NYCBP Blog

Jenn and Patience will bartend at the reunion.

It is hard to believe that three years ago tonight, The Village Idiot locked its doors. It was a sad night for all, but the saddest have been the Regulars who were scattered to the four corners of the city. Some take solace at Tom's other two saloons, The Patriot and Yogi's. But now it is time for a reunion for old customers and bartenders, organized by the old Regulars. This will be Friday, Aug. 17, 2007, at Yogi's. Jenn and Patience will be the bartenders; both were veterans at the old Idiot.

We had an NYCBP reunion in April. It was lightly attended, but old customers from as far away as Long Island and Connecticut came in for it. It was also held at Yogi's.

If you missed going to the Idiot, you really missed out on the city's greatest dive bars. It went so far beyond what a dive bar stood for. At one time, before the city put a stop to it, the bartenders would sell you goldfish to feed to the snapping turtles that were kept in a big tank at the end of the bar. One night, during a Maxim party, a blonde got on the bar and flashed the crowd. No big deal, happened all the time. But then she squeezed her tits and squirted milk on the crowd.

So the Idiot was more than a bar. It was a circus, a freak show, and a glorious watering hole. They had 2 kinds of bartenders: the ones that had a deer-in-headlights look, that didn't really get the mayhem going on around them, and were just there for the money. They didn't last long. But the very best bartenders were the ones that got it, that were in on the joke, that you were not just slumming, you were a witness to a train wreck and a car wreck, so get another whiskey! The best bartenders just kept the drinks flowing, even if there were people passed out all over the place.

I can't say that any other bar in New York will ever live up to that debauchery, but at the reunion on August 17, we can all compare notes. See you there.

Labels: events

If you saw this in a dive bar, you would probably freak out. But see this video clip of countertop that is called the iBar.

read more | digg story

Labels: web finds

You have to tip your hat to any bartender who blows fire. I just came across this video from Red Rock West of Ruthann blowing fire.



Anyone know the name of the song on the jukebox?

Labels: bartenders, video

I just love Murphguide. Whenever you want to know what is happening around the bars, he is the man. Like today, I woke up and said, "I want to see some bartenders in bikinis, where can I see that tonight?" And of course, Sean knows. So look at this from Murphguide:

Bikini Beach Party "Bartenders in Bathing Suits" at Tequila Jack's 1668 Third Ave (between 93rd & 94th St.) Hot bartenders pouring drinks in their bathing suits. $2 Domestic Drafts if you wear beach attire. Girls wearing bikini tops get a FREE shot. $3 Coronas all night. Arrive by 10pm to see the bartenders reveal their beach attire! $2 cover. RSVP: tequilajacks@yahoo.com

Labels: bartenders, events

I guess Murph is too refined to keep calling these booze cruises... but his summer cruise is Thursday, August 23. These are always fun, and the best way to see the city. It is on Marco's biggest boat, the Temptress. It is classy and a good time. It draws an older crowd, if you fit that demographic.

Murph says: If you are one of those in your group that likes to help bring people together, please call me on 212 717-9955 and we can discuss group rates.

Summer Cruise in NY Harbor
Open Bar, buffet, DJ & dancing
More details coming soon

Sailing rain or shine
aboard:
The Temptress
World Yacht Marina
Pier 81 (12th Ave. & W. 41st St.)
New York, NY
Buy advance tickets here.

Labels: events

I was reminded by a hilarious piece in The New Yorker about the Hawaiian Tropic Zone about what a truly horrible bar it is. I have been there exactly three times, which was two times too many. I even went with my wingman, my cousin Joe, who normally would love bikini girls. This place sucks in a lot of ways: and that does not take into account that the bar DOES have gorgeous girls working there.

First, since NYCBP is a site about bartenders: they have terrible and slow bartenders. My GOD, 90 percent of the people there were ordering bottle beer. So what takes so freaking long? It was like they moved with weights tied to their ankles. The other thing about the bartenders was that they made zero attempt to be nice or friendly. Why would I go back?



Second, the bar is set up like a waiting room to get to the tables. I was not there for $20 chicken fingers. I wanted a Bud, at the bar, and to look at the girls. As you can see, they do have babes on staff. There is really only one good feature about the bar: there is a runway over it, so that a couple times a night, the waitresses walk across it. The New Yorker had a funny comment about that. It sounds better than it really is.

If you think it is like Hooters or Scores, than you are doing those two fine establishments an act of slander to include them in the same league. HTZ is some kind of tourist-savvy, flashy, glossy, sports place. It does not work as a bar.

I am going out on a limb here: This place will be closed within 12 months. Maybe Lil can take over the lease, and move Coyote Ugly into the space.



When I was there, they had one bikini bartender, and two guys, behind the bar.



If you are interested, there is an Earthcam in the place.

Labels: bars, bartenders

Something in Canada called Urban Male Magazine ran a contest several months ago for the 20 hottest bartenders in the country. I know we Americans make fun of Canada a lot... that should probably stop right now. They can do something right.

Labels: web finds

Bartender skewers the Top 10 myths about drinkmasters

read more | digg story

Story includes link to other "Won't Tell You" subjects

read more | digg story