The BAR EXAM.

Greetings MUGers and others!  Do what you will, but can you pass...

The Bar Exam?

 

1.   What Spring Street watering hole is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of Mickey, a former patron?

2.   Which historic Union Square neighborhood bar has been featured in THE DEVIL’S OWN and BULLETS OVER BROADWAY?

3.   What midtown institution, dating from the 1930’s, welcomes drinkers with a large waving porcine mascot?

4.   Where did Thomas Edison stay, and become a regular, while designing a power station in lower Manhattan? 

5.   True or False:  The last of the original early 20th century outdoor beer gardens in New York City is located on the Lower East Side.

6.   Which venerable Manhattan bar is known for not admitting women until 1970, and not giving them their own restroom until 1986?

7.   What the heck is a “shebeen”, and what well known Third Ave. pub incorporates the word into its name?

8.   Where did the real Popeye Doyle, of THE FRENCH CONNECTION fame, often stop for a drink while near the Brooklyn Bridge?

9.   What mostly affectionate nickname did Toots Shor give to patrons at his now gone but world renowned bar on 51st St. ?

10.  Where in today’s financial district did General George Washington bid farewell to his officers at the conclusion of the Revolutionary War?

Answers:

1.   The Ear Inn

2.   Old Town Bar & Restaurant

3.   Rudy’s Bar & Grill

4.   The Paris

5.   FALSE. The Beer Garden at Bohemia Hall is in Astoria, Queens.

6.   McSorley’s Old Ale House

7.   “Shebeen” is an illicit pub or bar as in: Molly’s Pub & Restaurant, Shebeen.

8.   The Bridge Café 

9.   Crumbums

10.        Fraunces Tavern

Thanks for stopping by!  Cheers!

The Communicator steals one.

    Okay, so I’m shamelessly lifting one from Mark here.  He submitted this to me today as part of another entry, and I couldn’t help but think that it needed to stand on its own instead.  This is the crux of it all, folks: Keep looking and places like this just jump out at you.  We’re always in development here at Happy Hour, so allow me to reiterate Happy Hour Commandment #1:

1.  The perfect bar is everywhere.  So go there.

    Leave nothing to chance, people: That place you’ve always walked by?  Saunter in.  Look around.  Have some onion rings and ask the bartender what’s good here.  Most of all - Enjoy Yourself.

    Here’s Mark’s piece.  Very nice.      - Jimmy

    “Another surprising thing happened to me today. Once more doing some Happy Hour research (I love my job), I was sitting in mid-town Manhattan in what can only be called a dive bar. The traffic and noise of New York on a weekend banged along outside, but where I sat things were fairly quiet. Not many of us were at the bar, but at the end sat a tough looking character that obviously came in often. He asked for a drink on account. “On account of what?” came the joking reply from the bartender. “On account of I’m broke”, he said. He was on his second drink when I left not having paid a dime. The bartender told him she knew he was good for it. When was the last time you saw that? And in New York, of all places. ‘Third places’ are out there, we just need to keep our eyes open. Happy Hunting.”

Video #1: The Pilot Episode: McSorley's Old Ale House!

We had a ridiculously fun time shooting our pilot episode of HAPPY HOUR at McSorley's Old Ale House. The granddaddy of bars here in NYC, McSorley's and its staff didn't disappoint. So much interesting material had to be left on the editing floor. Well, not literally because it doesn't work that way anymore, but you get the idea.

Many, many interesting things are on the walls and around the bar. Look for the handcuffs on the foot rail of the bar- Harry Houdini escaped from them one night on a dare from the owner. Ask about the original wanted poster for Abe Lincoln's assassin or the dusty wishbones hanging from a candelabra over the bar. There's a story behind everything. Pepe, the daytime bartender seen in our pilot, knows about it all and is willing to tell you. He's also full of stories about the many celebrities who've come through McSorley's doors. Jimmy had a great time interviewing him. Maybe some outtakes will appear at some point...who knows.

The beer choices are pretty straight forward as you see in the pilot. There is a surprisingly good, though basic, menu. We all especially liked the cheese plate that came with a sleeve of saltines. The thing that made it was the mug of homemade; blow your socks off mustard. Good stuff that immediately led to more beer. Hmmm. Maybe they've figured something out there...

There are a lot of other Happy Hour destinations in the same neighborhood, so I'm sure we'll be visiting that neck of the NYC woods again. I'm equally sure we'll stop in to chat with Pepe and get two and two...

We're always on the lookout for new spots, so write to us with your favorite weird, historic, funny, unique watering hole!