NYCBP Blog

OK. I got the boards back up. I am now trying to rescue all the old messages.

No Kidding! I am trying to get them back up this week! But don't hold your breath.

In the meantime, has anyone been to Gin Lane, in the location of the former Village Idiot? Walter sent me this pic (and a message: "Do you think it still smells like vomit and bleach?")

If you've been there, let me know how the ghosts are.

I had a reason to go to TimeOut last week. And as luck would have it, none other than Carmit was working. A friend of a friend was in town, so we headed over. If you know nycbp.com then you know we always have loved Stu and William's bar on Amsterdam Ave between 76th and 77th streets.

Carmit is hands-down the nicest bartender we know. Wait, nicest human being, we know. Always with the smile and the wink and the lets-do-shots attitude. We see her there Wednesdays, but she's there on weekends too. Make it your mission to drink with this woman, you won't forget it.

It was like old home week there that night. Erik Madden and his bag of photos (but not taking picture!).... Clay Waters and the stories and tales of NYC... John The Fake Cope, still a fake cop... Godzilla... almost all the regulars, just not Gator.

So we will be back. And until then, go and see Carmit!

Thanks to Clay for the photo, check out his site for more.

Labels: bartenders

OK, I am going to attempt to at least post one time a week. We'll see how that goes. Since I have let nycbp.com slide so much since I wrote my book. But I am tempted to blog today because I met such a cool bartender last night, I need to tell you about her.

Jess works Tuesday nights at Nice Guy Eddie's, which is one of the original nycbp.com bars. I can't lie, it's been 2 years since I was in the place. But since I was going to see Brookville across the street at Mercury Lounge, I was tempted. It was Jess that kept me there for longer than I wanted, which was going to just be 1 beer, but it turned into four, plus dinner!

Jess is that rare commodity in New York bartenders: she is good. So many SUCK these days. She actually is a throwback to the old days, when the bartender (1) remembers what you are drinking (which is not always the case, even tho my bottle says BUD LIGHT on the side, sometimes bartenders ask me, "what are you drinking?" well DUH; (2) she made conversation with everyone at the bar. All of them. That was nice. This was how I found out she is a singer and that she has a new CD out. There is a release party on Dec. 2 at 7:30 at Bar 40C (40 Avenue A, between 2nd and 3rd streets).

There are other reasons I liked her, and not because she is gorgeous, and friendly, and sweet, which she is all three. I think she is just cool as hell, and was obviously having FUN at work, which you often don't see bartenders having. A lot of times, I see the bartender back there, just grimacing, just trying to make it through her shift, not giving a care in the world. But Jess was not like that.

So if you are inclined to be down on Houston Street and Avenue A, go and see this bartender. And maybe check out her music too. When she's a star, you can tell your pals you had a drink with her. Hey, it happens.

It's good to be back!

(P.S. this photo is crap and she doesn't look like this anymore. She looks better, but I didn't have my camera, so I swiped this off her old web site. Sorry. Kill me. Her new web site has better pix).

Labels: bartenders