It’s looking like it’s goodbye Yogi’s day on NYBarfly – more whiskey fed patrons are awakening from their stupor and sending their laments for the closed bar. If they’re reacting like this to the UWS country bar closing – we can’t imagine the self flagellation that will go on when the original Meatpacking location of The Hog Pit shutters in Jan. These folks better stock up on fried pickles now – just in case.
Here is the latest on the final night at the doomed dive:
On closing night I fueled myself with beer and Jack Daniels before standing in an excruciatingly long line before being allowed into the bar that, quite literally, was more packed than I'd ever seen it. A bunch of sweaty people packed like sardines all looking to fuck whoever was willing. And I laughed at how the bathroom finally just gave up - they clearly ripped out the never-working (never once in my years of Yogi's-going did I EVER! See that toilet work) toilet leaving a utilitarian hole in the ground that eventually flooded the bathroom with sewage. I'm talking actual splish-splashing as you walked into the men's bathroom.
It was actually kind of beautiful that nobody cared anymore about what was done in the place since it was closing, though all was tainted with a touch of sadness - made poignant by frequent "TO YOGI'S" toasts from around the bar.
I just hope they keep your jukebox somewhere safe, because until the day I die will I reiterate that yours was the best goddamn jukebox in the city. I love this bar. I loved this bar. And that bear. I can think of nothing better to end this Yogi's testimony with than a quote I once read on the chalkboard outside of your door, next to the aforementioned bear. It read: "Your liver is evil. It must be punished!" Amen, Yogi's. Amen.
"Your liver is evil; it must be punished" is also on the wall at Aunt Tiki's Lounge in New Orleans. I wonder which came first.
Posted by: dianalily | October 15, 2008 at 04:06 PM