McSorely’s Old Ale House, NYC

McSorely’s Old Ale House has been an New York City institution for more than 150 years. It’s on East 7th Street, and not hard to find. Certainly worth a stop for a glass of ale.

McSorely's Old Ale House, New York City, USA.

McSorely’s Old Ale House, New York City, USA.

The place has quite a history, having been visited by presidents and other dignitaries. Sorry for the shabby photo, but the interior is old-school barroom as you can kind of see here:

Interior corner of McSorley's Old Ale House.

Interior corner of McSorley’s Old Ale House.

Plenty of old photos, newspapers, even record albums hanging on the wall, meaning there is plenty of eye candy to keep you busy. You can order light ale or dark and you get two glasses per round as you see next:

Light ale at McSorley's Old Ale House.

Light ale at McSorley’s Old Ale House.

Two at a time also keeps you busy. Then there’s a short menu of food items chalked on the board:

Menu at McSorely's Old Ale House.

Menu at McSorely’s Old Ale House.

After all that drinking, you may need the toilet, and it’s old school as well. Check out these urinals:

Urinals at McSorely's Old Ale House.

Urinals at McSorely’s Old Ale House.

All in all, quite an establishment. Worth your visit for a drink or to linger with friends and chat. Maybe you’ll meet someone new or find a piece of memorabilia that fills in an historical blank. Enjoy the journey.

Published in: on January 14, 2014 at 12:18 am  Leave a Comment  
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A return to Republic, lunch

Republic serves a quick (if noisy) lunch at their place on New York City’s Union Square. I’ve been stopping in here for years and have never been disappointed. They have those giant noodle dishes as well as a selection of others over rice, which are more to my liking. Here’s a look at the fried wonton appetizer:

Fried wontons at Republic.

That’s a great way to start the meal. The sauce is tangy with lots of flavor and just a touch of heat. And those wontons are packed with diced stuff that will get your taste buds excited. Moving on to the main course, I went with the grilled pork chop over “broken rice,” which is how the menu describes it. Take a look:

Grilled pork chop at Republic.

That’s a tasty bowl full of goodness. The portion seems a little small, but with the appetizer, it’s the perfect amount. Seating at this joint is a little crowded, giving you the opportunity to eaves drop or meet new people. Enjoy every meal!

Published in: on October 19, 2012 at 10:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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A few days before Sept. 11, 2001…

On September 9, 2001, I left New York Harbor aboard a ship. On the way down the Hudson River, I snapped various photos of the skyline, including the one below (reproduced poorly here, but the original is perfectly clear thanks to ideal weather, a Hasselblad camera, Zeiss lens, and Kodak Ektachrome film). Note the structure in the upper right portion of the frame.

This photo taken Sept. 9, 2001.

Never forget this world is a dangerous place.

Published in: on September 11, 2012 at 1:26 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Rockefeller Rink

Ice-skating at Rockefeller Center is a favorite among New York City natives and visitors alike. The rink is set up below the central plaza, surrounded by flags of all nations above. Here’s a recent look at the space.

This winter has been mild (so far), and I’m sure it’s difficult to find a frozen pond to enjoy some skating. You can always stop in to the city, have some time on the ice here, then enjoy a great meal nearby. It’s a fun day with plenty to see and do. Enjoy it all.

Published in: on January 30, 2012 at 10:53 am  Leave a Comment  
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