Weekend UpDate™ April 4, 2008

It’s grey and raining outside, but it’s expected in April. The good news is that it’s Friday and the weekend is here. This is a big weekend too, with the final four games (Memphis vs. UCLA at 6:07pm and UNC vs. KU at 8:47pm) tomorrow and the championship on Monday night. Where better to watch it than some of the city’s best sports bars.

Joke

Two young boys were picked up by the cops for smoking dope and appeared in court on Friday before the judge. The judge said, “You seem like nice young boys, and I’d like to give you a second chance rather than some hard jail time. I want you to go out this weekend and try to show others the evils of drug use and get them to give up drugs forever. I’ll see you back in court on Monday morning, bright and early.

”The two boys where in court that Monday morning, and the judge asked the first one, “So, How did you do over the weekend?”

“Well, your honor,” he replied, “I persuaded 22 people to give up drugs forever.”

“22 people? That’s amazing. How’d you accomplish such a feat?”

“I used a diagram, your honor. I drew two circles and told them the big circle is your brain before drugs, and the small circle is your brain after drugs.”

“That’s admirable,” said the judge.

“And you, how did you do?” he asked the second boy.

“Well, your honor, I persuaded 214 people to give up drugs forever.”

“214 people! That’s unbelieveable! How on earth did you manage to do that?”

“Well, I used a similar approach,” he answered. “I drew a large and a small circle. Pointing to the small circle, I said, this is your asshole before you go to prison………..”


Bar of the Week

The 40/40 Club 6 W. 25th St; @ Broadway)
Bar type: Upscale sports lounge
12,000 square feet of pure sports and entertainment in an opulent lounge setting makes this an upscale sports lounge. The 40/40 has plasma screens at every table. If you don’t get a table don’t worry because at the bar, you can watch the games being projected on to white walls. After the games are over enjoy the scene as this sports bar turns into one of New York City’s hot spots.

Other Weekend Events/Bars

Blondies – (212 W. 79th St. btw Amsterdam & Broadway)
This bar has 3 things that every sports fan wants: fried food, cheap beer and Playboy bunnies. This Upper West Side sports bar is owned by former Playboy bunnies and has 36-TVs that cover almost every inch of bare brick walls making this a great environment for the tournament.

Ship of Fools – (1590 2nd Ave btw 82nd & 83rd)
Three separate spaces holding 40 TVs make-up this sports fans favorite, which is among the best known jock haunts in the city. Picnic type tables hold a predominantly male crowd that chows down on very greasy fried food that's serviceable at best. For those whose ADD isn't sated by the plethora of televised sports that abound, a pool table and dartboards are available in the backroom.

The Sporting Club at 99 Hudson – (99 Hudson btw Franklin & White St)
A sports club of sorts, 99 Hudson is a solid compromise for men who want to watch "the game" and their girlfriends who want to go out on the town. In the main room, 45 TVs play live sports with the six large screens being focused on local coverage and high-profile match-ups. In a separate room entirely, a house/hip-hop DJ spins dance mixes to an all-borough crowd that dresses-up for the occasion.

Dewey’s Flatiron – (210 5th Ave btw 24th & 25th)
Dewey's Flatiron may have an old-fashioned look (the building was built in 1910) with its vaulted, brick ceilings and faux gas lamps, but it certainly has a new millennium attitude. Aside from being a popular venue for private parties in its second-floor lounge, after-work get-togethers and sports viewing (the bar boasts six TVs; two big screens), the Daily News voted Dewey's Flatiron as one of the top bars in Manhattan to meet straight guys. Owner Ed Dobres even claims that Dewey's is responsible for at least 15 weddings. (Hear that one ladies?). Mixed groups are not uncommon, but single sex cliques permeate the place.

Greenwich Brewing Company – (418 6th Ave @ 9th St)
The Greenwich Brewing Company is a nice pub that's built around sports viewing, but also conducive to neighborly socializing. A peninsula of a bar welcomes a predominantly male cast of regulars who drink $6 draughts while dining on "wings and fingers." U2 and similar classic rocks plays from a jukebox as simultaneous sporting events play on regular old TVs behind the bar and in every corner. Two sections of wood tables stand between tall windows and the bar.

Third & Long – (523 3rd Ave @ 35th St)
This is a pretty straightforward sports bar for Midtown professionals, which means that it actually attracts a few women during its after-work rush. Wood floors, a few stools, and lots of big TVs mark the spot as a jukebox belts out sing along pop and hip-hop anthems. Third and Long is big on happy hour, which is best illustrated on Mondays and Tuesdays when mugs of Bud go for $1. This spot is far from fashionable of cutting edge, which suits this khaki clad crowd just fine.

Mercury Bar – (493 3rd Ave btw 33rd & 34th St)
A sports pub with some culinary surprises (filet mignon?), Mercury Bar draws a solid mix of its neighborhood's after-workers and post-collegiate types. The entrance to Mercury bar is marked by a pretty typical wood-heavy façade, but the backroom's walls are covered in old black and white photos of and a formidable collection of big screen color TVs.

Back Page – (1472 3rd Ave btw 83rd & 84th St)
Back Page is like the frat house that graduated to sports bar status. Upstairs, James Brown and Old Blue Eyes play from a jukebox that's active when there's not a more sporting alternative. When its game time, this crowd's attention is tuned to the big TVs over the bar where a $3 per domestic pint happy hour runs from 5-7pm and burgers can be had for $7-$8 depending on the fixings. Downstairs is where the boys are. A pool tables, air hockey table and dart boards are surrounded by vintage sports memorabilia in a rec room setting that can be rented for private parties.

Upcoming Events

Saturday May 3rd
Home/Guest House 9pm – 4am (OPEN BAR)
The Fertile Grounds Project is having a charity fundraiser. This organization is dedicated to alternative educational structures for New York City students who are being under served by the public education system. The party will be at Home/Guest House from 9pm to 4am with an open bar from 9 to 12. Music will be provided by DJ Zerby and Ken Ve Lo. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.fertilegrounds.org.

Have a fun safe weekend and if you'd like to have an event posted please let me know.

PIGGY OUT!!!