Rants & Tidbits of a Guerilla Shopper

Jupiter Hotel in Portland, Oregon - What used to be an old-school motor inn, is now where they would probably film Almost Famous. Average guest age?  24, at a stretch. Refurbished rooms and an impressive-looking bar and restaurant (and venue, which I didn't see) called "The Doug Fir" where you can order yourself a "Fir Burger" kick this joint up a few notches. As do the required ear plugs that are supplied in each room - along with a brightly-colored condom.  But perhaps my favorite feature are the chalkboard guest room doors (see pic. for my inspiration).  Oh and if you are a band, let them know and you'll get the "band rate," which on a Saturday night amounted to $88.88.  Get a room!

Ben & Jerry's - Did anyone notice that the scoop shop in the E. Village is gone?  As is the one over near Times Square.  There are only three left on the Island of Manhattan - and one of them is in Macy's (ugh).

Downtown Dive Bars - Upcoming DOAs include Mars Bar, Max Fish, and Pink Pony.  I realize that downtown was stolen from downtowners years ago, but these casulaties pretty much put the final nail in.  Is there any truly groovy neighborhood left in Manhattan?  Even one block?  I gladly accept your thoughts.

A Great Hamburger Experience: Miller's Bar, Dearborn MI

I found myself in the cutting-edge town of Dearborn, MI this past weekend and had been informed that for one of the best burgers in the country, I had to go to Miller's Bar on Michigan Ave. So my family and I went.

Our first challenge was finding a door to get in - the first door we opened led right into the men's room. The second door looked like once we stepped in that we might never return. But brave and hungry we soldiered on. The largest table in the place sits four, so we arranged five chairs around a four-person table and waited for our waitress. She appeared and barked at each person:
"Whaddya want?" Hamburger.
"Cheese or no cheese?" No cheese.
"How do you want that done?" Medium.
"Fries or rings?" Fries.

Note that we got no menu (there isn't one) and she didn't tell us what they had (turns out they have a few other sandwiches, but no desserts).

The burgers arrived. On pieces of thin wax paper. There was nary a plate in sight. But we ate every last bit and rejoiced.

Then the waitress returned:
"You guys ever been here before?" No.
"Well you don't get a bill." You mean it's free?
"NO! We're on the honor system. Go tell the guy at the bar what you had and he'll tell you how much."

So how were the burgers? They were good, but I think the Miller's experience is the real draw. And this from a New Yorker who thought she had seen it all.

Bar Milano's Upcoming Transformation!

I very recentlyposted a blog regarding the closing of Bar Milano. I just got the following comment, and wanted to make sure everyone saw it, as I believe it is grand news for the 'hood I call Grey Box (and particularly for our collective wallets):

"Jason Denton and company have decided to transform Bar Milano into a new ‘inoteca and liquiri bar after the New Year. The last day of operation as Bar Milano will be December 31st. Already possessing a great space and a bustling bar scene, we aim to deliver casual Italian dining and great wine and spirits at a recession-friendly price point. Effective January 1st, the restaurant will close for minor renovations and to migrate key staff members up from the Lower East Side. We're excited about the change and look forward to bringing ‘inoteca to a new neighborhood."

Bar Milano: No More

Bar Milano, the fancy pants bar/restaurant on 24th St. and Third Ave. was rocking large on New Year's Eve, and then on January 1....POOF! Gone. Brown paper up on the windows, the name stripped off but from the front step. I didn't even get a chance to eat there yet it came and went so fast! Does anyone know what happened? A victim of a poor economy? Of a neighborhood overrun by NYU? Sanitation issues? Is it coming back? Anyone in the know please give the low-down.

New-ish Bar I Dig

I'm not going to tell you what it's called yet, or exactly where it is, because I hate people like me with a pen who ruin new places. Not that it's that new or unknown - indeed not, for there is always a healthy crowd on the weekends. It's just that I think I am going to have some sort of gathering here one day soon and want to keep the spot as low-key as possible, at least for a little while longer. Oh, and the bartender spotted me a drink this Saturday too - so I am being a bit selfish. So I'll give you this much for now: It's in Williamsburg, this is a photo of it and it is a little bit more suitable for the older set who wants to drink and chat in interesting olde-style surroundings. And the bartenders wear vests. Cute.

If you are dying for the name and address, either be patient or drop me an email and I will consider letting the Lillet out of the bottle.

Death of A(nother) Neighborhood?

I've been living in "Grey Box" since 1997 - that's the area between Gramercy Park and Murray Hill with no name. When I moved in it was pretty much a shite-hole. People sleeping in the foyer, by-the-hour hotels down the block, drug fronts, goat meat wholesalers, ladies of the night, The Sunflower was a greasy spoon dive diner, and all the bars were either Irish pubs or completely non-descript (aside from The Rodeo). It was pretty dire, but I thought it was swell. I'm not going to romanticize and tell you it was great, but it was what it was. And slowly over the years, and seemingly in hyper speed the past year it has turned into...

THE UPPER EAST SIDE (insert shrieks and screams of terror here)

There are now 10 "Sex and the City"/frat bars within the three blocks North of my street, not counting an 11th - a wine bar opening in the very near future (Cavatappo). Here are photos of the offenders, and some of my least favorite public houses in town. And I live among them all. Sigh...

Chicago...Chicago...

Hi all, sorry I have been MIA for a while, but I was shopping in Chicago! I will have several tales for you shortly. but in the meantime, enjoy the puppetbike.com, which entertained me outside of the Hopleaf on N. Clark.

Guerilla Goer-Outer

The GS hasn't been a devoted shopper lately; she seems to have become a Guerilla goer-outer. While this has been fun and social, it's not doing much for her waistline. Alas, here is an incomplete list of where I have tread lately:

M Shanghai (Williamsburg) - interesting hipster Chinese restaurant with private cavern in basement, where friend had bday party.
Bar Great Harry (Smith St., BK) - Basic Brooklyn bar with tons of beer.
Louise & Jerry's (Hoboken) - Bar on Washington with great jukebox. A dying breed. Get there while you can.
Astoria (as in Queens) - Friend's party...
Blind Tiger Ale House - West Village pub with lots o' beers (used to be on Hudson St., now on Bleecker) and some good bar food.

I also did a little looking around for the chandelier I aspire to own - including checking out what few things are left at Domain furniture on Broadway. They had a cute little chandi for half price ($250), but I didn't LOVE it, so I let it go. I also checked out ABC Carpet, for price comparison - and while I did LOVE their lighting inventory, I wasn't so willing to fork over a minimum of $675. It also makes me kind of ill that had I known Domain was going out of business I would have saved about $800 on the wardrobe I bought 2 weeks before the Chapter 11 news broke. Yargh!

Doc's Cider at Bar Great Harry

Have you been to Bar Great Harry on Smith St. in Brooklyn? Well, if you are a beer aficionado you need to go. I am actually not. But I love cider (such a girl, I know). I have asked the fine proprietor of the Bar at least 12 times what the cider they carry is called, because it is the best dern cider I have ever had. He writes, and I quote:

"The cider you like is Doc's. It's the only one we carry. It's a bit expensive, but it is good as hell."

Doc's Draft® Hard Apple Cider
This cider is semi-dry and wonderfully effervescent with a remarkably fresh apple nose. Its crisp, fruit forward taste and a clean, refreshing finish, have won our cider countless awards and praise. (4.5% alcohol)

Rocky Sullivan's Moves to Red Hook

Rocky Sullivan's of Lexington Avenue between 28th-29th Sts. has closed, and I have the photo to prove it. This divey Irish pub that I used to drop in on once in a great while featured the standard pub stuff (e.g. beer) as well as readings from known authors, such as Sam Lipsyte who read from The Subject Steve...or was it Home Land...or Venus Drive?

Anyway, it has now moved onto browner pastures in Red Hook, Brooklyn. No doubt because it couldn't afford to live in Manhattan anymore. I have no information to back that statement up, it's just an educated guess.

East Vill: Drink at Lunasa

Heck, drink AND eat at Lunasa. On the east side of First Avenue near 7th St. you will find Lunasa in all of its pubbish glory. Everything a bar can be including indoor and outdoor seating, happy hour Mon. - Fri. 4 - 7 p.m. (featuring half-price drinks and appetizers), $10 brunch Sat. & Sun noon - 4, and Soccer Sunday wine specials. Not only a great local spot but also worth travelling to from afar. And Scott, resident bartender extraordinare, mixes a mean Sangria to which I can attest, seeing how I drank five glasses of it yesterday afternoon.