June 15, 2011
It’s Tuesday and that means it’s time to go to a bar and search for the elusive glass swizzle stick, or even a plastic one will do. I found a bar called Weather Up on Duane St. in Tribeca and they have specialty cocktails and it looks kind of fancy, so let’s go check it out.
We'll be taking a downtown train to Weather Up.
Musicians in Penn Station. They were really good so I gave them a couple bucks and took a picture.
I got up to the tracks and the train had just pulled in. I love it when that happens! Here's some of the inhabitants of my car on the train.
And here we are on West Broadway, check out the full moon tonight. Awoooo!
Here's Weather Up. There's no sign, which I always find kind of stupid and I went inside and it was louder than fuck and full of hipsters. I decided to move on and take...
That lonely walk to another destination.
After wandering a couple blocks I ran smack into The Odeon. This is where I spent my lunch hour during jury duty. Let's go see what kind of swizzle action is happening in here.
There's plenty of seats at the bar.
I order the double gin and tonic and friendly bartender Charlie serves it up.
Sadly, there's no swizzle stick, just the dreaded red stirrer. Oh well, it's still better than the Weather Up place.
Here's a shot of the bar from my perch.
Bamboo stools with red-stitched tops line the bar.
There's iced martini glasses chilling in the middle of the bar.
I love the designs on the tables that are lined up opposite the bar.
And here's the infamous Odeon dining room behind the bar.
Meanwhile back at the bar, Charlie's taking care of business.
And as I look around I see this. Could it be a swizzle stick jar?
It looks like one to me, but Charlie tells me it's used as a big toothpick for olives and fruit garnishes in drinks.
Ah, but what the hell. I'll add it to the collection and give the Odeon an honorable mention for this addition.
And a glance out the window and I'm gone like a cool breeze. Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark!
The Swizzle Stick Collection So Far
Thanks to everyone who's sent in swizzle sticks to add to the collection...
And thanks to Jason Hwang for the latest contribution! Nice swizzlers!
The Odeon
145 West Broadway (@Thomas St.)
212-233-0507
Further reading: Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York, New York Magazine, New York City Search and Vanity Fair.
You also might like: Lizards, Blizzards and Wizards.
Four Weathermen
Al Roker
Rollie Keith
David Letterman
Mark Rudd
It’s been a hard day’s night,
And I’ve been working like a dog.
(Thanks to Kari for “suggesting” this!)
33 Comments
Reader Comments (33)
I like that grainy picture of the long dark bar,,,,and the Odeon sign outside. What's up with the surprise link today,,,,its forbidden,,,,?
Ah, the Odeon - that is where I had my first date with my ex gf that I dated for 2 years. Really great girl.
That Odeon sign looks brighter than anything in Times Square !
Weather Up, affected me the same way.
The Odeon does a great cheeseburger, too. Drunk during jury duty, eh? You’re a man after my own heart, Marty! A few years back I was on the Grand Jury, a few of us used to walk around Chinatown; smoking fat ones during lunch
Those Zulu-Lulu swizzle sticks left me speechless.
Racism AND Kiddy pr0n, in one package: Nifty at 15? Jeeez!
@Al: You can't access the surprise link?
@JAZ: To former girlfriends!
@GENE: It's the brightest thing in Tribeca, for sure! Luckily, it's darker inside.
@Harry: We do seem to be kindred spirits! Can't wait to meet you in July! And that Zulu Lulu was so politically incorrect on so many levels I had to post it!
Love the post, the Count Floyd link made my day! And that surprise link is hilarious and so wrong it's perfect for MAD!
I couldn't see the suprise link either.. bummer....
loved charlie.. cute and young.. yummy..
I was just reminded of a New York weather named Tex Antoine on WABC-TV channel 7, who was known to do the 11 pm forecast drunk. One night in 1976 or ’77; his weather spot came up just after a report of a violent rape of a five year old girl. Tex, who had only been aware of the topic of the report, and not the fact that a child was involved, thereupon quipped: "With rape so predominant in the news lately, it is well to remember the words of Confucius: 'If rape is inevitable, lie back and enjoy it.”.
Needless to say he was fired.
@Barfly: Count Floyd rules! Awooo!
@Gidgie: That's weird how the surprise link won't show up for you and Al, it shows up fine here, I'll see if it shows up from work.
@Harry: Holy shitballs! Great story! I've got to try and find that on YouTube!
Hey you walked away with something other than a straw, consider it a success. I love that the cinnamon stick is staying part of the collection. Good nightcap. I have no bias there.
I can't see the link either, but I do have government blocks since I'm at work. Having it says its forbidden makes it so much more intriguing!
Surprise link won't show up for me either...that red plastic spike looks like it would be perfect for killing little tiny plastic vampires...full moon...aaaaarrrrOOOOOOO!!
I love your swizzle sticks collection!
I'm going to try ordering olives with every drink to see if i get bonus swizzles!
Love the art deco-ey bar lights in this place! There's got to be a glass swizzler SOMEWHERE in the City! What about the King Cole Bar?
@kari: It's blocked here at my work too. It's racist and sexist and almost teen porn!
@Jaws: Nice Count Floyd impression! Scary stuff, kids!
@Darleya: Thanks, the collection loves you too!
@Goggla: Sounds like a perfect plan!
@Biff: I was going to go to the King Cole bar last night, but they close at 11pm on weeknights. I'll go some night I get out early. Great minds do think alike!
More Playboy Swizzle Sticks!
(I'll have to check our my Dad's collection for more)
Hang in there Brother!
TA-DA!
@"Boris:" Soon I'll have more than Hef! All I need now is silk pajamas and a mansion filled with women! Thanks, brother, I'll try and call you tonight.
@Biff: TA-DA!
Hoooray!!!! Bar review!! No surprise link for me either....what the fuck did you put up, Marty? I'm not sure I want to know what it is now. I could get in some kind of trouble for looking at forbidden things on the internet.
Link doesn't work on my computer either - and the censored material is now sickeningly tantalizing...
Am working on another swizzle stick or two - more swizzles for Marty in these tough times!
@Clacky: The link is an old ad for swizzle sticks that is part racist, sexist and borderline teen porn. It's blocked here at work, but at home I can see it and Harry sees it in London. Maybe only real true sick perverts are allowed to view it and only Harry and I qualify!
@onemorefoldedsunset: See above answer to Clacky. Thanks in advance for the swizzles, that's too nice!
yeah access denied on two 'puters at wrok place....forbidden on evil home machine...
onemorefoldedsunset..."more swizzles for Marty in these tough times!"...cracked me up....
swizzle stick or not The Odeon has one hell of a history...boy all that name droppin' in that vanity fair piece...
kari...great suggestion...
MAD...rudd sorta forgot about him...i thought him and rubin went wall street or sumthing like that...another great post on the search...
America makes prodigious mistakes, America has colossal faults, but one thing cannot be denied: America is always on the move. She may be going to Hell, of course, but at least she isn't standing still.
e. e. cummings
rr
I can't see it either but if it means I'm not a true pervert, I guess I'm okay with that-I am a lady after all. ;) I like the spiky swizzle stick-you can use it when you run out of floss.
I am NOT a lady and I want to see it! I'll have to see if my home computer lets me since it knows the truth about my level of perviness.
if anyone wants to see these "babies"....google Zulu_Lulu_Swizzle_Sticks...from five up to fifty...sorta the same class for "firetruck"...
rr
not sayin' "firetruck" is "part racist, sexist and borderline teen porn" (although some meant read it that way)...was tryin' to say price wise in cyberland...
rr
@ raginrr; Thanks man...I just saw them. Ungawa! Shame, shame! Racist, sexist...I want some now!
jaws...at age 40 you can "hang 'em" on the edge on your glass....sorta show how dated they are...
rr
@rr: Mark Rudd's a teacher and a writer these days. Thanks for the help with the surprise link! And a great ee cummings quote to boot! You did overtime here tonight.
@Britta: I used them for toothpicks too.
@kari: Follow rr's advice and you shall see! Like most things, it's been built up so it's not as bad as you think.
Hey Marty, the last time I was at the Odeon was around 1982. Tried to impress a girl by taking her there. This should be followed by some very astute observations about the place and its era...however, as I mentioned on EVGrieve's blog, I'm too drunk to make any sense. Some people might argue that I never make sense anyway. To this I say: Sip Ahoy!
PS. got 6 tall boys in my refrigerator and I'm not even gay.
@Uncle Waltie: Ha ha ha! Sip Ahoy, my friend! Next week I think I'll go to the International for Swizzle Stick Night, I hope to see you there! *Sip Ahoy! (*Sip Ahoy is a patented Uncle Waltie catchphrase, please use it only with permission.)
“Maybe only real true sick perverts are allowed to view it and only Harry and I qualify!” - Marty
I
resentresemble, that remark“In the U.S. you have to be a deviant or exist in extreme boredom... Make no mistake, all intellectuals are deviants in the U.S.” – William S. Burroughs
“When you're born, you get a ticket to the freak show. When you're born in America, you get a front-row seat." – George Carlin
@Harry: Two great quotes from two great Americans! Thanks!