Sunglasses at Night | Cherry Tavern | McAnn’s | Dolly Varden
Alright @YouTheReader,
I have a confession. There was a brief time in college when I’d wear sunglasses at night. It was NOT a funny bit. This song was on in one of these fine drinking establishments so I figured it was the right time to get ahead of this scandal, control the narrative, and be on the offensive…
Wow, I did Spiedini’s in Cortland dirty with a 5.9 score. What an arsehole with sunglasses at night reviewing pizza.
On to the Pints of Guinness….
Guinness Challenge Season #1
@Kids don’t try this at home. Not just because you’re underage and will have plenty of pints to drink if that ends up being your thing when you’re older but also because Guinness is actually best served in a pint glass from a tap. A pint of Guinness varies depending on the drinking establishment. If the keg it sits in is rarely poured, it can lead to some underwhelming taste. Rather than stealing gimmicks, I’d like to start taking Notes while drinking Guinness. My grandfather from Connemara, who I never got the chance to meet, Thomas Davis, used to drink pints and by all accounts was a self-taught thinker. The one rule I’ve imposed on myself is that I will only have 1 pint per sitting from each establishment I review, so @AnyoneWorrying, don’t worry about my drinking habits. The Guinness Challenge is to “cut the G” on your first sip (more like a gulp and a half). If this is your first time hearing about it, I didn’t come up with the fun challenge @YouTheReader can try the next time you have a Guinness. The 0.0 to 10.0 scale will be extraordinarily nuanced but as a reference point, the only perfect 10.0 I plan ever to give out is at the Guinness Factory in Dublin one day.
Song On In The Background: Thorough Fare by Ethel Cain
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Mets game on TV, they’re playing the Nats. Pool table. Bar’s bar. “We’re a blend of old heads and on the weekends Cherry Tavern turns to college,” says Brandon the bartender. Dive bar has been around since the 1950s. From 6 pm to 9 PM, they do a $1 off beer and shot. Cherry Tavern prides itself on being an actual dive bar and very laid back. The TVs are new and they also have a very cool picture of the City on the wall as well. Brandon is originally from Denver and has been in NY for 5 years. “Denver is a car city and it’s boring out there.” Cherry Tavern takes cash or Venmo.
Cherry Tavern is a laid-back bar in the heart of the East Village. It's a place to meet up with old friends or make new ones, play pool, peruse the jukebox, and enjoy cheap drinks. Cool spot, I’m sure Brandon was happy about the Nuggets. I look forward to grabbing another drink at Cherry Tavern!
Song On In The Background: Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Dartboard and pool table. Fellow commuters next to me. #KnicksTape looking nice. Buffalo wings are recommended. Flags from all over the world are hanging up on the ceiling. It is 9:16 and the bus doesn’t get here until 9:42 so I went for one, what of it? They actually draw a regular crowd. I didn’t get the bartender’s name, one of the patrons was acting a fool so he was dealing with that. Johnny Cash sticker behind the bar.
I held out long enough before I needed to grab a pint at the bus terminal, I’ve walked by it too many times to not check it out. Honestly, for a small spot in the middle of a bus terminal, McAnn’s is a very solid spot with a reliable Guinness. I was surprised they even had a pool table and the place was packed with people watching the Knicks. The Guinness head is a tad on the large side but you’ll have some decent shtick. @PortAuthority I will not mention how your delay was the reason I had to grab another pint, we both know that was a me thing. Hopefully, I never have to wait on another Port Authority bus, but if I do, McAnn’s will be where I’m at for one!
1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2…
@YouTheReader the next day was the NFL Draft and I stuck to my word by not leaking any of the 1st Round picks from Week to Week Notes’ inside sources.
Song On In The Background: Sunglasses at Night by Corey Hart
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Elena is the bartender. She’s been here 1 year and likes it. “The salmon and cod fish is good.” The seafood garden is also recommended. Dolly Varden has an NYC Prohibition Era theme to it. They specialize in seasonally curated cocktails with their stylish setting. The thoughtful ambiance and vintage touches acknowledge a quintessential fine period of innovation in New York. They have a DJ on the weekends from brunch to late night. Happy Hour is 4 pm to 7 pm on Monday to Friday.
Dolly Varden’s is not a pub so don’t hold it against them that they don’t have Guinness on draft. Their food looked and smelled excellent. The drink menu had a ton of cool options. Dolly Varden is a fictional character from Charles Dicken’s novel Barnaby Rudge. The character’s ensemble of clothing was popular for its time and the name would even be commemorated by naming a type of fish the Dolly Varden trout. After doing a bit of research, this makes a ton of sense because Dolly Varden in NYC has a great sense of style to go with excellent seafood. I look forward to grabbing a drink at Dolly Varden’s again!