Monday, October 4th, 2010—Bar 267

Day 267—Sunday, October 3rd, 2010
Reade Street Pub & Kitchen
Okay, time to go out for the Sunday dinner at a bar. I found a bar in Tribeca called The Reade Street Pub & Kitchen. It’s been on the block for over 100 years and the menu looks good, so it’s tonight’s destination. There’s also going to be a guest crawler tonight. Ken Lombardo has been following the 365 blog since he read about it in the Daily News. He and his wife Sue are in town and wanted to join the crawl, so I said what I always say: “Fuckin’ A-OK with me!”

Here we are at the Reade St. Pub & Kitchen.

It's got a nice neighborhood vibe from the minute you walk in. The bar is full at this end...

But the end of the bar is empty, so this is where I'll camp out for the day.

And the super-cute bartender Megen serves up a beer and a smile.

There's a globe next to me and I immediately looked at Australia. Cheers to all our Oz mates out there following the 365 blog! And of course, Canada's there on top, hi Lex!

Nice neon inside the pub.

Here's Lenny who lives in the neighborhood. He told me his sister is a bartender here and would be coming in soon.

And sure enough, here she is along with the owner of the place. From left: Marcia, Brian and Lenny.

There's booths and tables opposite the bar for dining and drinking.

A Greenwich St. street sign marks the back room of the bar.

The wall in the back room is loaded with photos from days gone by in the bar, Frank Sinatras mugshot and a photo of Bob Marley.

Here's a photo of a tribute to some Irish writers.

A painting of the bar hangs on the brick wall opposite the bar.

Meanwhile back at the bar, Megen gets ready to hand it over to Marcia for the evening.

And of course this place has a tin ceiling, what else would you expect from a place that's been on the block for over 100 years?

Here's Ryan who was enjoying a pint of Guinness at the bar.

A long shot of the wooden bar.

And here she is behind the bar, the lovely Marcia is now on duty!

And here are the guest stars of the evening, Ken and Sue Lombardo. Cheers and beers! They're in town to celebrate Sue's birthday. Happy birthday, Sue!

Ken and Sue were going to eat later, but I had my Sunday dinner at the bar and here's Marcia, serving it up.

I got the roast beef sandwich with fries. It looks great.

It was delicious. (Award winning photo by Ken Lombardo.)

A parting shot of myself and Ken. Thanks to Ken and Sue for taking time to join me on the bar crawl and buy a couple of rounds. Goodnight, everybody!

Review
Okay, I have an early morning appointment before work and I overslept, so I don’t have time to write a revew, so I’ll post New York magazine’s review, and it’s their critics pick by the way:

In a neighborhood where $9 barely buys a short pour of tannic Napa red, it's a rare treat to find this comfy pub still thriving. Reade Street isn't spectacular, but it's affordable, dependable, and for the right mood, just right. Darkly intimate, stuffed with a homey assemblage of baseball caps and model trains, and boasting a mellow, spot-on jukebox mixing Sinatra, the Pogues and Prince, Reade Street warms without a whiff of pretension. Twelve quality taps (featuring a sunny Reade Street Ale) combine with 25 bottled options to sate every hoppy taste. There's also an extensive pub-food roster (tackle the 10-oz burger if you're feeling up for it, or the fresher-than-Michael-Musto salads if you're feeling too much). The affable barkeeps keep important local games on the telly and ensure that you that you taste every draft before committing to a pint. When you emerge into the austere caverns of lower Tribeca, you'll have a new favorite pub—and you'll wonder why you ever spent all that money on Opus One anyway.

Reade Street Pub & Kitchen
135 Reade St. (near Hudson St.)
212-227-2295

--------------------
Bonus Photos!

Okay, last week we met Claire and Mick on the bar crawl at the Pig ‘n’ Whistle.  They’re on a two-month travleing destination and promised to send in photos from their destinations. And true to their word, here’s some shots takein in Germany, (Munich I believe) of an Oktoberfest morning and afternoon. Take it way Claire and Mick!

Bavarian Heavan!

The Bavarian beer tent at 9am.

And the same beer tent two hours later at 11am.

Cheers!

Claire and her German friend, Alessia.

Lederhosen!

Bavarian Heaven at 12pm!

A pretzel to soak up the beer.

The oompa oompa band.

Try going on this ride after you've had a few!

Woo hoo, I made it!

Great job, thanks for the photos, Claire and Mick!

Tuesday, Sept. 28th, 2010—Bar 261

Day 261—Monday, September 27th, 2010
Trinity Place
Okay, tonight’s bar is another suggestion from 365 commentator Al Rizo. Al suggested a bar called Trinity Place in the Financial District. I haven’t been to that part of New York for awhile and Al hasn’t steered us wrong yet, so it’s off to Trinity Place we go!

It's a little tough to find, because while the address is on Broadway, you actually enter on Cedar Street. But I finally found it.

And here we are, let's check it out.

And the first thing you see upon entering is the dazzling chandelier, which is preserved way back from the days when this space was a bank.

The mirror is another piece from days gone by. The owners tracked it down in Europe and had it shipped back to it's rightful hanging place in the lobby of the bar.

The bar is located in the bank's former vault and this three ton door stands outside.

A close-up of the vault's door. If it shuts and you get locked in, there's no worries, all the booze is on the other side of the door.

Here's the round, red velveted enterance to the bar in the former bank vault.

It's dark, candle-lit with red-lighting. Looks like Al picked another winner. A nice looking bar.

And a nice looking and friendly bartender. Sabrina poses with barback, Jorge.

Peace and beers and puppeteers.

I'm always a sucker for the lit-up bar bottles. Nice.

If you squint and look just right you'll see my reflection in the mirror.

Just some of the draft beers available at Trinity Place. They have a huge beer and ale selection here.

These three were seated next to me at the bar and told me they were regulars at the place. From left: Alex, Cristina and Christian.

A shot down the long, wooden candle-lit bar.

A view from the other end of the bar.

Sabrina starts to mix up Stoliobombs, which she learned about from bartender Alania who wasn't on duty that night.

She shakes...

She pours...

And we toast. From left: Myself, Sabrina and the friendly and hospitable manager of Trinity Place, Shannon.

And here's Vinny. Vinny's been a regular here since the place opened five years ago.

And Sabrina pours a shot for the three of us at the bar. Cheers!

And a parting shot of myself and Sabrina. Goodnight, everybody!

Review
It makes good sense that Trinity Place is located in the heart of the Financial District, it’s a former bank vault dating back to the year 1904. The original 35 ton steel doors still hang at the entrance. Inside former money vault you’ll find a long, dark bar lit by candles and red lights overhead. The bartenders and staff are friendly and it’s a big after work place. Happy hour rules and you’ll find many regulars lining the bar to forget the rotten workday they just had. There’s tables up front and leather banquettes line the walls giving the bar an old-world charm. Two chandeliers and a large mirror from the original bank still hang in the bar and the dining room.

It’s a full bar and there’s a large amount of bottled and draft beer available. There’s an impressive wine list and lots of varieties of scotch/malts and whiskies to choose from. Some of the signature cocktails at the bar include: Champagne Sangria, Ginger Margarita, a Mojito and a drink called Hendrix In Heaven. ‘Scuse me while...I go to the men’s room.

They have a lunch and dinner menu and some of the selections include: House Made Herb Gnocchi, House Cured Duck Confit with Summer Risotto, Ahi Tuna and Soba Noodle Salad and a Kobe Burger with your choice of cheese. There’s smaller plates available at the bar and some of the choices are: Kobe ‘Pigs in a Blanket’, Chicken Skewers, Mini Kobe Cheese Burgers and Mini Lobster BLT.

There’s a daily happy hour from 4pm to 6pm with different daily drink specials. And if the market tanks you can get tanked for cheap. Any day the Stock Market closes in the red, all drinks are just three bucks from 3:30pm to 5pm.

Trinity Place
115 Broadway (entrance on Cedar St.)
212-964-0939

------------------------

Bonus Links

My friend Rick Halberg just started up a blog and you should go visit it. It's called Groovyrick's Blog and it's a stone groove. Here's the link: Groovyrick's Blog.

And Tim Clack sent in this beer related link that we should all read, thanks, Tim! Beer Crate Building.