August 29, 2011
With all the media reports that Hurricane Tropical Storm Irene was going to level New York City, I didn’t expect to be able to go out tonight, so I stocked up on booze and expected to stuck in my apartment all day and all of the night. Below is my stockpile for the storm which I figured would go on all though the day and into the night.
I ended up with three bottles of tea, four bottles of water, fifteen sixteen ounce bottles of Budweiser, 6 bottles of Red Stripe, three bottles of Ballantine Ale and four bottles of Diet Mountain Dew. Yeah, I admit I overdid it, but I was certain from the news reports that I’d lose power and that this thing would rage on through the day and night and wreak powerful damage.
Well, it came and went during the morning, I slept through it and now it’s just spitting a little rain and is a little windy out. So I’ve decided to have a few beers at home and then have my Sunday dinner at McSorley’s and meet some friends. Usually the place is packed, but since the subway is still down, I’m thinking it might be a good night to go there. We’ll see!
My neighborhood was lucky and this is the extent of the damage that came from Hurricane Tropical Storm Irene.
The skyline doesn't look threatening at all tonight.
And here we are, McSorley's Old Ale House. Hopefully it won't be packed in here like it usually is.
There's only one way to find out and that's to go through the doors and take a look.
Jesus Christ, it's fucking packed in here and really loud.
There's a small spot at the bar and I've managed to squeeze in.
A view of the bar from where I'm squeezed in at.
There's always sawdust on the floor in here.
A photo of someone taking a photo. We'll call this "Photo Squared."
And of course there's texting going on.
When you order one mug of beer at McSorley's, you get two, it's the way things are done here.
Michael's the only bartender on duty tonight...
And as you can see, he's very busy. There's a lot of thirsty people in here relieved that Irene didn't cause as much damage as the media predicted.
I got a ham and cheese sandwich for my Sunday dinner.
I slathered it with McSorley's spicy homemade mustard (sorry Kari and Britta) and it was delicious!
After I ate it, I went back and thanked Maeve in the kitchen for a job well done.
Here's the legendary wishbones that hang over the bar that recently had to be dusted off. You can read about it here.
And here's the Duncester, Ed and Goggla. We managed to score a table in the back, but it was still really loud in there.
And here's Lindsay and Shawn to complete the party!
After a couple of beers we were ready to move on and go to a quieter place. On the way out, The Duncester points to a picture of a friend of his on the wall.
It's Peter Farnan who was a manager/bartender at McSorley's in the '70's and '80's. His mother still lives in The Duncester's building.
And Shawn leads the way out the door and onto quieter pastures. Goodnight everybody and that includes you, Irene! See you tomorrow after dark.
McSorley’s Old Ale House
15 E 7th St (between 2nd and 3rd Avenue)
212-473-9148
Further reading: 365 Bars, Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York, EV Grieve and Beer Travelers.
You might also like: Tom and Jerry, Tom and Jerry and Tom and Jerry’s.
Four Sunday Songs
Sunday Girl by Blondie
Sunday’s Best by Elvis Costello
Sunday Morning Coming Down by Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson
Sunday Bloody Sunday
26 Comments
Reader Comments (26)
I read about those wishbones and how the owner was told to clean them up, along with the gaslamps, he was very careful and hopefully they can collect dust for another hundred years before the next cleaning. Something about dust falling into the beers,,,ok. I always looked at McSorley's as a first stop "six flags over a bar" (touristy) type of place,,,meaning its a great old bar but after a couple of beers I need to find a bar with something stronger on the menu. Great that you slept thru the storm, (what storm?) and now your fridge is ready for a night in with a dvd.
I had the flu all weekend..
kept me busy so i didnt have to care about.. i mean worry about my east coast family and friends.
in fact things were pretty ok.. only one of my DJ's has any damage at all. in jersey of course. Family is all good there too.just trees and sutcha.
My heart does go out to the flood victims though..
wow.. you really dodged a bullet.
but honestly.. i lived in washington state for 15 years and we flood every year there.. sometimes more than others. plus at least 17 trees in my lifetimes there fell in my yard.
and umm yea i moved to the midwest.. any questions?
the dust story made me cry..
we had a butcher here that has sawdust on the floor and they made a hoopla shit thing out of it.
fuck hoopla.
What a great way to end a wild weekend. Despite the crowds, McSorley's is still a great place and one that everyone should visit at least once.
Congratulations to you and everyone in N.Y.C. on your survival of Irene, Marty...Geez...when I think of all the different things New York has survived (courtesy of Hollywood) like giant rampaging apes, death rays from giant flying saucers, pissed off radioactve dinosaurs realeased from the earth by government scientists screwing around with their damned H-bombs and the occational surprise visit from the Cloverfeild Monster, what's the big deal with a little catagory one hurricane and/or tropical storm...no big deal, eh? Couple of six packs and a microwave pizza or two and you can ride doomsday out in style!
There's a bar in New Brighton (not far from were I live) that has brassieres hanging from every square inch of the ceiling (as part of some weird initiation rite the regular female customers undergo to be considered true regulars) and I think that bar had a fight with the health inspectors too.
Looks like a fine way to spend a post-Irene hysteria weekend...
@Al: It's always kind of a mess in McSorley's with the crowds, but it's worth going to at least once a year to look at all the NYC history on the walls and ceiling.
@Gidget: Sorry you were sick all weekend and hope you feel better! And yes, fuck hoopla! And Fran and Ollie too!
@Goggla: Glad you and Ed could make it! Great to see you both and I hope you can make the Coney Island trip Sunday!
@Jaws: Thanks! I slept right through it, just like I did on Sept. 11th!
@EV Grieve: Thanks for your great coverage of the whole weekend! It was better and more accurate than any "mainstream" media. And the laughs helped ease the nervousness!
Great way to end the weekend, thank you Marty! Great to see you guys! Surprised how crowded it was considering the trains were not running! When there is a will, there is a way!
@Lindsay: Great to see you and Shawn! Thanks for coming out and joining us!
@everyone: All the sudden everything is italicized, anybody else seeing this?
And there is sawdust always on the floor from?
No italics for me.
NYC also survived Giuliani, albeit a little worse for wear. TO DRINKING OUT OF PAPER BAGS! Oh, and I'm glad everyone's ok over there.
@Britta: They always have sawdust on the floor. One of their trademarks. And it turns out the italics are just happening on my computer at work.
@Biff: TO DRINKING OUT OF PAPER BAGS! I miss those days! I'm glad everything's back to normal too.
Looks like you had a great time - sorry I couldn't fly over the East River & join you all! Haven't been in McSorley's for a long, long, time. Still a nice place if you can get there at the right time of day, in the spaces between lunch & evening rush. Where did you head to next?
I just realised I haven't been to MAD in a few days! Holy crap...what am I doing with my life!?
Did we go to McSorley's with the BBC and 365? I feel claustrophobic looking at over crowded bars and seeing Michael bust a nut on his own on a busy night makes me sick! I know the feeling!
Cheers to all and glad the hurricane was a fizzer.
@MAD: A stellar effort on the fridge stacking, my old friend. Do you ever buy beer by the case? lately I've been buying by the 6 pack for convenience, but it's usually cheaper to buy by the case...
To Budweiser!
@onemorefoldedsunset: I can't think of the name of the second place, it was a little fancier and a lot quieter. As you know, I'm about deaf and McSorley's is LOUD! Sorry you couldn't make it, but we'll see you this Sunday!
@Clacky: Good to see you back here, mate! I don't think you guys went to McSorley's, but I could be wrong. Sometimes I'll get an 18 pack of beer at the Duane Reade, but I don't like hauling it home. To Budweiser!
@MAD: Looks like Maeve is utilizing the old,"smile so the guy with the camera trespassing back here feels at ease and distract him with my right hand by waving while my left hand slowly reaches for the knife on the counter" trick.
@csp: Ha! She is kind of smiling through gritted teeth!
hey great to see all out on a sunday night (is that an oxymoron?...am sure csp will let me know)...yeah even though it's been a couple decades McSorley's was always crowded and loud when i had the good fortune to visit...ah give it up where did you all go?...no pics...must have been real upscale...
am pretty hammered...if out of line..please excuse/forgive...the silver lining of the big cloud Irene shone this A.M.when it was verified, for whatever reason, the wrok palace would not be open today...ergo i was able to consume my "hurricane" stash leisurely (almost eclectic as MAD's and leaned more towards Crazy Eddie's) and get payed for the day...
UFB GENE...
Gidget ...the flu...damn i just caught the toe...if you hollower i will let you go...
MAD..."Ecch. Come on weekend!"...is my morning chant every monday morning...
"Ham and Cheese - $2.50. Cheese and Ham - $2.90."
-- On a menu.
Call me All-American, but I love Ham and Cheese sandwiches. And not just any old ham and cheese sandwich... My mother's is the best. I've tried many times to make these sandwiches on my own, but it's never the same.
~Andy Roddick
Normal is nothing more than a cycle on a washing machine.
~Whoopi Goldberg
rr
@rr: You lucky dog you, glad you got out of work on a Monday! An oxymoron is Rush Limbaugh high on pills. Great double quote today!
You're so lucky you were able to get out of the house and socialize. We've been trapped at home for days due to flooded roads!
@Meleah: Yeah, I just saw the pictures on your blog! I feel lucky that is wasn't as bad in the city! Hope you get out soon, you must be stir-crazy by now!
In today's world, I think they might have found better over 50s. Not sure who that cover would appeal to.
God yes, get rid of all mirrors. Another fifty something nail-in-the-coffin birthday today. But had fun at Lucy's.
At my girl's school, it was all shoplifted erotic pulp - saved the embarassment at the counter, but still anxiety provoking to get hold of!
@onemorefoldedsunset: It was your birthday today? Happy birthday to you! We'll celebrate this Sunday!
Yes, alas. Clearly age has not improved my (in)ability to put a comment next to the appropriate post. Sorry!
@onemorefoldedsunset: Hey it's your birthday, don't sweat it!
Thanks Marty for writing this post! I am reading it in 2020 and still loving it!