Saturday, November 13th, 2010—Bar 307

Day 307—Friday, November 12th, 2010
Hickey's Bar

First off the donation bell has rung from a donor who prefers to remain anonymous. This person sent in a more than generous donation of fifty bucks and it's not the first time he's donated. I thank you very much, this bar crawl isn't cheap and I appreciate you picking up the tab for tonight!

Okay, onto night number two with the BBC. I just got an email and they’re coming out of their 379th bar of the trip. They’re taking it light tonight and have only had 379 beers and 139 mixed drinks between the three of them. Hey, time moves on and you slow down a little, it happens to the best of us. Gene picked another bar tonight that I think will be a winner because Fat Al from the Half Empty Glass chose this bar as a backup joint in case we got tossed from the OTB bar last Sunday for taking pictures. And that bar is Hickey’s, which looks to be a perfect Friday night spot. It’s an old dive bar and from what I’ve read it’s an older cliental, so maybe it won’t be packed and crazy. There’s only one way to find out...

Is to walk over. Here we are outside the well-worn walls of Hickey's. So far this place looks like a winner, nice pick, Gene!

Nice and divey inside and check it out, a whole corner of the bar is free on a Friday night!

James the bartender is quick with a bottle of Bud.

Some of the crates of empties are stacked up in the front room.

Here's a shot out the front window looking out at 33rd Street.

Obligatory bar room mirror shot!

Budweiser!

There's a long wooden railing opposite the bar.

The paneled walls feature vintage boxing photos and sports mirrors.

You got two choices of drafts here: Budweiser and Budweiser Light. If you don't like it, go to some fancy-pants joint.

A long shot of the interior of the bar. Potato chips and booze, a perfect picture if ever there was one.

Some kids were whooping it up down at the end of the bar, let's go and say hi.

They were happy to have their photo taken and to be part of the 365 bar crawl. From left: Andrew, Toika and Chris.

Meanwhile back at the bar, James is taking care of business.

Hey, some people have taken over my spot at the bar!

And of course it's the BBC ready for night number two on the bar crawl. From left: Gene, Smoopy and Terry, flashing the 365 colors on his shirt that he bought at the 365 Bar Store. Speaking of the store, "Boris" is working on a new "Crawlapalooza" design that we'll be unveiling soon. I'll show a sneak peek of it in a day or two.

Everybody dance now!

The BBC show off their Rockette-like dance moves.

Gene suggested we try the old-school thumb to nose salute as an alternative to the one-fingered flip that's been so popular on the crawl.

But in the end, James proves that half a finger is better than none. Well done, James, best one-fingered salute yet! Goodnight, everybody!

Review
It’s easy to walk by Hickey’s bar and not even notice it. There’s a well-worn exterior, with a modest sign saying, “Hickey’s For Delicious Food and Large Drinks.” Well, to be honest, the drinks are about average size and the delicious food consists of potato chips and peanuts, but this place is a classic. It’s a narrow joint with a long wooden bar taking up most of the space. There’s tables in the back and the brown paneled walls with boxing photos and sports mirrors give the place a 1970’s rec room feel. There’s hardly ever a crowd in here and the bartenders are old school and gentlemanly and sometimes known to crack the wise on patrons.

Don’t expect a big drink selection here. If you order a bottle of Budweiser you’re safe, same for a draft. Mixed drink? I’d stick to something neat or a gin and tonic. Don’t even think about ordering a Cosmopolitan in this joint, the odds are the bartender has never heard of the magazine Cosmopolitan, much less the cocktail.

Hickey's is one of the last great dive bars in Manhattan. Stop by for a drink or four and let's keep this joint in existence!

Hickey's Bar
139 W 33rd St (Between 6th and 7th Ave.)
(212) 502-5259

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Bonus Photos: Gene and Tiffany!

The BBC made a pit stop at Nassua’s bar yesterday and Gene met the lovely Tiffany who was part of the bar crawl on October 30th. Here’s a couple pictures of the two of them, enjoy!

Friday, November 12th, 2010—Bar 306

Day 306—Thursday, November 11th, 2010
Paddy Reilly's Music Bar
Tonight features more guest stars on the old bar crawl. Gene Rubbico is a regular commentator here and part of a bar-crawling team I’ve dubbed, the BBC (Baltimore Bar Crawlers.) The BBC consists of Gene, his wife Smoopy and their friend, Terry. They spent three days last May with me on the bar crawl before Gene had to go to Afghanistan for a tour of duty for the Air Force Reserve. Well, thankfully Gene has returned safely and tonight the BBC are back in town. And I’ve let them pick the bar and they picked Paddy Reilly's Music Bar on 29th and Second Ave. We were originally going to meet around 11:00pm but a dirty little four letter word known as “work” got in the way and it’s almost one in the morning. But being the troopers they are and despite they’ve already visited over 87 bars and had 3,763 drinks between the three of them, they agreed to join me on tonight’s bar crawl. So let’s go say hi to the BBC!

And here we are at 29th and Second Avenue, Paddy Reilly's. Let's step inside.

The bar's crowded up front, but I see some spots at the back.

I find my way back and the lovely bartender Raylene serves me up a perfectly poured pint of Guinness.

A long shot of the long wooden bar.

There's tables up front and peanuts!

They feature live music here and on Thursday's they have jam sessions. Here's some Irish musicians jamming away.

The M.C. and man in the middle and blue shirt is Niall O'Leary. Check out his website here: Irish Business Organization of New York.

Here's Patricia and Jennie who were enjoying the music. Patricia has an Irish dance fitness class that she teaches, check it out here: Celtic Cardio.

And speaking of Celtic cardio, Jenni hops on the wooden dance floor and dances along with the band.

And then Patricia joins in. It's getting lively in here!

And getting caught up in the spirit of things, Niall throws down his spoons and joins in on this impromptu Irish jig.

And the three end up dancing together for the night's closing song. Cue up applause:

Okay, that was fun, but where the hell are the BBC?

Why they're right here! Reunited and it feels so good!

And Terry and Gene join me for a trifecta of the "Wearin' of the Guiness." Three Stooges eat your heart out. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!

Darts!

And look who else shows up, Clacky and Shannon with the one-fingered salute.

The ABC (Australian Bar Crawl) meets the BBC (Baltimore Bar Crawl) in a showing of international boozing friendship via the 365 day bar crawl.

Clacky and Gene discussing a shared love of the music of AC/DC.

Terry relaxes in the back and flashes the 365 card.

And here's the whole crew, cheers and goodnight, everybody!

Review
Okay, even though I had to work late last night I have to try to get in early today, so once again I’m going to slack and post a review from New York Magazine.

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Supposedly, Paddy Reilly's was the first and only all-Guinness draft bar in the world. Today they have nothing on tap except Guinness, Bud and Bud Light. Furthering the Emerald Isle pride, this Irish pub also has Celtic rock on weekends. Dying to show off your uilleann pipe skills? Wednesdays and Saturdays are open-mic; if you’re feeling shy, stop by on Friday to see the house band, the Prodigals.

LIVE MUSIC
Thu, 8pm-1am, traditional-oriented Irish music; Sun, 1pm-4pm and 5pm–10pm, and Mon, 7pm-11pm, bluegrass performers; Fri, 8pm-10pm and 11pm-2am, and Sat, 11pm-2am, Celtic rock bands.

HAPPY HOUR
Daily, 11am-7pm; $3 domestic drafts, $4 imports, $5 Guinness drafts, $5 well drinks

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Paddy Reilly's Music Bar
519 Second Ave. (@29th St.)
212-686-1210

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Bonus Video!

Gene shot this video of the Irish dancers at Paddy Reilly's Music Bar. Enjoy!

Thursday, November 11th, 2010—Bar 305

Day 305—Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
Galaxy Global Eatery (Originally Headed For East Village Tavern)

The donation bell has rung and it's from one of the owners of last night's bar, Reif's Tavern. Bob's sister Taryn generously sent in a donation of 25 dollars and thanked me for going to their fine tavern. Thanks Taryn, it was a pleasure to have visited your fine bar and I will be back!

I found a website today called East Village Eats. I was trying to figure out a bar to go to and his first post was about eating at a bar called the East Village Tavern. I read his post and then clicked on the bars website and I decided to try it out. It’s fairly new, it opened up in 2008, but looks like it has promise. From the website I see that they have an ever-changing craft beer menu on tap, but they’ve also serve Bud in bottles, so they’re not beer snobs. The clincher was when I saw they had Genesee Cream Ale in cans. I had that the other night when I was out with Clacky and Shannon and it was great. So to the East Village we go.

Okay, I've been out here trying to hail a cab for close to a half an hour and there's nothing. What the fuck?

Fuck, it's twenty minutes later and still nothing. I think you know what we have to do...

Time to improvise and take that lonesome walk.

Goddamn it's getting chilly out here, I hate to see winter coming.

What are you Marvin Gaye over there? What's going on is I'm trying to find a fucking bar, is that okay with you?

I wonder if there's a bar in here, I'm tired of walking. Let's go see.

The bar's a little crowded, but I see a spot at the end.

The bartender seems a little startled by my appearance and perhaps my camera.

But after I told him what I was doing, he happily served up a beer and said I could do my 365 thing in there. His name is Will and he's a friendly bartender, a good guy and an actor. Check out a film he acted and produced in here: "Treasury Men In Action."

A view from my perch at the bar.

Will's pretty girlfriend, Stephanie was seated next to me and was very supportive of the 365 bar idea.

Fittingly, the ceiling has a galaxy on it. Very cool.

Hey, didn't you see the sign? No SHIRT, no shoes, NO SERVICE!

A long shot of the bar.

There's banquettes and tables opposite the bar to dine and drink at.

Blue orbs hang from the ceiling and add to the Galaxy atmosphere.

Actually you can eat money, I've tried it. It tastes like chicken, but a little dryer.

All you need is love...and a side of money doesn't hurt.

Meanwhile back at the bar, Will's busy taking care of business.

These three fellows seem deep in conversation, let's go butt in and see who they are.

It's Will, Michael and Holden. And they collectively chose to look away from the 365 camera.

Back at the bar, Will continued to ignore the camera, but luckily Heather, seated next to him, flashed us a beautiful smile!

I take a break from the beer, have a final screwdriver and it's time to hit the road, Jack. Goodnight, everybody!

Review
Okay, I’m running late for work, so I don’t have time to write a review, but here’s one from the old gray lady, The New York Times:

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The bar doubles as a hangout for Irving Plaza, the rock club next door, and the techno music doesn't always stay in the background. But the Galaxy is one of those restaurants that are meant to be loud and smoky. What makes it worthwhile is the unusual menu of Asian- and Latin-inspired dishes, like a salad of cold noodles in a light sesame-oil dressing over greens. The Galaxy, a former diner, serves breakfast as well, including excellent eggs Benedict on a sweet Portuguese roll with an intensely spicy jalapeño mayonnaise.

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Galaxy Global Eatery
15 Irving Place (@15th Street
212-777-3631