Saturday, September 4th, 2010—Bar 237
Day 237—Friday, September 3rd, 2010
Dusk
Okay, it’s Friday and it has been one long-ass week. I had to work extra-long hours in addition to staying out late doing the bar crawl. And yes, I would like some ice with my whine, please and thank you! I found a bar called Dusk that looks like it might not be too packed and kind of a cool little hidden bar. And it’s on my way home. Perfect!
There's just a small globe announcing the bar hanging overhead.
Wow, this looks like a cool place and not crowded at all for a Friday night. Probably because of the holiday weekend.
It's nice and dark in here and red bulbs illuminate the long bar.
The bartenders on duty were Sean and Trish. I had a nice conversation with Trish, she's a great bartender who makes you feel like a regular from the moment you order a drink.
Harry puts the lime in the coconut, but I put it in the Corona.
Some lit-up bottles behind the bar.
A biography sits atop the cash register. Trish told me the bartenders have a standing joke about being "Columboed" by customers. What this means is when it's super-busy and someone says, "I'll have a screwdriver." Then they get that and the patron then proceeds to ask for a beer as well. The bartender gets that and then the person says, "You know what, I also need a bottle of Budweiser." That is getting Columboed. A new term that I love!
There was a birthday party going on in the lounge area of the bar, so I went and checked it out. It turns out it was the 25th birthday of Carlos, seated in the middle of his friends.
Here the birthday boy is getting ready to blow out the candle on the cake.
And here I am with the birthday boy and party. The word on the street says that Carlos got a bowl of NYC condoms as a present, but I'll never tell!
If you like to doodle, stop by on Tuesday nights for Napkin Idol. The two best napkin doodlers win prizes from the bar.
Here's some of the recent winners.
A far end shot of the bar.
Dusk is the only bar in Manhattan that has a one-way mirror in the bathroom. You can keep an eye on your drink while doing your business. Genius!
Here's a shot of the bar from inside the bathroom.
There's two celebrity vodkas available at the bar: Dan Aykroyd's Crystal Head Vodka and Spike Lee's Absolut Brookyn brand.
I decided to do an in-house taste test between Dan and Spike's vodka and the Dusk's house infused Lychee and Rosemary vodkas. And guess what, the house vodkas won hands-down. Stop by for some distilling lessons from Dusk, Dan and Spike!
And one last look out the front window and I'm on my way home. Goodnight, everybody!
Review
A small red globe is the only sign marking this hidden gem of a bar/lounge in the Chelsea area of New York. Inside there’s a little something for everyone. The front of the bar houses a pool table and reveals a brick wall on one side and an arty mirrored wall on the other. There’s couches and a table in the middle for those that want to lounge and in the back is a dark bar lit up by red light bulbs hanging over head. The bartenders are friendly and the cliental is a diverse mix of people from the neighborhood. The bar has been on the block for 13 years and one of the owners, Phil Crampton has climbed Mt. Everest five times. Check out his website here: Altitude Junkies.
Dusk has a full bar selection of drinks and an impressive selection of beers including: Newcastle Brown Ale, Duvel, Boddingtons and Coopers (for all my Aussie mates!) There’s a happy hour seven nights a week here and they offer four dollar bottles of Budweiser and Coors Light, six buck Cosmos and five dollar well drinks.
Monday nights Dusk hosts one of the most popular Karaoke nights in the city with a specially lit stage for the participants. Tuesday night is Napkin Idol night with two prizes going out to the best napkin doodle of the night. And of course there’s the one-way mirror in the bathroom, fulfilling the inner bladder-challenged Joe Friday in all of us.
Dusk
147 W. 24th St. (Between 6th & 7th Aves.)
212.924.4490
And now, one of my favorite Harry Nilsson songs. Enjoy!
And now for Tim Clack and the grumpy Jason, "Whatever Gets You Through the Night."
22 Comments
Reader Comments (22)
awesome I love it..
but shouldn't a bar called Dusk have cool looking vampires in it?
@Gidget: I'm not that cool looking, but I was one of the vampires in there.
Super Dark bar,,,,I really like the small globe light outside. Carlos has got it,,, all the girls,,,lucky guy. One way mirror in bathroom is genius idea. Hey,,,,how about that columboed saying ,,,,,so true,,,he never quite let you walk away,, always one more question. Very good bar here,,,man,,,New York City is incredible.
I agree with Al, the red globe is an excellent touch and the red lighting in the bar is great. And I've never seen a one-way mirror, but that is just too cool of an idea. As is the napkin doodle contest. Great find on the crawl, love these hidden gems you uncover. P.S. GREAT Harry Nilsson song!
love the red lights and the napkin doodle doo! carlos is going to need all those condoms with all those women! LOL!
Gidget stole my thunder...I was going to razz you about Dusk being the perfect place for vampires like you. Perhaps those one way mirrors are just normal mirrors...but you don't have a mirror image! I studied the people in the pictures you took...their teeth don't look any longer or sharper than usual, but perhaps fangs don't show up in photographs! As Zioum Zioum is wont to say...Moahahahahahaaaaa!
@Jaws:"Perhaps those one way mirrors are just normal mirrors...but you don't have a mirror image!"
Ha ha ha! That could be true! I'm going to go have a nice glass of blood now and go out for my Saturday cheeseburger.
@365: Why have a cheeseburger when you can gnaw on the neck of a waitress? Did you say "glass of blood" or "glass of Bud"? Plenty of juicy necks to gnaw on at Carlos's party too!
Nice pub. I'd blitz that Napkin idol challenge. I'd draw a napkin size picture of the inside cover of KISS Alive II with the fire bombs and raised drum kit. Rock'n'Roooooollllll!!!
I sure miss drinking beer. I've been sick all week and can't remember the taste! It's been almost 7 days since i've a had a beer. Been reduced to having pots of herbal tea. I can't believe it either!
@Jaws: You type Zioum Zioum pretty good Moahahahahahaaaa!
OK : I am in a very Bad Mood , it's not Your fault , But Fuck You .
Moahahahahahaaaaa!
@Jason: Ha ha hope you get into a better mood soon. Do you have to work today? If not, that should set you on the right path. I take it you listened top the Nilson song. Great track!
Here's something that could help.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5ijw1PUsXg&ob=av2e
Would be good to meet you out on the crawl in Nov.
@365: Love the Nilson song. A mate of mine tried to get me into him a few years back but I was going through my Motorhead/Iron Maiden phase (still am) and didn't have time for h
Harry. Time to back track methinks.
I think Jason needs a pick me up. Any chance I could request a song on the jukebox??
Nilson was hanging out with Lennon a bit during his time away from Yoko in the mid 70's. The Nilson tune reminds me of Lennon's Whatever gets you thru the night. That was one of the last songs he ever performed live and was done as a duet with Elton John (back when he was listenable and cool) at Madison square in Nov 74...
@Fitzy: Fuck it's windy down here!!! How's up there??
@Tim Clack: The request is in and done soon, hopefully this will cheer up the grumpy Jason! Cheers, mate! Where the fuck is fitzy?
Yes I am Fucking working right now , But Fuck You , Ha Ha Ha , That song made it better !!
I am stuck here til 12 midnight & have to be back by 12 mid day tomorrow , But Fuck You .
Yes Nov !!!
@clacky, it was blowin' harder than a Hugh Grant hooker yesterday arvo & last night, but this morning its an awesome day....just watching 9's wide world of sports & they said Kenny Sutcliffe "the male model from Mudgee" (my home town & Ken is a top bloke from a great family) has gone home for fathers day....he was going to take his dad to the races but they have been called off due to the shitload of rain they've had....& did you here they called off the Birdsville races the other day due to the rain, ist time in like 120-130 odd years....so yeah there is a bit of bad weather about....let alone what Brooksy & Victoria are going to be in for...
@Jas, dont go too hard on ol' mate clacky...he is australian & we are renowned for putting our foot in our mouths quiet alot without malice or underlying shit...especially ME!!!!...so congrats clacky you have taken out todays cluster fuck award ;-) give yaself an uppercut & go get a beer!!!!
No hardship here , just joking , But Fuck You , ha ha
@marty, & Fuck You TOO!!! i'm here......i feel like having a "fuck you" day today, even in a good mood saying "fuck you" just cheers me up just that littl' bit more....thanks Jas! ;-))
Working a 12 hour shift ain't wrong , but it ain't right !!, but what ever gets me to the Paris nights !!
ZioumZioum The Chain Saw Is Sleeping ,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
@fitzy: "it was blowin' harder than a Hugh Grant hooker yesterday" Ha ha ha! Good one, fuck you and thanks for the early morning larf, mate!
Love it very cool. And also love the mirror idea and the napkin idol. And hope it turns around for all of you fuck the dayers, cause I'm walking on clouds :)
"You can keep an eye on your drink while doing your business." HA HA HA!! I'm still laughing at that one! Good boy, Marty! GOOD BOY!! Hey, this place looks great and their house vodkas are all well and good, but I'm a little more interested in trying that minted rum. I like rum. Makes me feel like a pirate! ARRGGGHHH!!! Anyhoo, I like the looks of Dusk and look forward to visiting sometime. Hopefully during the day, so I can drink ironically.
Very cool place Marty!!