Happy Belated Birthday to Miss Dua Lipa! She just turned 28 yesterday, welcome to the club, it’s all downhill from here. Contrary to popular belief, the talented Albanian-English singer’s real name is in fact, Dua Lipa. Dua in Albanian means “love.” This song was on in the background of one of these fine spots to grab a pint.
Dua Lipa told Apple Music, “This is the first song I wrote where I really felt I had everyone on board with the concept of the album. When I was writing it, I felt like I was in Austin Powers and was like, ‘If I do a video for this, Mike Myers has to be in it.’ It had to be fun and bubbly but with lyrics that felt really smart.”
Dua Lipa further expounded on the meaning of this tune by stating, “This is about me exploring happy songs and doing something that's not ‘dance crying.’ It's about having fun and meeting someone and falling in love and thinking, ‘You've probably met me at the perfect time, let's just go for it.’ It's the feeling when love makes you feel like you're levitating. It's otherworldly. Things get quite Daft Punk-y here, but it's playful, and the middle eight is almost like my British version of Blondie's rapping. I felt like I needed to get my British side across as well on this record because sometimes people don't actually know where I'm from.”
This tune’s electric beat and catchy chorus spent 41 weeks inside of the top 10 of Billboard Hot 100.
Nice Wednesday dance ballad never hurt anybody, 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 take 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: Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Liverpool pub. The bartender is from County Derry, “everybody knows Derry girls.” Brilliant show. She’s been in NY for 2 years and loves it. Mulligan’s is known for their Guinness, showing the Six Nations, and opening up for every Liverpool match. They are a hot spot for games. Happy Hour is Monday to Friday from 4 to 7. Their chicken curry is recommended. Besides the pint of Guinness, the chocolate martini is recommended. Their crowd is a mix of regulars, corporate, and tourists.
The Happy Hour at Mulligan’s on 267 Madison Ave includes $6 beers, $8 wines, and $7 well-drinks. The famous authentic Irish pub is in the heart of Murray Hill just steps from Grand Central Station. For over 30 years, they have been serving old friends and new. There is no better spot to catch a Liverpool match with the sound always on, you’ll never walk alone. If you’re a fan of UFC, Paddy The Baddy has visited the pub and gave the pint of Guinness a thumbs up. I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at Mulligan’s again soon!
1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2…
I had to write up the Pint&Pen&Paper Week 20 (Vol I) so I hit the New York Public Library, one of my favorite spots to type Week to Week Notes, before resuming with the Pints of Guinness…
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Dollar bills hanging from the ceiling. Oksana is the bartender, she’s from Russia and has been in the US for 4 months. She is a big fan of pizza and seafood. She is also a big fan of the mix of food options all over The City. Coca-Cola and water are her favorite drinks. Whiskey Trader has $12 margaritas, $12 Espresso Martinis, $12 Moscow Mules, $8 Casamigos, $8 green tea shots, $8 Jameson pickle backs, and $5 bud light. Oksana really enjoys walking around The City because of the nice views.
Located in the center of Midtown, Whiskey Trader is a sports bar just steps away from Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, and 5th Avenue shopping. They offer a lively bar on the main floor, a cozy lounge on the lower level, and a fun game room downstairs. Their downstairs basement had beer pong set up when I was there. Whiskey Trader’s Happy Hour is 7 days a week from 11 AM to 7 PM. Their upstairs or downstairs, whichever vibe you’re looking for, is perfect for accommodating private parties in small or large groups. I look forward to grabbing another drink at Whiskey Trader again soon!
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Skylar is from OKC and is relatively new to NYC, been here about a year and a half. Dive 75 has a fish tank with some cool-looking fish. The bar was established in 1999 and was originally a dive shop for scuba divers. They have 4 locations and all are in the Upper West Side. At Dive 75, they have a whale corner full of board games. Free candy as well. Skylar is a big Thunder fan, he was there for the KD, Russ, and Harden era, “it was painful but a blast.” Down in OKC for football, Oklahoma University is king. He enjoyed the Sam Bradford era. Fun fact - Skylar played basketball in high school with Blake and Taylor Griffin. They won the state championship.
Dive 75 was once the home of Pan Aqua Divers, an actual dive shop. They have the best fish tank on the Upper West Side. They have tons of board game options such as Connect 4, Battleship, Monopoly, Life, and Cards Against Humanity. If that doesn't do it for you they even have room for Twister. Their regulars are a fun lively neighborhood crowd that enjoys watching their favorite shows and sports on one of their many TVs. The vibe at Dive 75 gives off like you’re hanging out in a fun living room where you can play Trivia every Tuesday night. It was fun talking a bit about sports with Skylar, that is awesome that he hooped with the Griffin brothers in high school. Cough, cough, YouTube Rabbithole below, cough, cough. I look forward to grabbing another pint at Dive 75 again soon!