A Long December | Doc Watson’s | Turnmill Bar | Churchill Tavern | YouTube Rabbithole
Hey @YouTheReader,
Today’s tune would be Superstitious by Stevie Wonder because it was on in the background at one of these fine drinking establishments. Then, one of my lovely aunties from Ireland asked if I could do A Long December by Counting Crows because it’s one of my many cousins’ favorites. Let’s hope Stevie Wonder doesn’t cast a spell on me for doing so. I’m not very superstitious, more a bit-stious, but family and reader recommendations always come first.
“It’s a song about looking back on your life and seeing changes happening, and for once for me, looking forward and thinking, ya know, things are gonna change for the better – ‘maybe this year will be better than the last’ – and so, like a lot of songs on the end of an album it’s not about everything turning out great, but it at least it is about hope… and the possibilities…” – Adam Duritz, the lead singer and songwriter of the Counting Crows. (Source: SongFacts)
This tune has a melancholy feel to it but with a bit of hope for sure.
The reference to the hospital in winter has to do with Jennifer but not Aniston. (Much like Taylor Swift, Week to Week Notes will never shy away from a Jennifer Aniston reference.) Duritz told VH1 Storytellers that in, December of 1995, “My friend Jennifer got run over by a car, just creamed. And I spent that whole month, while we were just beginning the record, and most of January and February in the hospital. Each morning and early afternoon then I'd go to the studio, the house where we were recording, and we'd play all afternoon and all night.” (Source: SongFacts) Also for Friends fans, Courtney Cox was in this music video for today’s YouTube Rabbithole.
The sorrowful aspect that comes with this song must be that he felt guilty that his friend was going through it while he was spending the rest of his time in the studio and writing the Counting Crows’ 2nd album. Sounds sorta like a Sophomore Slump.
Durtiz further told VH1 Storytellers, “It was a very weird time because there is a lot of stress, not that it's a big deal being a second album, but any album. They're just not that easy to make. It's a very stressful process, especially when you're first starting out. I spent a lot of time in the hospital which is pretty weird. But one day I just left the studio at about 2 in the morning, and I went to my friend Samantha and Tracy's house which is Hillside Manor, that's what we call it anyway, it's just a little house and I sat there talking with them. I woke them up, got them out of bed, and made them talk to me for a couple of hours, then I went home to my house. I wrote this song between about 4 and 6 and then went to the hospital the next day, and came to the house and I played it for the guys before dinner and taught it to them after dinner.” (Source: SongFacts)
I feel like there are plenty of people out there who have been through their fair share of Long Decembers. Shit, I’ve had a few too, but when I take a step back out of my head, mine have been nothing compared to some. It is always the easier option to be skeptical or negative about the future and sometimes a challenge to be optimistic about it, but if you can, maybe try to think things are gonna change for the better like Duritz said.
Great tune! I’ve got almost all of March mapped out with songs but I’m always open to recommendations and can adjust accordingly for readers like you reading this.
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.
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Named after the American guitarist and songwriter, Doc Watson won 7 Grammys and a lifetime achievement award. The French Toast with whipped cream and strawberry smells downright delicious. They do live music on Thursdays and Monday to Friday from 12 to 4 PM is their Happy Hour. It’s located all the way up on the Upper East Side so I’m looking forward to taking a nice Saturday stroll through Central Park, always gotta take advantage of it when I’m in the neighborhood.
Born in 1923 at Deep Gap, North Carolina, Doc Watson lost his vision as a baby. His nickname Doc comes from stage announcers having trouble pronouncing his name Arthel. The Doc reference comes from Sherlock Holmes’ sidekick, but it may also have been a Chicago Cubs pitcher of the 1910s with the same name. The guy pitched a complete game gem in 1913 for the Cubs before joining the Federation League for the next two seasons. The southpaw had a 2.70 and somehow only went 22-21, guess you can blame it on the Dead Ball Era. Back to Doc Watson from North Carolina, remarkably he picked up guitar as a child and started performing as a teenager. He wouldn’t catch his break until the 1960s when the world of folk music found him. He sang Bluegrass so my dad probably loves him. (Source: Law Marquette) Doc Watson’s bar has over 20 years of experience in crafting cocktails and serving beer. Their bartenders serve up a very good pint of Guinness. Not only did they have College Football on their TVs but there were also a ton of people there to watch the big UFC fight going on. They also show EPL and probably the Guinness Six Nations. While they had a jam-packed bar, they were setting up a private party in the back area with plenty of space for outdoor seating in their beer garden. I love Stumblin’ Along Central Park for a Saturday stroll. I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at Doc Waston’s again!
Song On In The Background: Superstitious by Stevie Wonder
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: This bar has a very nice look and feel to it, just trust me I’ve been to a few. They are currently packed to the brim for Happy Hour as this seems like a popular after-work spot. I had to ask the bartender 4 times for a Guinness and almost shout in their face, not the bartender’s fault whatsoever it was that loud of banter. It’s a private party going on in the back, looks a bit corporate, you know how loud they are networking and such. There was a party of over 250 people just last week so they have a ton of events. Kailee is the bartender. (Sorry for shouting, my regular monotone voice is too quiet, it’s always been a me problem.) They have a cool schedule for the NFL lamented that they must update every week. How the hell is it already Week 8 of the NFL?!?!?
I should’ve been savoring Week 8 of football. It always sneaks up on you like that, you would think I’d know better by now. Until next fall, at least we’re getting the Yanks back in our lives. Turnmill is perfect for parties. They host Trivia on Mondays. It’s also home to live Jazz music every Wednesday at 8 PM. Check out their Happy Hours every Monday to Friday from 4 to 7 PM. They show American football and are also an Everton bar as they host the New York City Evertonians for every match. On Saturdays, they do an all-day drink special with 21 huge TV screens. Cool spot. I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at Turnmill again!
Song On In The Background: Heart-Shaped Box by Nirvana
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: I wonder what the name comes from? Sounds familiar. English bar with copper top to write on. The booths have curtains, it look very authentic. A spot that Tommy Shelby and Winston Churchill woulda had a pint at. They even have a Churchill portrait above a fireplace at their main bar. Go with the fish and chips. They have an upstairs bar as well. I’ve never been to England but I’m assuming this is what one of their taverns or inns is like. Cool spot.
I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at Churchill Tavern again! Winston Churchill was a man of many quotes. Here are some of them…
- “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
- “You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.”
- “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.”
- “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
- “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.”