Monday, January 5, 2008

CAN YOU SAY Sayonara?

Yesterday we experienced the largest gathering of Miami Dolphins fans yet as they gathered in anticipation of a big playoff win. However, gaining their first playoff victory in years would be a giant task as they faced the Baltimore Ravens and their intimidating defense.


The Dol-Fans were greeted by the 2Michelles ("Tall Michelle" and "Short Michelle") as they were decorating the viewing area with Dolphins paraphernalia. They also conducted video interviews and shout-outs to all of their fans of their website.

By the time the game started, we had probably about 40 or so hardcore color-wearing Dol-Fans in the house.

After the first quarter, the Dol-Fans had reason to hope as they kept close to their opponent with the score tied 3-3. However, things began to go south for their beloved Dolphins during the second quarter as Chad Pennington began to show signs of his former self. He ended up throwing at least four interceptions and that led the team towards their eventual demise. The upstart Dolphins would finally end their miracle run, 27-9.


Though the Dolphins were ceremoniously bounced by the Ravens, it was a great run for a team that finished 1-15 the year before. They were very entertaining and brought a lot of fresh energy to the Sunday Fun-Day madness (both the team and the fans). As much as we joke about them being "The Cult" and such, they were a fun bunch and on behalf of the bar, I welcome them back with open arms next season. Good stuff. Check out the rest of the photos on our FACEBOOK page!

While this was taking place, the rest of the Brew Crew used the opportunity to play some "games of chance" involving the scores of the games. Each quarter of the game provided us with an opportunity to win some moola and of course, being red-blooded Americans with nothing better to do with their hard-earned money, we took full advantage of it..... And as always, to the victor goes the spoils.

The second game was pretty exciting in its own right, however, it lacked the wattage of the first game and as a result, the afternoon ended on a whimper instead of a roar. Oh well, you can't rock the house all the time!

Next week's matchups:

Saturday: Tennessee vs Baltimore, Arizona vs Carolina

Sunday: NY Giants vs Philadelphia, San Diego vs Pittsburgh


TONIGHT: "Recession Mondays", FIESTA BOWL-STYLE! Featuring $1.00 Bud, Coors Light and Bud Light MUGS, and $2.00 MUGS of all other DOMESTIC DRAFTS, from 4pm-close!!! Don't forget to catch CANADA vs SWEDEN (World Juniors Hockey Championships, 7:30pm) and TEXAS vs OHIO STATE at 8pm!



Nuff Said

Monday, December 29, 2008

JETS CRASH TO EARTH...

After a long holiday week the bar found itself back up to regular speed over the weekend, thanks in large part to the UFC Pay-Per-View event on Saturday that brought a capacity crowd and the huge football match up between the NY Jets and Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

I didn't get to check out the UFC event due to illness but I could tell by the yelling and cheering that the place was full (later confirmed by patrons who were in attendance); In fact, there were a couple of instances where I was shaken out of sleep due to the loud cheers from UFC fans. That's usually a good sign that the place is crowded.

On Sunday morning I woke up earlier than normal (due to the fact that I practically slept Saturday away) and found myself feeling a bit more energetic than normal. This was partly due to the thought of having to deal with a raucous crowd for the upcoming Jets/Dolphins match up. We'd been getting calls all week from Dolphins fans about the bar being a "Dolphins Bar" and requests for reservations and directions to the bar. So between that and the number of antsy, feisty Jets fans who were genuinely nervous about their playoff chances, it was a recipe for an interesting afternoon. This game was so important, that it was switched out of its original time slot (1pm) to a more dramatic 4:15 pm slot.

The early part of the afternoon was pretty laid back, with just the CORNER BOYS (thanks again for the lovely Christmas Gift!) and some of the BREW CREW holding court. The phone was still ringing off the hook with Dolphins fans asking for directions and such and sure enough, the place started filling up at around 3pm. Around the same time, we started to get a nice contingent of Philadelphia Eagles fans who had their own reasons to be anxious. They needed a win and some help to make the playoffs as well.





By 4pm the place was pretty well filled up with Dolphins fans making the majority of the crowd. There was a pretty large Jets contingent there as well but if you had to judge by the color scheme of the crowd, Blue and Orange clearly dominated the day.





The game itself was a nail biting affair as both teams went back and forth at each other like a live action chess match. Eventually the Jets began making mistakes and the Dolphins were able to capitalize on them just enough to pull out a very tough victory and earn a berth to the AFC Playoffs. The cold, sad irony of all of this was the fact that they were defeated by the quarterback that they more or less kicked to the curb last season, Chad Pennington. So at the end of the game, you had happy cheers from the DOLFANS and sad tears from Jets Nation.

NEXT WEEK: NFL Playoffs begins!



Check out the rest of the photos on our FACEBOOK Page!

On another note, the DELIRIUM TREMENS seems to be a hit as we've already exhausted our supply, less than a week since we first tapped the keg! I guess the patrons have spoken! We'll have a fresh batch on tap in the next day or so, so check back in!

THIS WEEK'S EVENTS:

MONDAY: "RECESSION MONDAYS" (4pm-close), $1.00 Bud/Bud Light or Coors Light Mugs; or $2.00 mugs all other domestic drafts!


TUESDAY: "DOLLAR DRAFT MADNESS" (4pm-close), $1.00 Bud/Bud Light mugs!


WEDNESDAY: (New Year's Eve): CLOSED FOR PRIVATE PARTY, 9pm


THURSDAY: (New Year's Day): "Kick the Keg, New Year's Style" with $2.00 mugs, ALL BEERS ON TAP (except Delirium Tremens)!


FRIDAY: "AFTER-WORK HAPPY HOUR" (5pm-10pm), $4.00 Draft Beers (except Delirium Tremens) and Mixed Well Drinks !


SATURDAY: "Kick the Keg Saturdays" (12pm-8pm). $2.00 mugs, ALL BEERS ON TAP! (NFL Playoffs begin)


SUNDAY: Sunday Fun Day ($4.00 Bud/Bud Light/Bud American Ale all day long!)!


As you can see, there's a lot on tap here this week so make sure you check us out! And as always, you can get the latest updates and specials on our WEBSITE!


Nuff Said

Monday, December 15, 2008

GONE FISHIN'..... SERIOUSLY.

The last few weeks I've documented the recent phenomenon of the "Fish", better known as the proliferation of Miami Dolphins fans to the bar. It started innocently enough with a few hardcore fans, looking to catch their team on any available TV. Each week, the very small group added a couple of more people to their group, then a couple of more. The numbers kept growing and growing to the point where it caught the attention of the long-term regulars, let alone myself. I even began calling them "The Cult" because of their underground status.


Well we can officially say that the DOLFANS (i.e. "The Cult" or "Fishheads") are no longer in "underground" status. The crew showed up in force again today, this time led by two lovely blondes named "Michelle". As it turns out the two "Michelles" (they're both actually named Michelle, in case you haven't figured it out yet) host their own web site dedicated to the Miami Dolphins and their fans and they somehow hooked up with the local "Fishheads" of Third and Long. As a result, the locals got a shout out on the girl's website and helped to lead the charge in making Third and Long their "Official Home of the Miami DolFans". I shit you not; this has taken on a life of its own. You can check out the two Michelle's at their website to see what all the fuss is about. You can also catch them HERE.




While the DOLFANS were whooping it up at the back of the bar, the rest of the SUNDAY BREW CREW were getting involved in their own brand of hijinks at the front end of the bar. The afternoon started innocently enough (as always) with the introduction of a new game. A football pool that determines its winners by quarter. I first learned about this type of pool from one of our avid readers, B TO THE B..., a fellow blogger from Milwaukee, WI (Thanks B). They do this kind of pool all the time at his local bar so I asked him about it and he explained how it worked. Then out of the blue, he sent me a packet of pool cards for me to try out on the BREW CREW. So we gave it a go and it turned out to be pretty popular amongst the CREW, especially AFRIKA BAMBATTA, who lucked out and hit the pool twice, which allowed him to pretty much drink for free for the day. Lucky bastard.

Things really took a turn for the bizarre when someone came up with the novel idea to bet on the color of MISS WISCONSIN's underwear. In years past, the BREW CREW used to take weekly bets on what color one of our former patron's (CRIMSON CAMEL-TOE, damn I miss her) thong would be. So I guess they decided to resurrect the game and use MISS WISCONSIN as the test subject. Let me say that after about a minute of cajoling (and promise of a nice, hefty tip), she played along and went to the ladies room and took a photo of her undies while the BREW CREW placed their bets upstairs. After much pomp and circumastance, she revealed the color and lo and behold, RED was the color of the day and NAPOLEON DYNAMITE was a few bucks richer because of it. It was going to be one of those kind of days.

The rest of the day consisted of more goofy games, lots of booze, the same old shit but a different day. And as always, it was a good time.


If you got the sense that this Sunday was filled with laughs and good times, wait until next Sunday as we hold our 17th Annual Third and Long Holiday Shindig! It's the one time of year where we give a "little something" back to our most dedicated patrons, family and close friends of the bar. In years past, we've had an open bar, great music and of course lots of celebrating among friends!

This year will be more of the same, however, we are also going to use the Holiday Party to assist in raising donations for the The FDNY Foundation, which has established a fund for the children's education of Lt. Robert Ryan of 155 Engine in Staten Island, who recently lost his life in the line of duty. He left behind a wife and four children. So we're asking for a "Suggested Donation" of $20.00 per person, of which ALL PROCEEDS will go directly to the Fund, just in time for the holidays. So this year's party will be one with a purpose, as well as fun times!

In the meantime, it's Monday, which means it's RECESSION MONDAYS, featuring $1.oo Bud/Bud Light or Coors/Coors Light mugs, or if you are feeling extra "randy", $2.00 mugs of ALL OTHER DOMESTIC DRAFTS, ALL NIGHT LONG!


Until then, enjoy more pictures from Sunday's highjinks at our FACEBOOK PAGE.




Nuff Said

Monday, December 8, 2008

COLDER THAN (FILL IN THE BLANK).....

Sorry for the late post; I got caught up in running errands and such. And one thing that I noticed right away while running errands is that it's cold as hell outside. Winter hasn't officially kicked in yet, but it sure feels like it's banging on the door. Brrrrrr!

Yesterday was a pretty fun edition of BREW CREW SUNDAY. The early games brought about a laid back crowd, dominated by Philadelphia Eagles fans, gloating over the fact that the NY Giants were laying an egg all afternoon. There were some playful banter back and forth between the Eagles fans and the Giants faithful, yet at the end of the day, the Eagles fans had reason to celebrate as their team defeated Big Blue on their home turf, An ugly win for the Eagles, or an ugly loss for Big Blue. Take your pick.

One funny moment: This old codger came in, loaded up with newspapers and a big black journal book. He takes a seat at the end of the bar and orders a beer from BABY GIRL. As she grabs a pint glass to pour the beer, he begins barking orders at her. First he wants a plastic cup as opposed to a pint glass. Then he wants his beer poured a certain way. Then he wants this, wants that, yada, yada, yada. BABY GIRL looks at him like he has three heads and I whispered to her, "what does he want next, a straw?".

BABY GIRL gives the guy his beer and he spends the next hour or so running to all of the TV's and noting what's taking place in each game. It becomes very apparent that he's either a bookie or a degenerate gambler (or both). When he comes up to order his third beer, he says to me in a deadpan voice: "I'll take that straw now........... Just kidding." WTF? More on him later.

The 4pm games brought in more people, including the DOL-FANS, who came in force to check out the Miami-Buffalo game. At the same time, the Pittsburgh Steelers were scheduled to play against Dallas, so I was curious to see who would bring in the bigger crowd: STEELER NATION or THE DOL-FANS.














It became pretty clear right away that the DOL-FANS have taken over Third and Long. What was once mighty STEELER NATION has been reduced to splinters; a fractured die-hard few. I'd never thought I'd see the day when that would happen but hey, the numbers don't lie. DOL-FANS roll deep, and they only seem to get bigger and bigger each week.






More photos from Sunday Fun Day can be found HERE at our Facebook page.

Overall, it was a pretty good afternoon; both STEELER NATION and the DOL-FANS went home happy as their teams won their respective games. As for the old codger from earlier in the day, he ended up hanging out all day long (actually closed the bar); at one point he freaked out because he "lost" one of his newspapers. I guess it had some sensitive information on it and he scurried all over the bar looking for it.

While he was doing that, SCUBA STEVE, one of our bartenders who happened to come in for a few, played a gag on him. He wrote a note to him as if he were Santa Claus (in reference to his scribbling in his journal all day long) and told him that he knew that he was really there to check up on the patrons to see who was naughty and who was nice and that he really sucked as Santa Claus, or something to that effect.

The old codger found the note and seemed confused by it and kept bringing it up to BABY GIRL, while everyone around him were laughing hysterically. I guess you had to be there, though it was a priceless moment.

Don't forget about RECESSION MONDAYS and DOLLAR DRAFT MADNESS with the mugs ruling the night. Check our website for all of the great drink specials of the week. And if you haven't done so yet, check out the Brooklyn Dark Chocolate Stout. A nice pint for a cold winter night.


Nuff Said

Monday, November 24, 2008

THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD?

Yesterday was one of those days made for observations and pondering. Between the crowd in the bar for the games, to the games themselves, I couldn't ignore the ironies that stood out in front of me.

For example, the last few years we've always known the New England Patriots to be more or less the standard bearer for what the best team in the NFL should be. They have been the closest thing to a dynasty the NFL has had in quite awhile (though I'm sure Giants fans may have something to say about that). However, this year we see what could be a legitimate threat to their supremacy, as other teams in their own division (NY Jets, Miami, Buffalo) have closed the gap and made what was once an invincible team, no so much anymore. Are times a-changin'? Do we find ourselves at a crossroads for change within the ranks?

Along that same line of thinking, I see the state of Brew Crew Sundays changing a bit. The crowds are starting to get younger and younger; The once proud and dominant group, Steeler Nation, has been reduced to the size of Delaware; their numbers gobbled up by the new kid on the block, the DolFans, whose numbers seem to grow more and more by the week. With all of this changing taking place, the original members of the SUNDAY BREW CREW find themselves drifting off little by little, being called away by the usual patterns of life (jobs, relocation, marriage, children, etc.). And with all things being cyclical, as one old one drift away, a newbie comes in to take their place.

Some members of the ORIGINAL BREW CREW

I've always known that this will eventually happen, as nothing ever stays the same. However, as much as we still have fun each and every Sunday (business has never been better), I can't help but to feel a twinge of sadness as the realization that the Original Sunday Brew Crew may have finally run its course. Pretty soon there will be a New Brew Crew and they will eventually take over the mantle of their predecessors at the bar. Just like the New England Patriots, their dynasty possibly coming to an end, one can't help but to feel the same thing taking place here.

In the meantime, we'll continue to dispense weekly doses of good pouring fun each and every Sunday and keep driving the Brew Crew train until it runs off the tracks, racking up great memories along the way.

Highlights of yesterday include:

Ms. Wisconsin and yours truly planning out the day's activities...

The Corner Boys settling in for their weekly pow-wow...

NORBIT and TONY SIRAGUSA exchange pleasantries before gametime....

AFRIKA BAMBATTA making his presence felt as usual....

THE DOLFANS gathering for the big game...

SILENT BOB being unusually silent for a change...

More DOLFANS getting ready for the big rumble vs New England

The 1pm games brought about a lot of good-natured ribbing between JETS fans, the DOLFANS and fans of the PATRIOTS as they bantered back and forth with each touchdown scored. It actually made the bar feel much like a tailgate party. There was a lot on the line during the two games, aside from bragging rights. Playoff positioning was the big prize for the day and who can remember when the last time we could say that about all three teams in the same division this late into the season?

Check out the rest of the photos HERE on Facebook as things got progressively ugly as the day went on. Just the way we like it.

This is Thanksgiving Week, which means that it's a short work week for most of you. We'll be closed on Thanksgiving Day, aside from that, we'll still be around to be your outlet for fun after work and on the weekend!

RECESSION MONDAYS are in effect with $2.00 Domestic Draft mugs and $1.00 Bud/Bud Light, Coors/Coors Light mugs ALL NIGHT LONG!

Start off the week right by getting the most BANG for your buck! More updates later!



Nuff Said