NYCBP Blog

So this will function as my Cinco de Mayo post for the day. I had heard of "kosher" tequila and it sounded made up. And it is. As the Times finds out:

“It’s a marketing gimmick, but it’s legitimate,” said Martin Silver, 70, whose father started the company after the end of Prohibition.

Agave 99 is the brand, and surprise, it is from the same people that put out my favorite taxi and bus ads, for Georgi vodka.

Would you drink it? Mazel tov!

Labels: drinking, news

Word comes in from Brooklyn the Borough of a new bar in Prospect Heights that is by the former owner of Siberia, Tracy Westmoreland. It is to be called Manhattans and opens at 769 Washington Ave.

“Hipsters call the city the Manhattans, the name grew out of Brooklyn,” he said over the phone two days before unveiling the new saloon. “Hopefully when enough people know the bar, when they’re making plans to go out, they’ll say, ‘Wait, are we going to the city, or are we going to Tracy’s bar?’ It’s a perfect circle.”

While the article does mention Siberia, it doesn't mention Tracy's bar that he owned before that, which was one of my favorites of all time: KGB. It was located in the 50th Street station on the IRT. You had to actually be in the subway station to get into the bar. It was glorious and one of the greatest dives in the city. When it went tits up, forced out by the MTA, it was alleged that Jimmy Fallon (and my pal Luke) helped Tracy move to Siberia Bar. I think he named the new place Siberia because of the Soviet connection to his old place, which legend had it was a dead drop for Russian spies.

I never fell in love with Siberia Bar, like so many others did. I preferred the much cooler and way more friendly Bellevue Bar, which was around the corner. When Jimmy Duff ran Bellevue Bar, it was heaven. It had the best vibe, best music, and most incredible bartenders. It was always a freakshow. Jimmy moved to Brooklyn five years ago and opened Duff's, and I believe Tracy was a part-owner of the old Bellevue, which folded soon after Jimmy went across the river. Now Tracy has followed Jimmy to Brooklyn.

So now there is a "new" Siberia, located in Brooklyn. will it take off?

[UPDATE: New York Observer has an interview too]

Labels: bars, Brooklyn, drinking

Did you watch the president's speech last night? There was one topic he did not mention, in all that talk about banks, schools, the war in Afghanistan:

Alcohol sales are down.

I was shocked by that. Particularly since movie ticket sales are up. It seems to me, if the economy sucks, you'd either go to see something like Transformers 2, or else buy a 12-pack and go home and watch porn.

According to Bloomberg News:

Beer sales fell the most, 14 percent, in last year’s fourth quarter. They accounted for 61 percent of the $111.9 billion in alcohol sold to drink at home. Wine sales retreated 1.6 percent and sales of liquor slid 0.9 percent.

There is more here about the startling statistics. Let's just hope we get over this recession soon.

Labels: beer, drinking, news

I have always liked the Times blog about drinking. This installment really makes it clear how the "downpour" works and dispels the myth of premium spirits. I bartended a little in a past life, and we never did this, because we never had the time or energy to sit there and pour cheap hootch into the premium bottles. (I do know of one bar that did this; I saw them do it in the basement). I love this part:

The bar staff dubbed the place “The Make-Believe Ballroom.” We obviously downpoured to keep liquor costs down, which helped the house. But it also allowed us to buy back more drinks for customers, which got us better tips. It was a fairly busy place and I worked there for three years. In all of that time only twice was the validity of a cocktail’s ingredients questioned.

Have any of you bartenders and patrons experienced this? Or have a working knowledge of a funnel-and-bottle operation in a back room of your bar or saloon? This is a great blog, and although he is talking about Elaine's, it could just as well be an NYCBP bar.

Labels: bartenders, drinking

The Times has the story today that The Holland Bar is coming back from the dead. This is such good news on so many levels. It is also a sign of the times: The bar got back into its old spot because the landlord couldn't get anyone to rent the space with a jacked up rent.

According to Mr. Kelly, who has owned the bar since 1998, the landlord refused to renew the lease in the hopes that he could make more money converting the building for residential use or selling it off. But such plans apparently did not work out, and the landlord offered Mr. Kelly his old space back starting Jan. 1, albeit at a 20 percent increase in the rent. Now the Holland is scheduled to reopen its taps as soon as Wednesday.

This is great! And I am glad the Times finally is paying attention to dive bars. It totally missed the closing in 2008 of Yogi's and Red Rock West.

Labels: dive bars, drinking, hell's kitchen

So we finally heard from Jimmy Duff about what he is doing with his bar in Billyburg. It is moving about a mile next week. The scoop:

Some facts for ya:

The last night at DUFF'S present location is Saturday, November 29. "Last Call at North 3rd Street" (This location at North 3rd will remain open afterwards as Rock N' Roll dive bar THE BUNKER).

DUFF'S will be opening in our new location the following weekend at 168 Marcy Avenue in South Williamsburg, December 5th and 6th, along with all the DUFF's employees & jukebox. The new location is approximately 1 mile from the current North 3rd Street bar. We hope you'll join for some of the best parties of the year, and thank you for your continued support!!

Labels: bars, bartenders, Brooklyn, drinking, press releases

Well 2008 has been brutal to classic bars in Manhattan, and this was felt most on the Upper West Side. It looks like the P&G, which we have been following for some time. Is now about to bite the bullet. We got this message from our pal Robin, who was in town recently:

I had to visit my old drinking hole and check on its' status. I spoke to Andrew and then to Steve , who gave me the bad news of the final date for the P & G. It will occur on Dec 31. There is good news from Steve that the family will be moving the P&G to I think 86th and Amsterdam. Maybe you can clarify the location a little better. I understood from Steve the P&G neon will be going with them as will some of the rear bar. I was fortunate enough to hoist a few before it closes. I hope you do a little piece on your website. It will truly be missed.

This is pretty disgraceful to lose such a great neighborhood bar. We need a big NYCBP night out at the bar very very soon.

Labels: drinking, patrons, upper west side

I saw this on The Feedbag:

Village Pourhouse on the Upper West Side has implemented a new policy. If you take a cab to visit the new spot, the Pourhouse will match your cab fare in the form of a bar tab. For instance, if you are on the LES on a Saturday night and you are ready for a change of scene, but can’t imagine coughing up the dough for a cab to the Upper West Side, have no fear. Direct the cabby to Amsterdam between 108th and 109th, ask for a receipt when you arrive, and the bartender will start your tab with a credit for the same amount as your fare.

An excellent concept! Maybe Tommy should try this at The Duck?

Labels: drinking, patrons, upper west side

Where to watch the election returns tonight? A bar? Your apartment? There is something about watching history being made in public, like you would have to watch a Game 7 of the World Series in a bar, right? And do you want to be at home, alone, with a big news story like this? As history is being made?

I think going to a bar, with lots of drinks and celebrating, would be a lot more fun. If the election is a big sweep, then it would be a bigger party. If McCain concedes early... oh well.

The Post has some choices, among them Nation on West 45th Street, where bartender Allison pours drinks. According to the Post, there are a lot of places that are ready to see the action...

Not since the Giants shocked the Patriots in the Super Bowl 10 months ago have

Manhattan's busiest bars been so excited about a contest. But instead of watching touchdowns, these crowds will be watching election returns.

"We're going to have a big crowd," said Stanley Meytin, a staffer at Southern Hospitality, a Southern-themed bar on the Upper East Side.

Over on Gothamist, they have some suggestions too.

If you want to have a drink in front of you while watching the results get tallied, there are innumerable of options. SideBAR and the Village Pourhouse are both hosting election day parties...complete with presidential and vice presidential look-a-likes who will pose for pictures with attendees. Obama Mamas and Macallan McCains will be served and an $11.04 Red, White & Blue menu will be available. Bonus: red and blue beer will be poured.

Have a great time tonight watching the election returns!

Labels: bars, Democrat, drinking, patrons, Republican

I hereby apologize to all my barfriends and bartenders: Because of work (I’ve been called the hardest-working person in my biz) and family issues, I was unable to fulfill my obligations this weekend to go out drinking.

Labels: bars, beer, drinking, Eddie Goldman, Janet, New York, Yogi’s