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| Grit is Good: Return to ‘70s New York
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March 11, 2009
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Smith’s
701 8th Ave. (@ 44th St.)
Midtown 212.246.3268
Rough and tumble Smith’s hasn’t changed a lick since opening in 1954. One of the few remaining relics of seedy Times Square before Disney transformed the notoriously naughty neighborhood into a family-friendly mecca, Smith’s conjures dark images of the New York of Scorsese’s neo-noir 1976 classic, Taxi Driver. Swill alongside tourists and locals alike, because this is a no-frills watering hole serving diner fare from dawn ‘til the wee hours. It offers good times, great value, and often, live music. As laid-back and gritty as it gets, Smith’s is the perfect place to practice your best “You talkin’ to me?”
Blue & Gold
79 E. 7th St. (1st & 2nd Aves.)
East Village (no phone)
You can almost imagine a young Jodie Foster sidling up to the bar here; in fact, many of today’s patrons have the same ‘70s boho look. A well-loved dive bar since the ‘60s, family-owned Blue and Gold (the name references the colors of the Ukrainian flag in a nod to the proprietors’ heritage) offers everything you need for a low-key night on the town: a lively, eclectic crowd, accessible pool table, jukebox, and most importantly, an enormous selection of dirt-cheap drinks (even middle-shelf liquors and creative shots are $4 or less). So for years, regulars have overlooked the sticky floors, shabby red-leather booths, and questionable restrooms, in favor of getting loose at this here-to-stay haunt. |
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