I don't know why I get asked this. It could be because I used to be a bartender. It could be because I still fantasize about opening a bar in the Caribbean and spending the rest of my life serving rum runners to fat tourists all day. Or maybe it was because I managed to acquire a fake i.d. very early in life so instead of ever experiencing "house party" culture, I became a bar connoisseur. Regardless, I still find bars to be a cathartic experience full of suppressed emotions, sexual tension, and (of course) assholes.
Moving on...
After many years, many dollars, many fights, many regretful moments, and many laughs, I have finally figured out what I look for in a bar and the answer is...
A place where I can cry.
I'm not saying I cry in bars (I'm also not saying I haven't). However, I do like the idea of knowing a place where I could go in the middle of the day, order a beer, and sit there and bawl. I consistently want to have the option of blowing my nose in a cocktail napkin and telling a stranger my life story. That is how Ms. Kristin Drawdy defines the perfect bar. If they happen to have karaoke once a week, that's just an added bonus.
Since I consider myself the arbiter of bar quality, below is a list of my ten favorite bars in NYC for those of you that enjoy PBR and well whiskey as much as I do.
1) DOC HOLLIDAY'S
Since Doc's is so fabulous to not have a website (although they do have a myspace), I found my own image of Ali and me hugging it out one winter evening.
I discovered Doc's with my sister after brunch right after I moved here and have continued to return simply because it makes me feel at home. It's a Georgia girl's dream come true: Buckhunter, 5 dollar all you can drink Bud Light specials, dancing on the bar, and a jukebox full of old school country music and southern rock. Warning: you will remember coming here but may not remember leaving.
2) Iggy's Keltic Lounge
Rose and I discoverd Iggy's after brunch in the Lower East Side. We also discovered Pirate Mike, the best bartender in NYC! It's a pretty classy joint with skull and cross bone flags, a bar adorned with pitchers of pretzels, Buckhunter, old school punk rock, and $5 PBR whiskey specials. 2 hints: every 3rd drink is usually on the house and if you ask Mike (and you're cute) you may get credits for the jukebox!
3) Iron Horse
Iron Horse is not a one drink kind of place. Nor is it a place one should be attending regularly. On a happy note, you will feel guilty about how much fun you have here. If you are sick of looking at beautiful people and acting sophisticated, I would suggest this place. Upon arriving, chances are a rotund girl will be pouring liquor into the mouth of a man who closely resembles a middle american truck driver. My suggestions: try out the hula hoops, swing, and don't be scared if the bar gets set on fire.
4) Johnny's Bar
Not the easiest place to find (or fit into) but once you do it's amazing. I consider it to be the West Village's version of Doc Holliday's. There are $3 Coors drafts, a crowd that looks like it probably has been sitting on the same bar stool for the past 20 years, and magnetic chess boards if you're feeling noble. Although the entire bar is about the size of a closet, it a refreshing break from the rest of the pretentious (and expensive) wine bars surrounding it.
5) Billymark's West
Even though I've been coming here since before I lived in New York, sadly, I could not find a picture of me in this place. I don't know what to say about it. Located on the corner of 9th avenue and the projects, it is the most un-amazingly amazing bar I've ever been to. It is owned by 2 brothers, Billy and Mark (hence the name), who alternate weeks of working. Several things you should know: I suspect top shelf liquor is filled with cheaper bottles so don't be surprised if your whiskey tastes like scotch...or tequila....or water...or Rohypnol.
6) 7B (Horseshoe Bar)
Although it may be difficult to figure out what the name actually is, the location is in the name! I can't place my finger on about what I actually like about this place but it has enough neon bar signs inside to get rid of any seasonal affective disorder and Bass beer (for reasons unknown) is always on special for $4 a pint. I won't even begin to discuss the beauty behind the arched doorways and common brick bonds.
7) Cha Cha's on Coney Island
We all know Coney Island is full of lookers. And by lookers I mean mullets, speedos, tribal tattoos, love handles, those weirdos who don't bend the bills of their hats and wear jeans and white sneakers on the beach, and Vietnamese trash pickers. Cha cha's (located right on the boardwalk) is THE best place for people watching. I cannot tell you how much it boosted my self-esteem coming here. Not to mention, I'm pretty sure all of the regulars are remnants of the early 80's Ramones punk rock era. You can see bands play with vulgar names while watching people who are just as vulgar. BONUS: If you are hungry, it's right next to Nathan's Hot Dogs!!
8) 169 bar
I have spent the majority of my life living alone so not that many people have had the opportunity to go apartment hunting with me. I usually don't care about space...or lighting...or mice...or windows. There are 2 things I really look for in an apartment though, exposed brick and a local bar I can stop off at for a night cap. Often, I forego the former. In Savannah, I had Hangfire. In the Upper East Side, I had Becky's. In FiDi, I had Iron Horse (see above). Now in the lovely LES, I have 169 Bar. Enjoy $2 Tecates, bartenders with PHD's, pickle juice martinis, fake palm trees, and a random stage with a single random gogo dancer. Warning: most of the people here are old school LES so don't be surprised if you hear them toasting to "the way the lower east side use to be" or judge you if you don't like within a 15 second walk from the bar.
9) Dorrian's Red Hand
(Featured in picture is Elizabeth, Dorrian's mayor on Foursquare)
I have no idea why I like this place because it is actually kind of terrible. Somehow, the only single guys in the Upper East Side have discovered this place, made it their own, and made it their mission to find future finance wives here every Friday night. Tactics such as "Can I buy you a drink?" when you already have a full drink and "Are your glasses real?" are often utilized to start awkward conversations that inevitably lead to me taking a $20 cab ride back to my apartment...alone. On the plus side, the bartenders always seem to think they recognize you and subsequently will buy you a round AND it's one of the only places I know where you can get a meal, have a casual drink, or go cut a rug in the back. They also make a mean wine spritzer (sarcasm, I have never had a wine spritzer in my life).
10) Subway Inn
Finally we have the ever so classy SUBWAY INN. It is pretty easy to find considering it is right across from the 59th Street/Lexington subway stop. It also happens to be the only dive bar located in that particular area. There are hexagon tiles in the bathroom along with prostitutes, terrifying looking bartenders, and beer towers. I like to pretend Truman Capote had this place in mind when he wrote Breakfast at Tiffany's. Regardless, I have fallen in love here, gotten in arguments here, seen a swat team raid Bloomingdales here, convinced my brother he's not dating a porn star here, had fun here, and most importantly cried! (In a good way, not bad way).
And there you have my list of entertaining bars in the island of Manhattan. Since this is my first post in about a year, I thought it would be interesting (for myself mostly) to record a week in the life of Kristin to catch everyone up on what I've been up to. Stay tuned...it's sure to be a wild ride!
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