And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
No visit to New York is complete without a visit to McSorley's. The oldest bar in NYC. This picture doesn't show it but hanging on the wall behind the bar is a simple chair upon which Abraham Lincoln stood during a campaign appearance. Women were not allowed in as late as 1970.
I lived on the East Coast for nearly 40 years and spend some time in NYC but never visited McSorley's Ale House. I have been told that the ceilings have rail like fixtures that contain tens of thousands of chicken wish bones that came from the "free lunch" that ale houses used to serve their drinking patrons.
It's turkey wishbones, maybe a couple of dozen, looped over the arms of two ceiling lamps. They were placed there after a free dinner provided to departing WWI GIs. Those who didn't return? The wishbones remained. About 10 years ago NYC Health Dept. demanded the bones be removed, hygienic concerns. McSorley's people carefully removed them, dusted them off and returned the ones that didn't break in the process. Used to be a lot more but certainly not tens of thousands. I visit McSorely's every time I visit NYC. Lots of videos available to learn why this place is amazing.
TOM: I thank you for the correction. My story originated in 1965 when my roommate at Colorado State College in Greeley, Colorado, told it to me. I guess that being teenagers, the story was a bit exaggerated.
I really have no desire to go back to NYC after the past few years. I might make an exception for McSorley's, especially on a cold winter's day when they the coal-fired stove going. The turkey wishbone story was told to me directly by the owner. The go-to eats are the cheese and crackers!
Was there in 1990 for my friend’s bachelor party. Awesome bar, even though it is in NYC. The city was still in rough shape back then, whores, thieves, and drug users filled Time Square.
No visit to New York is complete without a visit to McSorley's. The oldest bar in NYC. This picture doesn't show it but hanging on the wall behind the bar is a simple chair upon which Abraham Lincoln stood during a campaign appearance. Women were not allowed in as late as 1970.
ReplyDeleteazlibertarian
May you always stay open, never change the decor, once your gone should that happen the likes of you will never again appear.
ReplyDeleteThe beer must simply taste better there than anywhere- just because.
ReplyDeleteUsed to be cash only, like JG Melon's (3rd @ 74th).
ReplyDeleteI lived on the East Coast for nearly 40 years and spend some time in NYC but never visited McSorley's Ale House. I have been told that the ceilings have rail like fixtures that contain tens of thousands of chicken wish bones that came from the "free lunch" that ale houses used to serve their drinking patrons.
ReplyDeleteIt's turkey wishbones, maybe a couple of dozen, looped over the arms of two ceiling lamps. They were placed there after a free dinner provided to departing WWI GIs. Those who didn't return? The wishbones remained. About 10 years ago NYC Health Dept. demanded the bones be removed, hygienic concerns. McSorley's people carefully removed them, dusted them off and returned the ones that didn't break in the process. Used to be a lot more but certainly not tens of thousands. I visit McSorely's every time I visit NYC. Lots of videos available to learn why this place is amazing.
DeleteTOM: I thank you for the correction. My story originated in 1965 when my roommate at Colorado State College in Greeley, Colorado, told it to me. I guess that being teenagers, the story was a bit exaggerated.
DeleteI really have no desire to go back to NYC after the past few years. I might make an exception for McSorley's, especially on a cold winter's day when they the coal-fired stove going. The turkey wishbone story was told to me directly by the owner. The go-to eats are the cheese and crackers!
ReplyDeleteWas there in 1990 for my friend’s bachelor party. Awesome bar, even though it is in NYC. The city was still in rough shape back then, whores, thieves, and drug users filled Time Square.
ReplyDelete