Wednesday, Sept. 22nd, 2010—Bar 255
Day 255—Tuesday, September 21st, 2010
Iggy's Keltic Lounge
Alright, the PayPal donation bell has rung once again and I want to give thanks to Michael McDermott, Sr. who sent in a generous donation of 25 dollars and told me to buy some Alka Seltzer with it. Michael is the father of Mike “Pig Pen” McDermott who I met while visiting the Bohemian Beer Garden in Queens on stop number 232. He’s also the author of a great book that I purchased and suggest you do too. The title is: “Finders Keepers” and you can buy the book right here: “Finders Keepers” at Amazon. Thanks for the donation, Michael!
Okay, tonight is another suggestion from Miami commentator Al Rizo. Al’s made many suggestions and they’ve all been winners. Today he found a bar on the Lower East Side I’ve never heard of called, Iggy’s Keltic Lounge. From the reviews I’ve read it sounds like it’s one part Irish bar, one part punk rock and one part dive bar. Sounds like Al picked another winner, let’s go find out.
This looks like the place, let's check it out.
Here's some of the specials of the night, posted outside.
Nice and dark inside, looks like Al has come through once again!
And bartender Pirate Mike serves up an ice-cold can of Pabst. Arrrgghh! Mike is also an actor and you can check out his resume here: Michael Whitney.
Here's a full shot of the bar.
The beer prices are posted on this board overlooking the bar.
These fellows are perched up at the top of the bar. And note: Tin ceiling!
Let's go check out who these two women are at the end of the bar.
It's the lovely Athena and Jenna who were chilling out and enjoying a drink or two at the end of the bar.
Nicky and Chris were sitting at the front of the bar and liked the 365 bar crawl idea. Cheers, guys!
There's a nice selection on the jukebox including: The Pogues, The Misfits, Joy Division and Chuck Berry.
There's a pirate lounge in the back.
It's a cozy, candle-lit, brick-walled back room.
This guy makes sure the beer is pouring constantly.
I've got a feeling this is Pirate Mike's favorite painting in the bar.
A shot from the end of the candle-lit bar.
Some of the lit-up bottles behind the bar.
Josh, Kristina and Leslie were seated next to me at the bar and posed for the 365 camera. It turns out that Josh and I have a common friend in New York artist, Ryan McGinness.
At the end of the night, Pirate Mike bought me a shot. Cheers and arrrrghh!
And so it's time to head out the door onto Ludlow Street.
Goodnight, everybody!
Review
Iggy’s Keltic Lounge is only about one third an Irish bar. It’s also about one third punk rock bar and one third dive bar. Throw in a skeleton or two for a bit of a pirate feel and you’ve got Iggy’s. Okay, you had to be there, sometimes words fail me. But trust me, Iggy’s is a nice, dark bar with a relaxing and comfortable vibe with friendly bartenders and patrons alike. The horseshoe bar is located in the center with booths off to the front and side and a pirate's lounge in the back with candle-lit tables and brick walls.
They have a full bar with a good selection of bottled beer including: Red Stripe, Magners, Chimay, Duvel and Corona. Happy hour runs daily from 1pm to 9pm with three dollar drafts, two buck cans of Pabsts and four dollar well drinks.
According to the internet rumors, the weekend crowd gets a bit of a frat-hall feel, so I suggest you stop by on a Tuesday night, when Pirate Mike is behind the wheel.
Iggy's Keltic Lounge
132 Ludlow St. (Near Rivington St.)
212-529-2731
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Bonus Photos
Last Saturday I mentioned the debut of a new online magazine called Grade “A” Fancy. Well they threw a party last night at the Rum House which I visited months ago and is going to be closing soon. I was invited, but sadly I had to work and by the time I was going to be done, I was told the party was going to be over. But just around the same time I got the invitation, I got an email from Lex, who just has discovered the 365 bar crawl and was coming to New York last night to visit with her in-laws. She sent me an email asking if she could join me on the bar crawl and we discovered our schedules wouldn’t allow it, but she did agree to be my stand-in for the Grade “A” Fancy party and take pictures. And so, here they are! Thanks for being my stand in Lex and maybe next time you’re in town we can meet in person. In the mean time, take it away, Lex!
I'm starting at the end of the evening, because this is my favorite picture from the night. Suzanne is a jewelery designer friend of Karen's and Jon. Karen and Jon are the creators of Grade "A" Fancy. After lamenting the demise of places like the Rum House in Times Square, we found this great backdrop for a photo op.
Here’s Gaylord and Nancy at the Rum House.
Suzanne and Karen.
This building has a mention in Grade "A" Fancy - only fitting to get a shot!
Andy gave me a handful of restaurant business cards to me, suggesting places to take my in-laws while we're in the city.
This is Patty the bartender serving a Manhattan to Janie.
And of course the obligatory bathroom mirror shot!
Thanks, Lex, you did a great job of standing in for me at the party and being our 365 corrsepondent! I hope next time you’re in town we can meet for a drink in person. Thanks to Karen and Jon, the creators of Grade “A” Fancy for throwing a wonderful party!
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And now a request from Tim Clack: "Friggion' in the Riggin'" by the Sex Pistols (With Ronnie Biggs on lead vocals. I think.)
And Jaws suggest this one, enjoy mateys...arrrghhh!
And cheers and R.I.P. to Malcolm Douglas.
40 References
Reader Comments (37)
Athena and Jenna todays 365 girls,all agreed?
@BR: I agree, but we can't forget about all of the other lovely women in the post!
Okay, but I vote for Kristina and Leslie too. Hey, I know most people retire to Florida or Arizona or a mobile home park on the golf course in Alabama, but I'm going to retire to Iggy's. First of all, I'm half pirate, so I've got that going for me. But I also can totally picture myself reclining in front of the roaring fire, I mean bottles, with a double nightcap and the most recent issue of Dirty Found. You know, with the occasional bar fight and a little Shane MacGowan mumbling away in the background. Ahhhhh...pure bliss. So, Iggy's, please arrange for a recliner for me in about 30 years (sooner if I win the lottery). In the meantime, I'm going to be stopping in to buy a t-shirt for my pal Iggy. He's not a pirate, but he does play one on teevee.
@Bifff: I second those emotions!
I love Iggy's and Pirate Mike gets my vote as the coolest bartender! Arrrghh! Nice bonus photos from the Grade A Fancy shindig too! Although sad that the Rum House is closing.
Pirate Mike's favorite painting bears a striking resemblance to my next door neighbor's kid when he's got a nose full of crystal meth going for him! Looks like you had a great night going for you, Marty!
Wow! Whatta night! Grade "A" Fancy had the best 'zine launch party ever at the Rum House. And an important ingredient was the vivacious Lex. Thanks big time for sending her our way, Marty!
@Ned Sparks: Lex did a great job and I appreciate her being the 365 correspondent for the night. I'm glad the party went great and hope I can make the next one!
Wow, I thought Lex changed into some bondage outfit in the bathroom, but it was only the strap of her bag. Glad to know you, Lex, and you and that newfangled phone thingamajig clicks some fine pix!
nice and dark and piratey...arrrrg! LOL! good suggestion by al and the party pics are fun. great shot of times square! and a guest bathroom shot by lex, love it!
Iggy's has that dark red glow that I like. Anyone notice the cool stained glass windows above the door? Ive read about Mike the bartender,,,,,he is a showman. Thank you Marty,,,,for the great pictures and meeting all those nice folks. Over at Rum Bar,,,very good shots, and a shame a great bar like that is closing,,,,to remodel and brighten it up? That means to ruin a great place. Also I have to say that Karen from Grade A Fancy is a stunning, beautiful woman.
@Al: Thanks for the top-notch suggestion once again! And I agree with you, Karen and all of the women were stunning in this post and I appreciate them posing for mine and Lex's 365 camera shots!
This blog rocks, that's all i have to say...arrrrrggggg!!!
Hope you got some change with that Pabst! Like the unique tin ceiling design. Al I noticed the cool stained glass too. Love stained glass. I like Al’s taste. Love Mike for hamming it up for the camera. Great correspondent Lex :)
@kari: That's the good thing about Pabst, you ALWAYS get change back!
whoa...whoa...whoa...let's raise a toast to al...damn...he has suggested some really great stops on the crawl...batting 1000%....raising one to you al...hey now have to raise one to jaws for his 365 images...but i digress...a heck of a stop on the crawl...why wasm't this mentioned in the "battle of the bars"?...oh maybe it wasn't around...stupid ?... damn make a long story short...how does one do that?...i don't know,,,tipping one to lex....nice shots ...(no pun intended)...KOC
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@365: Great night Marty!....This would have been the perfect stop off on the crawl for last sunday 19th.... on INTERNATIONAL TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY!!! If I'd have known in advance I would have told you....man I've gotta try a Pabst...
I just read Grade "A" Fancy's 'Interview with the Martini'. I have to say it was GOLD! very original.
Thanks Lex! Brilliant! Great shot of Karen, John and Suzanne hamming it up in Times Sq. Great quality photos too.
@B R: Agreed.
@BR, yep they have my vote, good call mate....
funny, what is it with crazy blokes by the name of Mike Whitney???....we had a opening bowler (equal to a pitcher in baseball) coach by the name Mike Whitney each year when we would go into pre-season camp with the NSW Country Cricket team.....he was mad as a cut snake, a top bloke, & a bloody great coach who helped me perfect a awesome lethal 'bouncer'... me & him knicknamed it "The Spitting Cobra".....i dare say you might have heard of him clacky???
this american Mike Whitney looks very much the same character....wonder if he makes a "Spitting Cobra" drink????
@365: It's been a while since I've made a juke box request.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPGLNYAgL-8&feature=related
@Fizty: Yeah I know Mike. He played for Australia as a bottom order batsman too.
If it's the same Mike Whitney that we're talking about?
He also hosted a lifestyle t.v show called Sydney weekender on channel 7 a few years back. I've cooked for Mike a few times when he brought the production team in to review some places where I worked on Lake Macquarie. Nice bloke. He always took some time to come out to the kitchen and have a chat and say thanks.
@clacky....thats him....& "Sydney Weekender" do you think i could remember the name of his tv show, good onya.....i played with & against Mike also in a few Tooheys Cup matches over the years & he is a top bloke on & especially off the field....never dodged a shout, could drink, & was a real funny fucker on the piss....i have'nt ran into him since he retired from cricket & started the tv show....he seems to have mellowed just a little from what i see on the idiot box & his show.....what was that other tv show he did with Tanya Zayeetta where they would dare people to do fucked up stunts & gross shit?
Fizty...write up in "the week" about koalas...their plight...and such...tim like to touch base...don't know if can make it when biff is in town....what a party that might be...would like to tip one or three w/you....if we can coincide w/365's schedule...oh well...KOC
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Great Barrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !!! I Am Going To Check This One Out !!! I used to live down there when I was a Kid .
@ Lex , Great Shots ! I
@Raginrr: I'll get your email through Marty if he's got it or vice versa... we'll be there from 1st and leaving on the 15th Nov so plenty of time to a have a sip...What part of the city are you?
@Fitzy: You almost had it....Who Dares Wins.