Thursday, October 28th, 2010—Bar 291

Day 291—Wednesday, October 27th, 2010
Jack Demsey's
Okay, tonight I’m turning to my co-pilot on this bar crawl, Al Rizo from Miami Beach. Tonight was crazy at work and I was thinking it was going to be rough to look for a bar to go to. I quickly checked my email and like an answer to a prayer was an email from Al and he found a bar that’s only a few blocks from where I work, which is great because I’m beat. The name of the bar is Jack Demsey’s and no, that’s not a typo, there’s no “P” in the name. It looks like a good, no frills midtown Irish bar to have a few beers and forget your troubles, which is just what I need to do tonight, so it’s off we go.

It's just three blocks from where I work and baboom, here's 33rd street.

And quicker than you can shake off bellybutton lint, here we are.

Enter, stage right. Boo!

Nice, dark and wooden, looks like Al found another winner!

And it's friendly in here as well. Here's Bobby the bartender and Justin the lovely waitress who joined forces to serve up an ice-cold Corona.

A shot of the long well-stocked bar.

A shot from my point of view at the bar.

There's wooden banquettes opposite the bar.

And that's where I found Maxwell, Ashley and Jason chilling out and enjoying some beers.

And here I am joining the party.

Sports pictures and memorabilia hang on the walls.

Here's the world champion belt from boxer Jack Dempsey.

There's a dining room in the back with more tables and banquettes.

Wooden shelves line the walls back here and they filled with knick-knacks and bric-a-brac.

Here's a boxing glove signed by Floyd Patterson.

Upstairs is the Patrick G. Sweeney Lounge, named after a regular who has since passed away.

There's a dining area up here and on weekends they host all the soccer games.

Here's the downstairs bar which is available for private parties.

It's a nice space for a party.

And there's a pool table, hey Bobby, get back upstairs, people are thirsty!

Back upstairs I met Greg, Richard and Denise who were in town from England. They work for Virgin airlines and said they'd see about getting me a ticket over there to see a pub or two.

I didn't get a parting shot, so I leave you with the immortal words of Ernie Anastos, "Keep fucking that chicken!" Goodnight, everybody!

Review
Jack Demsey’s has been on the block for close to a decade, but to walk in to the dark bar, you’d think it’s a neighborhood fixture from the old days. A super long mahogany wooden bar sits up front with wooden banquettes opposite for dining and drinking. There’s a dining room in the back and the upstairs bar opens when it gets crowded and for weekend soccer matches. The bar is the home base for the University of Kentucky alumni and there’s a basement bar room with a pool table available for private parties.

The bar has a generous selection of draft and bottled beers. There’s also single malt scotches, small batch bourbon and a sizable wine list. Happy hour is from 4pm to 7pm with daily drink specials.

There’s an extensive food menu available with all the usual suspects such as, wings, potato skins, pasta and a half a dozen varieties of burgers. Of course there’s traditional Irish fare to be had here as well, including: Shepherd’s Pie, Irish Style Chicken, Bangers and Mash and Cider Marinated Pork Chops. Irish Breakfast is served every day of the week and brunch can be had Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 4pm.

Jack Demsey's
36 W. 33rd St. (Near Broadway)
212-629-9899

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Another great suggestion, Al! (Al Rizo Illustration by "Boris.")

Jaws sent in this illustration as a response to the "keep fucking that chicken" video. Nice work, Jaws!

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010—Bar 290

Day 290—Tuesday, October 26th, 2010
169 Bar
Okay, while Googling around, I think I found a real hidden gem that I’m amazed escaped 365 Bar co-pilot, Al. It’s called 169 Bar and is located in Chinatown. From what I’ve read it’s kind of a combination dive bar and somewhat tiki bar and it’s been on the block for decades. Sounds like a winner, let’s go see.

Here it is, the 169 Bar, looks promising, let's check it out.

I love it already and plenty of seats at the bar.

And super-cute Kaley serves up a beer. Kaley just moved here in June from Miami. Miami? Hey, Al, do you know her?

Cheers!

The bar in all its cyan and magenta lit-up glory. A beautiful sight!

There's lots of knick-knacks and trinkets hanging behind the bar.

And here's a few of them, Chinese currency hangs above a skull and next to a bar sign.

They have a nice canned beer selection. Colt 45? Where's Billy Dee Williams when you need him?

Oh, he's right here! It works every time...whatever the fuck that means!

The TV's show vintage movies, here's one with Dino from the '60's.

Steve was the other bartender on duty, here he's posing behind the bar with Kaley.

Some of the draft beers available at the bar.

Festive lights hang from the ceiling and masks hang over some of the foliage in the area opposite the bar.

There's booths in the side room for comfortable seating.

Which is exactly what these three were doing. From left: Mike, Brian and Fiona.

There's a pool table in the back room.

And not just any pool table, a leopard-skin pool table. Too fucking cool!

Godzilla!

Here's Crystal and Tiffany who were chilling out in the back room. They work as waitresses nearby at Noah's Ark, stop by and tip them heavily if you can. And now a word to their boss, Ziv. Hey Ziv, give these two women a raise for the love of sweet corn! They couldn't pay their bill and quite frankly it was a little embarrassing watching them wash dishes behind the bar to pay for their drinks. Come on, step up to the plate, Ziv!

Meanwhile, back at the bar...

Steve is pouring shots for the bar.

Cheers from me and the bar!

And history is made as we get the first quadruple flip-off from Kaley and Steve! Goodnight, everybody!

Review
The 169 Bar has been a fixture on this Chinatown block for over 80 years and was formerly nicknamed, “The Bloody Bucket.” Inside the bar is lit up with festive low-lit lights and the space combines the best aspects of a tiki bar meets a dark, dive bar. The bartenders are friendly and the crowd is mainly regulars from the neighborhood and beyond. There’s lots of kitsch and kaboodle on the walls and behind the bar with disco balls hanging over vintage posters of Billy Dee Williams hawking Colt 45. The back room houses a leopard skin pool table with Godzilla art on the walls and a fish tank with a lone fish swimming in it. The music is ‘60’s soul, jazz, pop and Harlem swing. Go-go girls dance in the bar on weekends and DJ’s and live music happen regularly.

169 Bar has a large selection of canned beer including: Pablst, Schlitz, Genesee Cream and Colt 45. Some of the specialty cocktails include: A Hellboy Margarita, Pickle Martini, Frozen Pina Colada and Bourbon Mint Lemonade. Happy hour runs from opeing till 7:30pm with three buck cans of beer and a shot, two buck bottles of Bud and Jameson and Jack shots going for four dollars. Sunday’s they offer three dollar shots and 12 ounce canned beers all night.

They also offer a limited food menu including: Vegetable or pork dumplings, salted shell peanuts and popcorn. The bar is owned by former New Orleans and New York City musician Charles Hanson and it’s apparent that he’s taken a nice slice of New Orleans atmosphere and transplanted it to Chinatown in New York City.

169 Bar
169 E. Broadway (Near Rutgers St.)
646-833-7199

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Bonus Photo: Brooksy Relaxing Down Under With Another Item From The 365 Store!

Aussie follower and commentator David Brooks, a.k.a. Brooksy has sent in another photo of him with another item purchased from the 365 Bar Store, which is maintained by in house artist, “Boris.” Here’s the photo and the caption he sent in. Cheers to you Brooksy!
Got another photo from a party at my place on the weekend, as you can see, all the important elements are featured: Me, 365 Bar Crawl Beer Cozy, Coopers Pale Ale and a beer gut!

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010—Bar 289

Day 289—Monday, October 25th, 2010
McSwiggan’s

Today I got an email from a person named, Lindsay Turner and it read: “Hey there, I was wondering how I can get my bar, McSwiggan's over at 393 2nd Ave, corner of 23rd street listed on your website?”

So I wrote back, “It's pretty easy, all you have to do is ask. I'll stop by tonight after work.”

And so it’s off to McSwiggan’s we go.

Here we are at McSwiggan's bar.

It's nice inside and since it's after midnight on a Monday night, there's plenty of seats at the bar.

And the lovely Priscilla serves up a can of Pabst. You can get a 16 ounce tallboy here for three bucks. Such a deal! Priscilla's originally from Ireland, she came here for a vacation and never left. Very cool!

The lit up bottles behind the bar.

Some of the many drink special in here and an obligatory barroom mirror shot as well.

There's tables up front to relax at and look at the view outside.

I thought this was Kenny Rogers at first, but Priscilla told me it's the Dos Equis guy.

I didn't know this guy was such a big deal. Apparently he's the most interesting man in the world. To Dos Equis!

Some of the drafts available and a reminder that Halloween is on the way.

Kevin was enjoying himself at the bar while his friends were playing darts.

And here they are at the aforementioned dart game.

Drew and Chad are not only dart players...

They're photographers and they turned the tables on me for once.

Everybody in the bar had a camera! Here's Justin who's taking pictures with his girlfriend's camera.

Dueling photographers. Cue up the retarded banjo kid from Deliverance.

Deedle-eee-dee-dee.

Justin took a shot of me doing my 365 bar thing and emailed it to me. Thanks, Justin!

There's a pool table in the back room.

Another reminder that Halloween is on the way.

A shot from the other end of the bar.

Back at the bar, Priscilla warms up...

And BOOM! The two-finger salute! Goodnight, everybody!

Review

McSwiggan’s is one part Irish bar, one part dive bar and an overall cheap oasis with multiple nightly drink specials that will literally make your head spin. The front room has a large wooden bar with tables in the front and a professional dart board in the back. The back room houses video games, a pool table and a boxing game. The cliental ranges from office workers looking to forget the working day at the early happy hour to late night revelers enjoying the early morning happy hour. Unlike most bars that claim to be open till the wee hours, McSwiggan’s never shuts the doors till after 4am.

McSwiggan’s has a full bar and you don’t need to come here on payday to get a snootful. There’s two daily happy hours that run seven days a week. From 4pm-7pm you can get three dollar well drinks, 4 buck call liquor, 4 dollar glasses of wine, 3 dollar Bud and Coors and 3 bicl select shots. If you second shift or you just stay late enough another happy hour happens between midnight and 1am. There’s a decent beer selection with 17 drafts available including: Guinness, Bass, Harp, Newcastle and Molson. There’s also over a dozen bottled beers and 16 ounce tallboys of Pabst go for three bucks, all day and all of the night, to quote the Kinks.

In addition to video games and several large TV’s, McSwiggan’s has a pool table and two dart boards. And if you’ve come with a laptop packed, there’s free internet access.

McSwiggan’s
393 Second Ave. (Near 23rd St.)
212-683-3180

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Bonus Link To Brand New Tunes By Chris Erikson and The Wayward Puritans!
If you’ve been following this blog for awhile you may remember back on May 7th when I saw my friend and former editor, Chris Erikson play live with his band The Wayward Puritans at the Lakeside Lounge. That was a great show click here to read about it and see the pictures from the original post. Chris is currently recording a CD of original music and you can listen to a few choice cuts by clicking on this link: Chris Erikson and The Wayward Puritans. Great tunes, Chris, can't wait to hear the whole thing. When the CD is finished and for sale, you’ll be the first to know! There might even be a record release party, stay tuned!