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Entries in Whiskey Tavern (1)

Wednesday
Jun092010

Wednesday, March 9th, 2010—Bar 150

Day 150—Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
Whiskey Tavern (Originally headed for Apotheke)

Ding, ding, ding! The PayPal bell is ringing with another generous donation! Tiki Bar Susie has set a record by sending in her fourth donation for a generous fifteen dollars making her the number one donater here at the crawl. Plus she’s bought a lot of items from the 365 Bar Store so I can’t thank her enough. You are a great friend to me and to the 365 Bar Crawl, Tiki Bar Susie and I truly appreciate your support! It’s people like you that keep this crawl moving. Thank you!

Tonight is the 150th night of the crawl, so I wanted to find some place special and I think I have. I found a place in Chinatown that is a former opium den and bills itself as an apothecary bar that dispenses drinks with healing powers through their unique styles of drinks. The bar is called Apotheke and from what I’ve read, it looks pretty nuts. So let’s go and check out their chemically-charged cocktails. It’s time to find out what kind of condition our collective conditions are in.

This is the outside of the bar, part of the deal here is there's no sign and you have to find it, which I did. I went in and it freaked me out for some reason. I didn't even take pictures because I wanted out so fast. It was filled with yuppies and there was a jazz trio and the bartenders were wearing weird-ass outfits and setting drinks on fire. It made me feel like it was a scene out of Rosemary's Baby and it totally freaked me out. It truly felt like Satan's watering hole in there and I'm not kidding you. Maybe it's just me being neurotic, but I literally ran out of this joint. It creeped the fuck out of me.


I feel a little embarassed running out of that place like that, but at least I still have my bar-crawling soul intact. Time to improvise and start my lonely walk around Chinatown.

It's kind of hard to bar crawl here because I can't read Chinese.

Hello! At least people are friendly around here.

Jesus, the more I walk the more desolate it's getting. Have I been jinxed by the evil Apotheke?

It's not a good thing when you're in a dark part of Chinatown and the brightest thing is a sign for a bail bonds office. Mama!

And just as all hope is lost, a beacon of hope in red neon: BAR! Thank you God!

The Whiskey Tavern, an oasis in a dry part of town.

There's a nice vibe in here, time for episode number 150 on the crawl! We are back on track!

Friendly bartender Justin serves up an ice cold Corona, looks like the fired-up drinks are thankfully part of this bar crawl's past.

To the 150th bar, Whiskey Tavern! Cheers!

Some of the draft beers available at the bar.

There's a wooden counter and stools opposite of the bar to relax at.

Eric's lived in the neighborhood for about six month's and told me this is the block's preferred bar.

There's three large screen TV's to keep up with the latest sporting event.

There's booths in the back of the bar for drinking and socializing.

Hello! I think we should try and meet these two!

Meet Sarah and Heather, two of the cutest women in the bar that night and lucky for us, they graciously agreed to pose for the 365 camera. Cheers, ladies!

Justin and the lovely waitress Joanne getting ready to serve a pitcher of beer and simultaneously giving a thumbs up to 150 nights on the crawl.

Here's Sergio who was working back in the kitchen area of the bar.

Ryan and Elaine were enjoying a quiet moment in the back booth.

And now since it's the 150th night, I'm beginning a new photo series: Coasters on bars! Goodnight everybody!

Review
The red neon sign that hangs overhead says it all: “Bar.” There’s no pretentious gimmicks here, just a bar, good music and a friendly staff with local neighborhood patrons that are welcoming of newbies to the joint. The tavern boasts three big screen TV’s that are usually tuned to sporting events and there’s a communal table in the back along with booths for comfortable seating. The music shifts from Motown to classic rock to old school punk rock. It’s a laid back and friendly atmosphere and Eric, who I met at the bar told me the following: “This place is more than a bar, it’s a social club.” High praise from a regular at the tavern and after spending a night here, I concur.

The have a full bar here with a nice selection of draft and bottled beer.
However the name is Whiskey Tavern and it has an exhaustive selection of whiskey and bourbon both straight up and mixed into inventive cocktails. The food is burgers, sandwiches and standard pub grub, but a few items on the menu caught my eye such as the “Bowl O’ Bacon” with bleu cheese and maple syrup. Another appetizer that caught my eye were the Tater Tots with chili and cheese sauce. Sounds like a perfect bar snack. I’ll have to try it next time.

Happy hour is Monday through Friday, 4pm to 7pm with offerings of three dollar Miller and Miller Light, four buck Budweisers and six dollar well drinks. Whiskey Tavern is a true oasis in a somewhat dry part of town. Stop by and get quenched.

Whiskey Tavern
79 Baxter St. (between Bayard and Walker St.)
212-374-9119