April 22, 2011
If you follow this blog, you’ll recall that Tuesday I was inspired by a post about Sardi’s Bar and swizzle sticks at Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York to go seek out a glass swizzle stick. I went to Sir Harry’s, one of the cities pricier and upscale taverns in the Waldorf Astoria and was disappointed when I only got a shitty plastic one in my 41 dollar drink.
It got me thinking it would be fun to travel to the other end of the spectrum and order the same drink and compare experiences. I didn’t have to think too long to come up with the flip side of Sir Harry’s: Blarney Cove!
I had to work late again tonight, so we'll be traveling by taxi. Sweet overtime!
And here's a yellow chariot.
And we're off to the Blarney Cove.
A shot from a moving cab at 12:37 in the morning.
Okay, it's right down the street here.
And here we are at the Blarney Cove, one of the last true dive bars in the city.
Neon in the window advertises Budweiser American Ale.
Golly, what a shock.
Let's go in and see what's what in here and check out their version of a double gin and tonic.
I ordered the double gin and tonic from a lovely and friendly bobbed-haired Asian bartender. It was ten bucks, which I thought was a little pricey for the Blarney Cove, but it sure as shit beats 41 bucks.
Instead of a swizzle stick you get a discreetly covered plastic straw for a stirrer.
Here's a shot of one end of the bar.
And here's a shot of the other end of the bar. After I took this, the bartender said no pictures are allowed in the Blarney Cove. So I put my camera away and ordered another double gin and tonic. I got a buy back after just two drinks. That's the kind of place this is. Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.
The Blarney Cove has quite a different crowd as the shift changes. It opens at 8am and that’s the time of day you should go to witness the true spirit of this East Village dive bar. Years ago I worked a job where I got off at seven in the morning and I used to go to the Blarney Cove now and again at the first opening bell to escape the sunshine and the harsh and cruel morning 9 to 5 crowd of coffee drinkers and glad handers hustling and bustling about in a manner that's never made me feel comfortable. Old timers would shuffle in and start the day with a draft and a shot. I remember one morning when a guy who looked like a walking corpse slowly hobbled his way inside the dark and dingy tavern and carefully made his way to a stool at the bar. His eyes were sunken and a curious combination of yellow and red. They kind of resembled egg yolks having a period. His skin was gray and the few white hairs jutting out of his bloated head looked like bleached white straw. Once he got situated he promptly passed right the fuck out on top of the sticky formica bar. The bartender on duty laughed, poured out a beer and a shot and shook the fellow awake. He got up, dutifully drank his breakfast and then—boom—out again. There was never a lot of chatter and the music played on the jukebox was mainly old soul with a ratpack song here and there. Two peanut machines in the back offered solid food, for those that could keep it down. Most of the regulars stuck to cheap drafts and shots at regular intervals. It might have been sunny outside, but inside the Blarney Cove it was always a nice permanent midnight on my morning visits there. I seem to remember cartoons playing on the TV, but that could just be a drunken memory. I do know one thing for sure though, I’m usually a nervous wreck, but I always felt nice and calm while drinking a beer at eight in the morning at the Blarney Cove. The rest of the world may be starting the working day, but mornings at the Blarney Cove are a magical drunken mess.
At night there’s still some of the regulars, but there’s also a smattering of hipsters and curiosity seekers. I also noticed that they have an internet juikebox now. The music blaring from it was bad pop music and some rap and hip hop. I hate the morning, but the Blarney Cove is the rare place where the am trumps the pm big time.
Blarney Cove
510 E. 14th St. (Near Ave. A)
212-473-9284
Further reading: Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York, EV Grieve, New York magazine and Time Out New York.
You might also like: Cock Soup, The Sizzler and Chicken Fried Babies.
Three Internet Articles on Liver Disease and a word from Snoop Dogg.
Medline Plus
Wkipedia
Mayo Clinic
Snoop Dogg
32 Comments
Reader Comments (32)
aaaaaahhhhhh ..... the Blarney Cove ..... me and Terry like this place ---- and I wonder if Clacky remembers us bringing him there one night. A friendly place that has the best tasting Bass beer in the City :)
I would love to see that place at 8 in the morning! Loved your recollection of going there. And the Shaggs! Classic post!
Maybe its just my mood, but I'm picturing that the Blarney Cove is someplace that would make me sad. And The Shaggs song....yeah....ummm...interesting.
A beer and a shot for a morning eye opener sounds good to me, and at Blarney Cove, even better. The buy back after two shows me they are old school and care. When I go up there Im staying at the nearest hotel to Blarney Cove so I can walk in there when they open and have a liquid breakfast with my old fart buddies. God Bless the Blarney Cove, and Marty, this makes up for all those Papaya dogs I hate but most here love,,,,lol
@GENE: Clacky was bombed in there that night, wasn't he?
@Barfly: Who doesn't love the Shaggs and their pal Foot Foot!
@kari: I enjoyed it early in the morning. And if you don't know about the Shaggs, you should check them out. An interesting band to say the least.
@Al: Glad you enjoyed this one, and don't worry, the Papaya Wars are ending soon! Even I can't stand it anymore!
Nothing quite like a plastic straw with a paper condom!
Nice joint. The double Gin and tonic looks electric, literally. Note the extension cord.
Yeah I was going to ask whats up with the red wire in you lime? Is that even lower than a plastic straw swizzle stick?
@MAD ........ yep ... Clacky was feeling no pain after going to 8 bars with us :) After Blarney Cove - we went to Otto's for a nightcap -- and that's when he was dancing like a ninja ! Good times !
I wonder how much a Double Gin/Tonic would be at Duke's on 3rd & 37th ? Me and Smoops had some potent Firefly Vodka's there last Friday -- and it was 2 for $11 ..... we both barely remember the next bar :)
@Kari: Shocking, isn't it?
@csp, its electric
@"Boris:" Always the sign of a classy joint!
@csp and kari: I don't know what that was. Maybe I electrocuted myself and didn't realize it.
@GENE: I need to try that drink at Duke's. Two for 11 bucks, nice deal!
Why didn't you use one of the glass swizzle sticks I gave you yesterday ?
Looks a lot better than Sir Harry's!
God Bless the East Village dives. TO POSSIBLE ELECTROCUTION!
Fo Shizzile, why didn't you twizzle on Jay Hizzle's Shwizzle my nizzle?
@JHwang: The straw seemed better suited for the mood, I'll use them next week.
@onemorefoldedsunset: It sure is, the best time to go is between 8am and 5pm before the hipsters roll in.
@Biff: TO POSSIBLE ELECTROCUTION!
@Jay Z: Fo swizzle, my drizzle!
Arrrrrrr matey.. The Blarney Cove...where the undead go for a beer and a shot...arrrr, and not be a'payin' for it with thy immortal soul...arrr...
cock soup! lol! the you might also like section always makes me laugh!
@MAD ... at Duke's we ordered a regular Firefly with Sprite - and the bartender comes back with these big pint glasses filled to the top. I was amazed at the size and the $11 for both of them. It was such a great deal, and yummy & strong, that I got another round. They were like doubles! Your drink might be more than than ours -- but I bet they'll be potent!
And they are now on twitter @blarneycove, for us hipsters.
BTW, BBQ 4pm at Mars Bar this Easter Sunday.
When there's no more room in hell...the dead will walk to Blarney Cove...arrrr...
@Jaws: Nobody told me it was talk like a pirate day today! Damn...I mean...arrr!
@rita r: Glad you like that section, it's always the most fun for me to put together.
@GENE: I have to try one of those, maybe this Saturday for CSN!
@My So Called Liver: I'm going for sure! Introduce yourself and I'll buy you a beer, we'll wreck our livers together! P.S. The Blarney Cove has a Twitter page! The world is going to explode in five minutes...
"The world is going to explode in five minutes..."
I find this highly unlikely, post pics or it never happened.
Sorry dude, but in a place with a name like 'Blarney Cove', I would expect to see Captain Jack Sparrow over in the corner booth, getting totally 'faced with his undead buddies and giving the waitress a hard time.
@Doubting Thomas: It happened and you missed it, you should've looked out the window. I didn't take a picture just to spite you.
@Jaws: I hear you and it is that kind of place!
@MAD ... Firefly is an iced tea flavored vodka ... not sure it's your thing ?
Didn't realize till I read your post last Sunday ... that I ordered a cheese-less burger on Cheeseburger Saturday ! UFB to me !
@GENE: It sounds good to me, I'll try it! Yeah, I didn't realize it either till I looked at the pictures and I'm like, "Fuck, there's no cheese on that thing!" It cracked me up!
late again....gosh already on page two...that last double gin must have put me on the floor...is he quest for THE swizzle stick gonna become a weekly feature w/ MAD?...i see that a possible biopic about the shaggs is in the works...
"The Shaggs are like castaways on their own musical island."
- Bonnie Raitt
rr
@MAD: Clacky was bombed for a fortnight!
@Gene: I remember the Blarney Cove, but my feet are still burning from cutting some slick moves at Otto's.
To The Blarney Cove!!
@rr: I think the swizzle stick search will become a weekly adventure. Perfect Bonnie Raitt quote, the Shaggs rock!
@Clacky: To The Blarney Cove! (What's the medical update on the foot STD? The Shaggs song is for you!)
I have a windows 7 key Windows 7 X64, and feel I shouldn't buy another Office 2007 Serial for my second rig, so I was wondering could I install it on both with one key Microsoft Office 2010 Professional and use at the same time?