Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010—Bar 143

Day 143—Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
Dive Bar
Ding, ding, ding! The donation has gone off and James Coleman has sent in a generous donation of ten dollars. His stated purpose on the PayPal receipt said: “I am Tim Carey's father-in-law.” Thanks to James and to Tim and Colleen Carey for hanging out with me on the 365 Bar Crawl the last three nights! Happy anniversary and don’t forget to check out Butch’s Pizza online or in a store or tavern near you. It’s great pizza and a family-run business, it doesn’t get any better than that.

And in other 365 Bar news, we’re soon going to have a page on facecrack...I mean facebook. The administrators and people who put it together are 365 commentator, Gidget and our in house artist, the one and only “Boris.” It’ll probably go live tomorrow and I’ll put up a link then. I really want to thank Gidget and “Boris” for putting this up, as I have no time to do it and people keep asking me why we’re not on facebook. So thanks to Gidget, who’s the coolest DJ in the world, you have to listen to her show on Woody Radio, she plays great tunes and is an entertaining and funny DJ (DJ Loki also rules there as well). Check out the website for the schedule here: Woody Radio Website. You can listen online and there’s a chat room where you can chat with the DJ and other folks who are tuning in.
And thanks to “Boris” not only for helping to set up the page with Gidget, but for setting up and maintaining the 365 Bar Store (more about that below.) “Boris” is available for freelance artwork, so if you need a T-shirt design or logo, he’s your man. He also does CD and book cover design and just about anything you can think of, send me an email and I’ll pass it along to “Boris.”

Okay, on to tonight’s crawl. I love dive bars, so naturally the name of this place caught my eye. But then I read an online review and it turns out it literaly is a dive bar. They’ve got an aquarium and the place is designed with an aquatic theme. Let’s go check out and see if they have Flipper on the TV set. And check out the 365 jersey I’m wearing on tonight’s crawl, if you’d like to order one or check out all the items, just click here: 365 Bar Store  to be transported to the 365 Bar Store, set up and run by our very own in-house artist, “Boris.”

****Update: (2:06 pm) I just got a call from Frank Carmichael who hosts the talk show Happenings Q & A on WLIP 1050 AM Radio in Kenosha, Wisconsin and I'm going to be interviewed on his show at 2:45 eastern time. You can listen live here: WLIP 1050 Radio. Just click on the "Listen Live" link at the upper right hand part of the page. See you on the radio!

Okay, let's dive in to the Dive Bar.

Wow, I thought it would be slow, seeing that it's a Tuesday and a day after the holiday weekend, but this joint is jumping.

Here's bartender Howie, serving up a beer. Howie's a friendly and fun bartender.

John was seated next to me at the bar and told me he's a regular here.

He snapped a photo of me flashing the 365 colors on my jersey.

Martina and Martin were sitting in front of the aquarium. With names like those it's only fitting that I take their photo.

Some of the aquatic knick-knacks and bric-a-brac at the bar.

The aquarium in the front, the sign of a true dive bar.

Cate works Monday and Tuesday's in here, no wonder there's a crowd!

One of the many large screen TV's, hey, it's not tuned to Flipper, come on guys!

And here's Howie with bartender/waitress Jenny, one more reason it's packed in here.

There's tables and chairs in the back room.

There's also large wooden booths for lounging, eating and drinking in.

This place has an astounding amount of bottled beers. This board is just a partial list.

Howie works the crowded bar.

Hans is a regular who was holding down the end of the bar.

Howie presents Mark and Catherine. Mark recently moved into the neighborhood and both were fun to talk with and were very supportive of the 365 Bar Crawl.

The beer patio out in front of the bar.

Uh, oh, I think it's time to go.

Okay, I'm safely at home having a night cap from my 365 frosted mug. Okay, I'll stop plugging the 365 store.

I just need to put my beer down somewhere, hey check out this coaster. Goodnight everybody!

Review
This place was originally an old Speakeasy but they traded the secret knock for an aquarium and it’s now the Dive Bar. The bar is a neighborhood favorite and the bartenders are friendly and fun. The crowd is mainly regulars but first timers are welcomed with open arms. The atmosphere is festive, with colored lights mixed in with the aquatic bric-a-bracs including a mermaid jutting out from the wall and a large aquarium in the front room. The front room has a bar with tables and chairs opposite of it and there’s a back room with more tables and wooden booths. There’s lots of large screen TVs lining the walls and there’s patio seating outside in the front when the weather permits.

The bar lives up to its name because there is a a river of booze to be had here. There’s a vast selection of bottled and draft beers and a huge wine list. In addition they stock 20 bourbons, 35 tequila's and a staggering 65 single malt scotch selections. There’s a varied and large food menu that offers ten varieties of burgers, a good sandwich selection including: sliced steak, roast beef, pulled pork and the Dive Sub which is built with Genoa salami, ham, provolone, pimento, hot peppers, tomato and onion. Breakfast is served anytime and some of the deep sea delights include fried clams, scallops, calamari and shrimp. You can sample them all with a seafood platter that comes with onion rings. Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday from 4pm to 7pm with four buck drafts and five dollar well drinks.

Dive right in to the Dive Bar, the water’s fine and 100 proof.

Dive Bar
732 Amsterdam Ave. (Near 96th St.)
212-749-4358

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010—Bar 142

Day 142—Monday, May 31st, 2010
Cake Shop
Okay, my bar-crawling friends Tim and Colleen are still in town and there’s two things they definitely wanted to try when they were here in New York City: pizza and a real genuine New York deli. Well, last night we had the pizza at Lombardi’s and tonight I’m taking them to a New York deli institution, Katz’s Deli. Katz’s Deli has been a fixture on the Lower East Side since 1888 and its sandwiches and food are legendary in their size and taste. And I found a bar to go to for dessert right around the corner called Cake Shop. It’s a bar that serves pastries, sells records and has a full bar in the basement. I might just move in there!

Here we are at the legendary deli where Harry Met Sally.

Lots of movies have used Katz's Deli as a location, but the most famous is this scene from "When Harry Met Sally."

The place is always packed and today is no exception.

Ordering is a little tricky, because you have to order different items at different stations.

We finally figured it out though, and here's my hard salami sandwich with mustard on fresh rye bread.

Tim and Colleen split a reuben and we all split a huge order of cole slaw. The meal was delicious!

Here I am trying to make a dent in the gigantic sandwich.

Okay, that's all for Katz's Deli, on to the bar.

Cake Shop is right down the street on Ludlow, so we were there within minutes.

Brittany Lee was the lovely and charming bartender on duty for the evening.

Cheers!

The board in the back of the bar shows different beers, wines and teas available along with four sandwiches named after rock stars with a first name of "Mick." Sadly there's not a Mick Shrimpton, but hopefully it will be added soon.

Upon learning it was Tim and Colleen's 20th wedding anniversary, Brittany promptly poured out shots for all of us. She's a great bartender and made the night a lot of fun.

Okay, it's that time of night to leave Tim and Colleen at the bar and start my bar crawl thing.

And the first people I crawl into are Sean, Priscilla and Charles who were enjoying drinks at a table just beyond the bar.

Pamela was at the bar talking about bartending with Brittany Lee.

Cupcakes!

Cake!

The art in the bar is cool, but I have to admit that some of it scared me a little.

There's free wi-fi available in the bar.

Dani and Jules were enjoying drinks and agreed to pose for the 365 camera.

Patrick sports a cool vintage Led Zeppelin t-shirt. Check out his vintage clothing here: Chapel.

Joe raised his Rolling Rock to toast the 365 Bar Crawl. Joe works in public relations and is a great guy. We had a nice conversation and drinks with him.

There's used records for sale here, let's check some of them out.

There's a varied selection from Duran Duran to...

Neil Diamond, to...
My favorites, Silly Wizard. I think Mick Shrimpton drummed for them.

There's another full bar downstairs and band's play here seven night's a week.

Tonight the band, Moonmen On The Moon, Man are playing five sets in honor of Cake Shop's fifth anniversary this month.

The band played a great set. They reminded me of The Ramones with a bit more thrash.

And the upcoming schedule can be seen in the bathroom while doing your business. There's always more than one thing going on at this great bar! Goodnight everybody!

Review
If the Cake Shop Bar was a human, it would definitely be diagnosed with multiple personalities. The upstairs bar features not only a full bar with a wide selection of drinks and beers, but there’s pastries and delicious baked goods, coffee, sandwiches and used records for sale. It’s like everything you’d ever want in one fun location. The upstairs bar has fun artwork and knick knacks hanging on the paneled walls and the Christmas lights give it a festive atmosphere. The bartenders are friendly and fun characters and the patrons are mainly people from the neighborhood looking to satisfy their sweet tooths along with a shot or two for good measure. There’s also free wi-fi. Walk down the stairs and you’ll find a darker bar with a church pew, leather cubes to lounge on and a small bandstand where bands crank out music seven nights a week. There’s occasional spoken word performances as well as film screenings and DJ’s spinning an eclectic range of tunes.

Both bars are fully stocked and some of the bottled beers incuding: Red Stripe, Blue Moon, Amstel Light and Corona. They have a decent wine list and Craft Beers are also available. In addition to the pastries they offer four sandwiches and a large selection of hot teas and coffee. Happy Hour runs from 5pm to 8pm with two-for-one beer and wine.

If you can’t find what you want at Cake Shop, get a check-up, cause you must be dead from the neck up!

Cake Shop
152 Ludlow St. (Near Stanton St.)
212-253-0036

Monday, May 31st, 2010—Bar 141

Day 141—Sunday, May 30th, 2010
Lombardi's
Hey, what’s that sound? Ding, ding, ding, it’s the PayPal donation board going off. And this person was cool enough to not even want her identity known. Here’s her stated purpose from the PayPal receipt: “An ANONYMOUS donation just from a fan of the site.” Thank you very much anonymous donor, I know who you are and appreciate you donating and following the crawl. Mucho thanks to you and yours.

I got a nice mention in a blog which reviews bars in Peoria, Illinois. It’s a fun blog and I get a kick out of reading about bars from my home town. Check it out here: Peoria Bar Review.

Okay, last night you met Tim and Colleen Carey who are in NYC from my home town of Peoria, Illinois celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary. I also told you that Tim and his family own and operate Butch’s Pizza. It’s truly great pizza (order one, they deliver nationwide), so of course I had to take them to New York City’s legendary Lombardi’s pizza. Lombardi’s is not only the oldest pizzeria, it’s the first pizza parlor that was put up in all of the United States. And they’re still on the same block they started at. It’s known for its long lines to get a table and the lines are there for a good reason. It’s the best pizza in New York City. So let’s see if Lombardi’s impresses Tim and Colleen, veterans of the pizza biz.

Here we are in Union Square Park. The ice tea bottles are filled with beer so we can drink in the park. Take that Mayor Bloomie!

This guy had attracted a big crowd so we stopped to watch.

He jumped through the hoop and eventually over the row of people he had assembled. I was so impressed I was the first to give him a dollar donation.

This guy has a stand where you can go and just speak your mind to him. We had a nice conversation and I found out he's a photographer. Check out his website and photos here: www.jeffprant.com.

Okay, time for dinner, we're taking the local 6 train to Spring St.

And here it is!

And whoosh! Here we are at Lombardi's.

And of course there's a long line and I was told we'd have an hour wait for a table.

Wow, look at the crowd of pizza eaters on a Sunday night.

Lucky for me though, we've got an hour wait and there's a full bar, so I can do the crawl here before dinner!

And bartender Ricky was more than happy to be part of the crawl. Here he is with Tim.

Drinks are served and the pre-dinner crawl has begun.

Once again I leave Tim and Colleen at the bar to get a few photos for the bar crawl.

Here's Barry and Lara who were enjoying drinks while waiting at the bar. Seconds after I took this photo, their name was called and they got seated.

Abigail and Jillian came all the way from Vancouver, Canada to have one of Lombardi's pies.

Lombardi's jackets can be had at the bar.

Steve and Erin were at the end of the bar waiting for their table. At the last minute, Ricky jumped up to get in on the picture.

Meanwhile back at our spot at the bar, Tim and Colleen were checking out the menu. And then our name was called! It's table time!

Julia was our cute waitress and she gave us great and friendly service.

We had salad, some breadsticks and sauce and then the main event showed up. Check out this pizza, have you ever seen one so beautiful?

Tim and Colleen give the pie a thumbs up.

And so do I, it was well worth the hour wait. This is the best pizza in the world. The second best is Butch's, of course.

Here's the last picked at slice that we couldn't finish. Anybody out there want it? Goodnight everybody!

Review
At Lombardi’s you can get a slice of history as well as one of the best slices of pizza in the world. The pizzeria was founded in 1905 and is known for being the first pizzeria in not only New York, but in America as well. Gennaro Lombardi is the man who started the pizza phenomenon in the U.S. They’re a block down from where they were originally located, but the place is old school pizzeria with red-checkered tablecloths adorning the tables that you usually have to wait 45 minutes to an hour to sit at. The good news is that they now have a full bar that you can have a beer or three as you wait. The bar doesn’t have any stools, but it’s got a good variety of bottled and draft beers and friendly and fun bartenders. The crowd is a mix of anxious tourists and locals all waiting to hear their name called so they can sit down and tuck into the legendary pies that are being cooked in the coal ovens.

Once you finally get to sit at a table and order your pie, you’ll be surprised by the fast and friendly service at Lombardi’s. The house salad is very tasty as are the breadsticks and marinara dipping sauce, but the real prize is the pizza that Lombardi’s is known for. The coal ovens give the crust a smoky flavor that goes well with the somewhat sweet tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella cheese. You have your choice of toppings ranging from fresh mushrooms, onions, meatballs, red peppers and I highly suggest you try the pepperoni. They also have a clam pizza, a white pizza and personal calzones.

There’s always a wait for a table when you come here, but as you take a bite of your first slice you’ll see why. It’s worth the wait, trust me. And Happy Memorial Day!

Lombardi's
32 Spring St. (Near Mott St.)
212-941-7994