[rating:5]
“The most famous bar you never heard of,” also considered one of NYC’s and possibly America’s oldest living bars. This place has appeared in the movie “Goodfellas,” the new “Tower” movie with Ben Stiller, Mae West, and many other celebrities. Most recently, they added an up-and-coming performer to their roster — me.
I decided on a whim to go in tonight for their open mic, and I got to read not one, not two, but three of my favorite poems. It was exhilarating, fun, a little nerve-wracking, and stimulating. I loved every moment of it. The atmosphere was great, the crowd was very supportive of this poetry-reading newcomer, and there were some truly talented performers present. I was very impressed with the poets tonight.
The readers ranged from a gentleman wearing glasses, suspenders, a bow tie, and a beret who could spit lyrics and flow with the best of them, to another gentleman dressed somewhat preppy who delivered a display of lyricism on par with any I have heard. From there, there was a diverse range of performers. Truly amazing.
The space itself is very intimate and comfortable, with old furniture, cozy couches, and classic décor that fits the place’s heritage of over 100 years. It is quaint and welcoming. I felt very comfortable throughout the evening. The staff was extremely friendly and overall lovely. I had a burger and fries for dinner, and that burger was excellent. Cooked medium well to perfection, the fries were just how I like them, and the ginger ale was refreshing. The best part? All of that cost me under $10, and it was genuinely good food.
The vibe here was very welcoming and relaxed. They host shows throughout the week and weekend, helping to put Queens on the map. Tonight, the event was streaming on http://gothamradio.com and a newspaper reporter also stopped by. It was a great experience all around.
It is slightly out of the way for me, but that will not stop me from becoming a regular at the open mics here because I truly enjoyed it. The group was wonderful, the venue was wonderful, and I cannot say enough good things about this place. I loved it and will definitely be back.
A big shout-out to Neir’s, Aisha, and Loy for putting this event together and giving Queens poets an opportunity and a venue to perform. It was a pleasure to share my poetry reading debut with you all.
Leave a Reply