Showing posts with label Disney World. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disney World. Show all posts

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Beer Garden Tour 2010 Third Stop: The Standard Beer Garden

I celebrated my 20th anniversary last night with my wonderful husband! Dinner at Le Bernardin, which was off the charts. Let's just say my plate was elegantly licked clean. And for a bonus, we got to lay our eyes on the beaucoup handsome, tall chef who cooked our otherworldly meal, Eric Ripert. He was a vision in chef's whites as he glided into the dining room parting the sea of black attired waiters, attendants, busboys, hostesses, sommeliers to greet diners as they strained to look up at this gray fox to thank him for the fine meals before them. Wow! He was here on a Wednesday night and not at a book signing or opening another restaurant in Disney World or Las Vegas. What a treat! Who needed dessert?

From there, we went to the High Line Park. What a super cool beautiful park! We got there just as the night began and the lighting and night sky..... it was sooo pretty. So well done. You have to go check it out: http://www.thehighline.org

We walked under the Standard Hotel and now finally! I get to check out this beer garden. It was very busy. It's located beside the Standard Grill and the entrance to the beer garden is on the corner of Washington Street and 13th Street, underneath the High Line. But you can sneak in there other ways and by pass the line outside. You have to buy tickets for the beers and food. We go to the "draft" bar (there's also a liquor bar) and there is only three drafts and three bottles. Hmmmmmmm, I like having a lot more choices than that. And would it hurt to wipe the bar down? Gross. And funny, there was a smell there that was a cross between garbage and I don't want to make you sick, I'll end it there. They offer brats and giant pretzels. And beautiful people. Loads of those...

The bathrooms are large, multi stalled and unisex, just separated with a chain mail curtain so we got to share a trough of sinks which half of the faucets were falling off the wall, not working, no soap in the dispensers. Too bad, it looks like it could be a nice bathroom if they would attend to it. O! and ladies! Want to by pass the lines? Just do it because you can actually walk pass the long line of foxy babes, because they are ALL texting, heads down, not paying attention to empty stalls! 75% of the stalls were EMPTY. They were waiting in line for someone to come out of one stall! So there's plenty of relief there, just try a door! It was comical to say the least.


And they give out bushels of apples after your bathroom break, nice touch!

It was a different atmosphere than your basic beer garden, but almost disney-esce as it was part of the Standard Hotel. They tried to be bavarian with the waiters and bartenders wearing cute t-shirts with lederhosen printed on them and offering (one!) pils and (one!) weiss beer but it missed the mark with me. It's okay for the hotel guests I suppose, you're in the middle of the most trendiest fashion forward few blocks of the Meatpacking (and there is a lot of "meat" there ladies, am I right??) District but there are much better beer gardens than this in NYC.


848 Washington St

(between Little W 12th St & 13th St)
New York, NY 10014

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Beer Garden Tour 2010 First Stop: Studio Square


Our good friend, Sue, took my husband, Michael, and me to a beautiful spot under the stars in Astoria Queens last night, Studio Square. Forget all notions you have of the traditional Bavarian beer gardens, they have recasted the familiar in a new light. It's still the large outdoor space with long communal tables you know, but spread out into different sections, indoors and out, with ivy covered brick walls, cool lighting, huge umbrellas, industrial fixtures. Every time we drew a pitcher, we explored and sat in another area. There's an outdoor bar and two indoor bars, outdoor grill, fire pit and the bathrooms! For all that beer drinking with all those people (and this place holds A LOT of people), thank goodness for the individual, well attended, your-very-own-little-CLEAN modern bathroom! One section for the men, one section for the ladies. So civilized! I was so thankful for that, I kept gushing, "I could live here!" It was my very own Disney World. Beer and a clean bathroom.

But what about the beer?? Yes indeed, my reason for taking up residence here. 19 beers from craft to seasonal in liters, half liters and full pitchers. Sangria on tap! I even tried some rootbeer vodka! What a treat that was. But we don't live for beer alone so we ordered some food at the outdoor grill where the menu ranged from wings to sushi to bratwurst to souvlaki to chili fries. We got the meaty wings (25 portion) spicy good and the chili fries. For $25, it fed the three of us with three leftover wings.

They have scheduled live music, a Tuesday Lost Viewing Party, and a First Anniversary party coming up on May 20th with all you can drink beer, sangria, and wine for $25! I guess I won't be home watching 30 Rock that night. They have a huge event space you can rent. I would so have my wedding here. Relaxed, cool chic. Just steps from the Kaufman Astoria Studios, PS 1 Contemporary Art Center, and the Museum of Moving Image.

This is a great place to take your gang. I can't wait to go back and celebrate your birthday there, Miss Sue! My new home away from home.

Hours noon til 4am.
35-33 36th St
Queens, New York 11106 (718) 383-1001
subway stop 36th st station on the R or the V

studios
quarenyc.com