Kygo is a Norwegian DJ and music producer known for making some of the best Electronic Dance Music today. The lyrics to his beats usually always have a very positive message and it is summer so it’s a great time for some EDM. This song came out in April ‘20. Kygo and Zak Abel (the singer) had plans to shoot a music video on a beach but with COVID lockdowns they had to adjust like the rest of us. They made a pretty cool makeshift music video, you can check out at the YouTube Rabbithole at the end of this Pint&Pen&Paper.
The lyrics to this song are fairly straightforward with the message being the singer’s gratitude for finding freedom. Of course, freedom can mean many things, but its purest definition is the power to or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. I’ll be honest with Week to Week Notes, one of the coolest parts of this, at least for me, is that I don’t really have anybody above me to tell me what I can and cannot write about. All I mean by that is if I had somebody above telling me to stick to just sports writing, I probably never would’ve written anything about history, music, or Guinness and I’m grateful for that.
This song was on in the background to one of these establishments with a fine pint of Guinness and I figured this chorus would make for a nice background to a 15-Second Cover, Story, Reel.
On to the pints…
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.
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Sam is the bartender. “I’m very big on the cleanliness of my bar” and I was keen on it as well! Storehouse was packed for the Celtics and Sixers Game 4. The steak, Guinness Pie, and the Beyond Burger are all very flavorful and recommended. Hazy IPA is very popular, “It’s not as bitter as other malt IPAs.” Storehouse is a Guinness, IPA, and shot bar. They’ve been here now for 4 years at this location. Marcus Smart did NOT get the buzzer beater off in time. Philly wins Game 4 in OT.
@YouTheReader, yes, I’ve been bannering “Fire Cashman” since the beginning of May. The Storehouse is an Irish bar in Chelsea. They moved to 757 6th Avenue (between 25 & 26 Street), but still have the same great drinks & craic. The Storehouse has been open for business in Manhattan since ‘12. Their mission is to provide an experience that not only embodies the comfortable atmosphere of New York's favorite Irish pubs but also shares our love of Ireland, of food and drink, and of all the characteristics that make Ireland one of the world's most loved places. The Storehouse name is inspired by the old storehouses of Ireland's breweries and whiskey distilleries. It was a real shame that Marcus Smart’s buzzer-beater didn’t count, it would’ve been a nice memory for Boston fans. It’s really too bad the Celtics sold their soul of the team in Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis. I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at The Storehouse again soon!
Song On In The Background: Straightjacket by Quinn XCII
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Karaoke spot. $2 to do a karaoke song. “Sing a song with a drink and you’ll be added to the wall.” JC is the bartender. He’s worked here for 7 years and enjoys the company of the regulars. “As a bartender in The City sometimes you gotta play therapist.” JC is Brooklyn born and raised. “Unfortunately I’m a Knicks fan…Shallow is the worst song for karaoke and country can be tough.” Jen the nurse is their best regular karaoke singer. Old fashion is JC’s favorite drink to make. 161 Lafayette was Mighty Samson Jr. Bar and Candy Store in another life. JC is an actor and comedian. I was also sitting next to Adonis, a talented rapper, and singer as well!
161 Lafayette is an awesome karaoke spot! It’s perfect for good times and great (or not-so-great) singing. It is a small bar with a great vibe to it. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find much information on Mighty Samson Jr. Bar and Candy Shop on the internet. For $2s you can sing your heart out. I could see why Shallow could get overplayed, although I can’t really talk because the Bradley Cooper verse is ideal for the guy in a duet, with it being quick and to the point. I look forward to grabbing another drink at 161 Lafayette!
Song On In The Background: Of A Lifetime by Journey
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: The pool table fits the bar perfectly. Home to 500+ Whiskeys. Exposed brick behind the bar and a wooden stained top. This place has rustic vibes. Noah’s Mill bourbon is recommended. The bartender drinks it neat. “No bad whiskey here, just a lot of personal preferences.” They have a partnership with the restaurant next store if you’re looking for food. “Where ever I go I think I don’t really need to because I can just go back home. New York has it all.” Bartender has spent 18 years in The City.
I honestly had no idea that Journey played any other song besides “Don’t Stop Believing”. That threw me for an absolute loop. (Whoever runs Whiskey Ward’s social media got a kick out of that one and they told me to have fun which was nice of them!) Whiskey Ward was established in the Lower East Side in 2000. With over hand-selected 500 options, whiskey aficionados will feel like a kid in a candy store. Whiskey Ward is famous for their Whiskey Flights which will give you a chance to try at least 3 different amazing whiskey selections. Even if you’re not a big fan of whiskey, that’s okay too, they serve a nice pint of Guinness and have signature cocktails as well. The reason for the name Whiskey Ward is that NYC was divided into political wards during the 19th Century and the Lower East Side, being the 4th & 6th Wards was home to countless saloons which made the area nicknamed “The Whiskey Ward.” (Source: The Whiskey Ward) I look forward to grabbing another Pint of Guinness and maybe even a flight next time at The Whiskey Ward again soon!