NY Barfly

The Gansevoort Gets a New Pool

The ACE and The Standard have changed the way that hot city hotels do business, namely by covering every inch of available space with a restaurant, lounge, or food shop. Not to be outdone, The Gansevoort is plopping down a pool table in their lobby and whipping out the cocktails.

Their new lobby bar / outdoor cafe is called Carte Blanche, and they promise breakfast, brunch, drinks, nighttime snacks - basically anything you crave that the hotel’s other clubs, lounges, and restaurants can’t provide.

The space was designed by the swank-masters from ICRAVE, and the centerpiece is the hotel’s new pool. A pool table, that is. This vintage 1950’s Brunswick pool table might not get as hoppin’ as the swimming hole on the hotel’s roof, but we’re sure it will host a spirited game or two.

We love these new hotel / mega nightlife centers. It’s so nice to have the chance to spend all of our rent money in one place.

Balblair Asks: What Vintage is Your Scotch?

Here’s a question you don’t come across very often: what year is your whisky?

Most Scotch and whisky makers don’t specify the year that their product was casked. They go by the age: 10 year, 15 year, etc. Balblair, which recently launched in the US, is mixing things up a little bit. They want you to pay attention to the Scotch’s vintage, not just the amount of time it spent maturing.

Like wine, the bottles have dates prominently displayed, and each vintage has its own flavor profile. The single malt selections are chosen for release by year. According to the distiller, only the best whiskies from a particular year, that have reached their optimum peak of maturation, are selected for release.

This means you’ll see a smattering of dates available on the market, and each will appeal to a different type of Scotch lover. The Balblair ’97 contains hints of oak and vanilla. The Balblair ’91 contains hints of spice, and will appeal to those who like a more potent flavor and finish.

Will this “spirits-vintage” trend catch on? Next time you go into the liquor store, don’t be surprised if you see some Bourbon 1981.

Mad46 Does Midtown Movies and Cocktails

To anyone who isn’t an 18 year old college student, the summer movie screenings in Bryant Park are a certified shitshow. Unless you like watching an Elvis movie in the sweltering heat while being eyed by a vagrant holding a broom (where’d he get that!).

The folks over at rooftop bar Mad46 know that you don’t want to find out why he has that broom. They also know that you want to drink while watching a flick in the open air. For the next few Wed. nights, they plan to host screening parties in their rooftop digs.

Needless to say, this crowd will be much more posh than the folks over at the park. There are drink specials planned for each film, so the crowd will be a lot drunker as well.

Mad46 is located at 45 East 45^th Street, in the Roosevelt Hotel. Check out the July screening schedule here:

"Strange Brew"- July 7^th- Budweiser

"Back to the Future" - July 14^th - Bacardi Torched Cherry

"King Kong" - July 21^st - Three Olives Vodka

"Tequila Sunrise" - July 28^th - Tequila Herradura

Dudes: Will Club Planet Get You Past the Bouncer?

Club Planet has a verging-on-the-ridiculous article advising single dudes on the best way to get into clubs. Here is what their plan of attack boils down to:

1. Act like a douche bag and pretend to text friends inside who don’t exist, explaining to the bouncer that they’re waiting for you inside with a bottle.

2. Instead of saying “do you know who I am?” stand there, make eye contact with the bouncer (except when you’re texting your imaginary friends) and have your gaze say the words for you.

3. Don’t get distracted by staring at “kajoobies.”

4. If you need some extra motivation, get angry at the fact that the woman’s liberation movement says jack-squat about “the bullshit guys face in society.”

And what bullshit is that? Being rejected from the club because you are manically having a fake text conversation while waiting in line and use words like kajoobies?

Happy Hour on the West Village's Veranda

New (relatively) resto Veranda is ponying up with some happy hour deals that should help you get through the dog days of summer. Because when it’s 90 degrees out, aren’t $2 shots the only things that keep you going?

On Wednesday through Friday, you can hang out on their outdoor patio and enjoy some of those $2 shooters along with $6 cocktails and $4 beers. If you’re not a fan of back sweat, the drink deals are also available indoors (air conditioning and drink deals = true glory).

They also have an awesome tasting menu with $5 small plates. Options like house made falafel, humus and pita, and grilled octopus will help you stay cool.

The deals are available from 5 to 8 PM. Veranda is located at 130 Seventh Ave. near West 10^th Street.

The Half Pint Expands / People in Shorts Get Rejected

-Bowery Boogie has word that perpetually mobbed spot The Half Pint is expanding into the neighboring store front. Perfect – more room for all the drinkers to pass out after guzzling too much beer!

-Eater has a (hilarious) account of people in shorts being turned away from new West Village gastropub Rabbit in the Moon. Skin = scandal at this joint. Funny, we didn’t realize the new resto was for Mennonites only.

-Chi Chi 212 visits new spot Red Egg, which they’re calling a dim sum lounge. Well, cocktails and dumplings are two of our favorite things. Do you think they could wrap bourbon in one of those tasty enclosures?

First Word: The Blind Barber

The Blind Barber, a cocktail bar / barber shop, has been getting mucho press for its unique concept. We’re sure you lushes out there are dying to know if it delivers beyond the PR. Well, we dropped in for a few drinks the other night to find out (plus we needed a haircut).

Here’s some Intel, but keep in mind it JUST opened:

• Décor – The eponymous barber shop actually takes a back seat to the swanky digs in the back, and we were impressed by the sexy vibe. The lighting was super dim, good for atmosphere, or for hiding a bad snip-job. The space already feels lived in, even though they were only open for a day when we dropped in.

• Drink – Unfortunately, they weren’t up to speed on the cocktail list, so we didn’t get to try any offerings. But, bonus points for the dented steel urns of vodka infusions they have going on behind the bar. Chili infused vodka = a good sign.

• Staff – One bartender was the spitting image of Johnny Depp (more 21 Jump, less Jack Sparrow). Our drinking companion thought he was playing up the resemblance on purpose. The group of ladies staring at him from the corner banquette didn’t care.

• Ugh – What’s with the $30 credit card minimum, and who decided that the set price for draft beers at any new drink spot should be $7? Sadly, a shave and a haircut doesn’t cost two cents anymore.

Overall – we smell a winner. We arrived a little too late to get a trim, but we’ll be back to sit in the barber chair!

More Trouble for Trummer?

You’ve all heard about Albert Trummer getting shut down at Apotheke for his signature fire shows. Apparently the NYC fire marshals weren’t too keen on his setting the bar on fire in such a small space.

Is the trouble spreading to his new Tribeca haunt, Theatre? The space isn’t officially open yet, but they have been hosting some events and parties. A party scheduled for last weekend was nixed at the last minute, allegedly because the fire marshals showed up and pointed out that the space isn’t open or legal yet.

Details are sketchy at this point. Trummer did seem conciliatory after his recent bust, so maybe he’s just clearing the schedule to make sure there are no more problems. We’ll get you details as they come in.

Frankie Gets a Cut / Best Bar Nominees

-Frank Bruni gets a shave a haircut and a martini at The Blind Barber. Turns out shaving cream isn’t a good addition to an ice cold gin martini. Damn, and we just ordered some for our home bar!

-Josh Ozersky admits he was dumb, not unethical, when accepting a free wedding banquet from his chef friends and writing about it on Time.com. What we want to know is where was our invite!

-Fork in the Road takes a look at the boozy Tales of the Cocktail nominees. We’re glad to see New York representin’ in most of the top categories. In fact, we think it calls for a drink!

Ward III's Anniversary Party!

Has it really been a year since Ward III, Tribeca’s number one cocktail bar (at least in our books), opened for business?

The libation den is running some specials this weekend to celebrate their birthday. Any excuse to head here and drown yourself in their top-notch booze  = a good thing. First up (tonight!) they’ll be doing special Hendrick’s cocktails. Tomorrow, it’s a slew of Maker’s Mark drink specials, and some surprise guest bartenders.

Even better – all cocktails will be offered at $12. This includes a few new choices which will make their debut on Friday. We got a sneak peek the other night, and highly recommend the Hound of the Baskervilles, a mix of Red Breast Irish Whiskey, Dolin Sweet Vermouth, Chartreuse, and muddled cucumbers (which count as dinner in our book).

The fun starts at 7 PM tonight and 8 PM on Saturday. Ward III is located at 111 Reade Street.