To be honest I had never heard of this song until it was on in the background at one of these bars I had a pint of Guinness. The band G. Love & Special Sauce reposted my original Story so this was an easy song choice! This song Honor and Harmony was on the band’s album called Philadelphonic. A bit of a backstory on G. Love & Special Sauce, they are originally from Philadelphia and they have a very unique sound. They could be considered blues, hip-hop, rock, soul, and maybe even reggae. The band is made up of Garrett Dutton (G. Love), Jeffrey Clemens on the drums, and Jim Prescott on bass.
The singer isn’t asking anybody to pull their weight but he isn’t going to just sit around waiting for something to happen. It sounds like he is taking what he’s earned while recognizing that you only get stronger as a person when you go through hardships or failures.
Red tape is associated with when something takes much longer than it should and involves more procedures, forms, or rules, etc. than should make sense. So again, by walking around the red tape, the singer again is taking action rather than doing nothing and expecting change to occur. The “red tape” could represent someone or something holding you back while the And we’re all human so there’s no need to be taking line makes it feel like it could be about going against the grain of society’s rules, but I might be reaching. Anyway, respect (honor) and love (harmony) is the best way to make it through hardships or failures.
This song was released in August of 1999 so if I had to guess this was alluding to the dawn of a new internet age. Is the computer taxes a diss at AOL Mail fees?
Again this was 1999 so the new millennium in this context was a huge deal for people in the 90s. As a big 90s guy myself, FYI I wasn’t sweating Y2K like some of you because I was 5 years old and had no idea what the hell was going on.
By imploring @UsTheListeners to come on now, the singer is now saying it’s your turn to take action through honor and harmony. This song feels like it has a positive message and I like how it has a unique sound to it. G. Love & Special Sauce got a new fan from Guinness!
Now 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.
Song On In The Background: Honor and Harmony by G. Love & Special Sauce
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Rick is the bartender and he’s got some acting opportunities in LA coming up. They had just opened up 3 weeks ago. Owners used to own and operate Offsides Tavern before COVID. The vision for this Offsides is to bring back the people who used to call Offsides Tavern home at their other spot. They are affiliated with the Islanders and I’ll say it now are the best Islanders bar in Manhattan. Bucket of 5 beers for 4 deals. From 5 to 8 they have $6 drafts, $6 Moscow mules, and $6 margaritas. They have started up Mario Kart Mondays. They have a big space and will have a DJ in the back on weekends. “This bar will fit all the finer points of the neighborhood.” One last great quote from Rick is, “The bar owners are listeners. For both the customers and staff.”
The Offside prides itself on being a great bar to watch sports and especially the New York Islanders. They are a great spot to watch a game and order a Smash Burger with buffalo wings. A fella by the name of Michael Paul Smith is on record stating the Offside has the “best burger I’ve ever had.” Compared to many sports bars in the area, Offside has a ton of space for parties and events. They would be the perfect host for your fantasy football draft, as they even have a digital draft board ready with free weekday bookings. Hit your commissioner up, tell them to stop being a lazy bastard, and email offsideparties@gmail.com to reserve a spot. I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at Offside again soon!
Song On In The Background: 96 Tears by ? and The Mysterians
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Stephanie is the bartender. She has been here for 2 months at 96 Tears. I don’t recognize any of the songs they’re playing but all interesting! The wall in the corner of the bar is dedicated to the old-school DJ of East Village. Bar’s bar. Love Potion #9 is their recommended take on French 75. All syrups are homemade using their own recipe book. The lavender is Stephanie’s favorite drink. Howie Pyro is to who 96 Tears and all their artwork on the walls are dedicated. They have a downstairs open on the weekends. The back of this place is trippy in a Charles Manson satanic cult vibes kind of way.
96 Tears is located right where NYC hardcore punk rock was born in the early 1980s. They are located in the same building where Joe Strummer of The Clash and other notable downtown bohemian regulars would drink at Niagara next door. Despite all the changes to East Village in the 21st Century, 96 Tears is keeping the neighborhood’s punk rock quirks. The song 96 Tears by ? and the Mysterians has been covered by everybody from Big Maybelle, Jimmy Ruffin, and Aretha Franklin to The Modern Lovers, Suicide, and The Stranglers. The bar took its name from a tattoo across the neck of Howie Pyro - a dearly departed friend of the owners - who was a world-renowned DJ, musician, collector, archivist, historian, and writer. Pyro was a member of the original 1977 CBGB punks The Blessed and is considered an East Village neighborhood legend. 96 Tears is a cool spot for anybody who enjoys the spirit of rock and roll. I look forward to grabbing another drink at 96 Tears again soon!
1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2….
As I was calling it a night on May 10th, I stumbled along to the Creative Little Garden and thought it’d be a nice little Mother’s Day piece. (Stumblin' Along 5/14 '23 - Stumblin' In)
Song On In The Background: Welcome to New York by Taylor Swift
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Jess is the bartender, she is from County Cork. 5 years in New York, and has a love-hate relationship with it. “When I leave I can’t wait to come back.” Annie Moore was an Irish immigrant and the first immigrant to get off the boat to pass through Ellis Island. The roasted Atlantic salmon and chipotle chicken sandwich are recommended. “The shepherd’s pie is also fire too.” Old fashions are Jess’ favorite drink to make. Annie Moore has a rooftop upstairs and is great for networking events. “Have to start somewhere.”
Annie Moore's is an upscale Irish Bar & Restaurant that not only has a full-service bar but a full kitchen serving up delicious dishes using fresh ingredients daily. An estimated 40% of Americans are descended from immigrants that passed through Ellis Island. The first Ellis Island immigration station opened up on January 1, 1892, with a record number of nearly 450,000 people passing through to enter the United States that year. By the time Ellis Island closed in 1954, 12 million people immigrated to the U.S. through Ellis Island. Annie Moore was the first immigrant to be processed at Ellis Island. She was originally from County Cork and was only 17 years old, traveling with her two younger brothers - Anthony & Philip. They departed from the Irish port of Cobh on December 20, 1891, and after spending Christmas at sea, she was reunited with her parents and older siblings who were already in New York. Charles Hendly, a former Treasury Department official requested the honor of registering the new station’s first immigrant. Once her name was in the registry book, Annie was given a ten-dollar gold piece and wishes for a Happy New Year by John B. Weber (federal superintendent of immigration for the port of New York) before a Catholic chaplain blessed her and gave her a silver coin, while another bystander slipped her a five-dollar gold piece before she passed into the waiting room and the arms of her parents. Annie Moore would live in Manhattan’s Lower East Side for the rest of her life and gave birth to 10 children. (Source: History Channel) Annie Moore is certainly a great name for a pub with a cool backstory. I look forward to grabbing another Pint of Guinness at Annie Moore’s again soon!