Wednesday, February 10th, 2010—Bar 31

Day 31—Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Katwalk

Okay, I’m leaving work early tonight (while that’s a good thing, I have to be in work early tomorrow and that sucks monkey lungs), so I’m going back to a bar that was closing last time I went there. It’s a place called Katwalk Bar And Lounge and judging from the way they spell their name, I’m guessing the owner never took first place in a spelling bee. It’s about eight blocks from where I work, so we can walk there in minutes.

See, I told you, we're here already. The Katwalk Bar and Lounge.

Looks like a nice bar and there's a few seats available.

And what's looking even nicer is the beautiful bartender, Karina. She serves me up the bar's signature drink, a Katini.

Motherfucker, I look like I'm passing out before I take my first drink. I need to learn to pose better.

They have two 12' plasma screens in here that play movies, videos, fashion shoots and on Wednesday they show Sex and The City. Tonight's Tuesday so we get this.

Here's Sarah and Chen. They were trying to figure out if it was the Black Eyed Peas playing on the sound system. I'm so deaf I thought it was the Jolly Green Giant.

Here's the General Mangager of Katwalk, Charlie. He told me that the title of General Manager means you work longer hours than everyone and get less pay. I know the feeling!

There's comfortable leather chairs and couches throughout the lounge area to relax and enjoy a cocktail or three.

Josh and Natasha were seated next to me at the bar. Natasha flashes the 365 card. Woo hoo!

Karina and a river of booze, who could ask for anything more?

Okay, I'm not sure of the order of the names, but within this group are: Mark, Marc, Scott and Vince. Vince is in the middle in the blue sweater and he told me he's Vince Vaughn the second. Jennifer Aniston the second had no comment.

The upstairs lounge is closed Monday and Tuesday, but Karina kindly let me sneak past the velvet rope to take photos.

There's a nice, fully-stocked bar upstairs.

This looks like a nice comfy hideaway area to hang out and take a break from the action downstairs.

Karina serves up the last drink of the evening, a bottle of Bud. And we all know this leads to...

Obligatory bathroom mirror shot! Goodnight everybody!

Review

It’s two, two, two bars in one! Katwalk Bar and Lounge features a large bar, two 12 foot by 12 foot plasma screens that play music videos, fashion footage and sports. The clientle is a mixture of after work business people, fashionistas and everyday slobs like myself that wander in. It’s a bit on the upscale side (they have a dress code, but its not too rigorous, I got in after all!) and the music is a wide mix of classic rock, top 40 and hip hop.

If you’re on a date and in the mood for a quieter scene where you can share a drink, talk and maybe suck face, the upstairs is the Kat Lounge which has a seperate bar, a chill ambience and comfortable leather chairs.

There’s a full drink and beer selection and the house signature drink is called the Katini. I had one and it was delicious and loaded with booze! There’s daily specials including a Wednesday Sex and the City night, Ladies Night on Thursdays, Four Open Bar Night specials and Happy Hour runs from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. There’s a small food selection featuring standard pub grub such as, Three Cheese Pizza, Buffalo Wings, Chicken Tenders and four different varieties of Wraps. Now all they need to do is learn how to spell their name and will be well. Just kidding Charlie!

Katwalk Bar and Lounge
2 West 35th Street (near the corner of 5th Ave.)
212-594-9343

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010—Bar 30

Day 30—Monday, February 8th, 2010

Welcome To The Johnsons

Okay, last night’s anti Superbowl night was fun, but it was a little pricey. Don’t get me wrong, it was worth every penny, but tonight I need to balance things out with a bar that has cheap drinks. So I Googled cheap drinks and one click led to another and soon I found a bar in the East Village that features two buck cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon all night long. I’m originally from Peoria, Illinois, where Pabst used to be brewed. In fact a friend of mine used to work there and whenever I’m drinking a can of Pabst I think about the stories he used to tell about pissing in the vats of beer while he worked there. It helps me cut down on my drinking.

Anyway, according to reviews,Welcome To The Johnsons is a dive bar decked out to look like a circa 1970’s rec-room. In fact some people call it “That 70’s Bar.” I just pray that Ashton Kutcher isn’t there. Come on, let’s go see if we’re welcomed at the Johnsons.

From the outside I thought it might be closed due to the lack of outside lighting.

But the door was open and the bar was full.

I found a seat at the bar and Jack the bartender served me up a two buck can of Pabst.

Here's my patented pointing at the cheap can of Pabst pose.

The retro furniture is covered in plasic in case you have too many Pabst's and an "accident" occurs.

Sitting next to me at the bar was Susie, who was enjoying a jello shot. Susie is origanlly from Cleveland, Ohio where her mom has a bar called. "Dolly's Place." Maybe we'll make it there on the 365 bar crawl.

Here's the vintage fridge that houses the cold cans of Pabst and other beers at Welcome to the Johnsons.

Holding up the far end of the bar is Pete and Marcel. Pete flashes the 365 card!

A well-worn pool table sits at the back of the bar.

Jack mans the cash register at the bar on this busy Monday night.

This guy was hovering over the Pac Man game and told me he goes by the name of Dr. Gonzo. Could this be the second coming of Hunter S. Thompson?

Here's the good doctor with his nurse Katrina flashing some sort of nimble-fingered gangland sign.

Credits roll on a TV from a keg party circa 1976.

This fellow didn't want his name published, but he was a master pool player.

Whoops, I fucked up this shot. I should learn to take the photos first and then start drinking.

Okay, take two, that's better. From left it's, James, Susie and Lilly!

It's Christmas every night of the year at Welcome to the Johnsons. Could that be Mr. Johnson on the left?

The jukebox at Welcome to the Johnsons is an eclectic treat of punk and rock and roll tunes.

There's no mirror on the wall in the bathroom for my obligatory bathroom shot, but there's plenty of graffiti. Goodnight everybody!

Review

If you’re on the lookout for cheap drinks and a comfortable divey atmosphere, then you should definitely welcome yourself to the Johnson’s. The rec-room bar is styled in early ‘70’s wreckless alcholism and is a great atmosphere to throw back cheap booze in. The kitsch and kaboodle inside this unending ‘70’s rec-room includes Christmas lights, faded family photos on the walls, genuine fake paneling, plastic covered chairs, a pool table, a vintage refrigerator cooling cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon and a flickering TV set from decades past.

The atmosphere in the bar is reminiscent of drunken high school parties, seven nights a week. There’s a six hour happy hour featuring $1.50 cans of Pabst, two buck well drinks and three dollar Budweisers. The jukebox is an eclectic delight featuring tunes from The Smiths, Blondie, Dead Kennedys, Cheap Trick, Rolling Stones and N.W.A. And the bar promises that if you come in and ask for a white wine spritzer or a Jack Johnson song you will get a Pabst poured on your head. Welcome to the Johnsons!

Welcome to the Johnsons
123 Rivington St. (Between Essex & Norfolk)
212.420.9911

Monday, February 8th, 2010—Bar 29

Day 29—Super Bowl Sunday, February 7th

The Brandy Library

Today is Super Bowl Sunday and I hate Super Bowl Sunday. I’m old enough to remember when the Super Bowl started in the ‘60’s. Back then you know what you did on Super Bowl Sunday? You watched the game. Period. End of story. Maybe you had a few potato chips during the game, but that was pretty much the extent of the festivities and merriment to be had. Those were simpler times.

Now it’s like Christmas and New Year’s Eve rolled into one giant, lame-brained tailgate party that never fucking ends. There’s endless pre-game shows, commercials jammed down your gullet everywhere you turn and zillions of Super Bowl parties being thrown where amateur drinkers throw down way too much booze and turn into a sickening, twisted caricature of Mike Ditka meets W.C. Fields. And every bar has a Super Bowl extravaganza day of pizza, chicken wings, cheap booze and a sea of drunken sports lunatics frothing at their collective mouths. How the fuck was I going to escape the madness, seeing as I have to go to a bar?

I have the answer: I’m going to the library. And not just any library, The Brandy Library! I found an old-school, drinking establishment where it’s not only free of TV’s, instead of books in the bookcases they have booze in them! So I decided to dress for the occasion and spend Super Bowl Sunday drinking in peace and quiet at the Brandy Library. So put down that chicken wing, turn off the game and let’s head to the library. Hike!

This looks like a classy joint, so I decide to dress up for the occasion. Cheers!

Here we are, the Brandy Library located in the heart of Tribeca in Manhattan.

The lovely host and floor manager Natalia was feeling a little shy, so she decided to pose with the patented Zioum Zioum Ostritch Mask.

Before I was even seated I met Gudron and Richard who sang praises about the bar and the staff. Gudron proclaimed it her favorite bar.

Within minutes, librarian Josimar was expertly crafting the classic Sidebar cocktail for me.

I had never had one and I doubt I will ever have another one this delicious until I come back.

Cognac plays a key role in the making of a Sidecar and Josimar displays the Library's signature bottle, distilled exclusively for the Brandy Library.

The bar is both elegant and comfortable.

I cleanse my pallete with a glass of Chimay beer.

Here's the comfortable, candle-lit lounge area. Perfect for a date or to unwind after work.

Martin was enjoying upscale Tequila in the lounge area. He too came here for the non-Super Bowl Sunday vibe.

There are actual books to read at the Brandy Library, it's no suprise however that all have an alcohol theme to them.

The cocktail menu is so big, it's housed in this book binder.

And dinner is served. I had the Mac and Foie Gras and the Gratin Dauphinois, both were decadent and delicious!

For desert, Josimar crafted a delicious Brandy Alexander.

The drink comes with a tasty sugar cookie. A delicious end to a wonderful, non-Super Bowl Sunday!

And now the obligatory bathroom mirror shot with the Zioum Zioum Ostrich mask. Goodnight everybody!

Review

The Brandy Library is a cocktail paradise! There’s more than a river of alcohol to be had here. The whiskey list on the menu is ten pages of different brands. And while this is a classy joint to be sure, expect no snooty attitude from the staff that work here. Natalia the lovely host and floor manager greeted me warmly and led me to a seat at the bar. And since it was slow here due to Super Bowl Sunday, she even sat down and chatted with me about the bar, cocktails and the 365 website. And Josimar, the bartender (librarian)/cocktail sommelier was friendly and more than helpful in assisting me with the cocktail choices and an expert in the art of crafting cocktails.

The bar is an elegant atmosphere with a sturdy and classic bar up front and a comfortable lounge area with candles and comfortable leather chairs and couches behind. The book cases that line the elegant walls are stocked with the many different bottles of whiskies and spirits available at the bar. Natalie and Josimar told me there are around 2,000 varieties of brown spirits to be had here. The menu boasts 100 classic and signature cocktails, plus a nice selection of wine and domestic and imported beer. And to soak up some of the alcohol The Brandy Library has an eclectic menu of delectable treats ranging from Steak Tartare, Coq Au Vin, Mac and Foie Gras, Mini Burgers and a Rack of Lamb.

Joel Forrester performs live jazz on the piano every Monday night. The Brandy Library has gotten rave reviews from diverse publications such as Esquire, Vibe, Vogue, Forbes and Travel + Leisure. And now they’ve been written up in 365 Bars, so they’ve truly arrived! Stop by for unique fun and a cocktail experience like you’ve never had in your life.

Brandy Library
25 N. Moore Street (Between Varick and Hudson)
212-226-5545