Today’s tune is Torn by Natalie Imbruglia, if you guessed that it was on in the background at one of these fine drinking establishments - you’d be correct, it was! We’ll finish off there but first, let’s get to the Guinness.
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: Spooky by Dusty Springfield
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Dutch Fred was a legendary policeman who would patrol the neighborhood. The tuna is recommended for a meal. Very classy spot, they did a horrific (great) job decorating for Halloween. Portraits of Dutch Fred hanging in the hallway as you enter the bar. Tuesday and brunch specials. Cool date spot. Dutch Fred’s is Irish-owned. Francesco is the bartender, he is originally from North West Italy. He makes his own brand of vermouth in upstate New York called Dionese’s and he knows all about Pearl River. He’s been getting more into football and so is excited to check on Week to Week Notes’ Football Friday.
During Prohibition, legend has it that Hell’s Kitchen got its nickname during an exchange between veteran policeman “Dutch Fred” and a rookie partner. After they witnessed a riot by West 39th Street near Tenth Avenue, the rookie cop said “This place is hell itself” and Dutch Fred famously said, “Hell’s a mild climate. This is Hell’s Kitchen.” Dutch Fred’s bar does an excellent job at meshing Hell’s Kitchen’s past with the present with a modern food and drink menu while playing upbeat music that puts you in a New York state of mind. Check out Francesco’s Dionese’s Vermouth on IG (dioneses_vermouth), he makes it in the Hudson Valley with wine from the Finger Lakes and organic spices. I look forward to grabbing another pint at Dutch Fred’s again soon!
Song On In The Background: The Foggy Dew by The Chieftains
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Steelers bar. Manny Pacquiao and Jimmy Fogert shorts hanging on the wall. Dart board in the corner. The Steelers and Ravens game tomorrow “is going to be nuts.” England is currently losing to Samoa in the Rugby World Cup (Tony from UK is probably pissed), and Ireland is playing Scotland later. Their wings are recommended. They also have good burgers and tater tots. It’s a pub with plenty of drafts but Guinness is their top seller. Willie Stargell's jersey hanging on the wall. They have a ton of cool memorabilia all over from the likes of Man Utd, Star Wars, Big Ben, and Lou Gehrig. Hanna is the bartender, she is a stunt performer, pretty cool!
Located at 9th Ave in Hell’s Kitchen, Hibernia is a great Pittsburgh Steeler bar. The sports bar also shows some English Premier League like Manchester United, as well as GAA and Irish Rugby. They are known for having the best wings in Hell’s Kitchen and their kitchen conveniently stays open until 2 AM every night so you can always head there for a late night bite. Their Happy Hour is Monday to Friday from 4 to 6 PM. I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at Hibernia again soon!
Song On In The Background: Torn by Natalie Imbruglia
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Jeanette is the bartender, not my mother she’s got 2 N’s in her name, and has been telling me that since I was 4 years old as if I didn’t remember. This Jeanette is from County Tyrone. The Packies Yam is recommended. It originally got the name because it’s “an easy, catchy Irish-owned name.” Been here since 1916. McCoys since 1993. Bar’s bar, just drinks, bring in your own food. David is bartending he loves The City and has been here for 5 years. He is a big fan of Gaelic and Hurling. From County Cavan, played for them. Guinness is by far their top seller. On Saint Patrick’s Day, they just heave the pints of Guinness out to patrons because it’s flowing non-stop. The Chiefs bar is open until 4 AM. They are a Taylor Swift safe haven for all of us Swifties.
Originally established in April of 1916, this cozy Irish neighborhood has been a staple in Hell’s Kitchen for well over a century. They are open until 4 AM 7 days a week. They have 9 50” TVs and have a great atmosphere for sports such as the Irish Rugby’s Six Nations. I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at McCoy’s again soon!
So we all know Torn is a breakup song because it reached #4 in Ireland’s charts, #2 in the UK, and although it only landed at #42 in the US Billboard Hot 100, in ‘12 they randomly did a Top 100 Pop Songs from 1992-’12 and it landed at #26. (Source: Song Facts)
She’s talking about the guy she was with. Before the love was lost she looked at him differently with dignity.
It sounds like this fella got the case of the “ick.” She used to look at him with adoration but he either was a jerk or went full sad boy after the breakup. Ladies, can you console Natalie? I’ll explain to this guy what’s going on.
Alright dude, first off what you want to do is grab a pint of Guinness. Cut yourself off at 3 pints, and drink like a man, not like a boy. It’s not easy, but you won’t have a hate-yourself hangover tomorrow. Anything you say to her isn’t going to work, give her space. After a while when enough time has passed, maybe download Hinge and go on a spree of dates. You might meet someone who you kinda like so maybe go for it if that’s the case. It may work out but in the back of your mind remember, there’s a good chance she’s got a whole lineup of guys she’s seeing from the app, especially if she’s a Call Her Daddy listener so ask her what podcasts she likes. Think of it more like practice reps for your future dates, you gotta shake off the rust before you find the real thing. Also, when on the dates be present and genuine. You never know who might be your future girlfriend, wife, or whatever you’re looking for so be respectful.
@Women why are you reading this part? This is locker room talk and I can’t be sending our friend out there all naive, he’s a wounded deer, if he’s not prepared dating apps will ruin him and we need his confidence up. I told you to console Natalie, how is that going…
Holy hell ladies, it sounds like you’ve made it worse.
I’m sorry for picking this song before Valentine’s Day, but my other options for today were Spooky by Dusty Springfield (just wasn’t speaking to me) and I already played The Foggy Dew last month. Also, there might be people going through it now and that might get a laugh out of my dumbass doing a written Ryan Gosling impression. You’ll never confuse me with Ken (I was never an absolute liability at cornerback in Remember The Titans), but when you take a step out of the dating game Guinness teaches you things. We got Cyndi Lauper’s vocals up and running tomorrow.
Wow. So this is what women do? Interesting….
Her perception of him changed, she had the illusion that something might have been there but it just never came to fruition. It happens, c'est la vie. She’s likely been having feelings that it wouldn’t work out for some time and the guy was aloof, hence him being a little late.
Oh, brother, she went to a fortunate teller?… This dude is absolutely fecked! She shouldn’t have told him that, now he’s going to start reading both his and her horoscopes. You know, maybe grab a 4th pint of Guinness, but make sure to buy Pedilyte for the morning. Thank me later. Ladies please tell Natalie that it will be okay, she is a bit bent out of shape, and needs a girls’ night. Bring wine.
This song was originally written and sung by Danish singer Lis Sørensen known as "Braendt.” Natalie Imbruglia was an Australian actress before this tune came out in 1997. (Song Facts) The lying naked on the floor line means she is in a vulnerable state at a low point. I had a bit of fun with the annotations but this is a great song. I hadn’t heard it in forever, but it was on the radio all the time as a 90s kid.
Lastly, please take anything you just read with a grain of salt, I get all my wisdom or stupor from pints of Guinness.