April 25, 2011
Okay, it’s Michael O’Keefe’s birthday and it’s Easter Sunday. That can mean only one thing...MARS BAR!
Last year I bought pizza for everyone at the Mars Bar, but this year, they're having a BBQ, so I thought I'd bring dessert. I spent all night Saturday decorating this special Jesus Easter cake for the event. And it is special, isn't it? Okay, the rest of the pictures are going to be caption-less, because as Rod the Mod once sang: "Every picture tells a story, don't it?" And there's a million stories inside the Mars Bar. And I don't have time to type them. Especially since I came home drunk out of my mind and spilled beer all over my keyboard and now my computer doesn't work. I came in to work early to post this (I'm off the clock for any of my bosses reading this.) I don't feel too well right now, but yesterday was a ton of fun! Here's a little glimpse of the festivities. But you really had to be there and I'm sorry if you weren't. I think I had a really good time.
The Mars Bar
Another epic Easter at the Mars Bar. People always ask me what was my favorite night on the 365 Bar Crawl and I never hesitate when I say it was last Easter at the Mars Bar. I always have so much fun there. I don’t go that often because I’m always nervous that for some reason it won’t be as much fun as the last time, but it always is. I think it’s because everyone lets their guard down in there. It’s one of the true non-judgmental zones I’ve ever been in.
What a night. It was great to see Terry, Hamlet, Lisa, Goggla, Ed, Eric, Bob, Bob’s two friends, the guy with the white beard, the giant Easter bunny and the guy who had a trash bag on and was kind of dressed like an alien and everybody else who was in there. I’d like to try and describe the feeling, but you had to be there. I will tell you that when I heard “Good Vibrations” coming out of their classic jukebox and everybody was laughing, drinking and shoving things into the Jesus Easter cake, it felt like one of the best times of my life. Another Epic Easter at the Mars Bar. Where will we be next year at this time? Only time will tell and hopefully time will be on our side. I hope to see everyone again. Mucho love to the Mars Bar and all that inhabit it. Happy birthday Michael O’Keefe!
Long ago it must be, I have a photograph,
Preserve your memories, they're all that's left you.
—Paul Simon
The Mars Bar
25 E. 1st St. (@Second Ave.)
212-473-9842
Further reading: EV Grieve, Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York, Nadie Se Conoce, The Gog Log and Village Voice.
You might also like: Rubber Bands, Band on the Run and The Band.
Six People Born on April 24th
Michael O’Keefe
Jim Capaldi
Shirley MacLaine
Eric Bogosian
JIll Ireland
Cedric The Entertainer
Running: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday,
Saturday Sunday,
What have I done?
35 Comments
Reader Comments (35)
That poor cake !
GODDAMN! I didn't think you could top last year's Easter there, but you did! Best post of all time!
Where do all the hippies meet...Mars Bar, Mars Bar...looks like you had the ultimate bohemian Easter experience in there, Marty. I spent Easter watching religious movies. Started with The Ten Commandments, then I found Jesus of Nazareth in twenty eight parts on You Tube, And I found a nine part animated movie about the adventures of Mohammed the Prophet. And to top it all off, I pulled out my Caddyshack DVD and played the Ten Commandments parody scene where the doctor takes Carl golfing in the thunderstorm and 'sees the light' on the eighteenth hole. Very inspirational!
I love that song. Paul Simon's so good. And I'm glad he finally dropped the "toup." If I could have just one Easter wish, it would be this: Please, Baby Jesus, send a little miracle dust to Mars Bar so I can eat pizza there one day. Hugs, the Great Santini. Amen. Over and Out. Adios. Ta.
Congratulations! You keep raising the Easter (Mars) "Bar" higher each year!
(not to be confused with raising the dead or rolling away the stone)
Love the cake, the crowd and the art!
Happy Day!
@GENE: We gave it a decent funeral.
@Barfly: Thanks, last night was a blast!
@Jaws: How fitting that you watched Caddyshack on Michael O'Keefe's birthday!
@Biff: The rumor is that in June it's gone, so get here quick!
@"Boris:" Happy Days to you Daddio!
Jaws is right about the Bohemian experience there. Good job on that cake for Michael O'Keefe and the extra decor on it too.
This is the perfect Mars Bar tribute! Great photos - you captured the spirit, now save it in a jar to be released next Easter.
It was nice to finally meet you and I'm glad you survived.
@MAD ..... since your computer might be broken for awhile:
http://nyp.st/h0w5SV
@Al: A truly original place with really cool people inside. It will be missed.
@Goggla: It was so great to meet you! I hope we can find a decent spot for next Easter. And yes, I survived, but sadly my keyboard did not! Oh well.
@GENE: I got a new keyboard this morning, so hopefully that will fix it. But thanks for the link, that is good to know!
Love the Gruber M. comment - ha! ha! I'm jealous - looks like it was a blast! Great cake, too !
Haha that cake! Thumbs up! Thank God you served it very hygienic in that plastic box lol!
WOW...MAD a publisher, a journalist, a writer, always a worker, a blogger, a commenter, a photographer, a cook, a bottle washer, and lately a baker and cake decorator... where does it end?...
all seriousness aside...appears to have been one hell of a time at mars bar...on one hand i'm really sorry i missed it...on the other i would probably have got caught in the up spirit would've missed the last train to clarksville and be out wanderin' around wonderin' where i live and how to get there right now...
nice profile...sweaty but i would not say scary...
A picture is a poem without words.
Horace
It's easier to replace a dead man than a good picture.
George Bernard Shaw
rr
@onemorefoldedsunset: I knew you'd like that Gruber statement! It was a total blast, I wish you would've been there. I ended up completely shitfaced!
@Ruben: As you can see, cleanliness counts at the Mars Bar!
@rr: Glad you enjoyed this and I wish you could've been there. Maybe you can make it here before Mars Bar is closed. And two great quotes!
Looks like fun was had. Sorry about your keyboard, I'm sure the Genius Bar helped you out.
Cool! Looks like you had a great time! But alas, no sign of the cutie who plastered the images of The Cooper Hotel on the facade. Which is just as well since I missed the event anyway. :)
@csp: Ha! For some reason an alarm sounds off every time I enter the Genius Bar!
@Roger_Paw: Sorry you didn't make it! I'd say maybe next year, but sadly there is no next year for the Mars Bar.
I'm a stupid cunt for not drinking at the Mars Bar while I was there. It was only 6 blocks from the apartment!!
But I don't regret not pissing in that toilet!
This post will go down as one of the all time greats. The cake, however, will remain timeless like Jesus himself.
To The Mars Bar!
That comment about Gruber is very unprofessional.
@Clacky: I should've taken you there!
@EV Grieve: I know, I wonder who wrote that about that genuine son of a bitch!
Love the painting of the woman that shows up twice. Those kind of bathrooms are one of the only times I wish I was a guy. Band on the Run, best song ever! Glad you had a fun night.
@kari: As crazy as the place is, there's some really good art in there. They have a new show every month. Sadly there's not too many months left.
so coooooool !!!! :) all those photos are so cool !!!!
dirty toilets = funky cool bar !
@MAD: You've got to go back for closing night.
@Zioum Zioum: It's a great bar, sad to see that the end is near for the joint.
@Clacky: They won't say what the last night is. The owner won't say when they're shutting it down. Hopefully I'll find out.
that first (and last same pic) is an omen to mars bar's fate, and also the skinny (no pun intended) on why mars bar will be closing. she should have been invited.
Marty - It was great to finally meet you, thanks for the invite to stop by. Yr as hilarious in person as you are online. And on closing night EVERYONE from the EV Grieve Comments should be there!
@esquared: I thought the same thing about the pictures.
@Lisa: It was great to meet you as well! It was great talking to you and I look forward to hanging out with you in the future. And yes, it would be great to see everyone from EV Grieve there on closing night, if only we knew when it was. Talk to you soon.
hey, but I think I remind something.... 25th of april is the birthday of one of my book's caracter ... and it is the birthday of a certain michael o'keefe.... ? BUT.... WOW !!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU MOTHERFUCKER !! :D hahahahahahahahhahaaaaaaaaa !!!!!
@Zioum Zioum: Ha ha ha! Thanks, Motherfucker!
I feel the same about the Mars as far as not going there too often...and in my case everytime I go there I meet my next insane artist/musician boyfriend...what will I do when it closes???? I don't seem to have any luck anywhere else! Perhaps the universe is teaching me a lesson in that depts but whatever.. this is one of the only places left in NY where people are real..i never feel like i am alone there if i go in alone like in other bars..it's like you just drift into the scenerio or conversations..will be going more as it's daze are numbered..:(
@lisanne: What's funny is that those that have never gone in, think it's a rough place where you might get the shit kicked out of you and I've always found it to be filled with friendly people. I hope to see you in there before it closes!
Ah, I've just come back to this post after almost a year....what a great day that was and I love re-living it. So many friends and familiar faces...some of them now gone. And, Mars now gone. Damn, I had a lot of fun here - thanks for the memories!
@Goggla: Agreed! To the good memories!
georayno e3d3fd1842 https://worldpeaceceo.com/moirollridmumb