery's that’s just three blocks from where I live. Hopefully it won’t be packed to the gills, but if it is, it is. It’s about a fifteen minute walk from where I work, so set your stopwatches and time me. And awaaaay we go.
All we do is walk down Seventh Avenue...
And within fifteen minutes, here we are.
And look at this, a prime seat right at the front of the long dark wooden bar.
And Mike the bartender is quick on the draw with an ice-cold beer. Mike's one of the friendliest bartenders I've met on the bar crawl, a great guy!
He even invited me to join him behind the bar for a photo.
Jake and Grimm were enjoying drinks at the end of the bar. Cheers, guys!
Here's Alexis, Grimm and Lauren. They were in the bar celebrating Lauren's birthday. Happy birthday, Lauren!
As you can see, the bar is hopping tonight.
Obligatory barroom mirror shot.
A longshot of the top of the bar.
A wooden railing and stools run along the perimeter of the opposite side of the bar.
The middle room of he bar is devoted to one thing...
Darts! There's five dart boards in here and they are in constant use.
I had to use the flash in the back room, because it's so dark back here. Wooden booths line the walls and there's tables back here as well.
This is where Steve the DJ programs and pumps out the tunes for the evening.
Meanwhile, back at the bar...
Mike approaches me and asks if I'd like to try a Guinness.
I happily accept the offer and he pours...
And serves a perfectly poured pint of Guinness. This can only lead to one thing...
The traditional wearin' of the Guinness. Sláinte!
Bartender John was working the other end of the bar, here he is with Mike.
Cheese it, it's the cops! Goodnight, everybody!
Review
There’s hundreds of cookie-cutter, pre-fabricated “Irish bars” in New York City, but Flannery’s is the real thing. It’s been a fixture on 14th Street for over twenty years now. The front of the bar is decked out with large French windows, that when opened in the warmer months give the front of the bar a bit of a beer garden feel. The bar itself is long and wooden and there’s wooden tables and chairs to the side and in the back to lounge at. The bartenders are super-friendly Irishmen who know how to pour a slow Guinness pint. The patrons range from working class stiffs to suits unwinding after a tough day at the office to people drinking their unemployment checks away. Throw in a tourist or two and it’s a lively crowd. Their motto is, "Come as a stranger, leave as a friend,” and they stay true to that.
There’s a full bar with a good selection of draft and bottled beers, and of course there’s Guinness on tap. Happy hour runs from Monday to Friday with drink specials on beer and cocktails.
There’s DJ’s on the weekends and about once a month Flannery’s has live music. It’s also a bar that’s big on darts, there’s five dart boards and Wednesday is the “Luck of the Draw” dart tournament night. Drink specials and cash prizes go out to the winners. Patrons can also participate in tournaments with teams from other bars. Stop in and find out how. But have a Guinness or three first.
Flannery's Bar
205 W. 14th St. (Near Seventh Ave.)
212-229-2122
22 Comments
Reader Comments (22)
Too bad the person didn't show up for the sliders,, I would of like to see what kind of shape he/her was in after 20. Funny, last night I saw Cool Hand Luke, Paul Newman eating 50 eggs. Flannery's gets it all right,,,great dark bar, dim lamps above the bar with wood, wood and more wood everywhere. Very good choice, and bartender Mike looks like a great guy and he even looks like the other bartender John,,,must be the beard. Keep it up,,,you are back on a roll.
@Al: Cool Hand Luke is one of my favorite all time movies. "Shakin' it over here, Boss!" Ha ha ha! Mike's one of the best bartenders on the crawl so far and a good time was had last night.
"Get MAD at dem damn eggs Luke...GNAW on 'em!" Great, great movie! The friendly vibes at Flannery's radiate right through my monitor...you picked a real winner this time! And you'll never, NEVER see booths like that at a TGI Fridays. Last of a dying breed of bars...all you drinkers out there do what you can to keep this place in business!
OK how do you know that the windows are French ? & why would French windows be at a Irish Bar ?
Anyway The Bar Looks Very friendly , & it looks like you had a Great time , Cheers !!
PS : IRS (The USA IRS!! ) SUCKS !!! I don't understand why the so called terrorist don't attack the govt. but attack the poor hard working tax payers !!! Is it a secret population control , which could be under control by the govt. ?
Great Friday night post! Flannery's looks like a true Irish bar, thanks for putting out the extra effort on the night that isn't your favorite to go out. And keep us informed about that slider contest!
Lots of TV's ! awesome !!!
I like this place. Very warm vibe....and I'm all the way down here at the arse end of winter and I'm feelin' the love (I'm no hippy!!)
Trevor's Burgasm site is crazy! He seems like a cool guy that loves a burger or seven. I sure hope he slows down on the burgers a bit however. Couldn't be too good for the old heart rate....
If anyone hasn't seen Man vs Food I highly encourage that you do. It's all about insane food challenges and getting his photo on the wall.
@the No Show Slider challenger: BOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!HISSSSSSSSSS!!!! PISSSSS POOOOOR!!!!!
@365: Enjoy the read!
@Anyone: Who were the Saints playing? Can't fucking wait for NFL regular season to kick off. They don't air the preseason on free T.V here.
I like to play darts! and I'm not too bad at that game, I can hit the spot very well !! Last time I aimed one eye it was cool ! ha ha
Too bad the sliders guy didn't show up!
@ Jason: The real meaning of IRS is Impecunius Rectum Sucked, that's a satanic formula that weirdos at the goverment invented, kind of secret conspiracy code telling "hey guy, we're going to stick a big dick in your slaved slavery ass!!" brief, something like that... !!! HAHA
"slaved slavery ass" ok that means probably nothing but that's a french synonym of jesus hole, ass hole, holey shit or again holiness... anyway LOL LHOLE LOL, I think it's time to go to bed for me !!!
TO JESUS HOLE !
@tim...damn send me some of them drugs you are on...@trevor...sorry one word....loser...@all..."cool hand" was—hell...what can i say..."cool"...@the no show—fuckin' loser—at least trevur gave it a shot...@jason...feel any older and wiser?...am in a state of regression myself...16 going on 13 waitin' to be 8...damn looks like a hell of stop on the crawl...slow pour guinness...yeah...you should see how some do it around here...shame a crying shame...shame..almost committed hari kari after the "frying pan" venture—damn who cares—@365 ...a thought fueled by jameson plus...the next time "originally headed for" or what ever the fuck you say and follow it w/rick ii suggest dion/the wander and mix it w/capt beefhart zig zag wanderer...KOC
rr
p.s. than you can stayup pondering how beefhart became a captain along with crunch and sanders became a colonel...KOC
rr
@raginrr: I was hoping YOU could hook ME up!! My cholesterol has gone up significantly after lookin a old matey's burger crusade.
@Zioum Zioum: Satanic Jesus Slave Hole! That sound like a great name for a metal band. You can be the singer and play guitar and I'll play the bass. Sleep on it.
Just checked out the Burgasm website. OOOOWW...my aorta...my poor aching aorta! Gasp!
@Jaws: Holy crap that guy needs a better hobby. I mean I love burgers too and I take my hat off to him but the man looks seriously burgered out! There's no way in hell I'm gonna take on Mark's challenge! If Trevor can't do it then I've got no hope what so ever.
@Trevor: If you're reading this mate...you're a hard man, but take it easy dude!! and Man Vs Food is a great show!
@Zioum Zioum: I'm a darts fanatic but I haven't played in a while due to my poor math skills. Are you in France or NY? We should have a 365 darts challenge!!!!! (or snooker or pool)
BTW...I'm a bit drunk right now. It's sunday arvo...thats wat happens... Should'nt be typing this drivel.
I think I'm gonna chuck some Zappa on and leave you all in pieces....or maybe Iron Maiden's Power Slave....dunno....or I could write my own album called Tim Clack "Power Sipper".
Love, love the booths! Like your own little personal space to chill out in. And Mike looks like an awesome bartender.
@Tim ! "Satanic Jesus Slave Hole!" THAT is a FUCKING GOOD NAME !!! Like it allot! I can sing and write songs, but I don't know how to play guitar... BUT I'm a angus young fan and I got a british flag male underwear and built a mega cool ACDC guitare in cardboard ! It was for a birthday party, I did a cool imitation show! haha you can see a photo of the guitare on myspace
I'm in France, since the homeland security doesn't want me anymore in NYC for the moment !! I'm readdy for the 365 darts challenge !!! and didn't play for a while too since my best friend lives in London now, I don't have any darts buddy anymore!
365 Dart Challenge !!! Yes I am in , but only if JoeyD is on my team !!!
@ Tim Clack Downunder , I was drunk & listing to Queens of The Stone age , the album Rated R
Cheers
So, the Saints win the Super Bowl and then think they can just sit around on the field? Slackers. Hey, this place looks great! Lighted bottles, lots of wood, Guinness. Yes, please! Really love your silhouette shot at the dartboards and the barroom mirror shot is cool too (were you standing on the rung of your barstool?) Kudos to Grimm for bringing the argyle sweater back! And thanks for introducing me to the saying "cheese it." I've eaten them before, but have never used them in a sentence. You learn something new every day.
Sorry to hear that the other guy didn't show up. I also agree with everyone that I should probably slow down a bit, but I actually cut down on my drinking and have been walking more sense starting the blog (I live in Indianapolis and walk everywhere instead of driving), and have actually lost 13 lbs sense starting the blog. Who knew beer was worse for me then cheeseburgers. This is a great blog though, and I can appreciate the search for a perfect bar. I have to say that Guinness looks amazing.
Better luck next time, Travis, let me know when you come back and try to beat the record again!
Wow Flannery's looks like a wonderful bar, what a fun place!! I would love to visit there some day!
Mike the bartender looks like a sweetheart and all of the friendly people there enjoying the fun atmosphere and great drinks!!
Great choice Marty, I love it!!!!
Mush!!
I absolutely love this place. There's no gimmicks to it, just a great old irish long bar with great guinness and even better bartenders who know how to make their customers feel welcome each and every time.