Monday, February 28, 2011
The Emerald Pub @9:45 pm
Soho
Okay, time to get back in the saddle, well, in this case bar stool, and hit a bar. I’ve decided on most Sunday night’s here at MAD, I’ll go check out a bar. I was going to revisit a place from the 365 Bar list, but my co-pilot , Al Rizo from those days informed me that the bar where they shot the bar scene in “After Hours” is still opening and is called the Emerald Pub. Since we’re in the middle of watching that film, I thought I’d go check it out and see if it looks the same two decades later. I just hope I get home!
I decided to take a cab there. I worked some overtime last week, so I thought I'd travel in style tonight.
Okay, it's about a block away. Wow, it's really deserted out tonight. I guess everyone's home watching the Oscars.
And here we are, the Emerald Pub. I should've taken a shot of the building so we could compare it to the movie, but like an idiot I forgot to. Oh well, it pretty much looks the same, trust me.
The bar itself looks pretty much the same as the movie. It's nice and dark in here, nice pick Al!
John Heard's not bartending tonight, but Pat was and here he serves up an ice-cold Budweiser.
Back in the saddle again. Cheers!
And there's the register that John Heard kicked the shit out of in the movie. Pat told me it's the same one and people come in and take pictures of it all the time.
As you can see, it's a well-stocked bar.
Some of the beers on tap.
It was a slow night and the only other person at the bar was Jason, who was enjoying a beer.
The Oscar's were on at the bar and here's Pat watching somebody thank someone. I don't know who it is. I guess I need to go to the movies more and stop watching old ones at home.
A long shot of the candle-lit bar.
There's another bar in back. No need for another bartender back here on such a slow night.
Here's an appropriate painting on the wall for Oscar night. Bogey, Marilyn, James Dean and Elvis.
This side of the bar has changed a little since After Hours.
A shot of the bar from the left side.
Fire! (That felt good!)
Okay, one look out the window and it's time to go home. I just hope I don't pull a Paul Hackett and spend all night trying to get there.
Luckily, life doesn't imitate the movies in this case. There was a cab waiting right outside the bar. Goodnight everybody and we'll see you tomorrow after dark.
Review
The Emerald Pub has a reputation for being a non-pretentious place in a part of town where, sadly, red velvet ropes rule. Thankfully they live up to their reputation. They’ve been on the block since 1972 and it’s a dark bar lit up by candles and the walls are brick. There’s a bar up front and one in the back and it’s got a dive bar meets lounge atmosphere. The bartenders and patrons are friendly, so check your attitude at the door.
They have a decent beer selection and of course there’s Guinness on tap. If you’re a vodka lover they offer 30 different selections. Happy Hour runs from 12 pm to 8 pm with half priced drinks. That’s right, an eight hour happy hour, so if you’ve been bounced out of your job in these tough times, here’s a good place to work on your resume and enjoy your unemployment check, all at the same time.
On St. Patrick’s Day there’s a live Irish band and free corned beef sandwiches, but good luck getting through the door. And if it’s after dark, good luck getting home!
The Emerald Pub
308 Spring St. (@Renwick St.)
212-226-8512
Thanks for the suggestion, Al! Co-pilot art by "Boris."
16 Comments
Reader Comments (16)
I like seeing the bar in black and white. For some reason it makes it more bar-like, especially in a dark one like this. Nice pick Al! Great to see you back on the bar stool! LOL!
Emerald looks intact, not much has changed since it was "Terminal Bar" for the movie. The area where the bar jets out a little is where Griffin Dunne sat. The brick wall is still there, great. Did you look for Teri Garr, Miss Beehive 1963? maybe it was 64. Amazing the cash register still there. Great ride back in time, sometimes you can really go back. Thanks for Neil Young, that song is perfect for this, always appreciated.
"Deja Vu all over again."
It looks GREAT in B&W.
Great choice and great suggestion Al.
(even the "Co Pilot" logo in B&W)
Perfect stop on Oscar Night.
What a snorefest that was.
@Barfly: Glad you enjoyed it, it was good to get back on the stool!
@Al: I wish Teri Garr would've been there! The bar area is pretty much the same as in the movie, great suggestion! You're the new co-pilot on Sundays!
@"Boris:" Thanks, Daddio! Yeah, I heard the Oscars weren't too exciting, I didn't see any of the movies, so I just passed on the whole thing. I like your co-pilot art in B&W too!
glad you made it home! lol! nice to see you back in a bar, will this be a weekly thing? hope so!
***SPOILER ALERT***
Proof positive that it is far better to go to the Emerald Pub and have a few drinks then it is to go to the Terminal Bar and wind up getting plastered.
looks like a place that should allow you to smoke ...... !
Welcome back to the bar! It's like you never left.
@rita r: Yep, if I don't go to a bar on Sunday, I'll go on Monday. These were the two nights I enjoyed most on the bar crawl.
@cp: It took me a second to get that, but then...HA HA HA! Good one!
@GENE: You're right, It's got a little bit of a weird vibe in there.
@Clacky: Thanks, it felt good to be back!
Congrats to The Emerald Pub for remaning unpretentious!
Nice to see you back in a bar! The people on tv were the president of ABC and the head of the Academy Awards. Sad that I know that. Cool that they still have the same register used in the movie. I'll keep an eye out for it when I watch it!
damn...al is still battin' a thousand...
glad that MAD found his way home...and gave us a great "nightcap"...
I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.
Vincent Van Gogh
p.s. even if is in black and white...
rr
@Meleah: I agree!
@kari: You can't miss the register in the movie, it's in a key scene.
@rr: Al knows how to pick them! And a great VVG quote. Maybe I should go to the Ear Inn next week in his honor!
I watched every single movie included in the best picture, director, actor, actress, supporting actor and supporting actress and I STILL hated this year's Oscars. The only entertaining part was that dude from NYU. "I should've gotten a haircut." HA HA HA! He still gots it! Anyhoo, the Emerald Pub looks like a great place. It's going on my list.
@Biff: I didn't see any of the movies or the Oscar's, I'll do a search on YouTube for the NYU thingy.