July 27, 2011
Okay, it’s Tuesday, the night I go out in search of a swizzle stick. Originally I was searching for a glass swizzle stick, but now I’m finding that so few bars have them anymore, I’ll settle for any kind of a swizzle stick. Tonight I thought I’d try Pete’s Tavern. Pete’s is a classic New York Tavern that’s been open since 1864. It’s been used as a prototypical New York bar in numerous TV shows and movies and several beer commercials have been shot here. One of the things that Pete’s Tavern is known for it that writer and regular O. Henry wrote the Gift of the Magi at the tavern, in one of the booths by the front door. You’d think a bar this rich in history would have swizzle sticks. And that’s just what we’re about to find out.
The internet is a magical place. One minute you're at the corner of 31st and Sixth...
And the next second here we are at Union Square Park. It's a nice night out and there's lots of people in the park. Okay, just a few blocks to Pete's Tavern from here. Off we go.
God I hate that fucking place.
And here we are at the legendary Pete's Tavern.
I always love it when bars have gold leaf lettering in the windows.
Lets go in and see if there's a swizzle stick in our future.
It's crowded for a Tuesday night, but I see a seat at the end of the bar and I see a familiar face...
It's Mike the bartender who we met last year on the bar crawl!
Sadly, there are no swizzle sticks here at Pete's. Oh well, maybe next week, in the meantime let's take a look around the joint.
Here's a shot of the bar from my perch.
The light fixtures overhead reveal a tin ceiling.
The bottles are lit up behind the bar.
Some of the draft beers available.
A copy of a book by O. Henry, a writer and a regular years ago at Pete's Tavern.
And here's the famous booth where he supposedly wrote, The Gift of the Magi.
Press clippings and vintage photos adorn the walls of the booth.
While this is good advice, I think Red Foxx's is better.
Okay, one glance out the window and time to call it a night. See you tomorrow after dark.
Pete’s Tavern
129 East 18th Street @ Irving Place
212-473-7676
Further reading: 365 Bars, Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York, Black Book and Betsy Bie Photography.
You Might Also Like: “Hello Walls,” Hello Newman! and Hello Larry.
Five Other Pete’s
Pete Townshend
Pete Seeger
Pete Rose
Pete Doherty
Peat Moss And The Fertlizers
18 Comments
Reader Comments (18)
I guess you have to go to fancy hotels and pay $35 for a swizzle stick :(
The O Henry booth is like a museum piece,,,looks like its reserved. Always liked your pictures of the bottles lit up behind the bar,,,,amber, green, blue,,,,great shot. Well actually the entire bar looks like a museum, well maintained like Old Town. I think for a glass swizzle stick you may want to venture into a fancy steakhouse bar like bull and bear and Waldorf Astoria.
awwwww Mike... one of my fave bartenders from the crawl....
sorry bout the swizzle stick dude..
but i'm gonna be distracted for a minute here...
He really does need a side job as a chippendale dancer...
awww
what did you say something?????
@GENE: It's starting to look that way!
@Al: I'll try the Bull and Bear next week, you'll be the co-pilot that night!
@Gidget: Deja who? That's what you said last year! And no I didn't say anything, I'm just typing over here!
" There's one more thing I have to do that I don't like."
"What's that?"
"Here. Look at me a minute."
Ben finished the bandage and drew back to look at Jimmy. "What-"
And suddenly Jimmy slugged him. Stares rocketed up through his brain and he took three wandering steps backward and sat down heavily. He shook his head and saw Jimmy getting carefully down from the table and coming toward him. He groped madly for the cross, thinking: This is what's known as an O. Henry ending, you stupid shit, you stupid, stupid-"
-Steven King, from the novel 'Salem's Lot"
Every time I've gone in there, it's reeked of rotten fish and bleach. Last time I was there, they made a god-awful vodka and tonic, so I've not been back. Has it improved? Maybe someone cracked a window and aired the place out?
Oh Henry! See Marty, dreams do come true. Perhaps you too can put pen to paper and have a candy bar named after you posthumously. Cautionary note; he did drink himself to death, that shrine is more like a crime scene. .Be careful for Pete's sake, literature can be hazardous to your health. I say this in Ernest, sometimes the bear eats the Hunter.
Also your list seems to lack Peter the Great, Saint Peter, Peter Parker, Peter Frampton,, Peter Sellers, and Peter Ustinov.
Everyone just piss off.
@Jaws: Good one!
@Goggla: It didn't reek in there last night and my drinks were strong. My only complaint is they have a middle of the road jukebox.
@csp: Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater. The list could go on and on and apparently it does!
@Pete Best: Glad to see you're still not bitter! Ringo sends his regards. (Rimshot.)
That's sort of rubbing it in. A rimshot for an ousted drummer?
damn i have to agree w/ MAD "You’d think a bar this rich in history would have swizzle sticks." and you would...but in this day and age where every frickin' penny counts...and what did most patrons do with a swizzle stick?...bend them tie them in little knots break them in many pieces just leave them next to an empty glass (just to be discarded w/ the used damp napkins) everything except cherished like a faded memory...still looks like MAD nailed another great revisit...
"I think my dream is a feeling more than a geography. Some of my dreams have come true. Going on the road and playing nightclubs was an enormous dream for me. I can remember working in a restaurant and hearing music come out of the jukebox and wondering how to get from where I was, in my apron and paper hat, through all the convoluted stuff that takes you to where you're coming out of the jukebox."
~ Tom Waits (1983)
rr
@csp: I'm sure Pete's heard worse!
@rr: Glad you liked the re-visit and I really liked the Tom Waits passage you put up tonight. I'm a big fan of his, but never heard that one before.
The following is a very meaningful piece:
I need some sleep....there's only that much alcohol a body can handle.
@Uncle Waltie: Goodnight and have a pleasant tomorrow. Sip ahoy!
Hey! I remember that joint! I liked it.
@Biff: A legendary NYC bar!
Beautiful ceiling! One of the things I loved about the bar crawl, all the tin ceilings and looking for wood.
@kari: I love the tin ceiling too!