Topic: show your favorite bar/pub/tavern

[mrnyc]

ooooh why not?

so just what exactly makes it a fav hangout anyway? there has got to be something more than just cheep beer or whatnot. back in the day mine prob would have been the euc (r.i.p.) or the harbor inn.

ahh well this a-here charmer is my on and off fav for years. its in manhattan in the east village on tompkins square:

one thing i like is that it is as old as the hills


another thing i like is that is has several names: vazacs, 2b's and the horseshoe bar
i go with vazacs because its like the surnames i grew up with i guess


so yeah they got the horseshoe bar, i like that part too


they got pinball and old school photo booth
thems is mandatory type distractions in my book, esp the pinball


they got at least one hottie bartender
and a few old guys hanging around for character


i'm ok with a moby or two, but not too many of'em


they got vintage photos of the late owner drinking in his own bar
with a few old school hipster cats like archie bunker


ernest borgnine


and our shaker hts homeboy paul newman...just those 3 old shots & thats it


some rawk band stickers, not too many tho


some mutts running around all over, thats pretty mandatory too


rrrgh! hey get away poopsie before i feed you to the rottie


booths is good


a hottie was siting there but she left


a little goofy bar artwork is nice




and finally....pigsty bathroom graf is pretty much a given


***so, i hope yous guys are into doing this it might be fun --- for laughs will ya all show off your own fav local hangout?***

[Jeff]

Good grief...that would be three for me.

Stage Door for gay bar  (I actually have two other faves, but have to stick with the SD for the good jukebox, unpretentious clientele, and, in the words of Tevye, "Tradition!")

The Century for straight bar

Canal Street Tavern for music bar (though I'm liking the Oregon Express too, nowadays)

...& I'm sure I've posted pix of these before.

[edale]

Since I'm too young to be able to go to bars can I post favorite coffee house?
That would be the Highland's on Highland Avenue in Clifton (maybe Corryville?).  It has a lot of plants and nice art on the wall, and they play awesome music.  As far as food and drink, eh pretty standard, but you can't help but get a European vibe when in the place.  Lots of bohemien types and intellectuals.  My friends and I like to go in to smoke (the owners are fairly laid back about weed) and get coffee.  On the bathroom door it says " take acid, have a nice trip" haha.

[mrnyc]

^now that sounds very cool. maybe take a few new pics of'm and put them up on this thread if you guys want to and think of it next time?

[edale]

Yeah i'd love to.

[jmecklenborg]

http://www.knottypinerocks.com

"...where the music is great, where the women are fine...THE KNOTTY PINE!"

Yes, the 'Pine, a bar that I grew up just two blocks from, was Cincinnati's most notorious biker bar in the 80's, it's toned down a bit unfortunately, although a friend of mine was recently beaten over the head with a patio chair there. 

[CiNYC]

One of many, but definitely a favorite:


Anu in San Francisco.

[MayDay]

Locally
If we're talking about "beer and bite to eat":




Although the Southside in Tremont is great as well:


If we're talking about a bar for "my people", I'd say Twist for drinks/socializing and the Grid for dancing. If we're talking mixed places, V Lounge, Kevin's Martini Lounge (in the Pickwick/Frolic complex), Mercury Lounge, Market Avenue Wine Bar, and the bar at Flying Fig.

Non-local
Columbus - Hyde Park Grille (bar only), Havana
Cincinnati - Orchid at Palm Court (in the Netherland Hotel)
Pittsburgh - True (Northside)
NYC - Therapy, XL, East of Eighth (especially when Hedda Lettuce is doing her show)

And some favorites that are no longer in existence:
Cleveland - the Humidor, Smart Bar, Spy (it's still there, but it's lost any bit of charm), Touch (it's just not the same anymore)
NYC - Limelight, Tunnel, USA

[CiNYC]

oops, forgot local.   


clique.  music isn't always my cup o' tea, but the atmosphere is pretty good.

[C-Dawg]

Athens:

[preservationrestoration]

I already posted this in my Ypsi thread, but my favorite is Sidetracks in Depot Town, Ypsilanti, Michigan.



MayDay, cool shots of GLBCO.  Looks like my kind of place.

[Y-CityGuy]

I wish I had a picture of the Cat's Eye in Athens. That is where I spent most of my time!

[CMH_Downtown]

That would definitely be Betty's in the Short North. 30 beers on tap, all of them regional. Plus they carry my favorite beer, La Fin du Monde, for only $4.50 a bottle  . It's a small bar, but the atmosphere is awesome. The theme is taudry and fun, focusing on pin-up girls of the 1940s. The place is lively and packed any day of the week. The food there is incredible also...best spinach & artichoke dip, ever!

http://www.bettysfoodandspirits.com/index.html

[CMH_Downtown]

Ooops, forgot this topic is in a photo forum. Oh well, there are some photos in that URL I posted...