Old Town Bar
(In the Flatiron District north of Union Square on East 18th Street between Broadway and Park Avenue South)
I am on felony grand jury duty this week and next, and it is exhausting–there are a lot of things that happen in the County of Kings that I would rather not have to hear about. At the end of the day I need to get out and see some good things to rebalance my view of the world. I also need a drink. So yesterday I brought my camera with me (though I had to check it in with the wardens–no cameras allowed in the courtrooms) and as soon as we were released for the day I headed out on a neon expedition.
I had to spend over an hour, though, waiting for the sun to set. Damn these longer days, and most especially damn the early start of Daylight Savings Time. Speaking as someone who grew up in Alaska I know that’s a strong statement, possibly bordering on crazy, but I’m disconsolate about all the early-closing neon-adorned shops that I can no longer photograph properly. For the first time ever I am already looking forward to fall before spring is even really here.
After I paced the Brooklyn Promenade impatiently waiting for the sun to set, I photographed a few of the neon signs on my to do list (I apologize for being way behind on the Google Map, but as always you can see all the photos over on Flickr), then headed up to Old Town Bar to sit a spell and have a drink. The bar stool gods were smiling upon me, and I managed to get a seat at the beautiful old mahogany bar (you can see a picture of it on their website) and the photo above is the view from my seat through the leaded glass window. A small order of fries and a beer, together with the pleasant chatter of bar patrons on either side of me were a balm to my troubled soul.
I’ve taken pictures of the sign itself more than once (Old Town is an old favorite.) It’s a simple, classic neon sign on enamel with a great shape–I love those cutouts around “Bar.” I also love the small flourish at the bottom center you can just make out at night, the simple fonts, the classic curved “A” of Bar, and the pink and green neon glow.
Old Town has aged gracefully inside and out. It’s been on 18th Street above Union Square since 1892, but is no fuddy-duddy oldster. Everything about Old Town is worn but tidy, from the massive wood bar to the also massive porcelain urinals (which were recently feted with a 100th birthday party.) It’s comfortable rather than creaky, and the mix of patrons makes it feel lively and welcoming. Friday and Saturday nights usually find it a bit more crowded than I’m up for, but otherwise there are few places on earth I’d rather be.
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