Thursday, December 9th, 2010—Bar 333

Day 333—Wednesday, December 8th, 2010
On the Rocks
Okay, I’m in a fucking hurry tonight because I have to come in to work early tomorrow. They want me here at the crack of noon, which means I have to get up around nine in the morning to put my post together. Oh the sacrifices I endure for the 365 bar crawl! So, anyway I picked this place because it’s not so far away and it sounds like kind of a simple, dark, whiskey bar from the review I read. So let’s hit the road and get this shit over with check it out.

Since I'm in a hurry, I thought we'd take a cab there.

Hate the cab TV, so off it goes.

Touch here to resume...that's what she said. (Rimshot.)

Fucking crosstown traffic. Somebody cue up Jimi Hendrix!

Okay, here we are. Nice wooden exterior and subtle sign, let's check it out.

Nice dark and cozy in here. Let's settle in.

While this place is a whiskey bar they also have 60 kinds of bottled beer. I tried one called the Kingfisher and bartender Daniel serves it up.

Like I said, this is a whiskey bar.

A shot of the bar from my perch.

The top of the bar showcases the wide selection of bottled beer.

The whiskey is displayed in the heart of the bar.

And below is the vodka, gin, tequila and likewise. It's all top-shelf liquor in here.

Gary was seated next to me at the bar and was enjoying one of the top-shelf drinks.

And here's the owner of the joint, Howard (on the left) with one of the patrons whose name I forgot to write down. Maybe Howard will chime in on the comments and help me out here. Howard...help!

Some of the specials are written on the boards up here.

There's a candle-lit wooden railing with chairs opposite the bar.

A long shot of the bar. Hey, let's go see who the couple is in the front window seats.

It's Mark and Paula. They're engaged and the wedding is in June. They neglected to tell me where the reception is, so I'll have to scour the papers to see where to crash the wedding.

Meanwhile back at the bar, Daniel's taking care of business.

Ron came in with quite an impressive hat and drinking abilities. He doesn't need no stinking glass!

Looking up I noticed something is missing in here...

There's no TV's. Howard told me he thinks a bar is for socializing and he intentionally didn't put any TV's in here. One of the few bars without TV's in Manhattan. Nice job, Howard! (Sorry, Gene!)

Bar number three, three, three. 32 to go! Goodnight, everybody!

Review
Okay, this is the way this shit works here at 365. The introduction is usually written before I go to the bar and then the review is written in the morning. Well, I’m up two hours earlier than I usually do, so I feel like warmed over dogshit on a moldy bagel. So here’s two reviews I found online. They’re pretty accurate.

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Shecky’s:

When you enter On the Rocks, walk straight ahead and grab a seat, because, well, that’s your only option. At this narrow sliver of a bar, there’s little to distract you from the ultimate goal, which is whiskey, chatting, beer and more whiskey. Those familiar with brown liquor will be happy to see old friends—Glenlivet, Macallan and Blanton’s (to name but a few of many)—and happier to learn they’re reasonably priced, with the majority in the $9-$11 range for a sizeable pour. Not as well versed as your neighbor (or just unable to read labels in dim lighting)? The knowledgeable bartender will be your friendly Sherpa through uncharted territory. For those looking for something slightly less intoxicating, there’s a wide array of bottled beer ($4-$20), though you won’t find fruity cocktails with tiny umbrellas here. The scene is sophisticated without being pretentious, but you’ll do well to keep your drinks straightforward like the rest of the bar—neat, straight up or on the rocks.

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Time Out New York

Whiskey lovers have a new hang in this diminutive Hell's Kitchen bar, which features more than 80 varieties of the spirit. If heady quaffs like a Redbreast 15-year or a Ridgemont 1792 bourbon aren't quite your speed, you can choose from more than 60 bottled beers. The dim, narrow space has exposed brick, and most seating is at the concrete bar, the better to claim your bartender's ear and nerd out over obscure brown spirits.

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On the Rocks
696 10th Ave. (Between 48th and 49th St.)
212-247-2055

Tuesday, Sept. 21st, 2010—Bar 254

Day 254—Monday, September 20th, 2010
Café Andalucia
I want to thank Frank Carmichael for interviewing me yesterday on his Happenings Q and A radio show on WLIP radio. Frank’s a great interviewer and this is the fourth time I’ve been on his show. Check it out Monday through Friday from 1pm to 3pm CST, you can listen live on the WLIP Homepage.

If you recall last Saturday...you’re doing better than me. I can’t remember last night! (Rimshot.) Thanks folks, I’ll be here all week. But seriously, if you remember last Saturday’s visit to Sardi's you’ll recall me meeting writer Carliss Pond,  the author of Taste of Broadway. Well she’s also penned a book called, Sizzle in Hell’s Kitchen which is a collection of recipes, photos and quotes from restaurants and bars all in the Hell’s Kitchen area of New York. She suggested I check out, Café Andalucia, which is located right across the street from the Holland Bar. So that’s tonight’s destination, when the author of Sizzle in Hell’s Kitchen recommends a Hell’s Kitchen bar, you go. That’s just the rules!

And here we are at Café Andalucia.

Live jazz on Thursday's and Sunday's there's flamenco music. But this is Monday, so none of this matters.

And you can tell it's Monday in here, as I have the entire bar to myself.

But friendly and lovely bartender Melba makes me feel at home and mixes me up a mini pitcher of homemade Sangria.

Here she is in action mixing up the fruity drink.

A few finishing touches and...

Instant Sangria!

It's delicious! Wonderful job, Melba!

There's a large selection of booze here at the bar, as you can see.

Original artwork hangs all over the bar, here's some on the wall facing the bar.

And a good chunk of the artwork is created by the owner and chef, Guillermo Vidal.

Here's Guillermo with his favorite painting at the bar.

In addition to Guillermo's paintings, there's other artist's featured and all the artwork is for sale.

Since it was a slow night, Guillermo hung out with me and we had a great conversation ranging from art to music to politics to movies. He's a great host who makes you feel like you've been a regular at the bar for eternity.

El Diablo!

David is in town from Spain and was enjoying dinner and wine in the front window area.

A long shot of the bar.

The selection of bottled beer available and assorted knick-knacks above the bar.

Melba came to the other side of the bar to pose for a photo with owner, Guillermo.

Tables line the wall opposite the bar for dining and drinking.

The colorful back wall at Café Andalucia.

There's live music several nights a week here, as this Roland amp on the table confirms.

 Guillermo said he wasn't planning on drinking this evening, but decided to have a beer in spite of that. I'm a bad influence! Cheers and goodnight, everybody!

Review
Café Andalucia has a bit of an identity crisis, but in this case, that’s a good thing. It’s one part bar, one part restaurant, one part art gallery and one part neighborhood social club. It’s a small, intimate space with a long narrow bar and candle-lit tables opposite for seating. The atmosphere is friendly and if you’re lucky enough to be able to score some time with the host, owner and chef, Guillermo Vidal, you’ll have a colorful conversation and a whopping good time. There’s live music here, on Thursday’s they feature live jazz and on Sunday’s it’s flamenco night starting at 8pm.

Café Andalucia has a full bar and while you’d expect wine to be the featured player at a small tapas bar, the bar and it’s patrons tend to lean more to the liquor bottles than the vino. The sangria is homemade and the mojitos is a favorite at the bar. There’s also bottled beer including: Estrella, Corona, Beck’s and Amstel Light. The bar features a whopping 36 tapas plates to choose from including: Prosciutto Fresh Mozzarella W/ Tomatoes, Olives, Sopresatta for two; Manchego Cheese with Apples; Spanish Style Beef Patties and Spanish Sausage sautéed in onions, peppers and a wine sauce. if you’re a little hungier there’s a Skirt Steak cooked Argentine Style available, a Spanish Sausage sandwich and a Cubano sandwich to choose from. Some of the main entrees include: The House Combo-Skirt Steak and Loin Of Pork; Jumbo Shrimps W/ Scallops; Paella Valenciana which is a mixture of chicken sausage, clams and mussels and Almejas Verde which is clams with green sauce and a side of rice.

Happy hour  runs seven days a week here (Monday through Friday, noon to 6pm, Sunday, 2:30pm to 6pm) with four dollar well drinks, 4 buck Jagermeisters and six dollar mojitos.

Café Andalucia
533 Ninth Ave. (Near 40th St.)
212-736-9411

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Bonus Illustration

Jaws just sent in this illustration in regards to what I drank last night. Nice work, Jaws!

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010—Bar 233

Day 233—Monday, August 30th, 2010
Dave's Tavern
We’ve had two extra-bright bar crawls in the last two days. I actually have some color on my skin and I need to bring it back to my usual shade of light green.So, tonight it’s back to the basics and we’re off to Dave’s Tavern in Hell’s Kitchen. The name alone is nice and simple and I read that they have free peanuts, reason enough to make this place worthy of being bar number 233.

Okay, here we are at 30th and Ninth Ave. Twelve blocks up and we're there.

And baboom! Here we are, Dave's Tavern.

Nice and dark in here and plenty of seats at the bar, perfect! Hey, where's the free peanuts?

The lovely and friendly bartender, Natalia serves up your basic Budweiser.

And I happily accept it. Cheers!

Here's a shot of the bar from the far angle.

Some of the drafts available at the bar.

Bill's been a regular here for over 15 years, even though he's only lived in the city for two years. Before that he lived in Boston and would come to New York on the weekends and hang out here. Now that's dedication I can respect!

This is an original painting that hangs on the back wall featuring some of the regulars at Dave's Tavern.

And speaking of regulars, here's another friendly one up at the bar, Todd.

I don't know this guy's name, but with all that white stuff coming out of his nose, he's either got a cold or a problem with the old Devil's Dandruff.

Back at the bar, Natalia is taking care of business.

There's a pool table in the back room.

And if you've indulged a bit too much, you can sleep it off on this comfy, green leather couch.

A vintage Yuengling's sign hangs on the brick wall behind a low-lit chandelier.

Here's Natalia pouring a pitcher.

And here's the pitcher, but who's drinking it?

Here's the pitcher drinkers, who have stepped away from the bar to pose for the 365 camera. From left: Jose and Sonya.

Todd and Natalia put some songs on the jukebox.

Everybody dance now!

Goodnight, everybody!

Review
Dave’s Tavern is a no-frills place where the jukebox and drinks are king. The bar is filled with friendly regulars who make the occasional visitor from the nearby Port Authority bus station feel like one too. The bartenders are friendly and female and the jukebox is loud and usually playing vintage to ‘80’s hard rock. Loudly. They like it loud in here.

It’s a full bar with a generous selection of bottled beers and draft beers including: Budweiser, Yuengling, Blue Moon and Bud Light. Happy Hour runs from Monday to Friday, 4pm-7pm with various drink specials including three dollar Budweisers and Yuengling.

Dave’s Tavern is a nice place to enjoy a drink or five, but where were the free peanuts?

Dave's Tavern
574 Ninth Ave. (Near 42nd St.)
212-229-2122

For Clacky and Fitzy: