DESCRIPTION

This entry is about our ridiculously fun time shooting our pilot episode of HAPPY HOUR at McSorley’s Old Ale House. The granddaddy of bars here in NYC, McSorley’s and its staff didn’t disappoint. So much interesting material had to be left on the editing floor. Well, not literally because it doesn’t work that way anymore, but you get the idea.

Many, many interesting things are on the walls and around the bar. Look for the handcuffs on the foot rail of the bar- Harry Houdini escaped from them one night on a dare from the owner. Ask about the original wanted poster for Abe Lincoln’s assassin or the dusty wishbones hanging from a candelabra over the bar. There’s a story behind everything. Pepe, the daytime bartender seen in our pilot, knows about it all and is willing to tell you. He’s also full of stories about the many celebrities who’ve come through McSorley’s doors. Jimmy had a great time interviewing him. Maybe some outtakes will appear at some point…who knows.

The beer choices are pretty straight forward as you see in the pilot. There is a surprisingly good, though basic, menu. We all especially liked the cheese plate that came with a sleeve of saltines. The thing that made it was the mug of homemade; blow your socks off mustard. Good stuff that immediately led to more beer. Hmmm. Maybe they’ve figured something out there…

There are a lot of other Happy Hour destinations in the same neighborhood, so I’m sure we’ll be visiting that neck of the NYC woods again. I’m equally sure we’ll stop in to chat with Pepe and get two and two…

We’re always on the lookout for new spots, so write to us with your favorite weird, historic, funny, unique watering hole!