Marty After Dark - Almost Live...From New York

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Wednesday

Jul202011

July 20, 2011

Okay, it’s Tuesday night and that means it’s my night to go to a bar and see what kind of a swizzle stick they stick in a double gin and tonic in a tall glass. A few weeks ago, Biff suggested going to the King Cole Bar in the St. Regis Hotel. I’ve been in there with Biff and I went there on the bar crawl. I do remember getting their signature drink, The Red Snapper and then being somewhat shocked that after I gave the bartender a twenty dollar bill, only two dollars came back to me! I could cheat and go look at a picture of the drink from 365 bars, but I’m not going to. And tonight we’ll see not only if I get a swizzle stick, but what a double gin and tonic costs in this fancy schmancy joint.

I decided to walk to the place rather than go down into the steambath of the subway. It's just 24 blocks away from here on Fifth Avenue.

Creat your own pasta? If I wanted to do that, I just stay at home and crack open a can of Beefaroni. Assholes!

Honey, I shrunk the Statue of Liberty.

Okay, we're almost there and I've worked up a powerful thirst on this walk.

Wow, that's an impressive food cart, I'll have to sample some of the foods here one of these nights.

And here we are, The St. Regis Hotel. For those of you not in the know, St. Regis is the patron saint of all talk show hosts and sidekicks. He invented the word, "Hiyo!"

Here's the front desk. Crazy to think that in this day and age people actually have enough money to stay here.

Down the marble hallway...

And here we are. Wow, it's crowded for a Tuesday night.

All the seats are taken at the bar...

But I managed to squeeze in to a standing area at the end of the bar.

And here's Mike the bartender who happily takes my order for a double gin and tonic.

And yes, we have a swizzle stick! It's not glass, but it is durable plastic and adorned with an "R" for Regis.

Here's Andrew and Kevin who were helping me hold down the eastern end of the bar. Nice guys.

The drinks aren't cheap here, but they do have the best bar snacks in the world.

Wow, those sliders and French onion soup look really good. Maybe I'll splurge some week and come here for Cheeseburger Saturday Night.

A waiter offered to take a photo of Mike and I, so why not. Even Gumby got in on the action!

Okay, the coctail napkin is empty and this isn't a place to hang out at all night unless you just won the lottery. Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.

Price of a double gin and tonic in a tall glass: $35.00
Swizzle stick? Yes! Pictured below.
The Collection is pictured below, including the latest offerings from Goggla (the disco-lit ones), a San Francisco Trolley Car from Paul Scanlon and several from Kate including one that has a whistle on it!
King Cole Bar Lounge
St. Regis Hotel
2 E. 55th St. (@Fifth Ave.)
212-753-4500

Further reading: Jeremiah's Vanishing New York, Manhattan Style, Slosh Spot and Village Voice.