Sunday, September 12th, 2010—Bar 245
Day 245—Saturday, September 11th, 2010
8th Street Winecellar
Okay, if you’re a regular follower of this blog, you’ll remember last Thursday I tried to go to a wine bar on 8th Street called, 8th Street Winecellar. The joint was packed and I ended up at a nearby bar called Affair On Eighth. I met a fellow named Jonathan Kravetz who told me he had written a play that was being performed nearby at the Manhattan Theatre Source and the play is entitled, “Better Lucky Than Smart.” Tonight’s the last night of the play and I decided to get a ticket and check it out. And I’ve also decided to try the 8th Street Winecellar again and see if it’s less packed in the early evening hours. And so it’s off we go for a night of drinking, eating (it’s cheeseburger Satruday night) and theater.
It's a nice day out and a lot of people are out and about including these slow-walkers, which I'm trying to get around. Hate the slow-walkers!
You talkin' to me?
Hats!
And here we are at the 8th Street Winecellar once again. Let's travel down the stairs and see if it's a little less crowded than it was on Thursday night.
Plenty of seats at the bar tonight. Let cheeseburger Saturday night begin!
Super-cute and friendly bartender Nikki serves up a Negra Modelo. Yeah, I'm drinking beer at a wine bar, you got a problem with that?
Nikki took a shot of me with the beer and flashing the 365 colors. Check out this jersey and other 365 products at the 365 Bar Store, maintained by resident artist, "Boris."
A long line of wine bottles are above the full bar.
There's a small seating nook opposite the bar.
Here's a mirror shot of the bar from the eating nook.
There's leather banquettes and tables in the back of the brick-walled bar.
Michael Jackson isn't the only man in the mirror.
In addition to an impressive wine list, there's a good selection of bottled beers to be had including Coopers Pale Ale which I didn't see on the menu. Forgive me, Brooksy!
Here's the front of the bar with a nice view of 8th Street.
Meanwhile back at the bar, Nikki's busy taking care of business.
But not too busy to serve up a couple of mini sliders with homemade potato salad.
The little burger is delicious and housed in a bakery-fresh bun. But I was still hungry so I ordered a plate of pigs in a blanket.
And the lovely Katy serves them up with a beautiful smile.
Mmmmm, spicy mustard!
And in the end...hats! Goodnight, everybody!
Review
8th Street Winecellar is a true underground bar. Walk down the stairs to the somewhat clandestine wine cellar and you’ll find an inviting bar with friendly bartenders and an inviting staff. It’s an attitude-free place, so if you’re not a grape-head, feel free to ask for suggestions from the massive wine list. The L-shaped bar seats over a half dozen and there’s tables and chairs in the front and back and a dining nook behind the bar. At night it’s dark and lit mainly by candles, making this a perfect spot for a first date or a place to celebrate an anniversary.
The wine list here is huge and wine is sold by the glass, half bottle or bottle. Many bottles here are under $35 so you won’t go broke while sampling. In addition to the wine, there’s a full bar with martinis and a good selection of bottled beers including: Negra Modelo, Bluepoint Lager, Coopers Pale Ale and Bitburger Pils.
The kitchen has such offerings as small plates of cheeses, meats and oysters or if you’re a little hungrier you can sample Cellar Sirloin Sliders, Pigs In A Blanket and three varieties of grilled panini.
The 8th Street Winecellar’s motto is, “Wincellar isn’t the place where you can drink yourself under the table because you’re already under the floor.” I’ll drink to that!
8th Street Winecellar
28 W. 8th St. (Near Fifth Ave.)
212-260-9463
-----------------------------
Bonus Photos
After the fine time at 8th Street Winecellar, I went to the play, “Better Lucky Than Smart.” at the nearby Manhattan Theatre Source and it was great. I was lucky to have met Jonathan on Thursday because this was closing night and I scored a ticket before the play got sold out for the evening. Here’s a few shots from my evening at the theater.
Playwright Jonathan Kravetz.
Here's the theatre.
Hey, it looks like they knew I was coming!
Here's the set of the play.
And the theatre is soon filled up. It's the final night of the play and luckily I purchased a ticket in advance.
And the play begins. It's a humorous play that centers around people who's lives get entwined because of greed and stupidity. It had a nice surprise ending.
The final bows from the talented cast on closing night.
Hats!
25 Comments
Reader Comments (25)
don't you just hate it when your 'puter or the net gives you fits when you are trying complete sumthing...KOC
rr
@raginrr: It took me over two fucking hours to put this thing up! I'm ready for a drink already!
I read about the play,,,it sounds really great. Glad you had a really good Saturday night. You know I love underground bars,,,,and with Nikki and Katy serving you,, pretty women,,,can't go wrong there. Picture of DeNiro from "Falling in Love" circa 1984. Not exactly my kind of bar here,,,,lack of wood and not dark enough,,,but not too shabby either. Modelo Negra's and sliders and Piggies in a blanket,,, you are ready for the night.
@Al: It's really dark in here at night, check back to last Thursday's picture of the place. It's mainly lit by candles.
@365: You are correct,,,,looks so much better with the candles,,,, thanks
Cute little sliders...I'm a panini fiend myself!
I agree with @Al that its a little lacking on the wood, but looks like a nice place. Good food. And looks like a fun Saturday night with the addition of the play. Do that many people actually wear hats these days? Seems like I only see baseball caps around here.
@al.. was trying to decide if that was falling in love....I love that movie..
the slider looks yummy marty..not a big pigs in a blanket type but they looked good.
you need a hat now.. its a sign...
hats are kinda sexy...
@kari: Hats are becoming stylish out here now, for men and women.
@Gidget: I don't know, I've never been much of a hat wearer, but I'll think about it.
@Gidget: "Falling in Love" was a great movie and DeNiro with Meryl Streep is screen magic. Do you remember them together in The Deer Hunter? F in L was DeNiro acting like a normal person,,,,,not like most of his movies,,,gangster, psycho,,, etc,,,but all like almost all of his movies,,,him and Pacino, the greatest actors.
Hats... don't you know how life is wonderfull with a fine Borsalino or one of these uncrushable Stetsons on your head ? c|:-)
@Grompf: You're back! Where the hell have you been?
@365_Beers : I'm still at the end of a slow phone line ! I just add a 10 years old computer to deal with this at home : websites now don't stop to send me data when they decide that my time is over . Things are better now with websites loaded with pictures, like yours. Cheers !
@Grompf: Cheers and welcome back!
@al.. f in L was wonderful cause meryl streep usually isn't too likeable and deniro even though a great actor isnt usaully hot.. but the sexual chemistry between them in the film made them attractive and you wanted them to fall in love..
and i cnat picture any two other actors in those roles .. they made the film..
I had enough Cooper's Pale Ale on Saturday night for the both of us Marty. And funnily enough - I was at a wine bar in Adelaide called "The Wine Underground". And they didn't look at me funny when I ordered beer either.
I must say that you've been in a few bars recently with some stunning girls behind the bar. Great job! Here's to Katy - from your Aussie admirer.
And here's to Hats!
@David Brooks: Nice to hear you tied one on! To Nikki, Katy and hats!
@Brooksy: That makes 2 Aussies that got completely messed up over the weekend. White wine in the sun over lunch, beers with a few mates in the back yard and something green and rolled up for dessert.
Mondays are great for my hangovers....2 games of NFL, coffee, greasy breakfast...Sadly The Eagles went down to Green Bay but glad to see Dallas being beat by Washington.....I might have a beer. It's 1:30 on monday. They're in the fridge, Fitzy's gonna tell me to "pull ya fuck'n finger out and stop being a pussy Clacky and have a fuck'n beer ya mug!!"
@365: Back to the winebar
Nikki is very cute...but I'm worried about a slider that doesn't hit the spot. very clean little bar.
I could puke into one of those hats...Great stories from everyone's 9/11 experiences. Hope you don't mind but I've shared your story with a few friends. Great read....We're not keen on visiting Ground Zero on our trip. I want a fun 2 weeks. We'll check out the financial district but but GZ would be too unsettling.
Katy + a plate of pigs in a blanket = SWEET ! but seriously, those pigs look good ! you have to eat those with a beer !
Nigel Tufnel: [on what he would do if he couldn't be a rock star] Well, I suppose I could, uh, work in a shop of some kind, or... or do, uh, freelance, uh, selling of some sort of, uh, product. You know...
Marty DiBergi: A salesman?
Nigel Tufnel: A salesman, like maybe in a, uh, haberdasher, or maybe like a, uh, um... a chapeau shop or something. You know, like, "Would you... what size do you wear, sir?" And then you answer me.
Marty DiBergi: Uh... seven and a quarter.
Nigel Tufnel: "I think we have that." See, something like that I could do.
Marty DiBergi: Yeah... you think you'd be happy doing something like-...
Nigel Tufnel: "No; we're all out. Do you wear black?" See, that sort of thing I think I could probably... muster up.
Marty DiBergi: Do you think you'd be happy doing that?
Nigel Tufnel: Well, I don't know - wh-wh-... what're the hours?
@Boris: Hahhaha GOLD!
St Hubbins was the patron saint of quality footwear.
@"Boris" and Tim Clack: I'll be stopping at the Isle of Lucy festival soon.
much like you I would rather drink BEER than WINE. And, Im heading over to the 365 Bar Store today!