PDA: YAY OR NAY?

It appears that the wacky weather we've been dealing with all year is going to continue today.  It's December 7th (the 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor, by the way) and we're expecting temps in the mid 60's.... and a torrential downpouring of rain for most of the day.  Yay.  Grab those umbrellas- you're going to need them!

So, what are your feelings on PDA's in a bar?  What are PDA's? I'm not talking about those Personal Digital Assistants (though that's another topic for another day); I'm talking about Public Displays of Affection.  You know what I mean.  How do you feel when you see a couple making out at the bar or at one of the tables?  Does it make you uncomfortable?  Does it annoy you?  What about when the PDA goes a bit past the making out stage?

Now I've certainly seen my share of PDA's over the years, ranging from simple kissing to full-on finger-blasting at the bar.  Is it bizarre?  At times.  There's been times where I've actually had to step in and ask couples to "tone it down" due to the sheer inappropriateness of the PDA.  And each time I wonder to myself "Why don't you get a room already?" Now I'm certainly not a prude by any stretch of the imagination, but sometimes enough is enough.  Last thing I need while trying to enjoy my drink at the bar is the couple next to me licking each other's faces off.

We had a case of the PDA's taking place the other night that made me cringe.  A group of guys struck up a conversation with a group of girls who were already at the bar, having "girl time".  I knew of the ladies as they had been to the bar before.  I hadn't seen the guys before, however, they did have a distinct odor about them- they smelled like mildew (ick).  They two groups hung out for a few hours and eventually they broke off into couples.   Sure enough, the couples began making out, inside the bar, outside the bar, in the stairwell, in the bathroom stall.  Makeout Central.  Romantic for some, creepy for others.  Mind you- everyone involved had only met that night.  Oy vey.

I'd surely like to hear your thoughts on PDA's.  Cool thing to do or inappropriate?  What say you?

TONIGHT: PUB TRIVIA (8pm) is back for another session and you're invited to join us!  It's free to play as always and there's always cool prizes up for grabs, such as bar tabs, buckets of beer and great bar swag!  If you and your friends are looking for something different to do on a Wednesday night, this is the place to be.  And $4 well drinks (for ladies) and $20 bucket of "Rocks" (Rolling Rock) usually helps with brain stimulation!


Cheers!

HAPPY NUPTIALS!

Sorry for the overdue post but I'm still trying to catch my breath from the whirlwind wedding celebration of MATT LONG and his beautiful newlywed, MARY!  The festivities that took place after the wedding and reception (at Smith and Wollensky's btw) was one for the ages.   All of the familiar faces from the Third and Long days of old was enough to make a nostalgia buff like me tear up.  To see all of the old bartenders and patrons from the days when 3 and L was the only kid on the block stirred up great memories and to see everyone dancing, singing and having a great time.... *sigh*.   Good stuff.

All nostalgia aside, it was great to see the happy couple in the middle of all of the excitement and fun.  I am very happy for the both of them, especially for Matt, who for a guy who always put out a sense of bravado and macho-ness, always wanted to find that "special one" and I think he got it right with Mary.  I don't know her very well, mind you, but I do think that I can read body language well and what I could see is two people who are definitely into each other.  And that's all I need to know.  I see nothing but a bright future ahead for the both of them.  Good luck guys!

That being said, check out some pics from the festivities....

Let's just say that things got wild by the end of the night, just like old times!  A great ending to a beautiful day, celebrating the nuptials of a beautiful couple!


Cheers!

WEEKEND HAPPENINGS

It's going to be a pretty busy weekend here at the bar.  For starters, we have a private event booked for Saturday afternoon/early evening as a certain owner of a certain bar on East 35th and 3rd Avenue is tying the knot and then tying one on afterwards.  Should make for a great day/evening. (open to the public after 9:30pm).

Then there's a full slate of NFL games on tap for this week's edition of BREW CREW SUNDAYS.  It should be a nice bounceback day after last weekend's holiday hiatus.   Looking forward to the DOLFANS NYC crew to be back in action as well as the Sunday Brew Crew holding court in the Corner.  And with the weather expected to be nice again, it should be a fun day.

So I hope to see you at some point during the weekend- if not, you can read the recap on Monday!


Cheers!

LET THE COUNTDOWN TO XMAS BEGIN!

With last week's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and yesterday's lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, New York City's holiday season is now in FULL EFFECT mode:



Of course, this meant that if you were anywhere near Midtown West, you were probably caught up in Gridlock Hell, with cars, taxis, tourists and hopeless romantics descending onto Rockefeller Center to be a part of the Tree Lighting Ceremony.  Adding to the chaos, President Barak Obama was in town for a series of fundraisers at the same time, which took him and his motorcade all over Manhattan, driving New Yorkers nuts in the process.

Personally, I file checking out the Tree Lighting Ceremony under the category (as well as Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade) of one of those events that you have to do at least ONCE in your lifetime, just to say you did it.  Otherwise, it's not worth the aggravation.

With the holiday season officially in effect, that means it's holiday party season!  We're looking forward to  decorating the bar in anticipation of hosting our fair share of holiday office and group parties.  Those are always fun to work as you never know what kind of antics will come from them.  Definitely entertaining from our point of view, that's for sure.

Let the festivities begin!

ON ANOTHER NOTE: Today is "Shaving Day" for the multitudes who participated in MOVEMBER, raising funds and awareness for Men's Prostate Cancer research!  I tip my hat to those of you who participated in fund-raising efforts and thank everyone who donated to the cause! Your support is invaluable!  The group we supported this year, TEAM PRESS STACHE of the FDNY Press Office (which includes MATT and JIM LONG) raised (as of yesterday) $2,901!   If you want to make a last minute donation to TEAM PRESS STACHE, click on the link and go to their Movember page!

DUANE READE OVERKILL!  Not sure if anyone has noticed but the Duane Reade on East 34th and 3rd has quietly expanded up East 34th Street. It took over the empty space that used to be Blockbuster Video and now it's HUGE!  I was actually told by one of the staff members that it is now the 3rd largest Duane Reade in the City of New York.  Again, it's HUGE! It literally has its own supermarket within the store.  And it's still 24 hours.

TONIGHT: Join us for a PAULANER beer promo (7pm) complete with samples & giveaways!  At the same time, catch the NY Rangers in action vs Carolina (7pm)! THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL features Philadelphia vs Seattle (8:30p) followed by Montreal vs San Jose (10:30p).  $4 Molson Canadian, Labatt Blue & Alexander Keith's bottles during ALL NHL Games!




Cheers!