The Happy Hour Guys don't normally report from beer festivals, but this one we could not miss! The kickoff event of New York City Beer Week, for us, is a chance to connect and reconnect: So join us for this blast of an evening, with brew news from KelSo Beer, Gun Hill, Sixpoint, Greenport Harbor, Transmitter, Sand City, Industrial Arts and Lineup. Meet some old friends, make some new ones, and support NYC Craft Beer. Cheers!
Gone, or not forgotten: 5 bars The Happy Hour Guys want you to remember.
Great Bars form the very fabric of our communities. They were Social Media before social media was electrified. Take some advice from us; the next time you stop in somewhere for a glass or a pint, don't watch TV - start a conversation.
And raise a glass to these terrific places:
The Collins Bar
The Collins was a midtown NYC watering hole that was #Craft before it was cool. Sadly it succumbed to the pressure of development, and a Big Shiny Expensive Building rises there as we speak.
The Jameson Tavern
The Jameson Tavern still exists! But it has endured a number of challenges in recent years, and could use all the help it can get. Stop in on the off-season and ghost hunt, like we did.
McReilly's Pub
McReilly's was a neighborhood touchstone in Long Island City, NY. Mark made it for the closing day party a sad loss to the area indeed.
General Lafayette Inn & Brewery
Boasting some terrific history and an in-house brewpub, General Lafayette's was a real gem just outside of Philly that closed around 2010. A great loss to that community, and to the beer culture at large.
Mulberry Street Bar
We got to step back in time to one of NYC oldest bars with this Little Italy gem, which still exists, but has endured some challenges from developers as well. Donnie Brasco, The Sopranos, and Law & Order all shot here in the past. Formerly called Mare Chiaro, the place has a social club décor that's barely changed since it opened in 1908: a towering, ornate wooden back bar with inset mirrors at the top, a subway tile floor, and swaths of pressed tin along the ceiling and walls.
Got a great Local that needs saving? Reach out to us here at the website - we'd love to help. Cheers!