THE HOLIDAY COCKTAIL LOUNGE - ON ST.MARKS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND AVE.

So tonight I decided to visit a very old haunt of mine called THE HOLIDAY COCKTAIL LOUNGE on St.Marks between 1st and 2nd Avenue. Thankfully this place is as gross as it has ever been. Also, the few "cool" people who get enough courage to venture in get freaked out and do not stay long.

I have been going to this place for half of my life. Pretty scary. At one time, if you could walk up to a bar in New York City and put your money on it you would get served. Alas, all has gone amok. The Holiday Cocktail Lounge has no cool or up to date changes. They are still old timey East Village Ukranian. And if you think you are the dog's balls, they will throw you out on your ass. Thank God for the old and crappy!

I have been to FAR scarier places in my short life, but this place is still the real deal. Wood paneling, giant piss smell and all.

Check out our bartender. Seriously. This guy has to be in his 80's. No shit. He is very surly and very Ukranian.

Isaac Moore. Hamming it up for my fans. Oh snap... I am AWESOME?

Fear not my TOTAL AWESOME!

I really love this Men's room. Yes it smells of 100 years of piss, but you can't beat the wood paneling. It is funny how the wood paneling seems to soak up the urine.
Another Thursday night in the East Village. Crazy go bananas.

So I was hanging out with an old hippy and a lesbian. Not that there is anything wrong with it. That is just where the conversation was at.

Here is what the New York Times said about this place.

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W. H. Auden once lived next door, and Trotsky across the street. Both knew a little something about the low life, and so does the clientele of this East Village landmark. Years of thick smoke have given the place a gray pallor, the booths are cracked but cozy, and the Rolling Stones dominate the jukebox. In other words, you've got all you need to nurse yourself through a bout of poverty and despair. Just don't ask for a whiskey sour; they don't do that here. Straight whiskey, on the other hand, flows like water and, at $4 a glass, doesn't cost much more.Extra
The Holiday started out as a Prohibition-era speakeasy—and you might wonder if the well drinks are still made with bathtub gin.

Can you really go wrong with WH AUDEN and Trotsky? I think not!!! Ow, my liver hurts..

THE HOLLAND BAR ON 9TH AVE BETWEEN 39TH AND 40TH

Dave and I met at my new favorite bar in Manhattan. It is called the Holland Bar and man is it horrible/wonderful. It is on 9th Avenue between 39th and 40th, just a few blocks from the Port Authority bus terminal. This being only my second time there I didn't feel all too comfortable taking pictures of the inmates, but I will next time. In the past two times that I have been there, there have been junkies, old Chinese guys yelling about baseball, hookers, pimps and all other sorts of nefarious characters. It is the BEST in Manhattan!

Take note: If you do decide to go to The Holland, there is no name on the outside. It just says BAR in big letters. And the sign was painted with a brush and shitty black house paint. Also, be sure to bring only cash and not too much of it. Don't be shocked if there is a lot of agression and perchance, a fist fight.

Here is a review or two.

Our bartender Sharkey. He was fond of telling us that he had a bat behind the bar that is still "in use". This guy also warned me to watch my cash as there was a junkie eyeing it. Nice.

Dave and I enjoying the smell and ambiance.

The Holland bar used to be in the Holland Men's hotel. When the hotel closed down, they put the sign in the bar. They also have the previous owner's ashes in there as well. I think that they have illegal Chinese immigrant housing upstairs now, as I saw about 20 or so old Chinese guys coming out of the unmarked and shabby building. They cram into rooms of 10 guys and pay next to nothing in rent.

My MYSPACE picture. Done in a urine soaked men's room a block away from the Port Authority.

All in all The Holland is a fine establishment. Shitty jukebox, scary crowd, poor décor and the ashes of the previous owner on display. There are even thinly veiled threats from the management.

We should expect to see great things from the Holland.