I forgot to set my alarm and I'm just waking up. Today's post will be up around 2pm or 3pm after I drink some diet Mountain Dew and enjoy some little donuts. But it's a memorable post featuring people from Minneapolis, Colin from Sydney, Australia, Aaron from Chicago and Biff and her entourage. Stay tuned! In the meantime in the spirit of Halloween, here's the theme song from the Munsters.
Day 293—Friday, October 29th, 2010
Nassau Bar
I found a review of a bar called Nassau Bar from New York Magazine and the first line read: “Nassau Bar neatly straddles the line between dive bar and strip club.” Say no more, let’s go!
I've got the night off from work so I set out earlier than usual and then learned a sad lesson: Traffic is fucking nuts on Friday night around 9pm.
Half an hour later and we're still barely moving.
And now after a 45 minute ride, my cab driver confesses in clipped English that he doesn't know where the corner of Nassau and Ann is, but we're somewhere near. Motherfucker!
So I set off on foot in the Financial District, where it's kind of a no-man's land in some places. But after a few blocks and asking directions from some people on the street...
I see some neon lights, could this be it?
Yep, this is the joint, the Nassau Bar!
Wow, nice long bar and nice and dark, let's snag a seat.
Holy freakin' moley! The bartenders are smoking hot in this place. Tiffany served up a drink and was really friendly and nice. I like it in here!
As you can see, it's the start of Halloween weekend.
This ghoulish fellow is looking out the window. Hey, stupid, the real sights in here are behind the bar.
Here's the other side of the bar.
Hey, it's the lamp from A Christmas Story!
Hello!
Here's Isis, another one of the beautiful bartenders.
The DJ for the evening was DJ Pacasso. Check out his website here: DJ Pacasso.
Here is mixing up a tune.
The lovely ladies behind the bar come over to lend some moral support to DJ Pacasso.
A group shot.
Note to self: Learn how to DJ!
Meanwhile back at the bar...
Tiffany poses with her friends Kristen and Evelyn.
And a parting shot with myself and the lovely Tiffany. Cheers and goodnight, everybody!
Review
In a part of the financial district that’s a bit of a no-man’s land stands the Nassau Bar with neon lights to guide you inside. The bar is long and narrow with orange lights overhead and Christmas lights and knick-knacks covering the faux brick walls. The bartenders are female and clad in bikinis or lingerie type wear and are very friendly and fun. The bar has a bit of a go-go bar atmosphere, but instead of scantily clad girls dancing in cages, they’re behind the bar serving you booze. As you would figure, most of the patrons are male and run the gamut from suits and ties to construction workers enjoying drinks and the lovely women behind the bar who occasionally come to the other side to put some tunes on the jukebox and socialize with the happy drinkers at the bar.
It’s a full bar and there’s two happy hours that run from 11am to 1pm and then 5pm to 6pm Monday through Friday featuring three dollar drinks. In fact, you should come at happy hour to fully enjoy the place because it closes early. They shut down on weeknights at 11pm and weekends they’re open till midnight. The bartenders need their beauty sleep after all!
Nassau Bar
118 Nassau St. (Near Ann St.)
212-962-0011
Day 292—Thursday, October 28th, 2010
Phil Hughes
While Googling around tonight I came up with what I think will be a real winner. I found a bar on the Upper East Side called Phil Hughes that has been around for four decades, so they must be doing something right. Plus, if you’re like me, you’re wondering, “Who the hell is Phil Hughes? Let’s go find out.
The outside of the bar is unassuming and kind of looks like an apartment house, but the Heineken sign gave them away, let's go check it out.
Oh boy, this looks like the real deal here. A dark, quiet dive bar where people come to drink, period.
The bartender was a nice woman, but didn't want her picture taken. She took my photo and then reluctantly said I could take photos after I told her I wouldn't bother any of the people at the bar and would keep my flash off so I wouldn't bug anyone. The following pictures were snapped in about five minutes before she could change her mind. I had to document this joint!
There's lots of booze here, but I wouldn't order a Cosmopolitan if I were you.
An ancient Guinness sign hangs on the wall behind the bar.
I think this cash register is the original deal.
There's dark wooden tables opposite the bar, but none of the regulars sit at them.
Here's a window seat, table for two!
A lantern on this wall illuminates some pictures of sports scenes from the past.
And there's more pictures and a lantern on this brown wall.
There's a pool table in the back room, but I don't think it gets a lot of use. The regulars here use most of their energy to shuffle to their spots at the bar.
Old Glory hangs on the back wall. Somebody cue up The Star Spangled Banner.
After taking my pictures I had a few beers and chatted with a retired sanitation worker at the bar over a few Budweisers. On about the fourth beer I asked the bartender who Phil Hughes was. She told me he was the original owner and that he died a couple years ago. His family now owns the bar and hopefully they'll keep it in business. She pointed to his picture hanging at the bar hugging a dog. I asked if I could take a picture and she smiled and said I could. "Oh," she said, as I walked over to take the shot, "turn on your flash for that one." It was one of those moments that make me glad I'm doing this. TO PHIL HUGHES! Goodnight, everybody.
Review
This is one of the last true old-school New York watering holes. If you’re under 60-years old, you’ll probably be the youngest person in the joint. This bar has absolutely no frills, no specials, no gimmicks and is a true throwback to what a bar should be—a place to sit and throw back drinks in a dark and dank atmosphere. The patrons of Phil Hughes are grizzled and drizzled regulars who shuffle and limp to their bar stools and drink beers and shots. Talk can get lively and then it will fall silent again as everyone takes pulls off of their bottles of bud and straight up scotches.
There’s a full bar here, but the beer choices are strictly domestic and if you order anything more complicated than a screwdriver, you’re pushing the limits here. There’s no food or kitchen, but if you want to bring in a slice from a neighboring pizza place, I don’t think anybody would mind. And if you’re an early morning drinker, like a lot of the retired regulars here are, you’re in luck, the bar opens at 8am.
Stop in and have a drink or two at Phil Hughes and keep a legendary dive bar alive. But leave the plastic at home, Phil Hughes only takes cash...on the barrelhead, son.
Phil Hughes
1682 First Ave. (Near 88th St.)
No phone (The mark of a truly great bar!)
4 References