November 30, 2011
When Gene and Smoopy of the BBC were here a couple weeks ago, we stopped in for a quick drink at Rolf’s and I noted at the post I was going to come back for an official MAD visit. Tonight’s the night I go out in search of a swizzle stick and I thought that Rolf’s would be the perfect place to go, maybe they even have some sort of a Christmas swizzle! Let’s go see if a holiday miracle happens in the form of a swizzle stick tonight!
It's a rainy, dreary night out, but at least it's not freezing cold, so let's soldier on to Rolf's.
Well, Rolf's certainly can brighten up a dreary-ass night!
A peek inside the front window reveals the blinding Christmas orgy of lights and decorations inside, let's go check it out.
A street sign greets you as you walk in the door to the festive atmosphere.
The bar is crowded for a Tuesday night.
There's no swizzle stick, just a black plastic straw, but that's okay, there's more to see here than a swizzle stick, so let's take a look around.
Here's the back of the bar in all its lit up glory.
Wooden booths line the walls opposite the bar.
And the creepy dolls are still here. Yikes, she's staring at me!
The back dining room is lit up as well. Check out the deer head on the wall, talk about your deer in the headlights!
Here's Santa boozing it up, looks like Rudolph isn't going to be the only one with a red nose tonight.
There's a blowjob joke somewhere here, but I'm not going there.
Here's Johnny who's a waiter at Rolf's.
And another scary doll looking down at me. These doll's are giving me a Twilight Zone Talking Tina flashback.
Let's go back to the bar.
Here's the lovely Milka, who was picking up an order at the bar. Love her smile!
For a nightcap, I got a glass of Rolf's special eggnog, no swizzle stick, but there is a cinnamon stick, so we'll call it an even trade. Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.
Further reading: Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York, 365 Bars and EV Grieve.
28 Comments
Reader Comments (28)
Wow--THAT'S some decorating! The ceiling looks like an upside-down forest of electricity! LOL
ohmygoodness!!! I must go to Rolf's ASAP!! Beautiful!!! Just looking at those photos warmed this little Grinch's heart just the teensiest bit. Love it!!!
Rolf's is cool -- even though polarized sunglasses might be required :)
"You can observe a lot just by watching."
Yogi Berra
# 8
I hear you about those dolls , Marty.
http://youtu.be/IU572Zqef80
I want to know how long it takes them to put that stuff up. And their electric bill for December. If it was a little less it would be annoying, but over the top seems to make it more acceptable.
The decorations are very nice and I imagine it must be a job to keep the dust off this stuff year round. Wonder how the schnitzel is there? I would like to say that the "its a rainy, dreary night" picture is one of my all time favorites here. Something about the desolate, wet streets with stores closed for the night.
How boring it must look the rest of the year. Wow. I have nothing more to say.
@Aaron: Even in New York this place is over the top, in a good way. It really induces acid flashbacks, which is why I love going there!
@Lindsay: You gotta go there, there's nothing in this city like it, it's legendary!
@GENE: Your Yogi Berra quotes are cracking me up! I see this as a challenge to rr!
@Jaws: I'm going to need a lot of drinks to go to sleep after that clip! Okay, I need a lot of drinks to go to sleep every night, but even more after that! Thanks for the linkage!
@kari: I think they told me it took them about a week to put it all up. I can only imagine the electric bill.
@Al: It's funny, after I took that shot and looked at it in the camera, I thought that you would like it!
@Britta: The decorations are up until Superbowl Sunday and then they come down, I'll have to go back then and take pictures for an "after" shot. I've only been in there when the decorations are up. Stay tuned!
That eggnog cheers me up just by looking at it. I may have to swing by there soon...
Lovely Christmas decorations. The egg nog looks good. Gotta have some now!!
Is this where the expression "tripping balls" came from?
Rolf's has always had decorations up all 365 days of the year. When the current owners took over I am not sure if they bought all new decorations or simply took the old ones down and had them cleaned. Really, I could not tell the difference other than than the decades of dust and cobwebs were gone. Sadly, that was the only improvement. How many remember the various finger sandwiches every night at the bar during happy hour? Last time I went there were pieces of what looked like a 6 foot hero sitting on plates. And oh the huge veal shanks they used to serve. My last visit produced a shank that was actually still frozen in the center. At the bar a couple of Indian gentlemen tended drinks and the old neighborhood crowd seemed to be missing. Maybe you like the new Rolf's but I long for the old days, cobwebs and all.
There's nothing more exciting than New York for the holidays! Rolf's looks spectacular!
Cool Google Maps link that takes you through the whole restaurant:
Rolf's
@Goggla: You should check it out for sure, pretty crazy in there. Those dolls freak me out!
@Melanie: I've never had egg nog, but the glass they served up was delicious!
@csp: Ha ha ha! Maybe!
@Pat: From what the manager told me last night the decorations come down on Superbowl Sunday. When did it change hands? I only discovered it last year on my bar crawl and assumed it was the original owners. The manager told me that all the decorations are from the days gone by and they keep adding to them
@Rockrose Development: It's a spectacular sight indeed!
@GENE: That link is great, thanks for sending it!
Holy fuck, Rolf’s sure is FESTIVE!
HA HA HA! Yeah! What Meleah said!
Next time....give me a sunglasses alert ;) haha love this post! But damn...it is brighhht
@meleah: The place screams, festive, I'm bringing earplugs next time.
@Biff: Huh? I can't hear you, I've got earplugs in.
@Ruben Dutch: Ha ha ha! I'm wearing sunscreen next time I go!
Thank You for The Frank Zappa....great album, I'm going to play it everynight until Christmas day...I am in the Christmas spirit, Free peanut butter and jelly and bologna sandwiches...
remember Rolh's from 365...had to put on my shades for that post as well as this one...no flashback here—seldom did that thing in daylight...usually by candle light wathin' the wals melt with the flicker of the flame...
no challenge w/GENE...get a kick out of the wit and wisdom of yogi...
“If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull.”
~W. C. Fields
rr
@tehennessey: Last call for alcohol, drink it up folks...
@rr: When I did acid in the daytime it was usually before school, it made for some interesting study halls! Love that quote, KOQ!
@Marty: Rolf's has been around for a very long time. first went there in the early 80's. A few years ago the owner died & I am not sure exactly what happened to the place after that. There have always been decorations up, mostly the rope branches and leaves and many of the white lights. They add some more for the holidays but it used to be pretty much all year long. As I said, it looked like someone took down the old ones and cleaned them because when I was in last a couple of years ago it looked exactly the same but clean. Glad you and others enjoy the place but for me it is just not the same anymore. Sadly, many in the city are not. It was mostly a neighborhood place years ago. Practically everyone at the bar lived within 5 blocks. They used to put out tiered trays of various finger sandwiches at the bar, at least 4 different kinds. You could go there for a couple of hours, have a few Dinkelackers and some sandwiches and be good for the night. I don't think they have served Dinkelacker in many years. Warsteiner was the tap of choice last time I was there.
@Pat: Sorry it's not the same for you in there. Things change and sometimes not for the better for all of us. It may be a different place now, but it's still a unique Christmas experience for those of us that weren't there in days gone by.
That is one freaky-ass joint. Keep those dolls away from me.
@Fat Al: You've never been there? You should check it out, just shield your eyes from the dolls.
Never been. Between the freaky dolls and the cocktails in the wine glasses (a peeve of mine), I'm not sure it's my kind of joint. But I do love tinsel.
@Fat Al: It's worth going just for the freakiness factor, you should check it out.