Today’s Pint&Pen&Paper Week 39 Vol I’s song is Last Night by Morgan Wallen. Now I’ll be honest, I’m not really a big Morgan Wallen guy. He’s clearly very good at what he does and is extremely successful but I got him beneath Zach Bryan on my Week to Week Notes’ Country Artist Power Rankings. That said, Last Night was on at one of these fine drinking establishments and it is catchy as hell so it felt like the right choice for the song today. This song peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 during Saint Patrick’s Day weekend of ‘23.
It sounds like all of this could have been avoided if he just ordered a pint of Guinness instead of drinking liquor.
Ahh, so Last Night is a double-entendre. Yesterday night was this couple’s last night together, I got it. The Jack is a reference to Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey. Splitting a 5th is splitting a 750ml bottle or 1/5th of a gallon. Yeah, that’ll do it.
Here is a random factoid…Last Night edged out Miley Cyrus’ Flowers to take the #1 spot on the US Billboard Hot 100. This song also reached the top of the Australian ARIA singles charts as well. The Aussies loved this song as it was #1 for 8 weeks in a row, breaking the record for longest reigning leader by a male American country singer, none other than Billy Ray Cyrus’ 7-week stretch at #1 with Achy Breaky Heart in 1992. (SongFacts) Does the Cyrus family and Morgan Wallen have beef? I don’t know, or care, but maybe someone should get on that.
Again, I hate to be that guy, but all of this could have been avoided if he just went with a pint of Guinness. Am I missing something?
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: Last Night by Morgan Wallen
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Sugar Tits is bartending. Been working here since ‘18. Bar’s bar, they got PB&Js and you can bring your own food. Guinness and Bud Light are top-selling drinks. On weekends age range is 22 and under, weekdays is anyone and everyone from the neighborhood. They show every game for the NFL, a big sports bar. Sugar Tits has been in NY for about a decade but is originally from Cleveland. He worked concessions for the Indians and is a Browns fan. The Guardians and Indians’ name doesn’t matter to him. Omar Vizquel is his favorite Indian of all time, he named his cat after him.
The Village Tavern has been your drinking consultant since 1998. That was an interesting interview with Sugar Tits. I wonder if that is his legal name? I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at The Village Tavern again soon!
Song On In The Background: Enter Sandman by Metallica
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Fish tank behind the bar. Reservoir was established in 1996, great year! Sarah is the bartender. She is from the Bronx. “Good hat”, she says. Jeter is her favorite player. When I mentioned Bernie Williams was mine she said he used to play at Black Bear in White Plains. Her favorite cocktail to make is martinis, “feel like it is an art form. Classic, timeless drink.” The wings, nachos, and burgers are all recommended. She said that Bernie Williams was a very nice guy, no surprise. Sarah has been working at Reservoir for 6 years now and loves it. It is a neighborhood local bar usually filled with sports fans. At one point it was a Steelers bar.
Located in the heart of Greenwich Village and just south of Union Square, Reservoir is a local institution known for great food and cocktails, as well as a rockin’ sports scene. They are an old-school neighborhood haunt serving up real-deal burgers and wings, ice-cold beers, and all the sports. I look forward to grabbing another pint at Reservoir again soon!
Song On In The Background: Candidate For Love by Joey Nego
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Rooftop bar. Simone is the bartender. Bar 13 is a summer spot and nightclub. They only open before 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, so I lucked out with it being Wednesday. Simone has been in The City for 6 years. “Best city ever. If you know, you know, you know.” Unfortunately, she is a Celtics fan. Blake Griffin is her favorite player. “I was a Nets fan for a bit.” Vodka sodas are recommended. Named after the Street. They have a rotation of DJs all the time.
The Bar 13 has 3 VIP Bottle Service open bar packages that fit any of your needs. Bar 13 has hosted Thrillist, NBC, Goldman Sachs, and others for parties and after parties. A great indoor or outdoor multi-level option for corporate events, birthdays, and venues for all parties. I look forward to grabbing another drink at Bar 13 again soon!