Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours | MAD Bar | Ceci Italian Restaurant | Jane Doe Lounge | YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
The options of songs to pick from as on in the background in these bars were Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours by Stevie Wonder and two sadder songs that I didn’t really feel like playing 3,495,274,120 times before writing this Pint&Pen&Paper.
This tune came out on June 3, 1970, and was a single of Stevie Wonder’s for the album of the same name which came out on August 7, 1970. It peaked at #3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Charts during the summer of 1970.
The lyrical concept behind the tune is Stevie Wonder was a fool who begging for mercy from a woman. Stevie Wonder told Rolling Stone magazine the inspiration behind the song was, “At that time I was going through some changes, a lot of changes. And I wanted to write something that reflected those changes, but also something that reflected the people’s spirit and the feeling that we could make it.”
Part of the changes that Stevie Wonder was going through at this time, included facing the idea of turning a whole 20 years old, getting married, as well as renewing his Motown contract which was set to expire on his 21st birthday the following May.
Elton John told Rolling Stone magazine, “He's so multitalented that it's hard to pinpoint exactly what it is that makes him one of the greatest ever. But first, there's that voice. Along with Ray Charles, he's the greatest R&B singer who ever lived. Nobody can sing like he does. I know: I actually recorded a version of 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered' when I was young, and I really had to squeeze my balls to get those high notes.“ A bit of TMI from Elton John at the end there, but hey it’s content!
@YouTheReader I have no idea where I first heard this song. It’s one of those classics that you just hear in the background on movies, shows, sporting events, and weddings all the time without noticing.
Great tune! 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.
1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2…
The Pints you are about to read the reviews about were drunk on May 20, ‘23. It was a rainy day in New York City and while many of you were hunkered down to escape the showers, Week to Week Notes was out on the scene. Not all heroes wear capes, people. That day the pints were already flowing as I finished two at Printers Alley & Gabby O’Hara’s (they’re on yesterday’s Pint&Pen&Paper), but I needed to do a bit of writing before having 3 more. #GuinnessChallengeSeason practices drinking and writing responsibly.
Song On In The Background: Hold On by Chord Overstreet
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Jose is the bartender. MAD Bar and Lounge is located in the newly renovated hotel NH Collection New York Madison Avenue so MAD stands for Madison. Very comfy, bar’s bar. This November will be the 2-year anniversary. Peanut Butter Espresso Martini is recommended. Jose came up with the idea to add peanut butter whiskey to coffee and it is delicious! They use real peanuts, peanut butter, and peanut butter whiskey for the martinis. I know I’m technically only certified to review proper Guinness pints, but I’d give the Peanut Butter Martini and 10 out of 10 coming from peanut butter lover. Check out more of Jose’s cocktails on @belloscocktails.
MAD Bar has a wide variety of live music sessions. Jazz Wednesdays. Latin music Thursdays. Fridays they have Brazilian music. Their slogan is great - Don’t be MAD, have a drink. Or two? We know you deserve it! The lounge and bar are inspired by the Golden Age of Advertising so it’s got a real Mad Men feel to it. Most of the big advertising agencies during this era such as David Ogilvy (of Volkswagon fame), Leo Burnett, and of course, Don Draper (in the show) were located on Madison Avenue. Thus, the name is a double entendre to it. Go I look forward to grabbing another drink and Peanut Butter Martini at MAD Bar & Lounge again soon!
Song On In The Background: Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours by Stevie Wonder
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Washington is an owner and bartender. Ceci’s is an Italian Restaurant. I walked by it and was surprised to see a Guinness poster so I had to check it out! Ceci’s is a bar as soon as you step inside and has a ton of tables in the back for seating in its nice restaurant setting. It would be a very nice place for parties or dinner for two! The Pork Ossining Bucco is recommended. Lemon Basil Martini is recommended. Burrata cheese and tomatoes are the recommended appetizers. They serve gluten-free pizza, gluten-free pasta, and even gluten-free beer.
Ceci’s Italian Restaurant is a real jewel in the diamond district and the apple of Times Square. They serve up delicious Italian food with care and gusto of authentic Italian-style hospitality while in a rustic-style restaurant with hardwood floors & exposed brick walls. Perfect for nearly any occasion, a meal at Ceci Italian Cuisine is one you and yours will remember for a long, long time. (Source: Ceci’s) I look forward to grabbing another drink at Ceci’s Italian Restaurant again soon!
Song On In The Background: Love Lost by Mac Miller
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Laura is the bartender. She has spent 6 months in The City and loves it - it’s a “very different place.” She recommends the Oysters, steak sandwiches, and chicken Caesar salads. Jane Doe Lounge is located on the 1st level of the Mansfield Hotel. Jane Doe opened up in December of ‘21 so almost 2 years now. They do weekend bottomless brunches at $25 from 11 AM to 3 PM. Old fashions are Laura’s favorite drink to make. Blake’s Bar in Galway is Laura’s favorite pub in Ireland and she has done quite a few Guinness Challenges with her friends back home.
Jane Doe Lounge is the Home of Happy Hour from 11 AM to 7 PM on the daily. They pride themselves on being a place where cocktails and dreams are made! Just steps away from Bryant Park, they are nestled inside the iconic Mansfield Hotel which was built in 1902. The Mansfield Hotel was part of a surge in apartment hotels developed during the start of the 20th Century and so pretty cool that Jane Doe Lounge is the setting of a New York City designated landmark. I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at Jane Doe’s Lounge again soon!