New York City Bartenders & Patrons

One of my favorite Irish bars in town is celebrating one year in business. Banshee Public House, 1373 First Ave. at 74th Street, is holding its 1st Anniversary Party on two nights, Tuesday, March 5 and Wednesday, March 6, beginning 8 p.m. both nights. Complimentary food, giveaways, raffle for prizes. I like this place, the bartenders are terrific and so is the Guinness. Check this party out; in a city filled with "Irish" (or "Oy-rish") pubs, this one stands head and shoulders above the rest.

Tonight is that vodka tasting party with the Penthouse Pets at Grand Central Terminal. See the Feb. 16 news item. I'll be there for sure!

What is it with Who's On First? They are like the Yankees, always stocking their roster with the best free agent talent. Following in the beer suds trail blazed by Chaundra & Liani defecting from the Cowboy Bar Czar to work for the Brothers Evangelista at their party-crazy bar on First Ave. Now I hear tonight at 11, another superstar on nycbp.com from one of the other bars here is trying out her stuff at Who's. I don't want to say too much, but show up tonight and see for yourselves what I'm being so secretive about...

Tonight is a good reunion for all oldtime Coyote Ugly regulars, it is the bar's 9th anniversary party. A lot has happened since the doors swung open lo these many years ago. I think the entire staff will be there. Lil is coming in from New Orleans for it. Should be a blast. I've been to the bar's other anniversary parties, they are always something to remember!

Thought that BINGO was the world of VFW halls and church basements? Think again! In New York, we play for booze and beer! At Nice Guy Eddie's, they are starting BINGO nite on Mondays (2/18) with Susie as your host; she was bartender of the week in January. You aren't playing for money, but for pitchers of beer, etc. And with 5 TVs, you can watch the latest Olympics scandal unfold, or groove to their cool '70s jukebox!

I can't wait to attend this event. Monday night next week. How can you go wrong? Vodka and Penthouse girls? Megan Mason, who was at Who's on First this week and is the Pet of the Year, is coming. Kevin R. Kosar, the editor of AlcoholReviews.com sent me an update. Here it is:

The AlcoholReviews.com-Penthouse Magazine Vodka Festival 2002

WHAT:
*Come taste unlimited samples of the world's finest vodkas, along with food and entertainment.
*Free gift bags for the first 500 guests.
*Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Uniformed Firefighter's Association Scholarship Fund.
*Vodkas present will include Grey Goose & Grey Goose L'Orange, Finlandia, Finlandia Lime & Cranberry, Goldenbarr Chocolate Vodka, Van Hoo, Three Olives, Pearl, STON of Estonia, Thor's Hammer, Rain, Kutskova, Charodei and Luxe of Belarusia, OP, Zytnia, Jazz, Blavod Black

WHO:
*Megan Mason, 2002 Penthouse Pet of the Year
*Courtney Taylor, Penthouse Pet March 2002

WHEN:
Monday, February 25th, 2002, 5:30PM - 8:30PM

WHERE:
Metrazur, Grand Central Station, East Balcony

For further details and tickets, surf to here.

Pat called from Who's On First. Like I needed something else to do on Wednesday. OK, you heard it here first. Megan Mason, the 2002 Penthouse Pet of the Year, is going to be at the bar on Wed. 2/13 from 9-10 pm signing autographs. Its a Bacardi promotion. I hope that Mark gets her to do a BJ shot.

The I Hate Toby Ellis Club started today! Post a message here about the obnoxious creative director from the Flair Bartenders Association (or read what others have to say about this jackass)!

This just in: the Coyote Ugly 9th Anniversary Party is Tuesday, Feb. 19. I hear Lil is coming back from her new home in New Orleans especially for it. I've been to about 4 or 5 of their anniversary parties; they are always crazy. Last year about five strippers showed up and went for it. Who knows what will happen this time?

You know how awesome Bellevue Bar is, the best bar in Hell's Kitchen. I stopped in there last nights to get some audio clips of Laurieanne & Tony... funny stuff! To top off the night, the owner, Jimmy Duff, had his new hearse parked out front. I hopped in with a gorgeous girl named Victoria, and Jimmy sped off. Wearing a top hat, Jimmy cruised through Hell's Kitchen, stopping off at Rudy's to show off the car to the staff there. What a ride! I took some pix, they'll be on the site too. Man that's a great bar, and what a cool staff too. You gotta go there!

Longtime site visitors may recall Brooke, a drink slinger at Red Rock West in 1999. She was a bubbly (only way to describe her) blonde dancer. Brooke sent me a message that she's joined a pop band as a singer-dancer. Mpress is trio from Florida, from the same hits factory that's turned out NSYNC etc. Brooke is the new lead singer, I guess she replaced someone.

It's always cool to hear that our old bartender friends are following their dreams, and that tending bar in NYC is a stepping stone on the ladder to success.

I have never been to Hong Kong. I have no idea where it even is. I know where Chinatown is, because I take the subway every day. But some Honk Kong site is linking to nycbp.com, and 2,000 visitors a day are coming here.

So, if you are reading this -- and reside in Hong Kong -- what the hell does this say???

I am in Hollywood, CA, for a few days. So far, I've not had very many good bartenders. They could use a lesson from their comrades in NYC, that's for sure. I really miss New York.

I am posting this message below, it was sent from New Orleans by Sara, the night manager at Coyote Ugly (the original one)... she helped open the new Coyote Ugly in the French Quarter, in time for both the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras... she sent in this photo of her and the Nawlins' staff (Sara in center)...

"New Orleans Coyote Ugly is crazy fun! sorry to say, it is everything that a person who's seen the movie would wish for...and more! The Coyote girls are sexy (breasts for days! - Tyra watch out!) -Coyote's tit's stay clothed even though it's New Orleans, Mardi Gras - guys...you'll live) and on any given night you have six buxom beauty barmaids to choose from. (not including the bonus merchandise girl.)

The bar top is huge and always packed with flailing female patrons; and the liquor license is 24 hours!!! GOOD LORD! Not as much Hank Williams in the juke (still enough to represent,) but more lady-luring hits like Stray Cat Strut, Ragdoll, and Hey Baby (No Doubt.) Be sure to stick around for the show stoppers: pour some sugar on me, sex bomb and devil went down to georgia.

All the barmaids do sultry choreographed dances to these songs that will knock your boots off! If you're lucky you might get a penalty shot (what's a penalty shot you ask? ...wow!) or a body shot (...double wow!) the drinks are strong and fast and the girls are hot, what more do we need in life?"