March 25th, 2010—Bar 74

Day 74—Wednesday, March 24th
Calico Jack’s

Ding, ding ding! A cash donation has come in! Brian McEwan, a friend and co-worker of mine peeled off a twenty and handed it to me to help out with the bar crawl.

Thanks for the dough, Brian! It's greatly appreciated and helps me bar crawling!

Okay, I’ve been thirsty for a margarita ever since last Sunday when I went and found Calico Jack’s closed. Luckily there was a bar right next door and I had a blast and a great cheeseburger. Here’s the post if you missed it, or if you’re new to the 365 site: McFadden’s. After I posted that Jimmy, a sharp-eyed commentator said that Calico Jack’s is owned by the same people that own McFadden’s. So I decided to give it another try. It’s gotta be open on Wednesday. ¡Golpeemos el camino, todos!

The lights are on and the curtains are open, I think we're in this time!

Houston, we have contact!

Kathryn and Matt were the super-friendly bartenders on duty that night. I told them I had had a stressful day and really wasn't into the whole bar crawl thing and they had a solution...

...A Happy Bowl! This is one of the bar's signature drinks, 90 ounces of your favorite drink in a fishbowl with plenty of straws for sharing. Kathryn evn came over to my side of the bar to sample it with me. I love this place!

They specialize in giant-sized drinks at Calico Jack's, here's a cool poster for their 42 ounce Monsterita. I'll have to try that on another visit, the Happy Bowl is all I can handle tonight.

Ray and Wade were seated at the end of the bar, enjoying the evening.

Just a few of the draft beers available.

There's a spacious back room for dining and parties.

Matt went over to the sister bar McFadden's and had a few of the workers over there join the party. From left: Matt, Whitney, Cuddy, Hillary and Kathryn.

Some of the beer and tequila available at Calico Jack's.

One of the several HD TV's and three Tiki God's below it.

Kathryn in action, pouring a beer.

Mickey was seated next to me at the bar and entertained us with true life tales from the Jersey Shore.

Calico Jack's has their own line of specialty postcards that are available for free at the door.

They're hilarious, I'm sending one to my family in Peoria.

Okay, the Happy Bowl is done and I've got to get home because if I stay much later I'll look like this in the morning. Thanks to Matt and Kathryn for being such great and fun hosts, you brought me out of my slump! Goodnight everybody!

Review

Mexican tastes marry with cajun flavors here in Calico Jacks. This popular spot just east of Times Square is a festive Mexicali joint in midtown Manhattan. The bartenders and patrons are a fun bunch and the drinks are priced so that you won’t run out of dinero by night’s end. The bar is long and spacious and there’s a large dining room in the back with wooden tables and several large HD TV’s line the walls of the bar. DJ’s spin tunes Thursday, Friday and Saturdays and tthe bar has large bay windows that open up in nice weather, giving the front of the bar a nice indoor beer garden vibe.

There’s a happy hour, Monday through Friday from 4 to 7pm. In addition there’s different drink specials every night of the week. Of course Calico Jack’s has margaritas and sangria and draft beers on tap include: Bud LIght, Stella Artois and in a nod to their sister bar McFadden’s, Guinness. Bottled beers offered here include: Dos Equis, Negra Modelo, Presidente and Tecate.

In addition to Mexican fare such as a three cheese quesadilla, six varieties of burritos and a taco salad, there’s also Cajun food to sample here. Some of the south of the border dishes on the menu are: Jammin Jambalaya, Broiled Tilapia and a Tiajuana burger. And for those of you with less adventureous taste buds, you can have the Gringo Burger.

Pare por Calicó Jack y disfrute de un toque de Margarittaville en el centro de ciudad!

Calico Jack’s
800 2nd Ave (@42nd St.)
212-557-4300

March 24th, 2010—Bar 73

Day 73—Tuesday, March 23rd
Common Ground

First off I want to thank Robert Mumpy a.k.a. Professor Dungpie for not only being a frequent and funny commentator here, but now for sending in this more than generous donation:
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Total amount: $50.00 USD
Purpose: Beers and Whores.
Contributor: robert mumpy
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I love the beers and whores purpose, Professor! As always you are a pisser, my friend! I hope to make it out to your town this year and tip about 3,000 beers with you. Thanks for the dough, Professor Dungpie!

Remember last Friday when I was shown the door at Pegu Club and it turned out to be a happy accident? If you missed the post, they nicely told me at Pegu Club I couldn’t take pictures, but happily I found a bar that embraced myself and this adventure wholeheartedly. You can read about it here: West 3rd Common. It turns out owners Dan and Amy have a sister bar in Alphabet City called Common Ground and they invited me there tonight! I gotta tell you, I’ve been thrown out of many bars in my lifetime, but this is the first time the owners of a bar have invited me to their tavern. I’m honored! So let’s go already!

Here we are at Common Ground Bar and Restaurant.

Some of the nightly drink specials.

It looks like a nice crowd for a Tuesday night.

Just as soon as i sit down, bartender Vinny serves up the first beer of the evening. In addition to being a top flight mixologist, Vinnie is a drummer. Check out the two bands he's in here: Sam Hill and Bulletproof Lincolns.

And just as soon as the beer is served, Vinny pours shots for the two of us and Darin. Cheers!

The bar at Common Ground. A little bit brick, a little bit elegance and a lot of booze.

Here Amy and I recreate the pose that her husband Dan and I did last Friday.

Wooden bookcases line the walls in the front of the bar.

In addition to books, board games are available for customers to enjoy.

Which is exactly what Yasmin and Myriam are doing at this table.

Ray and Annie were seated next to me at the bar. Ray's a writer and does some pieces for the NY Post.

There's comfortable red velvet couches and chairs in the front room lounge area...

...And in the back as well.

Christie and Janet were enjoying a board game back there with friends who scattered when my camera came out. Thanks for the shot, ladies!

Vinny in action at the bar.

Here's the head chef Armando with one of the tools of his trade.

Anne, Justin and Sarah were having fun at one of the front tables.

Otis and Matt Hodgin were at the bar. Matt has a company called Big Hodge 7, which is an online marketing and music consultant business. He also has a background in film making, which came in handy as you'll see soon.

Shots are poured for the end of the evening and Amy holds a camera shot of her and Dan's dog, which is appropriately named, Jameson!

Matt Hodgin (from the above bar shot) directed and filmed this video, which so far is the best video that's been done in a bar. Great job, Matt, thanks! And thanks to Amy, Dan, Vinny and everyone at Common Ground for a grand evening!

Review

I’m guessing that the name Common Ground refers to the fact that this bar is one part comfortable lounge and one part neighborhood bar. Common Ground stands out in this area of Alphabet City because it’s got class, yet it’s not snooty by any means. It’s got an old school New York feel and a Cheers “everybody knows your name” sort of friendliness that extends from the owners to the bartenders to the regulars who frequent the tavern. The bar is long and seats many a reveler and there’s plush red velvet banquettes for couples and groups to sit and enjoy their drinks and fun in comfort and style. The walls are brick and sparkling chandeliers provide perfect mood lighting. There’s lounge areas in the front and rear where patrons can spread out and play some of the board games available in the bar's wooden bookcases.

There’s drink specials every night of the week ranging from buy one get one free, five buck Cosmos and Apple Martinis and on Saturday and Sunday Common Ground offers up three dollar drafts, four buck well drinks and 4 dollar bloody Marys from noon to 7pm. Bring your thinking cap on Wednesday nights because that’s Trivia Night with prizes for the winners. And if the Knitting Factory heard your tunes and told you to get lost, don’t worry, Common Ground has an open mic night every Sunday starting at 8pm.

Common Ground offers up a huge selection of bar snacks and appetizers including such unique treats as: Spiced pumpkin seeds; aged cheddar, garlic walnuts, and sliced apple; Almond-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon and French bread pizza with smoked chicken and avocado. The menu also features soups and salads and for those seeking a heartier fare, there's a large selection of panini that includes: Smoked chicken, brie, and apricot mustard; Roast beef, horseradish, and onion; Shrimp dip and cheddar on rye and Mozzarella, tomato, basil, and red onion.

I’m only allowed to go to one bar a night on this 365 bar crawl, so I’m thankful there’s two Common Grounds in New York City. Check them both out, a good time is guaranteed.

Common Ground
206 Ave. A (Between 12th & 13th St.)
212-228-623

March 23rd, 2010—Bar 72

Day 72—Monday, March 22nd
Bunga’s Den

I’m really tired tonight, but the bar crawl will continue. I had to get up early to go to my doctor’s and go over the results of my blood work that I get done every three months. The good news is that everything looked good, cholestrerol is normal and I even have lost five pounds since my last checkup. Maybe it’ll turn out I’ll write a health book at the end of this. “Better Living Through Beer.” My doctor is within walking distance and on the way I saw a bar on 14th Street that I’ve never seen before called Bunga’s Den. I figured I’d make that tonight’s destination since I’m tired and it’s only about three blocks from where I live. I’ve never met anyone named Bunga, so I’m anxious to go and visit his den. Hopefully he’s friendly. Let’s go!

Here we are, Bunga's Den. Acutally this is a little bit of a fiddle, as the English say. I stupidly forgot to take the outside shot, but found this one on the internet at: okMitchStudio. Check out their website and I won't feel as guilty for poaching it.

Okay, I finally took out my camera. It looks cozy and friendly in here, let's settle in at the bar.

Mark the bartender serves up a Guinness. Mark's also an actor and told me the story behind the Bunga's Den name. It's an interesting and fabled story, but there's a catch to it. You have to come in on Monday or Tuesday when Mark is working, because he and he alone knows the story. And after you buy a few drinks, he'll tell you, but you can't tell anyone else once you've heard the story. I now know, but I'm not telling. If you want to join this secret society, stop by when Mark is working and maybe he'll tell you. It's a hell of a story!

And of course this all leads to the wearin' of the Guinness! Woo hoo!

Jay was seated next to me at the bar enjoying one of the craft beers available on tap.

There's a free magazine rack available for your perusal.

I'll drink to that!

Garrett was seated up at the front of the bar and had some future bar suggestions for me. Thanks, Garrett!

A C.B.G.B's t-shirt, a relic from the past.

Paul and Jay were enjoying suds at the corner of the bar. Cheers, guys!

Comfortable booths line the walls in the back of the bar.

Pinball!

Greg works at the bar and if the boss is reading this, he went right back to work after I snapped this photo.

Plenty of beer to choose from here!

Here's a view from the other end of the bar.

No wonder I have trouble sleeping at night!

There's plenty of seats at Bunga's Den.

All of the reviews I read online were positive, but one did say, "they should put out some bar snacks." So I brought some to fix that problem. Here Mark is dishing them out.

Snacks! Hooray!

And now...the obligatory bathroom mirror shot! Goodnight everybody!

Review

Bunga’s Den just opened in this 14th St. location about three months ago. You can’t call Bunga’s Den a dive bar just yet, you have to earn that privelege, but it look’s like Bunga’s Den is on the way there. The bartenders are friendly and it’s already becoming a neighborhood fun spot to hang, watch one of the three big screen TV’s or plug some dough in the jukebox which features eclectic music ranging from The Talking Heads to The Temptations to Elvis Presley to Johnny Winter. Vintage signs and photos cover the walls and they even have a pinball machine in the back, for those of you old enough to remember the pre-video game days.

Wednesday is trivia night and the winner gets a 35 dollar bar tab. Coors are one buck for the registered players. Two happy hours are available here one runs from 12pm to 3pm and then the other lasts from 5pm to 8pm. There’s a full bar with a big beer selection with fourteen on tap and 20 different brands of bottled beer for your choosing.

Right now there’s no food available, but they’re working on a menu and the kitchen will be open soon. Till then there’s snacks on the bar courtesy of yours truly!

Bunga’s Den
137 W. 14th St. (Between 6th and 7th Avenues)
212-242-1040