NY Barfly

Say Bye Bye to Dogs In Bars

Leave it up to the New York Health Department to ruin everything – now they’re coming for the pooches! The new letter grading system is much stricter when it comes to letting our four-legged friends chill out while we enjoy a beer or three at our local pour houses. Check it out, from the New York Times:

Of course, it has always been a violation of the city’s health code to allow a dog anywhere near a beer tap. But for years, this has been one of the most widely — and gleefully — violated rules in the city.

Not any more.

Since the health department adopted a letter grade system for bars and restaurants last year, bar owners say, health inspectors are allowing no wiggle room for four-legged patrons.

The stricter enforcement is apparently bringing to an end a rich tradition of dog-friendly bars in New York.

“Bars are built around characters,” said Andrew Templar, an owner of Floyd NY in Brooklyn Heights, which received a violation notice after health inspectors twice observed dogs on the premises this summer. “Now it’s just people and their people problems.”

Awww – we’re guessing that sad puppy dog eyes don’t really sway health inspectors. They issued 369 violations or live animals in the first year of the new inspection system.

Mary Queen of Scots Pouring Alexander McQueen Cocktail

On September 8, New York fashion lovers will come together for the annual Fashion’s Night Out. The evening celebrates NYC Fashion Week and, if previous years are any indication, it will be mobbed. Plenty of people use it as an excuse to go shopping and score some great deals, but we really just see it as another reason to go out and drink. And isn’t it nice that some city bars are obliging with specialty cocktails that will be served throughout the day. Downtown Scotch house Mary Queen of Scots will pour one inspired by Alexander McQueen – if you couldn’t force yourself to wait in the epic lines to see the show, think of this as a substitute of sorts. If you want to stop by and try the fashionable beverage, Mary is located at 115 Allen Street. If you want to get creative and try this at your home bar – check out the below.

The McQueen

On the menu at Mary Queen of Scots; and created by head barman, John McCarthy.

1 oz. The Glenrothes Select Reserve

1 oz. Mezcal

1/2oz dark agave syrup

1 dash orange bitters

1 dash chocolate bitters

Stirred and poured into a couple glass. Garnish with grapefruit twist.

Espolon Tequila Promoting Earthquake Themed Drink – The Tremor

Hurricanes! Earthquakes! We need a drink. The folks over at Espolon tequila have come up with “specialty cocktail” they’ve dubbed The Tremor. Hold on folks, this is a funny one:

The Tremor
Take a bottle of Espolón Tequila Reposado
Pour yourself a shot
Repeat as desired

Actually, they could call this one "The Hurricane "or the "Oh Shit My Rents Due And I Spent All My Money At The Bar". A multi-purpose cocktail – sweet.

Drinkin' Champagne: 2011 Harvest Under Way!

Good news for the lushes out there that like a little quality in their glass – we just got word from France that the annual harvest of Champagne grapes is under way. The harvest – which is done by hand – is happening earlier this year. Having begun on August 19, it’s one of the earliest grape harvests since 1822 (thank the limited spring rainfall and many sunny days for that). The bubbly is usually made from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier grapes, and three is more of them than usual. The growing demand for the good stuff means that more acres are being planted. In the words of one Marina and the Diamonds, who has a great champers related song – get ready to “savor the taste of fabricated wealth.”

Make Your Own Bloody Mary At Midtown's Redeye

A bad Bloody Mary is a horrible thing (and even worse because you’re likely very, very hungover when you’re taking your first sip). A new menu item at Midtown’s The Redeye (890 Seventh Avenue) will insure that the mix is up to par by letting you craft the cocktail yourself. For $30, guests get all the ingredients they need in a spread that’s meant to quench the thirst of two drinkers. In addition to the tomato juice, you can throw in some lemon zest, sea salt, muffeletta, shrimp, chili pepper relish, horseradish, clam juice or beef consomme (among other options). If you want to go even more crazy (aka if you need some ammunition in the war against your hangover), check out the extras like oysters, king crab and lobster that can be added to the mix for a little extra dough. The do-it-yourself deal will be served during brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. While the restaurant will certainly offer some guidance if you need help building your drink, you’re on your own when it comes to dealing with those shaky hands.

Drunk Passenger Performs Striptease, Forces Grounding of Plane

Why do we never get to take the fun flights?! Last week, a woman on a plane flying out of Russia (with a headline like that – didn’t you guess that she’s Russian) got way too tipsy. Instead of doing what we do when that happens (namely, passing the fuck out and waking up when the plane lands), she decided to involve the other passengers in her drunken tomfoolery. Apparently, she took the glasses off of other passengers and started “performing erotic dances.” This plane was apparently full of lame-os, because they turned the thing around and dropped the derelict dancer back at the airport. Apparently no one likes to have fun when they fly anymore. Check out the full article on Huff Post.

A New Yorker's Hurricane To-Do List

Be safe this weekend, we'll see you at the bar!

Beer is Great For Marathon Recovery. Drink Up.

Yep, we were pretty excited when we read that headline as well, until we heard that it’s only non-alcoholic beer that will help distance runners recover from a 26 mile jog. We think sneaking a boozy one or two into the mix shouldn’t hurt, right?

The info comes from a university in Munich, who followed a group of runners that drank about three pints of beer after every outing. Those who were drinking a few brewskis showed less evidence of muscle inflammation and reported fewer colds and respiratory infections. The results were featured on the New York Times Well blog.

The bad news? They didn’t test any alcoholic beer in their study. We’ll handle that side of things – who wants to run to the beer store and down a few when we get there?

Craft's Sean McClure is NYC's "Most Inspired Bartender"

While plenty of bartenders would claim that they make the most inspired drinks in town, Sean McClure of Craft can have a bit of truth behind the boast. Bombay Sapphire has chosen him as the New York City finalist in the brand’s search for the most inspired bartender in the US. He had to best some of the town’s top mixologist to snag the title, and he will go on to Las Vegas to compete against 52 other tenders from around the nation for the top honor. Note to Sean: represent! Don’t let the Big Apple down. You can take a look at Citrus & Solitude, his winning cocktail, below:

Citrus & Solitude

(created by Sean McClure)

1 1/2 oz. BOMBAY SAPPHIRE

3/4 oz. BENEDICTINE Liqueur

3/4 oz. Yellow Chartreuse

3/4 oz. Fresh Shibori yuzu juice

1/4 oz. Simple syrup

Combine all liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain over a 2" ice cube in a rocks glass. Garnish with a grapefruit twist.

De Santos Offers Free Cocktail Every Wed. Night

If you’re bar hopping in the West Village on a Wednesday night and need a destination – quit putzing around and head over to De Santos. Just make sure to get the timing right. On every hump day, the restaurant will dish out a free cocktail to any guests who stop by between 10 and 11 PM. Each week will feature a different drink – this Wednesday the bar will pour gratis cucumber martinis. While you’re there, consider sampling some of the eatery’s locally-sourced fare (and definitely make it a point to check out their backyard garden if it isn’t too hot out).

The restaurant is located at 139 West 10th Street if you want to head over and drink up.