Sunday, October 24th, 2010—Bar 287

Day 287—Saturday, October 23rd, 2010
J.G. Melon
Live from New York it’s Saturday Night Cheeseburger. With the Ready For Prime Beef Player, Marty Wombacher and musical guest Iggy Pop. And now, tonight's host, J.G. Melon!

But first a word from our sponsor.

Tina Hennessey sent in a more than generous donation of $25.00 and I thank you mucho, Tina! All the best to you, Tim, your kids, my Godson, Brian and that little fucker of a dog, Rocky. Tell him he’s going to get barked at come Christmas time. Thanks, Tina and now, on with the show!

Union Square Park is bustling as we make our way to the subway station.

Here's the artist who simply wanted to be billed as, "The Artist from Union Square" with his painting of Fanelli's Cafe, a bar I need to include on this bar crawl.

Okay, let's make our way down into the inner bowels of the New York subway system.

It's bustling with people on this Saturday night.

And when I get to my stop a train has just pulled up. I love it when this happens!

As you can see, it's a full house in the subway car. And I think someone just farted. Never a good thing when the car is packed, but what are you going to do?

And through the magic of the internet, we're almost there.

And here we are, I love the neon sign.

Even though it's only 6pm, it's crowded in here, but I spy a seat at the bar.

And the lovely and friendly bartender, Kitty serves up a beer and flashes the 365 card.

Seated next to me were Sherry and Paul who live in the East Village, but Sherry told me she's been to my hometown of Peoria, Illinois in her travels.

And so we have a toast to Peoria. To Peoria, cheers!

A shot of the well-stocked bar.

Some of the melon art that hangs behind the bar.

Watermelon!

And of course there's the sign of a great bar overhead, a tin ceiling.

It's starting to fill up in here and people are waiting up front for a table.

And they'll be waiting for awhile, the back dining room is packed.

Here I am with the manager of the joint, Bob. Bob jokingly referred to himself as, "The mismanager."

The kitchen area is opposite the bar.

The sight of those burgers frying are making me hungry.

Here's David, who's replaced Kitty as the bartender. In between filling drinks, he took my order for a bacon cheeseburger.

As you can see, this place really packs them in at night.

Okay, the time is near, the condiments and napkins are placed...

And here it is, the J.G. Melon legendary bacon cheeseburger!

Here I am devouring it.

Goddamn, that is one tasty burger!

And here's Iggy Pop! Goodnight, everybody!

Review
J.G. Melon has been a neighborhood local on the Upper East Side since it opened in 1972. The bartenders are friendly and fast with a drink and the crowd is local, but friendly to newbies. The long wooden bar takes up most of the front space with the kitchen visible opposite. The dining room in the back is covered with checkered table cloths and people noshing on the infamous J.G. Melon cheeseburger. Melon-inspired art covers the wooden walls and there’s a red tin ceiling overhead. If you come on a weekend be prepared to wait for a table or a seat at the bar, this joint packs them in.

There’s a full bar with beers including: Heineken, Bass Ale, Pilsner Urquel and Corona. The food menu includes chili and several types of sandwiches and cottage fries, but take my advice, order the bacon cheeseburger. It’s one of the best in town and is served on the freshest roll I’ve ever had, which bartender David calls their secret weapon, and I agree.

J.G. Melon
1291 Third Ave. (@74th St.)
212-744-0585

Saturday, Sept. 25th, 2010—Bar 258

Day 258—Friday, September 24th, 2010
Bar Pleiades (Originally headed for Bemelmans Bar In the Carlyle Hotel)
Okay, last Friday went so well at Sir Harry’s in the Waldorf Plaza, I thought I’d try another famous hotel bar. Bemelman’s Bar is named after Ludwig Bemelmans, the writer and illustrator of chidren’s books, most notably the Madeline series. The bar features a mural of Madeline and her friends in Central Park which is the only surviving Bemelmans open to the public. Alright, tidy yourself up and it’s off to the posh walls of Bemelmans Bar. Tally ho and all that jazz.

And here we are, the Carlyle Hotel. Now it's off to find the bar.

And here it is, Bemelmans Bar. Kooky!

Holy shitballs, it's packed in here. Three deep at the bar and this guy's red shirt just burned out my left retina. Time to move on.

Time for a lonely walk on the Upper East Side.

Okay, here's another hotel, let's see what their bar scene is like.

Motherfucker, it's packed in here too. And these people look like asshole people. Time to keep moving on.

But one block away I spy this sign.

It's a bar in the Surrey Hotel. Let's keep our eyes crossed that this place isn't packed.

Yes! A dark, candle-lit bar with plenty of open seats. Looks like we're home.

And George the friendly bartender is happy to mix up a well-deserved drink. While I usually opt out for a beer, Bar Pleiades is a cocktail bar, so when in Rome: Rome, Rome Rome your boat...or something like that.

I ordered a cocktail called, The Fortune Teller and George expertly mixed it up. Here he puts the final flouish on the drink.

And here's the drink in all its glory. It was delicious!

A shot of the well-stocked bar.

The candle-lit lounge area opposite the bar.

There's lots of table and banquettes in the back of the bar.

Meanwhile back at the bar, bar manager Cameron serves up a beer to cleanse the pallette between cocktails.

Bar snacks!

A long shot of the bar. Hey, who's that down there?

It's Cameron's cute girlfriend, Katie enjoying a glass of wine.

The bar closes at midnight, so it's time for last call.

I ordered the drink called "P's and Q's" at Cameron's suggestion. Here George expertly mixes it up.

The drink is named after Cameron's friend, Paul Quin. To Paul Quin! Cheers, everyone and goodnight, everybody.

Review
Bar Pleiades located in the luxurious Surrey Hotel on the Upper East Side. The bar is dark, black and white and candle-lit, making it a perfect place for a first or second date or a late night rendezvous. There’s a lounge area opposite the bar with comfortable couches, chairs and tables and more tables and an open area with tables and banquettes in the back of the bar.

The drink menu is designed by bar manager extraordinaire, Cameron Bogue. Bar Pleiades is a cocktail bar and some of the specialties here include: the Fortune Teller which mixes Reposado tequila, lillet blanc, honey, cardamom and Chinese 5 spice grilled lemon; the Cornucopia which is made up of gin, kirsch, lemon, apricot and sage; the Beijing Mule which is saffron roasted pear infused vodka yuzu and house fermented ginger beer and the Ps & Qs which is bonded rye, cocchi americano, amer picon, cherry bark and vanilla bitters. There’s also a bar menu with offerings such as: Market Oysters, Crispy Prawns, Charred Octopus Salad and Beef Sliders.

Bar Pleiades
20 E. 76th St. (@Madison Ave.)
212-772-2600

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And now a video for Jaws (Fire up a martini and enjoy, Jaws!)

Monday, August 16th, 2010—Bar 218

Day 218—Sunday, August 15th, 2010
Becky’s (Originally headed for Maya)
Okay, I had planned on going to Coney Island today, but it’s been raining and they’re predicting thunderstorms all though the night. I’m not going to take the long subway ride just to have it rain on my parade. Coney Island’s open till the end of September, so I’ll try a Sunday before it closes.

I’m really craving Mexican food tonight (which always makes me think of facebook—you had to be there, and some of you were!) and found a Mexican restaurant on the Upper East Side which sounds great. It’s called Maya and the reviews I’ve read all give it high marks. And best of all, they have a bar (and I’m craving a Michelada—hello Tiki Bar Susie!) So...¡está apagado al maya que vamos, arreeeba!

I thought I'd splurge and take a cab rather than the subway.

And here's the obligatory camera out the cab window shot.

Here we are at Maya. I know Kari likes this place already!

We're too late for happy hour, but I can't wait to see the bar and lounge.

Well, the bar is about the size of a postage stamp and it's more than overcrowded. Looks like it's time to improvise...

And so begins a lonely walk in search of another bar and it's really starting to rain out here.

Well, after walking just a block, look at this. Let's check it out.

A few too many TV's for my taste, but fuck it, it's dark in here and I'm wet and starvin' like Marvin. Welcome to Sunday's bar.

Chris was the friendly bartender on duty and he happily served me up an ice-cold Budweiser.

Some of the lit-up bottles at the bar.

There's a nice view of First Avenue outside of the open windows up front.

Waitress Danielle was wearing this T-shirt because she lost a bet. I'll never tell what it says!

Some of the signage on the wooden walls in Becky's.

There's tables and chairs in the back.

A view of the bar from the back.

Here's Jake, a sometime regular with Danielle who's still hiding that shirt. Hey, you want to know what it says, go ask her, I'll never tell!

There's a large selection of drafts available at the bar.

Okay, time for my Sunday dinner. Chris suggested the Philly Cheese Steak Wrap. Sounds good to me.

Ask and you shall receive. Chris brings the dinner and it looks great.

Delicious!

Cheese, steak and peppers, mmmm.

Burp. Goodnight, everybody!

Review
Becky’s is a no-frills, come as you are pub. The bar is dark and wooden and lots of TV’s line the upper perimeter, all tuned to sports. The bartenders are friendly and so is the crowd, which are mainly neighborhood locals. It’s a relaxing place and there’s no attitude in here. Just a nice place to hang out and have a few drinks in a friendly surrounding.

It’s a full bar with an impressive 24 draft beers available. They also have a decent bottled beer selection and happy hour runs from Monday though Friday from 11am to 7pm featuring 4 dollar well drinks and wines, $3.25 bottles of Bud and Bud light and $4.40 pints.

The menu is your standard pub grub selection including wings, burgers, fish and chips and chicken pot pie. There’s also a half dozen varieties of ten inch pizza available including: Margarita fresh mozzarella and basil; Fajita steak or chicken with onions, peppers and salsa; Wisconsin premium cheese pie and a Veggie pie with mushrooms, onions and peppers.

Becky’s
1156 First Ave. (Near 63rd St.)
212-317-8929