Sunday, February 11th, 2010—Bar 91

Day 91—Saturday, April 10th
Greenwich Treehouse (Originally scheduled for Minetta Tavern)
Okay, it’s Saturday Night Cheeseburger time! As I explained last Saturday, in order to avoid the Saturday night crowds and mania, I’m going to be going out early to a bar and get a few beers and a cheeseburger and have a relaxing night on the bar crawl. I heard that the Minetta Tavern has really good cheeseburgers, so that's tonights destination. I just ran into my neighbor Dan, who may join us later and he said it may be crowded because Minetta Tavern has a Michelin Star. I didn’t say anything to Dan, but the fact that they sell tires isn’t going to make this joint crowded at 6:00 pm on a Saturday night. I mean, I don't even know anyone who has a car in the city. So anyway, I hope you’re hungry because it’s time to start, Saturday Night Cheeseburger!

Okay, here we are at the Minetta Tavern. I just peeked inside and Dan is right, the joint is beyond crowded and there's no seats at the bar. I gotta remember if I ever open up a bar or restaurant to sell Michelin tires there, I guess it's a big draw. Who knew?

And so I search for a quiet Saturday Night Cheeseburger bar.

Here's a place on Bleecker that looks good.

Shit, this place is packed too. I wonder if they sell tires?

A double ATM sign for Joey D!

The Greenwich Treehouse, "A bar above it all." I like that, let's check it out!

They just opened a little bit ago, so there's plenty of room at the bar. Woo hoo!

Jeanette serves up an ice-cold can of Pabst Blue Ribbon. There's no kitchen, but Jeanette told me I could order a takeout cheeseburger. That's an offer I couldn't refuse, plus when the bartender's this cute, I'm not going anywhere else!

Here's the friendly owner of the bar, Stian Nilsen.

Some of the draft beers available at the Treehouse.

There's a spectacular view of Greenwich Avenue up front, from this second story bar. Plus if you have a laptop you can surf the internet here.

Some of the many Happy Hour and nightly drink specials.

Jeanette orders me a bacon cheeseburger from Kool Bloo.

Stian's friend Rick stopped by for a quick pint.

Tables and games are in the back room, plus...

Fire!

The burger arrives and it's delicious! Okay, time to hit the road and walk off the beers and burger and fries...oh my!

Dan stops by right before I leave in time to flash the 365 card. Cheers to you Dan!

Wow, French Pastry...I'm too full and really shouldn't eat any more, but what the hell, I'll just take a look.

Oh my God, look at the pastry! It looks delicious!

What the hell, it's Saturday night, right? Goodnight everybody!

Review

The name treehouse conjures up thoughts of a friendly neighborhood meeting place and that’s exactly what Greenwich Treehouse is. Climb up the stairs and you’ll find a large bar, fun and friendly bartenders and maybe you’ll even meet the owner, Stian Nilsen, who’s one of the friendliest barkeeps in New York City. In addition to the ample seating at the bar, there’s tables behind, a row of stools up front which has a great view of Greenwich Avenue if you’re a people watcher and a back room with games, tables and a faux fireplace. There’s also a hidden room to do whatever you need to do in, but I’m not telling where it is. So there!

There’s events galore at the Treehouse including trivia games on Monday, free standup comedy on Tuesday, nightly drink specials and Happy Hour six days a week. There’s an impressive bottled beer and draft selection and they have Negra Modelo on tap. An 80” projection TV plays movies from “Barbarella" to “Old School” to “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” You can also arrange to have your own private screening party at the bar.

There’s no kitchen at the Greenwich Treehouse, but you can order out, I recommend the Kool Bloo bacon cheeseburger!

Greenwich Treehouse
46 Greenwich Ave. (Near Charles St.)
212-675-0395

Saturday, February 10th, 2010—Bar 90

Day 90—Friday, April 9th
Da Ciro (Originally scheduled for Rare View)
Okay, so it’s Friday night and if you remember from my last week’s post I’ve decided to start going to hotel bars on Friday, unless there’s something special going on. Well, there’s nothing special going on, so I’ve decided to go to the Rare View bar in the Affina Hotel. Supposedly there’s a great view there, so let’s go and see if this 16th floor bar lives up to its name.

Okay, so I get here and the doorman tells me the 16th floor bar is closed for two weeks. Shit. There is a restaurant with a bar on the ground floor however...

It looks crowded in there and if I go in there tonight, then I can't go to the 16th floor bar.  I decide to wait and find another bar.

And so I begin my walk down Lexington Ave in search of tonight's bar. Welcome to the Bar Explorer channel!

Hmm, this looks interesting.

It looks like a nice old-school Italian neighborhood restaurant, so you know there's a bar in here.

Wow, this looks perfect!

I met the manager Gavin, who not only gave me the thumbs up to take photos and do my 365 bar thing, he's a follower of this website! Just part of the crazy magic that happens on this bar crawl.

The pretty and friendly bartender, Mihaela popped open a Peroni and the Italian party begins.

Alex and David were seated next to me at the bar and were enjoying drinks and sampling some of the food that comes fresh out of the wood-burning stove.

The front of the dining room.

There's an impressive array of wine to be had at Da Ciro along with the full bar.

Some of the thin crust pizza that David and Alex were kind enough to let me take a picture before they devoured it.

The wood burning stove that's responsible for the  unique taste in the restaurant and bar.

Another view of the cozy and friendly bar.

Olives!

The upstairs dining room.

Mihaela at work at the bar.

Gavin treated me to one of the signature dishes at the restaurant, Foccacia Robiola Di Ciro. It was an Italian delicacy. Simple yet decadent in all it's truffle oil deliciousness.

And look, my right eye matches the dish! I wish that thing would fade already! Thanks to everybody at Da Ciro for a wonderful evening! Goodnight everybody!

Review
Old world Italian elegance and taste are two classic ingredients that are part of Da Ciro’s neighborhood charm in the Murray Hill section of the east side of Manhattan. The downstairs dining room is both cozy and comfortable and there’s ample seating upstairs. However I’m walking into bars, not dining rooms and I found a hidden charm in the corner of Da Ciro. There in the corner of the dining room with a wood stove burning for ambiance and wonderful Italian aromas was one of the most friendly and fun bars I’ve had the pleasure of drinking in on this bar crawl so far. The manager of Da Ciro, Gavin welcomed me with a friendly handshake and encouraged me to take pictures and enjoy a Peroni beer or four at the bar. The bartender Mihaela was engaging, pretty and quick on the draw with a beer. Soon we were all trading stories with David and Alex who were dining at the bar and I felt like I had just returned to an Italian homecoming, and I’m half German and half Irish. Meraviglioso!

The bar is a wonderful place to hang out at, but the real star of Da Ciro is the food. The menu is old country, regional-Italian with everything from mouth-watering thin crust pizza cooked old world style in a wood-burning oven to Orecchiette Con Broccoli Rabe E Salsiccia which is broccoli rabe with grilled sausage for those of you that need a translation. I sampled one of Da Ciro’s specialties, Foccacia Robiola Di Ciro which is white thin focaccia filled with robiola cheese, drizzled with white truffle oil. It is a perfect example of simple flavors and textures married to make a an explosive taste and eating sensation.

There’s also the bar, which is such a fun and friendly place to eat and drink and trade stories with the regulars. Manager Gavin told me that some night’s people are sitting at tables waiting for a seat at the bar rather than vice-versa. Either way this is one Italian oasis you need to visit. Acclamazioni!

Da Ciro
229 Lexington Ave. (near 34th St.)
212-532-1636

Friday, February 9th, 2010—Bar 89

Day 89—Thursday, April 8th
Bar 89

First off let me thank Ademir Zanini who donated five dollars. Ademir lives in Brazil and I appreciate the generous international donation, Ademir! Cheers to you and your fellow Brazillians!

Okay, I’m in a better mood and work was much better tonight, so you’ll get no pissing and moaning from yours truly tonight. And I’m happy to report I’ve found the perfect bar for tonight’s travels! Tonight is the 89th night in a row on the 365 Bar Crawl and I’ve found a place called Bar 89 on Mercer St. in Soho. So, before I start bitching about my job again, let’s make tracks to Bar 89!

Here we are, 89 Mercer St. in Soho at the 89th bar.

It's nice in here and seats at the bar, a beautiful thing on a Thursday night!

And not one but two super-cute and friendly waitresses bring me my Red Stripe! From left, Leah and Jenny.

The bruise on my right eye kind of matches the beer. I can't wait for that thing to fade!

The gigantic bar is topped off with circular mirrors.

Throw and Dominique were seated next to me at the bar and told me they were regulars.

The celings are high and there's a second level that features a small dining area.

China, Jen, Yali and Lucia were enjoying drinks at the end of the spacious bar.

Joe, Lily, Chandra and Mark had food and drinks coming to their front table.

I had read that they have unusual bathrooms, so I decided to climb the stairs to see what that's all about. Plus, I really had to go. So, in a Led Zep mood, I'm climbing a stairway to bathroom.

Upstairs I take a birds-eye view of the bar and tables below. Hellooo down there!

Here's the unisex stalls. The glass turns opaque after you enter. I wish I could show you an "after" picture, but I'm just one man. And I really gotta go!

And of course, what better place for the oblgatory bathroom photo? Goodnight everybody!

Review

Bar 89 is located at 89 Mercer Street, hence the name and it’s known for its specialty cocktails, the high-ceilinged tres chic atmosphere and its specialty bathrooms. The cocktails are on the menu and the bathrooms are upstairs. The unisex stalls are in a posh bathroom setting the size of a Manhattan studio apartment. They are elegant glassed stalls that turn opaque as you enter to do your business. So come for the cocktails and the elegant ambiance and eventually you’ll discover the bathrooms. It’s only human nature.

There’s a full bar and one of their signature drinks among the plentiful specialty cocktails here is the chocolate martini. They also have a huge selection of over 25 bottled beers and 9 domestic microbrews. The menu is upscale comfort food at decent prices. They offer five different stylings of burgers and the most tempting for me is the Burger Las Brisas which is topped with melted monterey jack cheese, avocado, jalapeño peppers, lettuce, onions and some salsa sauce. There’s also buffalo wings, grilled cheese, a B.L.T. and four different kinds of pork chop sandwiches.

Okay, now I have to go find my bar 90. Cheers and beers.

Bar 89
89 Mercer St (Near Spring St.)
212-274-0989