Spring has sprung, and so have we! Join us as we explore one of NYC's surprise bars. The Spring Lounge has history, craft beer, daily specials, and rewards for being the first one of your friends to begin drinking each day. Really, it does. Full of good people and good drinks, the Spring deserves to be on every list of top bars in the city. We'll show you why:
Macro Brews stole flavor from beer. Were stealing it back.
Sometimes the best bars don't show up in guide books or history lessons. Sometimes the best bars are right around the corner and right under your nose. Attracted by a group of friends who consider themselves to be a family, Mark and Jimmy trek to Brooklyn and find that nothing beats a bar full of good people in creating a sense of community. Even when a few surprising bits of historical information pop up, it cant overshadow the wacky good times created by The Gang. Free peanuts, wheel of fortune and a spanking? Yeah, its all here.
Weve already learned that Cold River Vodka makes some of the freshest, most original, eco and community friendly vodka around. Since our , Cold River has been piling up the awards including one of Wine Enthusiasts highest possible ratings. Jimmy and Mark catch up with the intrepid potato of Cold River fame, and special guest former Miss America Kate Shindle on this classic tasting episode with Cold River Vodka's Original and Blueberry vodkas. Watch as they invest the time and effort to truly test these spirits, alone and in cocktails, over and over. If this is hard work, we'll never work another day in our lives. Can you say delicious? We can! Enjoy!
To begin with, we’re predisposed to like any book that supports our belief that civilization and fermentation go hand in hand. Give us a book called “Alcolholica Esoterica: A Collection of Useful and Useless Information as it Relates to the History and Consumption of All Manner of Booze”, and we’re in Happy Hour Guys Heaven. Ian Lendler has done a remarkable job of distilling some of history’s most amusing and interesting pieces of trivia in one easy to use, 264 page volume.
Every bottle in the liquor cabinet has a chapter devoted to it, as well as chapters that take the reader through mankind’s history from a yeast’s-eye perspective. How did the monks begin to brew? What were the after effects of Prohibition? Why did absinthe get such a bad rap? Does Mexico really have a Ministry of Tequila? (Yes.) Also included is a series on some of the most notorious imbibers ever, called Mount Lushmore. Humphrey Bogart, Dorothy Parker, Winston Churchill and others are all included in the dubious category.
Information is doled out in easily digestible nuggets, so the book moves quickly. Did you know that “bar” is short for “barrier”, as in keep away from the booze? That Winston Churchill’s mother invented the Manhattan cocktail? That the Jell-o shot has a pedigree stretching back to the mid-19th century? That Johnny Appleseed was planting trees so folks could make hard cider? All these and so many more are contained in this completely delightful addition to anyone’s library.
Don’t worry that the book takes itself too seriously, either. The first chapter is a warning on the possibility of releasing your inner Cliff Claven if you don’t proceed with caution. On the bright side, you’re sure to win a barroom bet or three when armed with the trivia provided. Rather than try to “review” this book, we simply call your attention to it. The joy is in the reading.
Whether you’re a historian with a sense of humor, a comic with a sense of history, or someone who’s just plain curious, this book will quench you thirst for knowledge. (Sorry, had to.)
Available at Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Alcoholica-Esoterica-Collection-Information-andConsumption/dp/0143035975/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
And most large bookstores.
In 1880, James Deans Oyster House became The White Horse Tavern and its been serving New Yorkers ever since. For decades, the White Horse was a simple working man's bar. In the 1950s, the White Horse was discovered by a group of artists, writers, liberals and journalists and became a hub of progressive thinking. The Village Voice was conceived there. The Clancy Brothers played here in their early days. Of course, it took Dylan Thomas (see video) to launch them into barroom lore. In fact, Robert Zimmerman was so influenced by Thomas that he was the inspiration for his name change: Bob Dylan. Today one of New York's last remaining wood frame buildings, The White Horse takes as much care of their everyday patrons as they do of their frequent celebrity guests. Thats probably one of the reason they're still thriving, and you can still get one of the city's best (and most reasonable) burgers.
The Guys make their way to SOHO, the iconic NYC neighborhood full of great stories, stellar shops, and fantastic bars. We came downtown in search of the best happy hour ever, and Lure Fish Bar has, no joke, perhaps the finest 5-7PM weekday slot we have ever experienced. And that's really saying something, because... well, we're The Happy Hour Guys! Seriously - if you're within 500 Nautical miles of SOHO, head to the poop deck and turn your ship in Lure's direction. Say hello to Josh, Mim, Kelly and the whole crew, and if you have half as much fun as we had, you'll be in safe harbor indeed. The oysters are fresh, the drinks are amazing, and the prices, well... they lie many fathoms deep. Anchors Aweigh!
