July 19, 2011
Well, we knew it was coming, Mars Bar is closed for good. EV Grieve had the story yesterday at his fine blog, here’s the post: That’s It: The Mars Bar is closed for good. So it turns out we were there on the last day. Fuck, where am I supposed to go this Easter? Cheers and farewell to the Mars Bar and anyone whoever had twelve too many in there. Check out Goggla’s flickr page for great and definitive Mars Bar photos. I and others consider her to be the official documentarian of Mars Bar and she nailed the joint in this tribute: “Cry, ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war...”
Mars Bar—Hank and Ray, July 17, 2011. One for the road.
I’m still hungover from the Chillmaster Dance Party III a little tired tonight, and kind of bummed out about Mars Bar, so I thought I’d try to find someplace close to home to go to. I enjoyed going to the Super Taco Truck last week and I found another late night taco truck nearby where I live, on the corner of 14th and 8th. It’s called El Idolo and they have two buck tacos there, so let’s go check it out!
Okay, it's a straight shot down 8th to 14th street and then it's taco time!
Gumballs!
The answer to the question: "Does anybody really know what time it is?"
Goddamn it's humid out here tonight and now it's starting to spit rain, let's find this goddamned taco truck already!
And here we are...
Now where's this taco truck?
Hello!
And due to the heat and sprinkling rain, there's not much of a line here. Let's go get a taco.
There's lots of items to choose from, but I'm going to stick to the original plan of a taco. You usually can't go wrong with that order at a taco truck.
This friendly fellow took my order.
As you can see, the truck is sparkling clean.
And quicker than you can say: "¿Dónde está mi taco?" Dinner is served!
And it's a delicious taco! Very nicely prepared!
One of the secrets to eating at a food truck is learning to lean in to the truck and this gentlemen has it down pat. Let's go say hi.
His name is Jeff and he was a good sport for letting me take his photo. Happy taco trails, Jeff!
And, just a block away from the taco truck is the Donut Pub, time for a little dessert!
I was going to get a donut, but those chocolate chip cookies look really good.
And look, my cookie is served!
It was really good.
And now it's time to go home and drink about 23 toasts to the Mars Bar. Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.
Further reading: Jeremiah's Vanishing New York, EV Grieve, The Gog Log, Slum Goddess and NY Times.
You also might like: Bill or George or anything but Sue!
Five Other Tacos
Holy Taco
New York Taco
Taco
Taco Tunes
Swedish Jesus Taco
C.J. now, hit the gas,
Hear Marky kick your ass,
Go, Johnny, go, go, go,
Go Tommy, O-way-o.
ARCHIVES
(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)
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Bonus Linkage!
Secret Weapon!
“Boris” and Gidget’s Secret Weapon Show got a nice write up at the Broken Hearted Toy blog written by Terry Flamm. Check it out here, it’s the eighth item down: Secret Weapon on Broken Hearted Toy. And of course Secret Weapon can be heard only on Woody Radio.
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Blarney! At Grade “A” Fancy!
MAD pals, Karen and Jon have a wonderful new entry at Grade “A” Fancy celebrating the history of the Blarney Stone bars in NYC. Wonderful writing and artwork, check it out here: Blarney!
26 Comments
Reader Comments (26)
Gum Ball Machines , Hmmmm
I love Taco's!!
Whatever happened to the Fortress of Solitude ?
:(
@JHwang: I thought of you when I took that picture!
@Meleah: Me too! And that was a good one!
@GENE: Don't worry, I'll return there soon!
That is one fine looking taco! Sucks about the Mars Bar, I really enjoyed Goggla's Flicker page, great photos and history there. To the Mars Bar!
The "T" in "The Donut Pub" logo looks like a gallows. Doesn't make me want to hang there.
Taco truck looked really clean,,,,and the food fresh with onions and lime. Lot's of people love eating from them because of the convenience, and the value,,,hard to beat,,,,very big in LA and San Francisco also. Always hate to see bars that close down. I never went to the Mars and I feel bad about it. Grade A,,a fine story about Blarney bars and Dives,,,they are right,, the word "dive" is being used too much,,,,used to be a word for real rotgut,low end, old man's,,dark,,,dangerous places,,,,another words,,,my favorite hangouts,,,. Great video of Lemmy,,,no one has lived the rock life as long as him (and he still does),,,,drinking jack n cokes all day and smoking tons of cigs,,,,go lemmy.
Jeff kinda looks like a serial killer. Somebody needs to check his refrigerator for body parts.
@Barfly - thanks!
Ugh, on a sad day like today, these taco trucks make me really happy - now I know what I'm having for dinner!
Documentarian? Haha, I don't know how that happened, but I'm glad I finally stopped sneaking pics of Ray and Roy from across the street and finally went inside to talk to them in person. And, I know they'll always remember your Easter pizza and cake, Marty!
Well, here's to Blarney Cove, International Bar, Mona's, Milano's and all the places where they know your name and are happy to see you.
@Barfly: The taco was great and I agree with you on Goggla's photos, she took some great shots of the place and it'll be nice to revisit it courtesy of her photos. To The Mars Bar!
@csp: Welcome back, Kotter, good to see you here again! Hang ten!
@Al: I think that was the cleanest food truck I've ever seen! I'm with you, I love that Ramones/Lemmy video, that was from their last concert.
@Bruce: Ha ha ha. Jeff's cool, he was a real nice guy.
@Goggla: You took the best pictures of the place and really captured the feel of it, so I thank you for that! And while they'll never be another Mars, there's still some good ones left as you noted. We need to pick one for a meeting spot before the next Chillmaster party!
R.I.P. Mars Bar.
I like the "Taco Lean".
(I think that is 'Sizzlean's Hispanic Sister)
In Chicago it's the proper way to eat an Italian Beef as well.
It's an art form.
Thanks for the plug Daddio!
Mmmm Donut Pub. Tacos and donuts, how could you go wrong? Fabulous!
I can't believe you didn't get the black and white cookie! That taco looked awesome, and a fine farewall photo for Mars Bar. TO HANK AND RAY! And may everyone who moves into the upcoming gentriFried condos be perpetually thirsty. Amen.
@"Boris:" I hear you on the Taco Lean! And I'm always happy to plug a good thing like the "Secret Weapon!"
@Lindsay: It was a nice little nighttime snack and post for sure!
@Biff: The black and white cookies are great there, but I've never had the chocolate chip and it was great. And yes, TO HANK AND RAY! AND TO THE MARS BAR!
just a quick take on MAD before i wander sorta off topic...another great find (cheap too and desert a little away)...nice...
a sound read over at "Grade 'A' Fancy"...tried to post...failed
Goggla left cyberland some great shots of this place...Mars Bar...
"boris"...man this design is superb!...i mean i dig the original but this color scheme screams BUY...
Mars Bar...never made it myself but i already miss it...R.I.P....
Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.
~Dr. Seuss
"You can best serve civilization by being against what usually passes for it."
~Wendell Berry
rr
You have the greatest links today, especially Grade " A" Fancy & The Gog Log. They know bars!!
Thanks for the Pluggo Martster
hot as hell here..could really use a roach coach taco and a donut cause its too friggen hot to cook.
There is a reason i get the burritos in veggie style when i go to the coaches.
i need not be smelling like beef all day...
and in north cali where i'm from the burritos are wrapped in foil like a little carrying case!
Gidgie...guess what?...you smell like human no matter what you eat...CBM/...
RR
@rr: R.I.P. Mars Bar, sorry you never made it, but there are still some very good bars left in the EV. Two perfect quotes today!
@onemorefoldedsunset: Glad you enjoyed the links. Both of them are great!
@Gidgie: You're more than welcome for the linkage, always happy to spread the word about good things on the internet! And we're getting scorched here too, it got up to 95 degrees today. Going to be muggy inside the subway tonight.
As shitty as the grind can get sometimes, and as depressing as the cupcakification of NY is to endure on a never ending basis, getting my daily dose of MAD never fails to make me feel a little better.
Thank you.
Yay Marty!
I've been way behind on blog reading while out in Utah-just wanted to say the posts have been great! I've had tacos 3 times this trip already-I really miss good Mexican food out East-I think it's awesome you can get a great taco in NY.
@JAZ: Thank you for the nice words! I always appreciate your commentary over at Jeremiah's Vanishing New York!
@Britta: Thanks! And yes, lots of good tacos to be had out here. Glad you're having a nice vacation!
Farewell to the Mars Bar. I'm glad you were there on the last night, even if you didn't know it was the last night. I really need a good cookie. I might need to make some. We have had lots of mexican food since Britta has been in town, a family favorite. Glad to see Woody Radio getting a shout out!
@kari: Sorry you and Britta didn't get to see the Mars Bar, it was a one of a kind place, with one of a kind people inside. Get a cookie!
$35.00 FOR A DOUBLE GIN AND TONIC AT THE REGIS? HOW BIG IS IT? DO THEY FILL A TUB WITH IT AND HAVE YOU DIVE IN? GEE WILLIKERS! HERE IN PEKIN, AT THE AMERICAN LEGION, WE KIN BUY AS MANY DOUBLE GIN AND TONICS AS WE WANT, ALL DAY LONG, FOR UNDER $30.00! BUT WE DON'T GET NO SWIZZLE STICK. MAYBE THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. WELL,SHOOT FIRE, I GUESS YOU CAN GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH FROM THE FANCY SNACKS. IS THERE A LIMIT ON WHAT YOU KIN EAT? THANKS FOR GIVING US A TOUR OF NEW YORK CITY THAT MOST OF US HERE IN PEKIN, ILLINOIS WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE, MARTY. WE HAVE TO MANY "SMARTS" TO GO TO THAT DIRTY DEN OF DANGEROUSITY! HOWEVER, IT WOULD BE WORTH IT FOR THE GIGANTIC FOOD! KEEP ON TRUCKIN', PARTY!
@Danny Maness: It is a lot cheaper to drink in Pekin, but when you walk out of the bar you're in...Pekin! Ha ha ha! Just kidding! And as far as the snacks go you can eat all you want and I ate plenty!