Okay, it’s Saturday and that means it’s time to roll out the blooper reel of photos I took last week and didn’t use in a post. Enjoy and have a great Saturday and St. Patrick’s Day! Look out for the green vomit and discarded shillelagh’s out there!
I’ve decided to ditch the “Free Food Friday” concept and just use this weekly Friday post to go to a happy hour and if there’s free food, it’ll just be a nice bonus. I thought tonight we’d head over to a place I visited on my bar crawl and then never went back. It’s a bar near the Port Authority called, aptly enough, Port 41. It’s a bikini bar and when I went on the bar crawl at first they were hesitant about photos, but eventually warmed to the idea. Hopefully it’s still warm in there, we’ll know soon!
As soon as I got down to the subway, a train pulls up. I love it when that happens!
And after a short ride on the train we emerge in Times Square.
And just a few blocks we'll be there, it's right on the corner of 9th and 41st Street in Hell's Kitchen.
And here we are, but they've changed the name from Port 41 to Tobacco Road. I bet the sign looks better at night. Let's go inside and see if anything else has changed.
Nope, looks like only the name has changed, the place looks pretty much the same as the last time I was in here. A classic dive bar.
And we have a happy hour beer served up by friendly and cute bartender, Nicole. The place bills itself as a bikini bar, but not all the bartenders have a bikini on. But the night is young and a bikini may be in our future, time will tell!
Tables line the wall opposite the bar.
And a giant hippo head looms above the tables.
Some of the nightly specials on the chalkboard behind the bar.
Love the vintage cash register behind the bar!
A long shot of the wooden bar from the opposite end.
Let's go see who Nicole is talking to over there.
She's chatting with Lindsay, who's going to be taking over bartending duties momentarily. They certainly have pretty bartenders in here!
And here's Lindsay on duty and Houston we have a bikini!
Here's the back room where they have live music, almost nightly.
A shot of the bandstand complete with a Marshall amplifier and drums.
And as I get back to my seat at the bar, I'm joined by Jason who joined me back when I spent happy hour at Rudy's, which is just a few blocks away. Jason's an artist and you can check out his work here: Jason Andersen. He told me he may be part of an upcoming art show and if that happens, it'll be featured right here, stay tuned!
Meanwhile, Lindsay's back!
Here's some of the beers on draft, one of them caught my eye...
Schlitz! I didn't know they still made Schlitz, I don't think I've seen it in decades! I did a Google search and sure as Schlitz, here's their website: Schlitz beer.
And as I get ready to head out, Tina has come on board to help out Lindsay, another pretty bartender at Tobacco Road.
I got a press release for a Beer Tour app and you can check it out here: World's Greatest Beer Tour. Personally when I think of an app, I think of an appetizer, but I thought some of you may be interested in this.
Last December when I was blogging at MAD, I went to go see the band Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co.My friend Jon Hammer plays guitar and sings harmony in this trio who specialize in ballads, boogies and blues and it was a great show. They’re playing tonight at the Rodeo Bar, so I’ve decided that that’s tonight’s destination. Showtime is 9 PM, so I figure we’ll go a little early and scope the bar out first.
Here's the Rodeo Bar in all it's neon glory!
And there they are in the window, Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. Ouch, my fingers already are cramping up typing their name!
The bar is full, but I managed to squeeze in...
And get a beer from the lovely and friendly bartender, Ash.
The top of the bar is adorned with vintage license plates.
There's a full dining area in the front of the bar.
The place is done up in a Southern roadhouse fashion.
And there's vats of peanuts all over the joint!
And you're free to throw the shells on the floor.
The back room has a converted bus as a bar.
And pretty bartender Ania is on duty inside the bus and serves up another beer and simultaneously flashes the TWM card. She's a multi-tasker!
Vintage concert posters line the brick walls back here.
And it looks like the band will be out any minute now!
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co!
Right as the band begins, I'm joined at my table by Karen McBurnie. She and Jon write, design and publish the fine blog, Grade "A" Fancy.
From left: Garth on bass and harmonies, Michael on lead vocals and guitar and Jon on rhythm guitar and harmonies. The band plays great tunes and puts out an incredibly full sound for a trio without a drummer. And the onstage banter between the band and the audience between songs is hilarious.
I'm not the only one taking photos.
Here's Michael in the middle of one of his guitar solos. He's one of the best guitarists I've ever heard and a great front man for the band.
Here's a couple dancing to the music in the back of the room.
And this group of unruly fellows were dubbed, "The Uranus Boys," by the band. You had to be there!
And there's a costume change towards the end of the set, as the band dons vintage hot dog caps.
And the band is being filmed by this guy as the night comes to an end. Look for it at YouTube soon! A great show by Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. if you're in New York, they play the Rodeo Bar the second Wednesday of every month and check out their website for other upcoming gigs.
And on the way out, Ash waves goodbye to everyone!
Nick Nolte got brought up in today's comments and Jaws sent in the infamous mug shot that made the rounds a few years ago when he got busted for falling asleep at the wheel. Thanks, Jaws!
Okay, it’s Saturday and that means it’s time to roll out the blooper reel of photos I took last week and didn’t use in a post. Enjoy and have a great Saturday and St. Patrick’s Day! Look out for the green vomit and discarded shillelagh’s out there!
Wow, this person loves Lou Reed. A lot. Maybe a little too much. Can you say stalker?
Google ads, they're not just for blogs anymore!
"MADAMN!" Not quite "HEADLESS BODY IN TOPLESS BAR," but not too shabby for the Post!
A Kinks or Steely Dan tribute? You make the call!
Guitars behind bars.
But I don't have a plow!
I'm sorry, but I refuse to tap dance for dinner!
Well, this is certainly something horrible, someone promoting incest in the subway station!
Holy moley, I think I've just discovered Cardboard Box Man's cousin! A kinder, gentler mutation!
Your parents must be so gosh-darn proud of you!
You're welcome, we'll do this again next week!
Bloopers, 
