Just a Friend | The Tippler | Canuck | Westside Tavern | AL Division Series Game 3s | YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
Just a Friend by Biz Markie was on in the background in one of these mighty fine drinking establishments. The song came out in the fall of 1989 and peaked at #9 on the US Hot 100 Billboard in 1990. Biz Markie would go on to make a handful of other albums and music but this tune would go on to be his by far most successful single. VH1 named the song #81 on their 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders in 2000 and I remember Biz Markie featuring on a bunch of VH1’s shows like I Love The 80s & 90s. Marcel Theo Hall, aka Biz Markie, was born in Harlem in 1964 and unfortunately passed away in ‘21.
This song is great in that Biz Markie can clearly paint a picture of the scenario that unfolds. Rap during this era could still be goofy and fun, it wasn’t until years later that street cred and gangster rap became more of a thing.
He’s at one of his shows performing and a girl, a fan of his music, catches his attention.
I still laugh at the blah-blah-blah line, very creative.
Throwing bass means Biz was speaking in a lower tone to the girl and she spoke in a high tone. It could also be a basketball pun with baseline and mid-range jump shots.
The iconic chorus for this song was inspired by Freddie Scott’s 1968 “You Got What I Need.”
Sidenote: An important note that I learned from doing this research on this song is that Biz Markie was raised in Brentwood on Long Island. His mother passed away when he was young and his father couldn’t care for him, so Biz at 9 years old grew up in the foster home of Eloise Parker and was always thankful for Miss Parker’s support.
Back to blah-blah-blah, Biz Markie took some of the hardships he had as a kid, and “what he learned to do was laugh,” as they mention in his All Up In The Biz Documentary.
Biz Markie told EW this, “I was talking to this girl — the first girl I ever talked to. And every time I would call out to California, a dude would pick up and hand her the phone. I’d be like, ‘Yo, what’s up [with him]?’ She’d say, ‘Oh, he’s just a friend. He’s nobody.’ And I came out there a week early just to surprise her, and she’s tongue kissing somebody — and I caught her! So instead of me fighting, I put the pain into the pen and wrote it out.”
According to Biz Markie, “A lot of people didn’t like the record at the beginning. They would say, ‘Biz is trying to sing? Aw, the record is wack.’ But I wasn’t supposed to sing the chorus. I asked people to sing the part, and nobody showed up at the studio, so I did it myself.” This song only works because it is him belting it out. It’s hilarious.
Poor Biz, very sad love story, but he did end up finding somebody. His wife Tara Davis Hall founded the Just A Friend Foundation in Biz Markie’s legacy. The mission behind Just A Friend Foundation is to provide support and resources to children in the foster care system and those experiencing food deprivation. Through their programs and partnerships, they aim to improve the lives of these vulnerable children and give them the opportunity to thrive.
This was some good stuff to read about, on to the pints…
#GuinnessChallengeSeason
@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.
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: The barstool seat is a bit janky, I’m wobbling a bit. The tippler is an underground bar under Chelsea Market. Dimly lit spot. Their painted ceilings are cool, as is their tiled floor. They have exposed brick behind the bar, this place is #Rustic. The Golden Hour is a recommended cocktail. I’d guess the Tippler is a pretty happening spot on the weekends, it has a lot of space and a cool vibe. At the moment there is a bunch of networking going on around, with no TVs, people are talking. A tippler is a drinking habit. I guess I’m a tippler, didn’t know that. My mother will be so proud!
The Tippler is a very cool, hidden underground spot. It is a classic New York cocktail cellar space drenched in New York City history. The woodwork is impressive as they use reclaimed water tower wood to go with repurposed antique fixtures, and vintage library decor which gives it a distinctive speakeasy vibe. I look forward to grabbing another pint at The Tippler again soon!
Song On In The Background: Just a Friend by Biz Markie
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Canuck just changed the Guinness keg so this pint is the very first of the barrel. Massive, and I mean massive, moose head behind the bar staring directly at me. Canadian bar. Marg Madness Mondays, Trivia Tuesdays, Wing Wednesdays, Thursdays All Day Happy Hour, Fridays Hawaiian T-Shirts, and Boozy Brunch weekends. The poutine is recommended. Kawhi's Game 7 picture is on the wall. They have lacrosse sticks on the wall too. The jerseys of Mario Lemieux and Joe Carter are in the back. Every Canadian actor and musician you can think of has a portrait hanging up. I tagged Kate Beckinsale. 🫢
Established in ‘21, The Canuck is really the one and only Canadian sports bar located in the Chelsea neighborhood. Why don’t you go for a pint or two, eh? It had a very cool atmosphere and I’m sure is a great spot to watch some hockey. I learned that when in Canada, or in a Canadian bar in The City, you always order the poutine, it’s just the rules. They also do $12 Bloody Caesars which is the official drink of Canada. One of the things about New York City that is awesome is how there is a bar for everybody, so checking out a Candian one was great. I look forward to grabbing another pint at the Canuck again soon!
Song On In The Background: Alive and Kicking by Simple Minds
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Pool table in the back. Old school cash register, old school wooden bar top. Tyler is the bartender, he’s lived in The City for 25 years. Bar’s bar, you can buy a Guinness or a vodka soda. Casual neighborhood spot with great regulars. Behind the bar, they have some trophies from Chelsea Pier teams who play soccer and hockey. On the walls, they have Pier 23 from 1920 and Chambers Street in 1921. Cool black and white historic pictures of The City.
Established in 1997, Westside Tavern attracts a steady stream of celebrities such as Pete Davidson, Ed Sheerhan, Ice Tea, Colin Farrel, Tony Romo, and Tim Burton. SVU had also shot a ton of scenes using the Chelsea bar so you may recognize it from that as well. Even more important to Westside Tavern are its regulars who make this a home away from home every day until 4 AM. They have an internet jukebox with over 400k songs and some pool tables in the back. They also have a Downstairs Lounge with its own full bar for private parties. I look forward to grabbing another pint at Westside Tavern again soon!
MLB ‘23 Playoffs
Divisional Round Series
Houston Astros @ Minnesota Twins
Game 3: Cristian Javier vs Sonny Gray
The Minnesota Twins took Game 2 by a score of 6-2. Astros’ DH Yordan Alvarez hit his 2nd homer of the series which drove in Houston’s only runs. Former Houston Astro, SS Carlos Correa, was the difference in the game as he got himself 3 hits (2 doubles) and drove in 3 guys. Correa also made the final out of the game of his Houston SS successor Jeremy Pena.
Houston will have Cristian Javier on the rubber for Game 3. The 26-year-old Javier has pitched to a 2.20 ERA in 32.2 postseason innings. Javier has not faced most of the Twins' lineup, which typically favors the pitcher. Twins’ Sonny Gray will be making his 6th career postseason start and has pitched to 2.39 ERA in 26.1 innings. Gray actually made a start against the Astros for the Yanks back in the ‘17 ALCS when he went 5 innings of 1 run ball, but much of the Houston lineup has turned over since then.
Baltimore Orioles @ Texas Rangers
Game 3: Dean Kremer vs Nathan Eovaldi
In Game 2, the Texas Rangers outslugged the Orioles in Baltimore by the score of 11-8. The series now heads to Texas as the O’s season is now on the brink. Orioles legend OF Aaron Hicks homered and drove in 5 runs while the game was already out of reach. Texas Rangers’ catcher Mitch Garver blew open the game when he hit a grand slam in the 3rd inning.
With the Orioles season on the line, Dean Kremer will be on the hill to make his postseason debut. Kremer became the first Israeli to be drafted in the MLB in ‘15. When asked about the recent attacks in Israel, his response was, “I still want to pitch, but, I mean, it’s going to be in the back of my head.” Kremer faced the Rangers back in May, going 6.1 innings and allowing just 3 runs. The Texas Rangers’ Game 3 starter will be Nathan Eovaldi. This will be Eovaldi’s 13th playoff appearance and he has pitched to an outstanding 2.90 ERA in 49.2 innings in previous Fall Classics.