October 12, 2011
It’s Tuesday and that means it’s time for the weekly hunt for a bar that uses swizzle sticks in it’s mixed drinks. Tonight I’ve chosen a bar up on the Upper West Side called Hi-Life Bar and Grill. I kept meaning to go there on my 365 Bar Crawl and never made it, so that’s tonight swizzle destination.
It's another really nice night out, I really like this time of year.
And here we are, The Hi-Life Bar & Grill. I love their neon sign. It looks pretty packed out here, I hope there's room inside at the bar.
Shit, it's really crowded in here. There's no seats at the bar and it would be tough to take any photos in here. Looks like it's time to take that lonely walk.
Let's see what we can find down the road.
This place doesn't look too bad, let's check it out inside.
Wow, the entire bar is open, let's snag a seat and get a drink. Could a swizzle stick be in our future?
We'll see in a moment. Here's friendly bartender Caesar mixing the drink up.
No swizzle tonight! They just use a straw. But it's friendly in here and I like the bar, let's take a look around.
Some of the lit up bottles behind the bar.
There's stools in front of the bar that look out onto Amsterdam Avenue.
Here's Lars who was seated at the front of the bar. He's from Oslo, Norway and is visiting New York to attend the Comic Con this week. Cheers, Lars!
Some of the beers on draft.
There's tables and chairs in the front corner of the bar with wall to wall windows overlooking the Upper West Side. Nice view in here.
And speaking of nice views, here's Elena who's just joined Caesar behind the bar. I told them I was going to title this photo, "The Beauty and the Beast," and Caesar was a good sport about it and told me to go ahead. So here you have it, "The Beauty and the Beast."
And an obligatory mirror shot and I'm out of here. Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.
Swizzle Stick? No swizzle stick tonight.
Price of double gin and tonic: Fourteen bucks.
420 Bar & Lounge
420 Amsterdam Ave. (@ W. 80th St.)
212-579-8450
Further reading: Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York, Shecky’s and facecrack.
Hey, you, I wanna be your girlfriend,
Trying to say I wanna be your number one.
(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)
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Bonus Link: Gumby and Google!
Mad commenter, Ragin' RR sent in this link about Google memorializing Gumby and the man who created him, Art Clokey on what would have been Clokey's 90th birthday. Biff also acknowledged it in yesterday's comments. Here's the link: Gumby!
20 Comments
Reader Comments (20)
I've been hearing a lot about Comic Con. Sort of like Santa Con but with out the Santa's..is that right? oops... I missed the surprise link ...moonwalking back.
LOVE SNOOP! going to see him live at VooDoo later this month.
Funny how a bar is packed and a few steps down the road another one is basically empty. Such is life I guess. I did notice that most of their taps are empty, except that Checker Cab blonde ale which I've never tried. Plus, the "cash only" sign on the register, maybe the place is not doing so good,,,,hope I'm wrong. Fourteen dollars for a double, to me, is still too much, I did enjoy that happy Lush video.
A bar named after marijuana, 9 out of 12 kegs empty, and only one foreign customer named Lars who stumbled in by chance. If Dick Dale came on the jukebox I would have looked for a Tarantino hidden camera.
Was about to add "and there's a cash only sign." Only to find as I typed my original comment, Al commented with all my (now redundant) observations. UFB
Also, Oh Miki you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind.
I noticed the 9 of 12 taps empty also ...... UFB !!!
@Green Monkey: Comic Con is an annual comics convention. No word on whether Santa will be there or not.
@Al: Caesar told me they're busiest on the weekends. I like that Lush video too.
@csp: As I've said before, when you look up "redundant" in the dictionary, it says: "See: redundant."
@GENE: I think they were getting a delivery today.
Oh man, I had High-Hopes for the The Hi-Life Bar & Grill. Too bad it was packed like that. But at least you had some fun at the 420 Bar & Lounge!
Wow, you went from a packed bar to near isolation! Hahah! Go Lars!! Every bar needs a geeky comic-loving kid from Norway. Why not?
Always think positive....The bar had a very busy weekend...I hope
@meleah: I had high hopes too, but I can't stand packed bars. It was a good time at the 420, nice and relaxed!
@Lindsay: From one extreme to the other!
@tehennessey: I always think positive. Whenever I'm having a bad day at work, I always say: "I'm going to look on the bright side, maybe I'll die tonight." Mr. Cheerful, that's me!
I think it's really funny that the 420 Bar & Lounge is located on Amsterdam Avenue.
The closest I ever get to a Hi-Life is in a Miller Bottle...that just gave me an idea. Miller Time!
@Biff: Ha ha ha! I didn't put that together, good observation!
@Uncle Waltie: Sip Ahoy!
It really looks like if you want a swizzle stick anywhere, either bring your own or be willing to pay through the nose at a high end bar for your double gin and tonics.
where to start...damn this post needs more comment then there space an' time....comment on topic (the post its self an' then comments 'bout the comments)....will try to stay on topic...MAD does have the 365 feebleness to bounce from a bummer (over crowded noise aw nondescript place) to a pleasant place
(420 and all)...like a rubber biscuit...no swizzle but no drizzle...looked like a great after dark for MAD...blah blah blah....a little off topic...ahhh yeah i know...but i did not realize i sent MAD a link to anything thought i just sent a pic...well you heard 'bout the...
The secret to a long life is to stay busy, get plenty of exercise and don't drink too much. Then again, don't drink too little.”
~Herman Smith-Johannsen
rr
I quite like empty bars - but then I'm naturally melancholic! Marty, I keep forgetting to give you the swizzle sticks. I'll bring them to the next Chillmaster evening.
@Jaws: It appears to be that way, but I'll keep searching, it's a good excuse to go to a bar once a week!
@rr: The 420 was a good hang and I'm glad I found it! Great quote as always!
@onemorefoldedsunset: I like empty bars too! And thanks in advance for the swizzle sticks! I still get a kick out of the Cardboard Box Man card you made!
"The secret to a long life is knowing when it's time to go."
@Michelle Shocked: Thanks, I've got to go now.