the great leslie

Last night, I was out with my co-workers at a TriBeCa bar called Edward's. I kind of hate that place. I tried to lobby for another bar, but they all serve whiskey, and I didn't really care. So, there we were at this pseudo-posh, cramped place with a passive-aggressive waitress who served us $10 drinks. Ugh.

This prompted me to make a list of my favorite bars in New York. Here it is, in no particular order.

1. Lakeside Lounge. My go-to place in the East Village, Lakeside is dark and dingy with a good jukebox, a photo booth, and a cute bartender (I think his name is Ryan) who has worked there as long as I've been going there, which is close to ten years.

2. 1020. My neighborhood Happy Hour bar. This is the least pretentious bar around.

3. Ding Dong Lounge. My late night neighborhood bar. It's pitch black inside and within stumbling distance of my place. My dad likes it there, too.

4. Yogi's. This is the cheapest and scuzziest bar on the Upper West Side. And it has a jukebox full of country hits. I wouldn't go there alone, but I love that place if I can get a crowd going.

5. Pete's Candy Store. This is the cutest little place on Lorimer Street in Brooklyn. The space is perfect, the paninis are yumyumyummy, and the martinis come in pint glasses. Oh, and the embossed aluminum ceiling is China Red.

6. Duck Duck. Also in Brooklyn, this is a relatively new favorite of mine. An honorable mention if you will. It's a humble, young place with good specials and, overall, a quality crowd. Last time I was there, a dude who went by the dubious tag of "Jack the Ripper" bought a round for everyone at the bar.

So, my friends, who wants to go? And which one will we hit up first?