@YouTheReader - Enough To Drink by Sam Feldt & Cate Downey just came out 1/13 ‘23. Catchy new tune with a drink in the title, perfect for a Pint&Pen&Paper, right?
I have no idea if when I do little anecdotes about myself or friends it makes @YouTheReader any more interested in Week to Week Notes, but it should go without saying at this point that I’m not writing to disparage people I grew up with. If anything I’ll just continue making fun of myself about my own past. Week to Week Notes tries to put smiles on faces. Hopefully, some of these words paint a bit of a picture, that’s the goal of every writer regarding any subject…
…That said, holy hell, some of you reading this from high school and college are terrible singers. The number of times I had to drunk listen to your 4 AM karaoke attempts, I’m lucky to still be able to hear. Just stick to what you know. A buddy of mine can perform “Can’t You See” to a crowd of groupies twice his age. Another buddy of mine does a great Swae Lee. Me, I’ve been trying to perfect my inner Bon Iver for “Exile”, butwe’re still years away from going public with it.
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. I’m planning on this to just be a SEASONal thing for me because I don’t know about you, but I prefer a pint in the cold weather months until the end of March. The 0.0 to 10.0 scale will be extremely nuanced but as a reference point, the only perfect 10.0 I plan to ever give out is at the Guinness Factory in Dublin one day.
Hellcat Annie’s 1/20 ‘23
Service & Staff: A+
Guinness: 8.9
Guinness Challenge: N/A No Guinness Glass
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Billy is the bartender and has been in NYC since ‘04. He is from Fort Lauderdale but moved to NY because “Florida is a toilet and this is the best place on Earth. That is why (he moved).” He lives on the West Side. Been working at Hellcat Annie’s for 2 years. The wings are great here, he recommends the garlic parm flavor. His last concert was the Pixies and the last time he went to the movie theater was to see Babylon (with Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Toby Maguire, and Margot Robbie). The movie was 3 hours long. “Worth seeing but a 7.5 movie rating.” Abby and Garrison, who were sitting next to me debating European soccer players on Transfer Markt, jumped into the conversation and said, “it is the job of the director and editor to make you feel you’re on the edge of your seat every minute of the film.” Billy also saw the horror movie, Smile, and gave it a 10 out of 10.
Billy wasn’t really into sports, which as @YouTheReader can tell by now is no problem with Week to Week Notes. I enjoy talking to nonsports fans just as much as I do fellow diehard fans, it helps me keep up with what else is going on in Pop Culture. As I finished up my pint, a young couple sat down next to me for the Big East matchup being played at the Garden. I gave Kyle sitting next to me a Week to Week Notes card and he found out Sunday one of the local bars in his area was a Bills bar through my drinking of Guinness and talking to people. Tough loss, but hey at least now he’s got some new Sunday spots to watch his Bills come next fall. @YouTheReader did I mention that Margot Robbie is in the new movie Babylon? I’m looking forward to checking out Hellcat Annie’s again soon!
Scruffy Duffy’s 1/20 ‘23
Service & Staff: A+
Guinness: 9.2
Guinness Challenge: Failed
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Danny is the bartender from Chelsea, Queens. He is a big Mets fan, which is very apparent because he’s wearing a Mets hat. He loves his Uncle Stevie Cohen spending the big bucks. David Wright was his favorite player growing up and Pete Alonso is his favorite Met now. He is a bit annoyed about Jacob deGrom leaving but thinks the rotation is in good shape despite him being gone. Danny has been working at Scruffy Duffy’s for 3 months now. It is a big sports bar. Big football bar. They have Giants inflatable right outside the doorway for Saturday Night’s game. Scruffy’s has some famous wings and Danny suggested the “Mango Habanero flavor is the move.” He is a Giants fan and wasn’t expecting much heading into this season. Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley have both worked out under Brian Daboll, Danny wants both players back next season.
Scruffy Duffy’s does a spin the wheel for football. The gist is if a football play happens in a certain time period when the wheel lands then you can get a drink on the house. I’m sure I’m not wording this correctly so please see below. Danny seemed like a true die-hard Met fan and is eager for baseball to come back soon. I’m looking forward to checking out Scruffy Duffy’s again soon!
Deacon Brodies 1/20 ‘23
Service & Staff: A+
Guinness: 9.4
Guinness Challenge: Failed
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Riley is the bartender and he is from Boca Raton, Florida. He’s been in NYC for a little over a year and likes it - he lives just right up the block from the bar. Deacon Brodies is a very well-known establishment, especially for those in the Theatre Industry. “Stage Hands, lighting, and sound designers come here to network after shows.” They have been in business for over 20 years. Deacon Brodies is a “bar’s-bar” in that they serve only drinks, no food which is very unique considering it’s located on a restaurant row in the city. Riley’s family has ownership in Deacon Brodies and he wants to learn about the family business. Guinness is their top-serving drink.
I found the name to be very interesting so I did a little bit of internet research that there was a real “Deacon” William Brodie who many believe to be the inspiration behind the story of “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”. William Brodie “on 1 October 1788 William Brodie was hanged“in the Lawnmarket in front of a crowd that was the largest seen in living memory… But who was Deacon Brodie? He was 47 when he was hanged and until his arrest had managed to maintain the illusion of being a respectable craftsman. He was bourgeois, he was respectable, he was the sort of person whom the criminal classes were supposed to look up to…Brodie himself was a fine craftsman specializing in domestic furniture such as cupboards and cabinets - crucially, he was also a talented locksmith. Through his work, he had access to the houses of very rich people and was able to make impressions of keys which meant he could come back at night and rob them. (Source: Directly from BBC’s The Real Jekyll & Hyde? The Deacon Brodie story). Back to this “wee candle-lit neighborhood bar in the heart of Hell's Kitchen,” they serve a great pint! I’m looking forward to checking out Deacon Brodie’s again soon!
Frankie & Johnnie’s Steakhouse 46th 1/20 ‘23
Service & Staff: A+
Guinness: 4.3
Guinness Challenge: N/A No Logo Glass
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Roxy is the bartender. She has been in NY for 18 years and thinks it is okay. She has lived in many different places and cities all over the world. Her favorite countries are Japan, Lebanon, and France. “Not necessarily about the country but the people around you.” Japan stood out to her for many different reasons, one being that “policemen will hand out umbrellas to those who need them in the rain.” Lebanon was a lot of fun and had many friendly people. The food is also amazing. France she loves for its architecture, coffee, and croissants. “Flair in France is different.” Roxy is a supporter of gymnastics and thinks it is a very difficult sport. She recommends the shrimp scampi, Ribeye steak, and french fries with cream spinach. As for future spots, she would like to visit, “safari around Cape Cod, Africa. Morocco, India, New Zealand, and Australia are also spots I would like to see.”
It was awesome hearing Roxy’s perspective. She did not grow up in the United States and has spent time all over the world traveling which I found interesting. As for the pint, it tasted terrible. Sour-like. The only Guinness so far that I was not able to finish, after two sips I was done with it. Obviously, Frankie and Johnnie’s is well-known as a terrific NYC steakhouse restaurant with great cocktails and some Frank Sinatra in the background, but @YouTheReader I have to be honest with you - I would shy away from their Guinness pint. I’m looking forward to checking out Frankie and Johnnie’s again soon for the shrimp scampi, ribeye steak, and french fries with spinach cream!
Quick intermission of what Roxy pulled out as soon as I told her the Guinness score…
…Nah she just collects them and has them behind the bar…
…very cool but also very sharp… You never know what you’ll hear or see while drinking Guinness and talking to people in NYC.
Hurley’s Saloon 1/20 ‘23
Service & Staff: A+
Guinness: 8.9
Guinness Challenge: Failed
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: “Footloose” on in the background. Melissa is the bartender. She is from Belfast and has been in the U.S. for 17 years - all in NYC. She loves New York “for the seasons and fast pace. I meet so many new people every day.” Melissa has been working at Hurley’s Saloon for 11 years. She started off as a full-time bartender but is now a fill-in bartender and full-time accountant for Hurley’s Saloon. She and her husband just came back from Ireland for Christmas. They “had a great time, but still not okay. Need a vacation to decompress from all the Guinness of course.” Her husband is from Dublin, so they know what a good pint tastes like, and back in ‘19 saw a Gaelic match at Croke Park. As for her menu recommendations, she said “the Pub Burger, Mac&Cheese wedges, Shepherds Pie, and Roasted Chicken” were all phenomenal options.
As is the case with almost everyone I meet, Melissa was very genuine and funny! It was very cool to hear that even as an accountant for Hurley’s Saloon, she was more than willing to fill in bartending so that her co-workers could have their own vacation back home. Team-player. I feel like on every vacation I’ve ever been on I always need another vacation when I get home, so totally get what she meant! Hurley’s Saloon has been around since 1892 and is an NYC Historic Landmark. They also serve a great pint. I’m looking forward to checking out Hurley’s Saloon again soon!
P. McDaid’s Irish Pub 1/20 ‘23
Service & Staff: A+
Guinness: 9.7
Guinness Challenge: Failed
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: “Just Like Heaven” by the Cure on in the background. Kian (I think, I can’t read my own scribble) is the bartender. Irish lad, Celtic club supporter. Paddy McCourt was his favorite player growing up. Sam sitting next to me lives in the Upper West Side. She once went to Nashville on a camping trip. “It was weird.” She doesn’t like sports, but enjoys books and movies. The last few books she has been reading have been “trashy.” She manages a restaurant and they “have really good cheese there.” Karen is another bartender. She is from Buncrana, Donegal, Ireland. Moved to US 10 years ago and has spent all 10 in NYC. Loves Brooklyn, “if I didn’t live in Williamsburg I’d be out of the city.” She is an Irish Rugby supporter and a big Conor Murray fan. P. McDaid’s has a very authentic Irish pub feel to it with some great music. The Six Nations will be played here throughout the month of February.
@YouTheReader they sure pour a great pint! Every Friday they have a 4 to 7 pm Happy Hour with $7.50 pints, all tap beers, house wines, and basic spirits. Every Sunday from 12 to 3pm they have a Winter Special Sunday Roast “like your Granny used to make.” They will have the 6 Nations on for you Irish Rugby supporters, with the sound on. Also had a very nice off the record conversation with someone thinking about moving to Pearl River so I gave my best elevator pitch about the Town of Friendly People. I’m looking forward to checking out P. McDaid’s Irish Pub again soon!