Monday, November 1st, 2010—Bar 295

Day 295—Sunday, October 31st, 2010—Halloween
North Square Lounge
I liked Halloween as a kid, but I’m in total agreement with Fat Al over at the Half Empty Glass. Halloween is for kids and adults should just leave it the fuck alone. It’s turned into a New’s Years Eve kind of night with people forcing themselves to “have a good time.” And the parade they have in New York is just one big fucking mess. I live off Sixth Avenue where the parade snakes down and I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had to walk blocks out of my way just to get home because cops wouldn’t let me cross Sixth Avenue. And the bars are packed with nimrods and people drunk out of their mind. I haven’t gone out on Halloween since I was in my 20’s and would go to some Halloween party just to get trashed. But this year I have to go to a bar, so I decided, what the fuck. Since I have to go out, I might as well get in the spirit of things. I got a little costume and we decided to meet at the North Square Lounge, which is located under the Washington Square Hotel. It’s an out of the way bar and I figure it won’t be too nuts there. Then they’re going to the parade (suckers!) and I’m going to Tompkins Square Park where there’s a big protest/fiesta scheduled. I figure there should be some real characters and I should be able to get some great pictures for this post. I’m actually kind of excited about it! So let me put on my costume and away we go. Somebody cue up Count Floyd!

I forgot to take a photo of the outside of the bar. Is it the Halloween curse rearing its ugly head? Let's hope not. Anyway, here's a aerial shot of the small curly-Q bar. It's nice and cozy in here. And not crazy at all, which is a relief.

Here's bartender Joe, all dressed up in an outfit. I told him he looked like one of the Grateful Dead.

But he told me he was dressed up as "The Dude," from the Big Lebowski. Dude!

Here I am in my costume. I don't really know what I'm supposed to be, but I chose the outfit because it has easy drinkage access.

Kelcey is a server who took my picture, so I in turn took hers. A very cute cowgirl indeed!

Some of the drafts available at the bar.

And here I am joined by Biff and Aaron. Aaron picked up a mask at Ricky's down the street and Biff dressed up as...Biff!

There's a dining/lounge area in the back.

Black and white pictures of actresses including Great Garbo line the back wall. We weren't sure, but we think the first one is Lady GaGa.

We retreated to the back area when Chrissy, Janie, Paul and Colin showed up. Texting alert: People put those things away!

Biff takes off her cap and flips the 365 camera off! Nice one, Bifferoonie!

Okay, at this point they all went to the parade (suckers!) and Colin and I headed eastward to towards the Tompkins Square Park where the protest/fiesta was taking place. I didn't take as many photos in the bar, because I was sure I was going to get some award-winning shots at the park. I was really looking forward to it.

It was kind of dark and quiet outside of the park.

Where the fuck is everybody?

It's fucking desserted in here! What a fucking gyp! Just like I always say...

Fuck Halloween!

And what better time to display this new piece of 365 artwork by "Boris." The 365 Flip! Great work, Daddio and goodnight everybody!

Review
Okay, Biff and the gang are coming over tonight, so I have to go stock up on beer and snacks and do a bunch of other stuff, so I don’t have time to write a review. Here’s one from New York Magazine, which features the North Square Lounge as a critics pick. You should check it out, a nice, cozy little place with friendly bartenders and waitstaff. Take it away, New York magazine.

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If there ever was a drinking hole tailor-made for conducting a tryst, North Square is it. Miraculously undiscovered by both tourists and locals, this mahogany-toned grotto offers illicit lovers (or anyone else seeking a disturbance-free drink) as much privacy as they could possibly find short of renting a room. The ceiling-level windows would normally reveal only the feet of passersby on the sidewalk outside, but even these minimal portals to the outside world have been obscured by lovely Art Deco stencils. If the dim lighting and decadent cocktails aren't enough to encourage canoodling, the painting above the bar, which depicts a voluptuous woman in flagrante delicto, should serve as inspiration. Conveniently, there's a hotel upstairs.— Jenifer Van Vleck

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North Square Lounge
103 Waverly Pl. (@MacDougal St.)
212-254-1200

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Bonus Vegemite Art By Jaws!

If you follow the blog regularly, you’ll remember that 365 commentator and artist, Jaws, sent away for some authentic vegemite from Australia. Well, it came and here’s his full report, take it away, Jaws!

Monday, Monday...

Are you at work right now? Too bad for you, because I've got the day off! So I slept in, so today's post will be up late, probably around 2pm or even 3pm. Till then, I suggest you go check the new post at the Grade "A" Fancy blogozine, check out their "Menu For America" and then come back and have your just deserts here. Okay, I gottta get some diet Mountain Dew and try to wake up over here.

Sunday, October 31st, 2010—Bar 294

Day 294—Saturday, October 30th, 2010
Kettle of Fish
Okay, this is going to be a big day/night. Daily commentator Biff is coming in to town with some friends and once in a while commentator Aaron who is the drummer in the wonderful band, The Joans is coming in to join the party from Chicago. The last time the three of us were together was in Chicago.

But first, I thought I’d do the bar crawl stop before I meet everyone. Actually, I am meeting someone on the crawl. I’m meeting yet another Australian who’s a silent reader (meaning he doesn’t comment) and is in town for a few days. His name’s Colin Young and I wanted to show him a real authentic, old-school New York bar and before I could start looking for one I got an email from the 365 co-pilot, Al Rizo. Al sent me an email with a suggestion of going to a bar in the West Village called Kettle of Fish. Bob Dylan used to hang out here, so if it’s good enough for Bob and suggested by Al, it good enough for me. I think I smell some beer foam blowing in the wind!

Here we are, 59 Christopher Street and the Kettle of Fish bar.

Wow, it's crowded here for an early Saturday afternoon, but there's a seat here at the end of the bar.

And no sooner do I sit down than Terry the friendly bartender magically appears bearing a gift in the offering of a bottle of Budweiser.

The back of the bar is loaded with booze, knick-knacks and books.

And of course this title is sitting pretty back there.

The ceiling is adorned with lights and a lone Green Bay Packer helmet. The Kettle of Fish is Manhattan's premier Packer bar. On game day, brats are cooked and cheese and cracker trays are put out. And the bar gets packed. No pun intended. Okay, maybe it was.

And speaking of Green Bay Packers,  these four fans were in town from Minneapolis (do you know them Jaws?) to see the Packers, Jets game today. From left: John, Patty, Bart (and yes, he's named after legendary Packer quarterback, Bart Starr) adn Jenelle.

Terry heard us talking about Bart Starr and showed us this Packer helmet which was sitting on a shelf behind the bar.

It's signed by Bart Starr and was recently acquired by the owner Patrick at an auction.

And speaking of the owner Patrick, here he is along with yours fooly. Cheers!

A wooden railing opposite the bar is decorated with some Halloween pumpkins and skeletons.

In the '50's and '60's the original Kettle of Fish was a hangout for the beat poets and folk singers. Bob Dylan, Dave Von Ronk and others called it the office. Here's a photo of beat poet Gregory Corso in the original Kettle of Fish hanging on a wall in the back. The photo was taken by Allen Ginsberg and has an inscription and is signed by Ginsberg.

There's a large back room with tables and chairs and...

Two state of the art dart boards.

Obligatory bar room mirror shot!

Here's the original bar sign from the MacDougal Street location.

Here's a photo of writer Jack Kerouac with the sign behind him.

Another shot of the bar, which is still hopping.

And more Packer fans arrive! From left: Amy, Brian, Donnie and Jen. I think they were in town from Denver but by now I've had a few beers, so my journalistic skills are fading.

And here's Donnie with his two brothers, Tom and Jamie. Peeking in behind them is Isabella.

And here's Colin, who's a 365 reader all the way in from Sydney, Australia. We toasted beers and then I found out that Colin had never had a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich.

So we had another beer, a glance out the window and went out in pursuit of a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich.

And luckily, just blocks away is Wogies, a bar/restaurant that specializes in them.

See what I mean?

And here's Colin happily breaking his Philly Cheesesteak cherry!

Okay, as I mentioned, Biff, Aaron, Paul and assorted others are in town for a few days. We decided to meet at Old Town Bar which was bar 151 on the 365 bar crawl.

The front of the bar was used in the opening of the original David Letterman show on NBC.

And the gang's all here! Clockwise from left: Chrissy, Colin, Janie, Bifferoonie, Paul, Aaron and myself. Many beers were had, hotdogs were served and they'll be more adventures with this crew tonight. Stay tuned. Goodnight, everybody!

Review
Okay, since I have a ton of shit to do and then meet up with the Biff entourage later, rather than write a review of Kettle of Fish, here’s a video made by the owners which gives you the rich history of the bar which has been a staple in Greenwich Village for over 60 years in various locations.



Thanks to Al for a wonderful selection. Okay, I’ve got to go and get my Halloween costume ready for tonight. Boo!

Kettle of Fish
59 Christopher St. (Near Seventh Ave. South)
212-414-2278

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Thanks to my co-pilot Al for another wonderful suggestion! Al art by "Boris."

Jaws sent in this piece of Halloween art for today, thanks, Jaws! Happy Halloween, everybody!