New York City Bartenders & Patrons

Have you guys checked out New York on Tap? It has a really cool map that charts the bars in town. Plus lots of reviews and links. So far not many photos, but they are just getting going. They are also adding more original content. Click around on the neighborhood maps, they are nice.

Labels: web finds

Yesterday I wrote about Chumley's being on the edge of oblivion. This follows a wall collapse inside the landmark saloon. The press today was pretty much in agreement that the future of the bar is uncertain, but it does not look good.

What is a drag is that this didn't need to happen. The owner of the bar put in a building request, but went ahead and started working on the building without the city giving the OK papers. So now the owner has 3 violations, and the whole building is shutdown. If the inspectors find that the building can't be shored up and saved (this thing dates to 1830!) then it will probably get knocked down.

Any other landmarks near there that are also in danger?

Labels: bars, village

I finally got around to getting some questions sent to Johnny Wacko, one of the guys who works at Red Rock West Saloon. If you want to meet one of the more interesting people on the bar scene, chat him up. He always has a story to tell. I thought that it would be a good idea to do a quick Q&A with Wacko via Myspace. Here we go...

1. What are you thinking when you are working the door? Are you looking for potential troublemakers? Hot girls? Just counting down the minutes until you can go home?

I really never count the minutes to go home at The Rock. I am always so busy, time flies... Always looking for potential troublemakers, that never stops... I am not all about the Hot Chicks. I think some regular looking chick with a cool personality can be 100 times hotter then a smokin' chick with a silver spoon stuck up her ass.

2. What is one thing barflies don't know about that guy at the door?

I would say the four piercings in my balls, but they probably already know... I have a huge comic book collection. And I jerk off righty.

3. When you were a little kid, what did you want to grow up to be?

A bouncer.

4. What music are you listening to right now?

I went to see the sold out Black Sabbath at Radio City Music Hall on Friday. The old school Sabbath with Dio. I am going to see Lacuna Coil and Stone Sour tomorrow... And I don't plan on missing Wierd Al Yankovic at the Westbury Music Fair this summer (20 Plus costume changes, the man's a genius).

5. Who would win this fight: the guy with nunchucks & martial arts moves, or the guy with a baseball bat and speed?

The dude packin' 9mm of metal, who knows he is paying attention too. I would say it all comes down to heart. Even the biggest and baddest have the potential to get their asses kicked. The average street fight is over in 30 seconds unless they are pussies.

Thanks, Johnny. See you at the bar.

I would like to thank all the amazingly awesome people who have been regulars at Red Rock over the years. That place would have been nothing with out you..

And to this day some of my best friends in the world have been the bartenders who have worked there they have shared the good times the bad times and have been a huge part of my life I am proud to call these ladies friends. Ms Tracy,Ms Jessica,Ms Noelle,Ms Allison,Ms Alicia,Ms Rachel, Angela,Ms Mellisa,Ms Michelle,Ms Amanda,Ms Ali,Ms Kate,Ms Melony,Ms Annie,Ms Erin,Ms Jenny,Ms Heather,Ms Kimmy,Ms Melina,Ms Trish,Ms Halia,Ms Amy,Ms Marney,Ms Ruth Ann, Ms Shana,Ms Tia,KIM O. I feel when a Red Rock bartender has mastered her craft and they get in my phone I put a Ms in front of their name :)

And some awesome Bouncers who have kept my fat ass from being broken into pieces and taught me the trade: Rocco, Tatonka, Marcel, Larry-junior (My Brother),Big Chris, little Mike,Steve from Harley and Steve from the Roxy, Mike the Marine, Rodney, Fireman Mike, Phil, Repo, Biker John, Phil and his Brother Anthony, little chris, Archangel, Richie, and lets not forget Wayne... Spanky, Iggy and Prince.

and one more person to thank John Yonkus for having a bar that is so unique that is could mass this vast array of talent....

Labels: bars, bouncers, Interviews

Earlier today word spread that one of the most venerable bars in Manhattan was doomed due to structural damage. Reports of a wall collapse inside Chumley's led reports to say that the city was going to force the building to be razed. As of tonight, the building is closed and all residents are evacuated. The fate of Chumley's is up in the air.

Chumley's, at 82-86 Bedford Street, is a legendary bar in the Village for many reasons. First, and I hope this makes it into the newspapers tomorrow, is that it has given all barflies one of the most-recognized terms in existence. To be "eighty-sixed" (thrown out) of a bar is a direct connection to Chumley's. The way I was told (and everyone who goes to Chumley's, whoever takes them there, tells the story) is that back during Prohibition (1920-1933) when the law came in the front door, the bartender would yell "86!" which meant for everyone to exit through the side entrance, which is at 86 Bedford.

It also has a literary reputation that can't be beat. The bar is covered on every wall with book jackets going back decades. There are photos of writers all over. But what makes it really special is the staff: all firefighters. It was for this reason that in the time period after 9/11, a lot of people were drawn to it.

Chumley's is a classic old bar, and it would be a pity if it never opened again. Here is to steel support beams, scaffolding, and new bricks to shore it up again.

Labels: bars, village