She’s Kerosene | Olive’s | Hudson House | The Local | YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
Today’s tune is She’s Kerosene by The Interrupters because it was on in the background at one of these fine drinking establishments in Nyack, New York. All that Britney Spears talk yesterday lit a match and I forgot she can sometimes be a bit of kerosene. The Interrupters are an Alt/Indie/Punk band for LA and this song came out in May of ‘18.
The song describes a combustible relationship using fire as a metaphor.
Speaking of sharp objects, I gotta get this sorted because I’m #TeamBritney… This knife video has been totally taken out of context, it was around Halloween, and the knives were fake. Context is key!
Speaking of arsonism, who hasn’t burned down their home gym? It was an accident!
This song is very well-written with flammable themes. Match, kerosene, arsonist, burned, gaslight, red sky, smoke, and ash are all skillfully used in ways to describe the relationship. Every time the guy thinks the relationship is over, he is drawn back into the flame so it’s just as much his problem.
The lead singer of the band is Aimee Allen and it sounds like Kevin Bivona, one of the band’s guitarists, is also backing her up. To tie a bit of a bow with Britney Spears, this song reminds me of the Alt/Indie/Punk rock you’d sometimes hear during that era of music around the late ‘90s and early 2000s. I was shocked to learn that this is a relatively new band and the song only came out a handful of years ago. If I hadn’t been drinking the pints of Guinness in Nyack that night, I may not have become a new fan of The Interrupters.
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, whom 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: She’s Kerosene by The Interrupters
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Chris is bartending. He’s been here 3 months. They have live music 7 nights a week. Bar’s bar. DJ Drum Circle on Thursdays, while on Fridays and Saturdays, they have live bands. Pool tables are around the corner of the bar. They also have a Photo Booth by the entrance. Olive’s is the last name of the owner. Chris is a Knick’s fan who loves the flow of basketball and enjoys watching. He still blames OJ for the Knicks losing the 1994 NBA Finals. “It was a distraction. Fuckin’ OJ” as he shakes his head.
Olive’s in Nyack has been described as “trendy, hip, indie, and above all attitude-free but well-behaved”, which checked out when I was there. They have a nice menu of soups, salads, burgers, and platters. They are not just your regular bar, they also serve as a very cool venue for live music every night. If you and your band ever want to book a gig, just shoot an email to Oliveboss1@gmail.com and be sure to include a link to your music. One band in particular that has performed at Olive’s is Olivoix, which submitted their live song Sisters at Olive’s to NPR’s Tiny Desk in ‘20. Pretty cool! I’m sure Chris is excited about the Knicks this season, very funny and cool guy. I’m looking forward to going back to Olive’s for a drink again!
Song On In The Background: Move On Up by Curtis Mayfield
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Hanger Steak, duck, and pork chop are all recommended. As for their apps, the bone marrow and tuna poke are recommended. At Hudson House, they spice their rum, with House Spiced Apple rum being the recommended cocktail. It is a nice classy restaurant with an old wooden finish for the bar. Every picture or carving on the wall was produced by the owner. He is a huge Yankee fan and Roger Maris was his favorite player. So much so, that he named his daughter, Maris, who just explained to me that this is one of the original buildings of Nyack. From 1870 to 1970, the Hudson House was used as a court and had a jail cell that is now used as a cool wine cellar/speakeasy. Maris and her family have had Hudson House for 34 years this March. In the back, they still have a cool speakeasy wine cellar. Cool spot with a ton of history. They gave me a delicious dessert to try, their Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie and it was amazing!
The Hudson House of Nyack was extremely busy on that Friday night, so many thanks to Maris and their staff for all the help with all this cool information on the oldest building in Nyack. It has served as the town’s village hall and jailhouse. The ceilings of the jail are still covered in the original pressed tin dating from the 1800s. Their upstairs, where the village judge would hold court, is now an additional dining room available for private parties. In the spring and summer, they also have a nice back patio or “tête-à-têtes.” The owner of the Hudson House, not only is a photographer and artist, but also a renowned baker in the Tri-County area. Very cool restaurant with a nice bar. I look forward to grabbing another drink at Hudson House in Nyack again!
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Jenna is the bartender. She is from Pearl River. Mickey’s was her favorite spot. She’s been at the Local for 1 year. They have hotdogs and chips on the menu. Corona would be their top seller. She is a Cowboys fan and thinks they are going to beat the Jets on Sunday. On Thursdays, they do Vinyl Nights.
The Local is a cozy craft beer bar. They also age their whiskey in barrels which is pretty cool. They serve a regularly rotating draft lineup and a uniquely creative hot dog menu. This past December they held their 7th Annual Ugly Sweater Party Toy Drive, teaming up with @center4sc, and they along with their patrons did a great job getting toys for kids, very cool! The Local has a great quote that it is “a place where you find the older of wisdom and the youngest of hearts.” I look forward to grabbing another drink at The Local in Nyack again soon!