| Hey, folks, how you doing? Yeah? Well, it’s been a hell of a couple of months. When this whole COVID-19 lockdown hit New York, my thoughts quickly pivoted to the math. (Back off, man; I’m practically an economist.*) New York rent is famously ludicrous. People have to hustle eight days a week just to pay the landlord. So, if you’re a furloughed bartender, whatcha gonna do? Sure, unemployment insurance will help, but in New York, you’re lucky to get half your regular wages per week, for a max of 26 weeks. That is not much, and who knows how long this fiasco is going to last? I figured I’d help as I could by pitching in a few bucks, and fortunately there’s an app for that: GoFundMe. Many bar owners have set up campaigns to bring in extra money for their staffs right now. Good on them. Below are the first five such campaigns I’ve donated to. More coming soon. Be a dear, won’t you (as my mom would’ve said), and give to these staff funds. I’ve already vetted them, and none are scams. These are legit GoFundMe campaigns, many of them set up by people I’ve actually met in the barworld while researching (hic) my book. If you’re missing a favorite place, buy a large print and I’ll donate $25 to their GoFundMe campaign for you. *True fact. University of Michigan, BA in Econ. Or was it BS? Probably BS, if you know what I mean. |
| Sunny’s Bar (Red Hook, Brooklyn) Been there since the 1890s. Sunny was an angel on Earth. The joint survived Hurricane Sandy in 2012. There’s live music most nights. Haunted as hell. Give here. |
| Brooklyn Inn (Boerum Hill) Been there since the 1880s. Oldest working bar in Brooklyn. Gargoyles judge you from the mahogany backbar. Cherubs on tin ceiling watch over you to no avail. 25-foot ceilings, by the way! Still sells cheap drinks. Stained glass inside with founder’s initials: AZ for Anton Zeiner. Pool table is haunted. Give here. |
| Red Hook Tavern (Red Hook, Brooklyn) Well, whattaya know! I did the artwork for their menus. Opened by celebrity chef Billy Durney of Hometown BBQ. Kept the funky old wine & liquor store signage. Not haunted that I know of. Give here. |
| Fort Defiance (Red Hook, Brooklyn) My alma mater. (I tended bar here for three years.) Fort D hosted the first showing of my “bar art” series. The band the National cut a few tracks here around 2000 when it was a recording studio. The menu is so good it haunts your dreams. Give here. |
| Grand Army (Downtown Brooklyn) The big blue mirror behind the backbar leads to another dimension. Impeccably tasteful interior; owne Damon Boelte knows color theory. And hats. The oyster happy hour might be the best in town. Haunted by me, on occasion. Give here. |
| Okay, so there are the first five. There will be more before we get through this fiasco. Colleen and I have already donated to dozens of joints. Remember: for every large (16″ by 20″) bar print you buy, I’ll kick in $25 to their staff GoFundMe campaign. |