September 21, 2011
Okay, it’s swizzle stick Tuesday where we go to a bar and see if we get a swizzle stick. Tonight’s choice was an easy one, my 365 Bars co-pilot, Al Rizo suggested I go to Harry’s New York Bar in the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel. Al’s never steered me wrong in the past, so it’s off to Harry’s we go.
We've landed at Fifth Avenue via the New York subway system.
It's a straight shot down here on Central Park South.
And here's the lit up awning of the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel.
Well, we'll soon see about that.
Here's the lobby. It's marble and shiny.
The doorman told me Harry's is right up the stairs.
And here we are at Harry's New York Bar. it's nice and dark in here, let's go find the bar.
Plenty of room at the bar, let's grab a stool and settle in.
They've got first rate snacks here, now let's see if we can score a swizzle stick.
Friendly bartender Sam serves up the double gin and tonic...
Houston, it appears we have a swizzle stick!
It's not glass, but it is a high grade plastic. A simple, yet classic add to the collection.
The view from my perch at the bar. It's a classic New York hotel bar for sure with dark wood and a blue marble bar.
A shot of the lit up bottles behind the bar and two of the friendly staff.
Hello!
Okay, the snacks are gone, the drink is drank and it's time to head home. It's not wise to drink more than one in a bar like this. The bill will give you a heart attack if you do.
Obligatory hotel mirror shot! Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.
The Swizzle Stick Collection
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this fine collection!
Harry's New York Bar
Helmsley Park Lane Hotel
36 Central Park South (Between Fifth and Sixth Ave.)
212-371-4000
Further reading: Jeremiah's Vanishing New York, Trip Advisor, Five Star Alliance and Virgin Holidays.
You Might Also Like: Bonzo, Gonzo and Lonzo.
Then they light one up and they boast and brag,
So content because they got a harry rag.
(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)
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Special Thanks To My Co-Pilot Al For Suggesting Harry's!
Al artwork by "Boris."
33 Comments
Reader Comments (33)
Holy Marble Batman.
Yay on almost glass swizzle stick...
Harry's looks nice..
almost like the kind of hotel bar where you sit and watch couples and decide which are the ones having affairs..
I used to do that in SF at the Drake and the st Francis.
chances are every couple there is...
Leona ran that Hotel like a Drill Instructor in the Marine boot camp. Needless to say everything was perfect or she would fire you. Harry's (her rich husband) bar I actually liked better than the Oak Bar at the Plaza just down the street. I felt like It was cozier, more pub like. Lots of wood and that dim blue glow on the lights,,man, what a bar. Sorry for the price of the drink, expensive swizzle stick,,at least you made up for it with the snacks at the bar.
@csp: HMB!
@Gidget: There was one couple who looked nervous as I was taking pictures. I should've taken a shot of them, but I had mercy on them.
@Al: The drink was thirty bucks and change, but I made sure I ate up all the free snacks! Great suggestion of a classic New York hotel bar. Another winning suggestion from my co-pilot, thanks!
Simple, elegant...yet vaguely clinical design Marty. Who supplies Harry's swizzle sticks...Edmund Scientifics? No complaints though, at least you got one this time, even though it looks like it would be right at home stirring up a martini in a graduated glass beaker in a lab someplace during the celebration of a major chemical research breakthrough...
I just can't comprehend a drink costing $30+ ... I don't care if it's double "whatever" ..... makes me sick just thinking about it :(
And now I am about to have a double gin and tonic! *cheers*
Now that is one classy looking bar.
You ever go to Live Bait Bar at E23 and Madison? Was in there last night and it was very cool - low frills, very cool - a surprisingly pre-gentrification LES type vibe for Flatiron - great music on the box as well.
Since you're getting closer and closer to Central Park it's time to get nearer and take 'A Walk on the Wild Side,' if you dare. Get a few cans of Budweiser, or Smirnoff if you like, and explore the area around the Lake, the eerie Ramble, that notorious nighttime gay hangout of the 60s, 70s and 80s, but watch out for any boys from the Bronx. Or as my recent e-book 'Queers of Central Park' says of it, 'he came with a glow in his eyes and left with a tear but still had a warm smile on his lips.' I dare you ;)
http://www.extasybooks.com/queers-of-central-park-2/
@Jaws: Ha ha ha! Agreed on the design, but as you said, at least we scored one.
@GENE: I will say in their defense they almost filled the whole glass up with gin and gave me a mini bottle of tonic to add to it. Plus there were free snacks!
@Meleah: Cheers!
@JAZ: I have been to Live Bait. It's better at the beginning of the week, can be dicey on the weekends, but I guess that's true of all bars. And they do have some good tunes there.
@Mykola Mick Demetiuk: I don't know, I may have to pass on that dare, the park freaks me out after dark! I always think abou the notorious Baby Faced Butchers who gutted a guy in there at nighttime. The New York Post loved that story!
I've always said you should treat yourself to a snazzy night out every once in a while, but at 30 bucks a pop, it'd have to be every once in a GREAT while! I'm bowling tonight and, so, will be visiting Melanie's Bar. I doubt they have swizzle sticks, but I can get 30 jello shots for the price of your drink! Cheers!
@MAD ..... maybe if the drink came with a happy ending, from some hot snicky bartender, I'd consider it ....
Snacks ain't enough to make me happy .... I could go to the bodega and get a $2 giant bag of chips ....
While I'm not on a congressional bi-partisan spending reduction committee, I just wanted to point out that for the amount of money you spent on a swizzle stick, you could have rented Baltic Avenue with one house and still had a ten spot leftover.
@Biff: Too true! Have a great bowling night and enjoy the Jello shots!
@GENE: The main danger of getting a happy ending from a hot bartender is the danger of getting a burnt dick.
@csp: Is this Monopoly money you're talking about?
It's the only money I know. Come to think of it, a MAD road-trip to AC is a capital idea.
Love the light behind the bar. Something a little sordid & creepy about that kind of place - the money, the kinds of people that hang out there - but interesting to check it out occasionally!
Wow fancy! Although I prefer a wooden bar, the wood/marble mix was quite pretty. Now the question is, could you name where every swizzle stick has come from. Quite the collection you're amassed.
@csp: "a MAD road-trip to AC is a capital idea." Ha ha ha! Nice one!
@onemorefoldedsunset: It is a little sordid and creepy in there and that adds to the appeal for me!
@kari: I liked the marble bar too. And no way could I name where every swizzle stick is from, I have trouble remembering what I did this morning...oh wait...I slept through it.
Hey there is no road trip to AC without moi!
I will seriously want to go!
I need to get out in spring while my family is all still alive out there!
I can let my full jersey out if we go!
high bangs and cheap ass cheesing!
You need a tiki mug to hold all those swizzle sticks!
Just for tits and googlles, type in Atlantic City Swizzle Stick and see what happens. Crazy stupid like a fox.
Didn't Atlantic City Swizzle Stick open up for Phish at Bonnaroo a few years ago?
@Gidget: You are definitely in for the road trip to AC!
@Britta: Good idea! I need to go to a Tiki Bar next week and look for one.
@csp: I tried it but didn't find anything. Am I doing something wrong?
@"Boris:" Yes! And Joe "Mama" Besser was drumming. A great show!
@MAD: Sorry, I forget that the Google learning algorithm thingy makes everyone's Google different. I must have done a search for swizzle sticks before, because all I get are hits on Atlantic City Casino custom (collectible) swizzle sticks. Considering the terms in my search, could've been worse.
Swanky---nice place--never been there--love the monkeys and am pleased about the swizzle stick!!
Hi Biff--where's Melaie's bar??
@Melanie: I love the Monkees too!
marty
i'm a bit new catching up with your blog thru VNY, but have you gone to the cowgirl place down near south street seaport? they have hi-grade turquoise blue seahorse swizzle sticks, pretty sure the last time i went there tho that was such a long time ago. i could look it up, but you should see if they are still in biz. i really like that place - it's relatively new not historic, but it had swizzle stix. and maybe you know about this place.
ok, til the next time i walk by the chillmaster on my lunch break...
@eastvillagebutinqueens: I'll try and check it out in a week or two (I'm in Peoria till next Thursday.) Do you know the official name of the place? Thanks for the suggestion and tell the Chillmaster I said hi and I'm looking forward to our next Chillmaster Dance Party! Thanks for chiming in!
hi marty
it's not clear to me if this place is still there. anybody else know? it was an offshoot of the cowgilrl hall of fame on hudson but it took the place of that radio mexico spot, way on the edgy part of the seaport near the bridges away from thubbub. the only way to know now i guess is to walk by or try an old fashion phone call.
here's an old review. i still have my turkoise blu seahorse swizzle sticks. are these too retro or the real deal?
http://www.cowgirlseahorse.com/
good lemonade in mason jars which is where i think i got my swizzle stick.
check out the pix here to see the swizzle stix!!
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/4zBGXDXg9DzK0IROwCUeFg?select=GdTIA0OWu2Judny2mE_FqQ
@eastvillagebutinqueens: Thanks for the links, I'll check it out in the next couple of weeks. I've been to the Cowgirl on Hudson, great place!
marty
i just realized you might mean swizzle stick as something different. i'm late to getting educated on the authentic details on all this. maybe plastic seahorses are not swizzle stix? i just read your post that the green swords are not swizzles, so i guess be ready that they may or may not be the real deal.
anywayz.........
@eastvillagebutinqueens: It depends, a swizzle is all in the eye of the beholder! We'll see next Tuesday!