@YouTheReader Frank Sinatra released an album called Nice ‘n’ Easy in 1960, with the song called “Nice ‘n’ Easy” as the 1st song on the album. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever heard it before, but you’ll see why I picked it. Nice song to add to the catalog&calandar.
The number of times growing up while helping out working around the house where I heard “Nice ‘n’ Easy, Thomas” has got to be in the high hundreds.
Any time I would do any help around the house my dad would constantly say it to me as he himself is tirelessly doing most of the work in the operation anything but nice and easy.
Well, it is February now, so I basically have to only do love songs for the next 2 weeks. Feels only right given the season.
I’m not even sure if my dad is really much of a Frank Sinatra fan so I’ll hold back from further commentary until this Sunday’s Stumblin’ Along. Very cool that working on Week to Week Notes showed me a new-old Frank Sinatra song that came out over 60 years ago and will now be on an Instagram Reel in ‘23.
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 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.
Mulligan’s 1/23 ‘23
Service & Staff: A+
Guinness: 9.5
Guinness Challenge: Failed
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Farrah is from Tipperary, Ireland. She’s been in the U.S. for 19 years, 16 of which were spent in Manhattan and the last 3 in the Hoboken/Jersey City resident area. Mulligans is the fútbol bar of Hoboken. Their George Best homage portrait is class. Farrah supports the Celtic and enjoys Tipperary hurling. Eoin Kelly would be her favorite hurler. Mulligans hosts a pool league on Mondays and Wednesdays. “Fish and chips is the go-to, or curry fries.” They open for every fútbol match at least a half hour prior to kick-off.
Mulligans sure does a phenomenal job of blending Hoboken style with Irish hospitality! It was awesome seeing fútbol scarfs, drapes, and flags all over the walls and ceilings. It is truly an authentic pub in every sense. The pool league was going on while I was there so that was cool to witness the league playing. I wish I stopped by during a match, but then again I probably wouldn’t have had too much time to talk to their bartender. Farrah was impressed that I knew that was George Best, I do know a little bit of Man U history. Phantogram also liked this story, so that was pretty cool - they are the musical duo that made “When I’m Small” and Mouthful of Diamonds is an underrated song as well I have in my Back Pocket. They had a great atmosphere for the World Cup and I’m looking forward to heading over to Mulligans for a match on a Saturday morning soon!
The Ferryman on 1st 1/25 ‘23
Service & Staff: A+
Guinness: 9.0
Guinness Challenge: Failed
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Ocean Avenue by Yellowcard on in the background. Kirk is the bartender, he is from Manhattan and has lived in Hoboken for 3 years. He likes how it is nice and quiet. He is a Giants and Buccaneers fan. Kirk is also a UFC fan, he “watches every once in a while.” The Ferryman has wine&trivia tonight and every Wednesday. This week’s theme is Star Wars. Kirk has been bartending here for 3 months, “really chill and close to home.” Many regulars during the week, “each bartender sort of has their own regulars they are friends with.” College students come here on Friday and Saturday, “Saturday’s here get pretty wild.” Kirk likes Hoboken because it is a convenient commute into the city and a “happy medium between city and town.” Kirk’s favorite Star Wars movie is A New Hope - “it’s a classic.”
When my a few of my aunts from Ireland were over here last fall, they visited Hoboken with my parents and brother. We stopped here and my mom is convinced she had been here before in the 90s. Kirk seemed like a really chill guy and so was one of his regulars sitting next to me. It was pouring outside so I probably looked a bit disheveled and soaked but they were really nice. The Ferryman on 1st has a new featured cocktail that caught my eye called “Talk ‘Birdie’ to Me” that caught my eye. It consists of misunderstood ginger whiskey, peach schnapps, iced tea, and lemonade. Sounds like a terrific golf drink. They also have live music every Thursday and New DJs every Friday&Saturday night. I’m looking forward to checking out The Ferryman on 1st again sometime soon!
Belo Bar 1/25 ‘23
Service & Staff: A+
Guinness: 9.0
Guinness Challenge: Failed
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Leanna is the bartender. Born and raised in Hoboken. She has witnessed the changes, “old-timers will say it changed so much but it’s only gotten better!” Leanna has worked at Belo Bar for over a year. She is a huge Yankee fan, “I go to every home opener.” Her grandfather knew Frank Sinatra. Her favorite Yankees are Babe Ruth, Joe Dimaggio, and Derek Jeter “was my time. There is no bad Yankee!” The Espresso Martini is amazing here, Belo Bar is a cocktail and is special because everything is made in-house. One of a kind. The prosciutto and burrata plus Amine’s burger are highly recommended. “Of course, we’re going to win the World Series in ‘23!”
The Belo Bar has an elite Happy Hour and there were beautiful women sitting to the left&right of me. Leanna even gave me a shot of the Espresso Martini, so I can vouch for it - 10 out of 10. Leanna has been going to every home opener with her mother for over a decade now, a very cool family tradition! Being that her family is from Hoboken, it was very awesome to hear that her grandfather knew and hung out with Frank Sinatra from time to time growing up. Her answer about who is her favorite Yankee is some real textbook stuff and let’s hope her prediction for the World Series gets written in a textbook one day for being correct. I look forward to grabbing an Espresso Martini or two at a Happy Hour sometime soon!
Brass Rail 1/29 ‘23
Service & Staff: A+
Guinness: 8.0
Guinness Challenge: Failed
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Head and Heart by Joel Curry is on in the background. Suzy is the bartender. She has worked here for 8 years and “loves it.” She lives in Bayonne now but is 9 years removed from Toronto originally. As a Blue Jays and Raptors fan, Suzy likes Vince Carter and loves Drake. “He is just God there.” The short rib sandwich is recommended. Suzy loves making the espresso martini with pumpkin foam. The drapes covering the front door of Brass Rail are to combat the wind. NYC moves faster than Toronto but Toronto is cleaner and the people are nicer.
I was here for the 4th Quarter of the Chiefs and Bengals AFC Championship, The Brass Rail was a nice spot to catch the ending! I finally got some first-hand perspective from a Torontonian on the 6 God as well as why The Brass Rail has the drapes in the front doorway. Totally makes sense that it is located on the corner and would get some wind gusts. The Brass Rail is a landmark restaurant that has been restored to its original early 1900’s elegance and is the perfect setting for a fine dining experience in the heart of historic downtown Hoboken. We offer a dynamic New American menu and an extensive wine program as well as a premium-only bar featuring the world’s best spirits and cordials (Source: The Modern Classic’s Story) I look forward to checking out The Brass Rail again some time soon!
Carpe Diem 1/30 ‘23
Service & Staff: A+
Guinness: 9.0
Guinness Challenge: Failed
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Unanimous bartender and sitting next to me. Great wings. Neighborhood bar. Sitting next to me anonymous thinks the Giants should franchise Daniel Jones and sign Saquon Barkley long-term. “I wouldn’t say I’m rooting for the Chiefs but I want the Eagles to lose of course.” At Carpe Diem, “whatever their kitchen does, they do well. Wings for sure and burgers are really great.” It is a neighborhood bar. “Draws crowds for big games.” Bernie Williams visited his school in Puerto Rico when he was in the 4th grade in 1992, “from there on he was my favorite player. I remember writing down he went to my school in my 4th-grade notebook.” He used to collect baseball and basketball cards in the 90s. He’d compare their values on Beckett Magazine before making trades with friends at recess.
@YouTheReader don’t bother trying to cop the Bernie Williams 1991 Debut Card seen below off of eBay - I just bought it for $2.92 with shipping included. Oxford Languages translates Carpe Diem to mean “urge someone to make the most of the present time and give little thought to the future” which was taken from Roman poet Horace's Odes, written over 2,000 years ago. A pretty cool story that the anonymous Yankee fan sitting next to me and I share the same favorite player for different. Bernie Williams at the time he visited his school, hadn’t really broken onto the scene yet in the Bronx and rocked fashionable early 90s glasses. More on this next Friday
Hoboken, New Jersey, USA
Just feel like this side of the Hudson River’s skyline should get some shine as well.
YouTube Rabbithole
Gillette Fusion ProGlide with FlexBall Technology Shave Face
@YouTheReader you might recognize the background music.