Sunday, June 7, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
96. Nevada Smiths
Last night, Jackie, Greta, Swigsalot, and I (Sipsalot) went to Nevada Smiths for a fundraiser. Located only two blocks away for my apartment, I had actually never really been there before! When I mentioned this to a friend, her response was, What?? You've never gone there to watch a soccer game?? No... I've never gone to Nevada's to watch a soccer game... Do you know me but at all... ?
Actually, I did go to NS once for a beer and was unimpressed with the dirty tables and clientele (the clientele were, perhaps, dirtier than the tables). So this sounded to me like an odd location to raise money for starving kids in Africa. Then again, maybe throwing a bunch of rich NYU students in a dirty, skeezy venue will evoke sympathy for the underprivileged who don't have the luxury of attending such classy hot spots as Pourhouse or Splash . . .
When my fellow crusaders and I arrived, we were ushered downstairs to a private bar area that was . . . really nice? The layout--small tables lining two walls, leaving room for a very decent-sized dance floor--created the prefect combined atmosphere of, "come relax with your friends" and "let's get drunk and freak dance." And that, we did, my friends . . . that we did.
The laid back, nice but not uptight environment was further enhanced by the3-4 tea candles set on each table. This decorating certainly made for a nice atmosphere, but I could not help thinking that one spilled mixed drink could result in disastrous consequences. Indeed, the room was eventually filled with a stench of burning who-knows-what when someone knocked a candle onto the beer-covered floor. But let's be honest, from the moment we all saw the massive amount of exposed flame, I think we all hoped something like that would happen, so I'm going to mark the incident as a "pro."
Other notable occurances include the time Swigsly was hit on by a girl and the time he was hit on by his "straight" male friend. Needless to say, Greta, Jackie, and I experienced no such flattery.
ID check? Yes. A big bouncer checked all of our IDs at the door, but it wasn't the "look-you-up-and-down, just TRY to show me a fake ID, I dare you" kind of experience all of us 21 and 22 year-olds are used to. This was, by far, the nicest bouncer I have ever encountered. I totally would have stayed to talk to him for a while, but, alas, we had a fundraiser to attend and African children are not going to buy books for themselves. (too much? I never can be sure.)
Price? I don't know what drinks normally go for at NS, but all party attendees received the benefit of $3 shots and beers and $4 mixed drinks. Probably the best deal I've seen since BBQ.
Overall, this place is perfect for a private party. The room is big enough to fit all your friends, but not so big that it looks like you don't have any friends. Definitely recommended for birthday parties and things of that nature. The room also displays about 4-5 flat-screen TVs. This is, of course, optional, but if it were my birthday party, I would make a slideshow of photos of myself (and friends, I guess), to project all night long. I'm no party-planner, but it's a suggestion.
In the end, Nevada Smiths is probably not the best destination on a random Friday night, but if you're looking to throw a party, definitely keep it in mind! I've also been told it's a great bar for watching soccer games . . .
Actually, I did go to NS once for a beer and was unimpressed with the dirty tables and clientele (the clientele were, perhaps, dirtier than the tables). So this sounded to me like an odd location to raise money for starving kids in Africa. Then again, maybe throwing a bunch of rich NYU students in a dirty, skeezy venue will evoke sympathy for the underprivileged who don't have the luxury of attending such classy hot spots as Pourhouse or Splash . . .
When my fellow crusaders and I arrived, we were ushered downstairs to a private bar area that was . . . really nice? The layout--small tables lining two walls, leaving room for a very decent-sized dance floor--created the prefect combined atmosphere of, "come relax with your friends" and "let's get drunk and freak dance." And that, we did, my friends . . . that we did.The laid back, nice but not uptight environment was further enhanced by the3-4 tea candles set on each table. This decorating certainly made for a nice atmosphere, but I could not help thinking that one spilled mixed drink could result in disastrous consequences. Indeed, the room was eventually filled with a stench of burning who-knows-what when someone knocked a candle onto the beer-covered floor. But let's be honest, from the moment we all saw the massive amount of exposed flame, I think we all hoped something like that would happen, so I'm going to mark the incident as a "pro."
Other notable occurances include the time Swigsly was hit on by a girl and the time he was hit on by his "straight" male friend. Needless to say, Greta, Jackie, and I experienced no such flattery.ID check? Yes. A big bouncer checked all of our IDs at the door, but it wasn't the "look-you-up-and-down, just TRY to show me a fake ID, I dare you" kind of experience all of us 21 and 22 year-olds are used to. This was, by far, the nicest bouncer I have ever encountered. I totally would have stayed to talk to him for a while, but, alas, we had a fundraiser to attend and African children are not going to buy books for themselves. (too much? I never can be sure.)
Price? I don't know what drinks normally go for at NS, but all party attendees received the benefit of $3 shots and beers and $4 mixed drinks. Probably the best deal I've seen since BBQ.
Overall, this place is perfect for a private party. The room is big enough to fit all your friends, but not so big that it looks like you don't have any friends. Definitely recommended for birthday parties and things of that nature. The room also displays about 4-5 flat-screen TVs. This is, of course, optional, but if it were my birthday party, I would make a slideshow of photos of myself (and friends, I guess), to project all night long. I'm no party-planner, but it's a suggestion.In the end, Nevada Smiths is probably not the best destination on a random Friday night, but if you're looking to throw a party, definitely keep it in mind! I've also been told it's a great bar for watching soccer games . . .
Nevada Smiths
74 Third Ave
(between 11th & 12th)
Torch ratings for private party:
(but I'd probably only give it a 1 on a regular night)
Friday, June 5, 2009
97. Splash
Splish splash, Swigsalot and Swallowsalot were takin' a bath.
Well, not really. We were just really sweaty after spending the night at New York's premier gay club, Splash.
When? Thursday evening, for Campus Thursdays. Time? We got there around 10:30 p.m. Yes, I know that's really early, but we had already been drinking for an hour and had nothing else to do, so we got there and found a quiet section of the bar downstairs.
Entry fee? Well, if you bring your college I.D. (and the invitation that they send out over their list serve) it's free! After midnight, it goes up to $5 with a college I.D. or $10 without. But that's total bullshit because they totally were charging some people $20.
Carding? Yes, hardcore. But on the first Campus Thursday of the month, it's 18+.
Bathrooms? Well, if you want an anonymous blow job from the guy in the stall next to you, it's totally possible. That being said, for being pretty trashy, they're actually quite clean.
Drinks? WAY TOO EXPENSIVE! For two bottles of Corona is was $7.50, but Bud Light was only $6.00. Bottles of Veuve were $125.00 and Moët were $150.00. A baby bottle of Möet was $25. Waste of money! Just be trashy like me, and bring a bottle of Vitamin Water spiked with Bombay Sapphire.
Staff? Attractive but inattentive.
Music? Amazing! But very gay. So if you want Britney and Madonna, it's your place.
Torch Rating for Campus Thursday at Splash:
(as compared to Rush)
(in general)
Well, not really. We were just really sweaty after spending the night at New York's premier gay club, Splash.When? Thursday evening, for Campus Thursdays. Time? We got there around 10:30 p.m. Yes, I know that's really early, but we had already been drinking for an hour and had nothing else to do, so we got there and found a quiet section of the bar downstairs.
Entry fee? Well, if you bring your college I.D. (and the invitation that they send out over their list serve) it's free! After midnight, it goes up to $5 with a college I.D. or $10 without. But that's total bullshit because they totally were charging some people $20.
Carding? Yes, hardcore. But on the first Campus Thursday of the month, it's 18+.
Bathrooms? Well, if you want an anonymous blow job from the guy in the stall next to you, it's totally possible. That being said, for being pretty trashy, they're actually quite clean.
Drinks? WAY TOO EXPENSIVE! For two bottles of Corona is was $7.50, but Bud Light was only $6.00. Bottles of Veuve were $125.00 and Moët were $150.00. A baby bottle of Möet was $25. Waste of money! Just be trashy like me, and bring a bottle of Vitamin Water spiked with Bombay Sapphire.
Staff? Attractive but inattentive.
Music? Amazing! But very gay. So if you want Britney and Madonna, it's your place.
Torch Rating for Campus Thursday at Splash:
(as compared to Rush)
(in general)
Thursday, June 4, 2009
98. Village Pourhouse
The Knights convene around the Bar Table for the first time at ye old Village Pourhouse.
Time of day? Lunch.
What we had? Four cheeseburgers. Six Bud Lights. Total? $32.29 without tip.
If you live anywhere around the East Village, you've probably been here late at night, but the Village Pourhouse offers a completely different scene during the day, and you'd never expect it to be a desirable lunch destination. Floor to ceiling windows allow for great people watching. It's an awesome sports bar, with great memorabilia and games always playing on the multiple big screen televisions. During lunch, the people are pretty subdued, with some notable exceptions, mainly one dancing man who appears to be one step above homeless. And it's incredibly laid back during lunch with awesome specials. For example, weekdays, the burgers are only $5.95, and Bud Lights are only $1. You cannot beat that for lunch!
Bathroom rating? According to Sir Chugsalot, it's fine. Nothing special but it was at least clean. Scale of 1 to 5, he would give it a 3. It wasn't exceptionally clean, but at least he would never get an S.T.D. from the bathrooms at the Pourhouse. Unfortunately, there was no bathroom graffiti.
Music? Good bar music. Phil Collins's version of "You Can't Hurry Love," Billy Joel's "Piano Man" and "Allentown."
Carding? Well, we didn't get carded but Sir Chugsalot is familiar with the bartender. No wink wink nudge nudge.
Staff friendliness? Very nice but not overly attentive.
Torch Rating for the Village Pourhouse, AT LUNCH:
Village Pourhouse
64 3rd Avenue(at 11th Street)
(212) 375-1396
99 bottles of beer on the wall...
New York City is filled with bars. Hundreds. Thousands. A million? By simply walking down any particular street in Manhattan, you can easily walk by a variety of establishments. Take MacDougall Street for example. Off the Wagon. The Grisly Pear. Minetta Tavern. Panchito's. Sounds amazing, right? Wrong. The trouble with New York is the fact that no one can ever remember which bars are good, and which bars are bad. Thus, we present, KNIGHTS OF THE BAR...
GOAL: Over the next few months, we will be working our way through 99 bars throughout the city, and chronicling our quest. We'll talk about the bars, the drinks, the crowd, etc. Everything that you've ever wanted to know about as many bars as we can make it to. And then, the next morning, once the hang over has vanished, we'll blog about them. We'll share our opinions and critiques. And hopefully we'll get some feedback from those reading.
Now for the Knights of the Bar...
Lady Sipsalot
Sir Swigsalot
Sir Swallowsalot
Sir Chugsalot
AND NOW, LET THE CHALLENGE BEGIN!
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