mosquito piñata

Every year on April 25th, the global health community "celebrates" World Malaria Day, a day for advocacy and awareness about malaria. To this end, my department (of Medical Parasitology) held a happy hour barbeque. Some very talented students in the department also took it upon themselves to convert the piñata of a pastelled butterfly into a monstrous mosquito. And in a round of broom-stick swings, we slew that mosquito and engorged it of its chocolate contents. A very fitting, symbolic gesture to mark the day.

CONSUMED: The Underground; 613 2nd Ave, Kips Bay (Manhattan)

CSI pinball machine

I was greatly amused by the mention of lab equipment on a pinball machine (click the picture to zoom). Also on the machine, but not pictured here, was the DNA bonus!

CONSUMED: Mugs Ale House; 125 Bedford Ave, Williamsburg (Brooklyn)

The Ear Inn

Purported to be one of the oldest (if not THE oldest) drinking establishments in Manhattan, I was brought to The Ear (Inn) several years ago by my friend Anne. And since then I have never regretted spreading the gospel and bringing others to this little pub (almost-)on the Hudson.

I can't really put my finger on why I love this place so much. It has something to do with crayons on paper tabletops. Or civil music levels that don't compete with your conversation. Or a decent but inexpensive kitchen. Or always being just more than slightly-tipsy when I leave. Or their cell-free zone sign on the door. Or lovely company all the many times I've been there.

What I do know with certainty is that I'm always looking for another excuse to go back.

CONSUMED: The Ear Inn; 326 Spring St, SoHo (Manhattan)

Barcade

Dory and I spent our entire Saturday together. We sometimes added people here or there, but we really only spent maybe a total of 15 minutes apart to run individual errands. It was a wonderful day of roommate bonding that ended with an impromptu field trip to Barcade.

Barcade is one of those places that actually lives up to that idea you get in your head when you hear about it for the first time. It's simple: arcade games (most seemingly from circa 1982) and beer. And great beer at that. (I had a mighty tasty dobbelbock from Climax Brewery in New Jersey.)

So after losing $5 in quarters, we ended up sitting at the bar nursing our second-round beers. And since it was the end of the night for the both of us, and since the day was an exercise in friendship building, we shared secrets. And at that point I knew the day had been a rousing success.

CONSUMED: Barcade; 388 Union Ave, Williamsburg (Brooklyn)

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Wow. Two bar posts in one week. What do you think I've been doing with myself lately?

Beauty Bar

Somehow, Beauty Bar has become my department's watering hole of choice, which is strange considering that we're scientists, not hipsters, and that it's a good 10 blocks away.

OK well maybe some of us are hipsters.

The caveat of Beauty Bar is also what gives it its name: free manicures with the purchase of a beer. Instead of the odour of beer-soaked floors, the volatile scent of acetone permeates the room. I smell enough chemicals in my lab that I would prefer not to inhale more during our social hour. But it's the small price to pay for the good company of my workmates (and to capitalise on $3 Blue Point Toasted Lagers).

CONSUMED: Beauty Bar; 231 E 14th St, East Village (Manhattan)

The 700 Club

Not having been dancing in months meant that I couldn't resist the lure of the 700 Club. The first time I visited Kim in Philadelphia, she brought me to this dive bar in Northern Liberties, only a few doors down from her own, that on Saturdays turns its second floor into a sweaty shake-a-thon. This past Saturday I was back in Philly visiting Kim, and once again we shamelessly absconded from her own party, eagerly climbing the wallpapered stairwell to join the ranks of plaid-clad hipsters shaking booty to Beyoncé.

CONSUMED: The 700 Club; 700 N. 2nd St, Northern Liberties (Philadelphia)

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Friends: I *need* to go dancing more often than once every three months. Please save me.

The Lodge

Tonight, on the way home from dinner, I bumped into my roommate with two of her friends. They were off to The Lodge, I place I've come to associate with night-caps and late night beers. Tonight we all drank Old Fashioneds, and it reminded me of my first love, the whiskey sour.

Dory and I decided that this was the year of more roommate beer nights, which likely means The Lodge will be seeing more of us. I would love it if I could get to know at least one bartender before leaving the city, and it would be great if The Lodge could facilitate that.

CONSUMED: The Lodge; 318 Grand St, South Williamsburg (Brooklyn)

Spuyten Duyvil

I've lived down the road from Spuyten Duyvil for over three-quarters of a year, but only went there for the first time a couple weeks ago. It took a post-dinner pre-flight late-night rendezvous to get me there. And though I spent months precariously listening to friends rave about the joint, I can now safely say from personal experience that it is indeed a beautiful haunt, especially if you avoid the crowd and go for one of their delicious pints on a weekday. I can't wait to go back and imbibe the Dieu du Ciel that they're importing from Montreal.

CONSUMED: Spuyten Duyvil; 359 Metropolitan Ave, Williamsburg (Brooklyn)

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I've added a pseudo-blogroll (see on the right). These are my friends, all with exquisite blogs. They deserve your patronage perhaps more than I do.

shuffleboard at The Diamond

My work's bowling night migrated-slash-degenerated to another bar where a game of a similar-but-different sort happened. The teams were Brooklyn vs. Not Brooklyn. And sadly, Not Brooklyn won (I would like to blame our loss on the fact that Brooklyn just drank more than Not Brooklyn).

CONSUMED: The Diamond; 43 Franklin St, Greenpoint (Brooklyn)

bowling at The Gutter Bar

Bowling. That great American pastime where even the first-timers can get a strike. And my department had a pretty good go at our first departmental bowling night. Pitchers were passed around, gutters were christened, and work was not mentioned once.

CONSUMED: The Gutter Bar; 200 N 14th St, Greenpoint (Brooklyn)