Monday, August 30, 2010—Bar 232
Day 232—Sunday, August 29th, 2010
Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden
Because of my schedule, I don’t get out of the city a lot, but today is one of the days I’m traveling to an outer borough. Mark Smimmo is a follower of the 365 site and he invited me to join him and some of his friends at the legendary Bohemian Beer Garden in Queens. It’s a little bright to be traveling to an outside venue, but hopefully they’ll be shade there. Let’s head out to that faraway land known as Queens.
And we're off, headed down this familiar path known as 16th Street.
Here we are in Union Square Park headed for the subway. Yikes, it's bright out here!
And here's the subway.
We'll be taking the Queens-bound N train.
And now we wait for the train. It's hotter than fuck down here and smells vaguely of piss. Lovely!
Hot damn, here's the train!
Motherfucker, it's the R train, we're waiting for the N.
Back to the waiting game.
Alright, here we go, the N train.
Goddamn, the car is packed and there's a screaming baby on board. This is why I don't leave the city a lot.
And now, though the magic of the internet, you're spared a 45 minute train ride with smelly people and a screaming baby.
And here we are in Queens, goddamn it is bright out here!
And we're off in search of the Bohemian Beer Hall and Garden.
I swear I'm not stalking this woman. Okay, maybe I am a little, I need something to occupy my time with till I get there.
And here we are, there's a huge brick wall that encases the place.
I tried getting in through these massive wooden doors but they were locked. At first I wondered if this was some sort of secret society and if Mark was fucking around with me.
But then I looked down the road and saw the entrance is here.
There's a nice bar inside.
And Jenae, the lovely bartender on duty serves up a beer.
There's massive wooden booths opposite the bar.
As you would imagine, there's a huge selection of beer to be had here, these are just some of the draft offerings.
David was enjoying a well-deserved mug of beer after a twelve hour tour of duty in his taxi. Cheers!
Let's see what's downstairs.
There's tables down here...
And a bar with the cute Aida behind it. Nobody was down here and I call this shot, "The Lonliest Bartender in Town." I kept her company for a few minutes, but then I had to find Mark and his friends.
Time to venture out into the (gulp) sunshine.
Wow, there's a ton of people out here. How am I ever going to find Mark and his friends?
He said he was a big guy and he'd be wearing a Dallas Cowboys hat.
No sign of him up here on the band stage.
Still no sign of him. I've got his cell phone number, but that would ruin the fun of the hunt.
And bingo, I find them. Here's Mark and his friends, from left, Mike a.k.a. "Pigpen", Mark and Garry (with two R's.) They're good guys and we had nice conversation and beers at the table in the garden.
Alex came by our table with shots of something I'm not sure what it was. But hey, when a pretty girl offers booze, I'm not refusing!
And then there were three. Garry had to leave, but we continued to drink as a trio.
After another hour, Mark and Mike had to hit the road, leaving me the last man standing in the beer garden from our party. I decided to have Sunday dinner to soak up some of the suds from the day.
Here they are grilling up the dinner.
And here's the dinner, a bratwurst on fresh rye bread, onion rings and of course, another beer.
Double Down was the swing band playing on the bill. It reminded me of bar number three from the crawl. Memories!
The band got the joint to jump!
And on that note, I hail a cab outside...
And head back to Manhattan. Thanks to Mark, Mike and Garry for joining me on the bar crawl and suggesting a fabulous place to enjoy a Sunday afternoon and evening. Goodnight, everybody!
Review
The Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden is a huge bar and beer garden in Queens, New York. This year, the former Czech and Slovak social club has turned 100-years-old making it the oldest beer garden in New York. But as far as I know it, it’s the only, official beer garden in New York City. The bar (or beer hall) itself is large, with a wooden bar and large wooden booths opposite. Downstairs there’s a nother bar and wooden tables set up in a dining area. But the real draw here is outside in the massive beer garden. Picnic tables seat hundreds with umbrellas shading the massive number of beer drinkers. There’s friendly waitresses on hand to deliver your beer and food orders and the crowd is mainly locals from nearby neighborhoods with a smattering of beer afficionados from beyond checking out this legendary beer hall and garden.
There’s a full bar here, but everyone comes for the beer. There’s an international selection of beer to be had here including brews from Germany, Belgiium, USA craft beers and selections from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The food is tradional Czech and some of the entrees include: Pan Roasted Duck, Chicken Schnitzel, Classic Beef Stroganoff and a Sheppard’s Plate which is potato and mushroom perogies, klobasa, spaetzle with traditional Slovak cheese made from sheep milk and sauerkraut.
Tuesday’s is Ladies Night with an bar for the ladies from 5pm-6pm and free buffet from 7pm to 8pm. There’s also live music featuring Blues and Brews Monday nights, a Sunday Swing Series and jazz on Thursdays. And who knows, maybe someday the Schmenge Brothers may show up for a guest gig.
Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden
29-19 24th Ave. (Near 29th St. Queens, NY)
718-274-4925
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BONUS PHOTOS!
Mike is the proud father of an 8-month-old son. Check out his shirt below:
And when he says, "Like Father, Like Son," he's not kidding...
Check out this photo Mike sent me.
And this one Mike sent could win a prize! Heavy metal baby! Hilarious!
And here's a final shot of the three of us that Mark took with his camera. Cheers and beers, everybody!
8 References
Reader Comments (19)
Beer Garden looks like a lot of fun. It is huge. I like the inside bar actually especially with Jenae, a very sexy looking gal. And I would be sitting there talking to David about driving a taxi and Im sure he has a hell of a lot of stories to tell. Hey Oktoberfest is right around the corner,,,imagine how crowded this place gets. Baby Mike can now audition for Van Halen and replace David or Sammy.
I certainly wouldn't turn down a free shot from Alex, but what was that stuff she was pouring? Looks like Grenadine!
@Jaws: I'm not sure what it was, I was too busy looking at Alex!
Another great post! Fantastic beer garden, lovely bartenders and waitresses and a group of hooligans drinking. And that heavy metal baby photo is too funny! Great kid, Mike! And the Schmenge Brothers are the icing on the cake! Loved them on SCTV!
Heavy metal baby - isn't that a song by WILCO? Anyway, cute kid! Next time you take the train to Queens, you should bring him along so he can kick that other baby's ass! Cool looking beer hall and kudos to the Astorians for being able to spread themselves out, unlike those prepsters at the pier bar down by the river. Nobody likes a group of clusterers, especially when it's hotter than balls outside. Speaking of which, I couldn't see, does this place have sauerkraut balls on the menu? They are muy delicioso and I love them! And now, if you'll excuse me, I have a barrel to roll out. TO YOSH AND STAN!
@Biff: I didn't see sauerkraut balls on the menu, and I'm sure there's a joke in there somewhere, but I'm too Mondayed out to think of one. And of course...TO YOSH AND STAN! THE HAPPY WANDERERS!
Great Bar Garden !!To bad there isn't one in Manhattan , or is there ?
That shot you got was blood , so the sun would not melt you .
i love these trips you take. that place looks amazing! and the heavy metal baby! LOL! too cute!
holy smoley...hot damn...what a stop on the crawl...a place "run and managed by the Bohemian Citizens' Benevolent Society of Astoria, a fraternal organization dedicated to education and preserving the Czech and Slovak communities in the area."...a selection of great brews...food list...still drooling...my supper=how many heinekens, colts and hotdogs with whatever else i can find edible plus a jameson or two...way off topic..the pics of the metal kid were cute...aren't they all cute.... back on topic...a heck of a stop on the crawl 365!...KOC
rr
@marty, yep the beer garden is the "go", most definately....dunno what we are gunna do about this "sun phobia" you have, specially when you get to Port Macquarie....summer here is sun, beer, beach, boobs, bums & barbies......guess i'll shout you a good $5 pair of sunnies, & some pink zinc cream for that nose of yours hahaha...who am i to talk, i got a "Gonzo" on my dial!!! (guess i'll be getting the 2kg tub of zinc cream for both of us...lol)
@fitzy: Get the beach umbrella ready for when I get there, mate! And some sunblock 2000!
God damn Marty ! you keep on finding these "must go" spots I have to hit now ! :)
Cool Garden!! Do they sell bottle of beers too? Belgian craft beers?
the red alcoohol looks like grenadine! Jaws is right! but it looks also like "Berentzen Roter Apfel" a german aperitif drink.
@GENE: You'd love it at this place!
@Zioum Zioum: They do have bottles of beer, I was drinking bottles of Amstel light because draft beer gives me a hangover. And I do believe there were Belgina craft beers.
Where's Clacky?
Beer Garden looks like a lot of fun. It's definitely huge! I liked the large wooden tables too.
"I swear I'm not stalking this woman. Okay, maybe I am a little, I need something to occupy my time with till I get there." LOL Marty!! You crack me up with your cute and clever lines.
The Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden...WOW!! I love the place. It looks like so much fun. I always enjoy Beer Gardens very much. The delicious looking large mugs of genuine German beers looks great and so very refreshing on a summer day.
Cheers to wonderful Mike, Mark and Garry!!
Congrats to Mike on his beautiful baby boy!
And a big thank you to Mark Smimmo for recommending such a cool and fun looking place.
Cheers to you and all you sweet peeps here on the 365 site.
@Tiki Bar Susie: Cheers to you!
That place is HUGE. Of course love the large wooden doors you couldn't get through. I think the garden would have to be enjoyed on a cool evening though, day time is for ac.
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