September 10, 2011
I’ve been burned out this week and haven’t gone out in a couple nights, so I thought I’d go out and have a MAD adventure tonight. The only problem was I couldn’t think of a destination to go to, so I turned to my old friend Google. I decided I’d type in “New York place” and go to the first place that came up and here’s the result:
So it’s off to the New York Palace, they’ve got a bar, maybe we’ll get a swizzle stick out of this trip!
Okay, out into the night. We'll take the subway to midtown.
Fuck, being a complete idiot and out of habit, I hopped onto a downtown train and here we are at 23rd Street. I briefly thought about crossing the street and getting back onto an uptown train, but you know what? Fuck it, I'm so burned out from this week, let's just see what we can find to do on 23rd Street. Time to improvise.
Alright, let's see what's shaking on 23rd Street on a Friday night in New York City.
Dunkin' fucking Donuts, definitely not going in there.
Here's a man passed out in a taco shop. That's how I felt all week!
I just thought of a place to go to, it's right down the street.
The Chelsea Hotel sign is still unlit and closed. I wonder what the new owners are going to do to it. Time will tell.
And here we are, I thought we'd have a drink at the bar in the El Quijote restaurant. This is a classic place and it's been on the block for 80 years.
Let's go inside, I'm dying for a drink.
I love this place and the food is great here, but tonight it's packed with a bunch of loudmouth after-work yuppies. Ah, fuck it, there's one seat at the end of the bar, I'm going to snag it.
A long shot of the back of the bar.
What a great old cash register.
I accidentally took this flash shot and the bartender ran down and told me I can't take any photos in here.
So it's back into the night I go.
The good news is, The Chelsea Papaya is a block away...
The bad news is they don't serve beer in here.
And it all happened on 23rd Street, on a random Friday on September 9th. Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.
Further reading: Wikipedia, 23rd Street Associaton Inc. and Discover Flatiron.
You Might Also Like: Dusty Springfield, Dustin Hoffman and Dust.
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The Independent
Cause it seems in London Town,
There’s just no place for a street fighting man.
27 Comments
Reader Comments (27)
I would definitely give El Quijote another visit some other time. Its such a great bar and the Spanish paella I hear is wonderful. It's right on the first floor of the Chelsea, isn't it? Wonder what kind of deal the restaurant made with the new owners of the hotel. Can't really blame them for not liking flash photos,,,I hate that also when Im in a bar drinking,,,,granted you did it by accident, were they rude about it?
Sorry that night did not go as planned, kinda true to life. Hope you have fun tonight!
Ah, 23rd Street. I remember dirty old dive bars all up and down the street, from 3rd Avenue to 6th Avenue and all you had to do was cross the street and continue drinking on the other side. Many a drunken night I spent there, with drunken old men sitting, standing or tottering next to me. I smile, the memories are very clear. Wish I could go back but I can't. Oh, well. Poor me, Poor me, pour me another drink ;)
@Al:I will definitely give it another try, maybe on a Sunday night when it's not so packed in there. They weren't rude and I understand, normally I keep the flash off, but I had turned the camera off and when I turned it on, it reverted to flash mode. Everyone's hoping that the new owners of the Chelsea Hotel leave this place alone.
@Kari: Thanks, I'm looking forward to seeing Britta again and meeting Tom, sorry you're not going to be here, though!
@Mykola Mick Dementiuk: Ha ha ha! Hey your other books arrived, thanks so much. I'll post more about them next week after I read them.
I'm more than jealous, but really hope you guys have a nice night. At least I'll get to see pictures :)
You accidentally wound up on 23rd street? Illuminati everywhere!
A joke isn't usually funny if you need to explain it, but hell's bells, here,
What a week you've had! I hope El Quijote survives - it feels like last rites for so many places these days.
Love Dusty!
@kari: Photos will be up tomorrow!
@csp: That link: deja view! Everything really is 23-related!
@onemorefoldedsunset: It was really a shitty week. Started with a bang and just never really stopped! I'm looking forward to next Sunday!
@MAD: Haha, bad on me. I just assumed all those links were to escort agencies. (Nope, just dopey today.)
@csp: We're all guilty of ignoring links on blogs. I do it all the time. And please, send some dope my way, I need it after last week!
@MAD: Here's some dope.
Enjoyed my first papaya dog at your fortress of solitude yesterday. I've walked by that place so many times, but now I know where to get a good, fast dog. You'll have to fill me in tonight on what the Papaya relationship is that runs through this city. Looking forward to tonight!
@csp: Ha ha ha! Nice one! Thanks for not borgarting that dope!
@Tomatic: Glad you stopped there! I'll be seeing you in about fifteen minutes, the snack mix is ready!
damn...must be one of the most fucked up persons on this rock...i open every link here at MAD and i try to hit every one at a couple other places...there is not enough time in a day (especially after that "rutgut 45" starts flowin' )...sorry to read that MAD's days have been so screwed as of late...off track again...this has been both an informative and educational post...never knew there was so much 'bout 23 out there...but it's really moot 'cause we all know the answer is 42!...
“In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed”
Charles Darwin
rr
No photos? I bet if you were tanked, stacked and bleached they'd let you take all the photos you want!
@rr: I did not know the answer was 42, did you find it blowing in the wind? Great Darwin quote, never heard that one before!
@Lux Living: I think it's because I'm not Lady Gaga!
42
In my rotten gut, I've always thought "42" was an alternate ending to this . I'm assuming a UK bias, but meanwhile stateside, there was this at the same year Also, LSD was everywhere.
As a stupid aside. Darwin was an idyllic state sponsored scientist. Social and fiscal Darwinists today would say his voyage of discovery was a waste of funding. I guess the blind squirrel finding a nut would have to apply.
Also, too many posts. Self-banned, say, 48 hours. Latter Maddites. I have to keep an eye on my tab.
Damn the Capulets and the Montagues. No aliases either. Cheers.
No photos at El Quioxite!!Bah hum bug!! Nice cash register.
@csp: Thanks for the linkage, I had no idea about 42!
@Mercutio: Damn the torpedoes and cheers to you!
@Melanie: I will try to get more photos there in the future and it is a great cash register!
@Everyone: I'm just waking up, so today's post will be a little late. Have a great Sunday!
Im still saddened by the closing of The Chelsea Hotel. Supposedly the new owners are going to make it a Holiday Inn Express.
The old cash register, inside El Quijote = awesome.
Sorry your night was a bust. At least you had a good hotdog!
@Meleah: Are you kidding me? A Holiday Inn Express? Where did you hear this, that is horrible news!
@Meleah and Marty: All around the world, poets, singers, and independent thinkers are rolling over in their suitcases.
Also, that Rolling Stone bathroom reminds me of Mars Bar.