NYDrinker

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[nydrinker]

New Freddy's Bar

627 5th Ave, Brooklyn (Between 17th and 18th Streets) Visited 11pm on a Saturday, day after public opening

Freddy's is alive!

One night after Freddy's officially reopened two miles from their long occupied space now in the footprint of the Atlantic Yards project, the bar managed to retain their trademark energy with their familiar activist-minded crowd and happily dancing bartenders.

Those who frequented their old location will quickly notice the roomy new digs. More space between the bar and the booths, behind the bar for the bartenders, in the back for the tables, even bigger bathrooms (with more space on the walls for sharpie messages). Bigger bar means more taps, and Freddy's complied by increasing the number from 5 to 12, and bringing in newbies Fuller's, Smuttynose, and Sixpoint, while keeping staples Bud, Sierra Nevada, and Guinness. On the other hand, the already small backroom was even smaller, but that should only make for louder and sweatier concerts back there.

But other than the space, much of new Freddy's is so familiar it's eerie. The booths and tables made the trip, as did the bar (with the chains of justice) and the swiveling wood barstools with back/arm rests. Eclectic art still adorns the place and a TV playing the videos that always seem to go with Freddy's music. $3 Miller High Life bottles and PBR cans, $4 Buds and Bud lights, and $5-6 imports and whiskey mean the new location doesn't mean new prices. And though Brooklyn Dodgers hats were spotted, Brooklyn Brewery brews remain unwelcome.

It's unique to visit a bar where the bartenders are so happy to be back they often forgot drink prices and the regulars so happy to be drinking that they forgot Freddy's cash only. Almost nothing could dampen the mood and take the smiles off everyone's faces, except the brief look of disappointment when they noticed longtime manager and now co-owner Donald O'Finn was taking a much deserved day off. But knowing that Donald will be back behind the bar and that the spirit of Freddy's was back quickly put smiles back on everyone's faces.

(photo via WNYC's Abbie Fentress Swanson)

[nydrinker]

Drinking on the Staten Island Ferry

There's something about drinking on modes of transportation that gets me excited. Mainly because the majority of the time in New York City, there's no drinking allowed when in transit (ie. walking, subway, driving). When you can get on a free ferry, pay only $3-4 for beers (more for the 25oz Fosters), and take in stunning views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Lower Manhattan, it almost makes me want to move to Staten Island.

On a 25-minute boat ride, you need to get your beer in hand early, which means an efficient embarkment and knowledge of beer vendor location. There are two main classes of ferries that run during the day, the thinner and taller Molinari-class, and the wider and shorter Barberi-class.

The Molinari-class consists of the Guy V. Molinari, the Sen. John J. Marchi, and the Spirit of America ferries, and are the newer of the two main classes of ferries. They have more floors, so when boarding, stay to the sides that take you up the set of stairs. The beer vendor will be in the middle of the ferry on the upper level.

The Barberi-class consists of the Samuel I. Newhouse and the Andrew J. Barberi (which has crashed twice). They are the highest passenger capacity ferries in the world, able to transport 6,000 passengers at a time. They are much wider, but lower. Stay in the middle of the boat when boarding to avoid staircases. Walk straight down the middle and the beer vendor will be on the middle of the entrance floor.

Once you have your beer, and perhaps a hot dog or some popcorn, sit back and enjoy the view. And take comfort in knowing you have another 25 minute return trip up ahead.

(photo from the very exhaustive siferry.com)

[nydrinker]

Kudos to the year long bar crawl

NYDrinker has to raise a pint to our friend and fellow New York Drinker, Marty Wombacher, who earlier this week just completed his year long bar crawl. His goal? To have at least three drinks at a new bar every day, for 365 days in a row. His bar list, in the order in which he visited them, full with pictures and a review of each bar, can be found here.

Some highlights:

Marty profanity-laden review of House of Brews, the "worst bar in the world," as well as House of Brews owner Tony Quinn's response.

Our very differing reviews of The Parlour in Midtown. His review is here.

And in the spirit of being impressed by year long bar crawls, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention Dan Freeman, who hit up an astounding 1,000 bars in a year in 2005. Though he was able to take days off while he completed his journey.

[nydrinker]

The Dry January

"I'm never drinking again!" The thought often creeps into ones head soon after the throbbing pain of the dreaded hangover is first realized. So it's not much of a surprise that on National Hangover Day, aka New Years Day, many a drinker are driven to a commitment of a dry January. Ten days into this year's dry January and I've already been tempted with that free drink at a goodbye party, the beers at a friendly poker game, or that nightcap when suffering from insomnia. Insomnia I'm self-diagnosing as my body being unaccustomed to the change in usual evening routine involving a drink of some sort. There are plenty of reasons a drinker decides to embark on this kind of adventure:

"Detoxing" after New Years Eve and a December full of holiday parties a.

Saving money after a free-spending holiday season.

Proving to yourself you can tackle the challenge.

Gaining perspective on just how many "unnecessary" drinks you consume on a weekly basis.

Whatever the reason is, cheers to those who chose to take on this adventure. I'll be with you every step of the way... well, maybe only for one more week. Let's be realistic here, there's only so much seltzer one man can drink.

[nydrinker]

This week in bars and drinking: World Cup Edition!

NYDrinker likes soccer. Any sport that provides an excuse to start drinking in the AM can't be bad (see Breakfast Beer Bar Crawl). We have a special section with World Cup lists, enjoy!

From NYDrinker:

Lilly Coogans, Cheap Shots, and Rum House go down An improved Woodwork, just in time for the World Cup Ulysses for one of the better pints of Guinness in the City

World Cup Bar Lists:

Interactive bar map with a census overlay of countries in the World Cup [WSJ] The top 5 bars to watch the World Cup in NYC [Metromix] Brooklyn World Cup watching [Brooklyn Based] Food based World Cup watching locations [Wined and Dined]

In other news: Makers Mark uncaps it's first new bourbon since the 50's, with stronger hints of caramel, spice and vanilla and at 94 proof [AP] Bia Garden opens up in the Lower East Side. Go for the Asian beer selection and outdoor seating, not for the food [Wined and Dined] Our friends at Wined and Dined creates the end all be all map of all you can drink brunches, use at your own risk [Wined and Dined] Eamonn's in the Financial District has reopened with a 25+ policy after being shut down for underage drinking [Grub Street] Backlash over the Edison "filiment lightbulb" trend that started 10 years ago. 5-10 times less efficient, and not trendy anymore [NYTimes] The 10 best bars for outside drinking [Village Voice] The 10 worst bars for outside drinking [Eater] Ditmas Park's Sycamore opens backyard bar [Grub Street] Big surprise here, most NYC bars will serve someone underage [NYPost]

[nydrinker]

Guinness Review: Ulysses

95 Pearl Street, Manhattan (Entrance on Stone Street)

Texture: 10/10 Perfect temperature led to a heavy Guinness with a thick head and dark color

Flavor: 10/10 Dry and bitter with a hint of chocolate, delicious

Technique and Presentation: 5/5 Three-step pour in a proper tulip glass

Overall: 25/25 Ulysses knows what it is doing when it comes to Guinness. White mustaches and an empty glass coated with foam back that up

[nydrinker]

UPDATE: Woodwork gets taps, shades

583 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn (At Dean St.)

A few weeks after we first visited Woodwork, a self described “sexy” soccer-only bar on Vanderbilt Avenue in Brooklyn, NYDrinker returned to find key improvements, making an already impressive bar even better.

Boasting an eclectic and affordable list of bottled beers (Red Stripe is only $3), NYDrinker was concerned about the lack of taps at the bar. It just doesn’t seem right not having a well poured Guinness during an early morning match. Upon return, we found six new taps including soccer bar favorites Magner’s and Guinness (which was kicked by 11pm), as well as Czechvar (the Czech Budweiser) and Goose Island (which was inexplicably served in a smaller glass than the other beers).

Another issue was the lack of blinds, which would create a terrible glare during afternoon games. Woodwork creatively tinted their windows which thankfully will reduce the glare and make all three of the TVs watchable.

Both of these improvements come just in time as much of the world, as well as Woodwork’s target demographic, get excited for the World Cup. Woodwork will be showing all World Cup matches, and replaying matches every evening. Additionally, as they will be expecting a crowd, some of the bigger matches may require reservation.

GQ called Woodwork one of the “best soccer pubs in America”, and while we can’t confirm that claim, NYDrinker will surely be spending plenty of time here during the World Cup.

[nydrinker]

Closings: Lilly Coogans, Cheap Shots and Rum House

It’s always sad to report on bar closings, especially when there's three in one weekend. But as they to say, whenever a door closes, a window opens, and NYDrinker will look forward to new establishments that take their place. Lilly Coogan’s 102 1st Avenue Not sure if it was the generic looking block lettering, bright red sign, or standard Irish name, but as many times as NYDrinker would walk by this 1st Avenue establishment, never once was there a desire to go inside. EV Grieve saw the gates down all weekend, and confirmed that it has closed. Cheap Shots 140 1st Avenue Another 1st Avenue bar, Cheap Shots, has been shut down due to illegal activity, according to NYC The Blog. A haven for underage NYU students, and a spot that would give free drinks on your birthday, it’s a miracle it has lasted this long. And with the NY Post reporting on bars that serve their underage intern, is it a matter of time before others on their list go down?

Rum House 228 West 47th Street Times Square is full of fancy hotel cocktail bars and expensive rooftop bars, so it’s sad to from Lost City that Rum House lost its lease and will close by the end of the year. Even worse because while kicking out one of the last old scrappy piano bars in the neighborhood means it’ll probably be replaced with an overpriced sports bar or cocktail lounge.

[nydrinker]

This week in NY bars and drinking

NYDrinker visits... Good Company, an "underutilized" beer garden in Williamsburg Black Swan, a Bed-Stuy bar with great drink selection and fantastic happy hour prices Killarney Rose, for our first of hopefully many "Guinness reviews" In other news:

Robert Sietsema from the starts a column tasting beers found in bodegas across the city, his first is Banana Bread Beer [Village Voice] Owners of Night of Joy had to endure headache after headache including a leak that caused $20,000 in damages [NY Post] Speakeasy Fail! My Little Secret put up an awning stating it was a speakeasy [Eater] A round up of early reviews of Penny Farthing in East Village including one from yours truly [Eater] A wine bar in Astoria serves wine on tap... this just looks wrong to us [Grub Street] LES beergarden Loreley is looking to open a spot in Williamsburg, as if they need any more [Zagat] The "keg tapping gang" at Superdive manage to open on weekends, and just weekends, for beer pong, wet t-shirt contests, and all you can drink champagne [Eater]

[nydrinker]

Guinness Review: Killarney Rose

127 Pearl Street (Between Wall and Hanover St)

Texture: 7/10 Head was thick, but beer was a bit cold, which made it carbonated and light

Flavor: 7/10 Beer had deep and rich flavor, Killarney Rose pours a lot of Guinness so it was fresh, the coldness masked some taste, but not too much, it was nice and bitter

Technique and Presentation: 2/5 Was poured using a 2-part pour, but bartender used a 16 oz non-tulip pint glass. Also, tap seemed to be flowing a bit too quickly, sign of too much pressure

Overall: 16/25 A solid Guinness, if they worked on the pressure, kept the temperature a bit higher, and used an imperial tulip glass, would be perfect.

[nydrinker]

Black Swan

1048 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn (Between Lafayette Ave and Clifton Pl) Visited 6:30pm on a Monday Whether it’s a sign of gentrification in Bed-Stuy, the result of a saturation of bars in nearby Prospect Heights, Clinton Hill and Fort Greene, or just filling a need in an area without a good beer bar, Black Swan has really drawn a crowd in its first month open. Boasting a strong and affordable beer selection, a wide range of spirits, a solid food menu, and a smoker-friendly backyard, Black Swan would rival any Park Slope beer bar.

A nice looking copper bar with stools and a ledge behind it, the bar area has one big TV tuned to ESPN. A dining room behind it with booths and tables provide eating area for the burgers and seafood Black Swan serves. Past the dining area is a small backyard with a couple of two person tables. At night, the ashtrays are put out and it becomes a haven for smokers.

More important is the great alcohol selection. Domestic microbrews include regional breweries such as Coney Island, Sixpoint, and Southern Tier, as well as beers from Left Hand, Speakeasy, and Bear Republic, with solid imports that include Radeberger, Boddingtons, and Fullers ESB. These mostly range from $5-$6, good prices to begin with, but during happy hour which runs until 8pm, they become $4-$5, a great deal for some of these fabulous beers. In addition to a good Scotch and Bourbon selection, Black Swan is stocked with great Rums, Gins and Tequilas, not just the formulaic Bacardi, Tanqueray and Cuervo, but rums like Santa Teresa and El Dorado, Gins like Cadenhead Old Raj 110RF, and tequilas like 1800 Proof 80 and Don Juilo. Properly conditioned cask ales are also a nice touch. Too often bars chill their “cask-conditioned” beer, which results in having to add carbonation, taking away from flavor. Black Swan does it properly with warm cask-conditioned ale and no added carbonation.

As the only game in the neighborhood, Black Swan is understandably crowded, especially during happy hour. But a knowledgeable and efficient staff, well laid out space, and great beer selection make this a great spot to grab a drink, regardless of what neighborhood you’re in.

[nydrinker]

Good Company

10 Hope Street (Between Roebling and Havemeyer St) Visited 4:45 pm, then again at 1 am on a Saturday At Good Company, a new indoor/outdoor bar at the site of the former Hope Lounge, NYDrinker found empty barstools and picnic tables, but not much in the way of company beyond that of a friendly bartender, who explained that the chef was running late and the DJ shows up around nine.  With $10 Bud Light pitchers, $5 PBR/shot deal, cheap eats (barbecue, $5-8), a sprawling outdoor space, and the sun shining high above, picture Kevin Costner staring out at an empty Field of Dreams, wondering, I built it, but will they come?

The word "underutilized" came to mind, and our bartender concurred, rattling off some ideas in development: more vegetarian plates and an outdoor PA to showcase singer/songwriter types, which may be a draw, or perhaps not.

Upon return, sundown fulfilled the promise of at least the second half of the bar's name.  The DJ's thumping beats, atypical for neighborhood bars, drew an older, frattish following, leaving the otherwise airy brick/wood interior feeling cavernous and NYDrinker desiring a little less Good Company and a little more Bad Company.  Serenity could still be found outdoors, where planters provide some welcome urban greenery in an area in need of such a respite.

Good Company has enough outdoor space to capitalize on the ongoing beer garden craze that has day-drinkers fleeing Manhattan to spend their weekends playing hipster bingo in the boroughs, but the tap offerings are few and disappointingly generic.  There is a wonderful utility to cheap beer, but cheap beer hardly makes a destination when the corner bodega still offers bombers of the Banquet for $1.50.  Still, summer in the city is long and hot, and it takes a lot of beer to help you forget that you can't afford to take a vacation.

[nydrinker]

This Week in Bars

NYDrinker visits...

Penny Farthing, a large bar hoping to attract a "grown ups" on an East Village street full of college kids. Night of Joy, a Williamsburg rooftop bar whose rooftop is currently closed Cienfuegos, an East Village rum bar full of attractive women... and a squirrel The Counting Room, a Williamsburg brunch by day, swanky lounge by night

In other news: The venerable Frank Bruni starts a column on New York drinking life that will run in the Times every other week. He visits PJ Clarke's to chat with a "bartender's bartender." [NY Times]

O'connors, in North Park Slope, one of the city's best dives, may be expanding. [Brownstoner]

The Alan Harding run food truck at Hot Bird in brooklyn is almost ready. [Brownstoner]

Wined and Dined puts together a list of spots to watch the World Cup. [Wined and Dined]

LES mainstay Max Fish's owner tries to relocate, but was turned down by the Community Board. [Lo-Down]

Unrelated, popular Williamsburg bar, The Woods, tries to add backyard space, and is also turned down by the community board. [Brooklyn Paper]

Eater does a run down of reviews at the hyped LES tiki bar Painkiller, including one from yours truly. [Eater]

[nydrinker]

The Counting Room

44 Berry Street (Corner of N 11th St) Visited 6:30pm on a Saturday

The Counting Room is a bi-level bar with a bit of a Jekyll/Hyde complex.  By day, it is a swank brunch spot with a robust wine and boutique beer offering.  But at night, the basement opens offering drinkers a large, dark space to enjoy cocktails.

NYDrinker happened upon the Counting Room in the middle of this somewhat awkward transition.  The basement was not open, but a bottle of milk stout ($7) provided enough satisfaction.  "Large format" vintages are also available for the connoisseur and priced at the same level as a good bottle of Malbec.  Speaking of wine, in addition to glasses, both half and full bottles are available of almost all offerings, excluding sparkling.

The upstairs embraces a wine bar ambiance- an open, airy space with brick walls, long communal tables flanked with benches, a wood bar (maple?), and designer light fixtures that incorporate mason jars.  Beers are served in wine glasses and short tumblers.  Chefs, outfitted in checkered pants and jackets behind the bar, are in charge of the "Bites" menu.  While not too much food was being ordered at the time by the handful of patrons, the chef duo continually stirred the fragrant chili and prepared pretty, but overpriced meat and cheese plates.  Sandwiches will run you $12-14 and none sounded too inspired. Fancy brunch spots and dark spaces to enjoy cocktails seem to do quite well in this area in the heart of Williamsburg. Why not combine the two?

[nydrinker]

Cienfuegos

443 East 6th Street (Between 1st Ave and Ave A) Entrance in back of Carteles Sandwich Shop Visited 6:30pm on a Friday The people behind Bourgeois Pig, Death & Co., and Mayahuel recently opened Cienfuegos, a rum focused cocktail lounge in the LES. Customers feel like they’ve entered a “Caribbean Version of Toyland” once they climb the stairs to Cienfuegos at the back of Cuban sandwich shop Carteles. Whether it is the semi-secret entrance, brightly colored interior, or delicious rum based cocktails, Cienfuegos brings out beautiful women and makes men crave a fine Cuban cigar, among other things.

Don’t come to Cienfuegos expecting to grab a seat at the bar. Here you won’t see the creation of your handcrafted cocktail or get to chat with your bartender unless you make an awkward stop en route to the extremely feminine tiny restrooms. Just make sure not to step on the neighborhood squirrel that stopped in through the window during this visit.

The cocktail menu can be intimidating at first, and you may lose track of a cocktail you liked due to the number of pages, but each of the cocktails sampled by NYDrinker lived up to the price tag (from $14 for a single serving to $35 for a punch bowl). The other ordering option is to order dedos, or fingers, of sipping rum for $7 each. If you are still confused then the helpful waiters/waitresses can guide you toward a decision based on individual tastes.  For the less adventurous beers are available for $8 and wine from $9 to $11. The fact that you can’t see the bartender make your drink is a huge disappointment for cocktail aficionados. Everything else at Cienfuegos is worth the visit if you are lucky enough to get one of their first come first serve tables.

[nydrinker]

Night of Joy

677 Lorimer Street (Corner of Meeker Ave) Visited 5:45 pm on a Saturday The name isn't Afternoon of Joy, is it?  The answer is no. So don't make the same mistake that NYDrinker made of thinking that a bar that tauts roofspace as an amenity would serve sunshine-seekers.  Open at five.  Take notice.  Also, about that roof, you can't go up there.  Not yet at least. According to our proprietor/bartender, at last week's soft opening some "friends and family" found it prudent to climb over a fence and scale the wall down to the street.  Insurance companies tend to frown upon that kind of liability, so a taller fence is under construction and the roof should be back online within a week or so.

For most, the BQE is hardly a romantic thoroughfare.  Bitterness is particularly undying in Italian Williamsburg-Greenpoint, where the road cut diagonally through the street grid, displacing sacred sites along the way.  There is, perhaps, an appropriate irony then that the proprietors of Manhattan's best date bar have sited a new brand underneath the elevated expressway.  If The Dove is the best place for a first date, maybe Night of Joy is the best place to gently let someone down.  Cut her off, then call up your buddies to suck down some fancy drinks over a game of pool, while she heads home, a bit tipsy, dodging gypsy cabbies and piles of pigeon shit on her walk home to the subway.

About those drinks: consult your bartender for a handwritten menu of curiosity-fulfilling concoctions ($9).  Not sure how you'll like beet vodka?  Our bartender offered a taste to ease anxieties.  Welcome indeed, as was the cilantro bloody Mary.  Available with vodka or tequila, this was an especially refreshing rendition of the hangover classic.  For the uninspired, Night of Joy offers some more traditional choices, including $6 drafts, but NYDrinker did not have that problem. Perhaps as intriguing as the cocktail menu is Night of Joy's painstakingly calculated aesthetic, which playfully borders on overload.  Wood floors are broken up by ornately patterned tiles that look like oriental rugs, but without the hassle of dust mites or carpet cleaners.  Upholstered furniture, textured wallpapers, fireplace, marble tables, and a constellation-y ceiling painting evokes a timeless archetype of a rich person's study/pool room.  Welcome to the Johnson's meets The Great Gatsby.  Under a highway.  New money, indeed.  Fedora-adorned patrons seemed content to play their part.

The roof, which is viewable, if not accessible, is comparatively bare-minimalist, and a bit of an off-putting contrast to the interior.  But Night of Joy is only days old, and perhaps with a taller fence will come some patio furniture on which patrons can waste away summer evenings, one cocktail after another.  That is a delicious proposition.

[nydrinker]

Penny Farthing

103 Third Ave (Corner of East 13th St) Visited 4pm on a Thursday, opening week

Whenever a new bar opens in the East Village, especially on the saturated Third Avenue, it had better find some angle to attract drinkers. Penny Farthing attempts to do it with a well built wood bar, reasonably priced food, and a large table service area. And only days after opening, it seems it is drawing the attention of curious drinkers in the neighborhood.

Opening up in the space that used to be Café Deville (or what the Irish bartender, with a mix of scorn and mockery referred to as “some French restaurant”), the wood themed bar, reminiscent of 200, adds a more upscale option on the dive bar and college bar heavy Third Avenue. A solid beer selection mixes American microbrews (Abita, Goose Island, and the Brooklyn-based Kelso) with European picks (Newastle, Carlsberg, Palm). At $7 for an imperial pint, it will drive away the more cost-conscience NYU students. With a bar that seats over 20, benches and long tables that seat more, plus two dozen indoor tables and sidewalk tables coming soon, Penny Farthing is a BIG bar, and this doesn't even include its lower level lair, called PF13. Its staff, at times outnumbering the customers on this slow weekday afternoon, reflects this.

The question will be whether or not Penny Farthing can fill this space. Decorative old machinery and bicycle wheels (a penny farthing is a bicycle with one wheel much larger than the other) and a variety of newspapers available to borrow are nice touches, as are the three large TVs that will undoubtedly show sports at the bar. But can a bar in the heart of NYU dorm-country succeed without attracting the broke college student? Are there enough “grown ups” in the area to fill such a large space? Penny Farthing is a well built bar, with a fine beer selection sitting on a busy street corner. Let’s see if it can attract a crowd.