Manitoba's
New York City has a ton of bars and some of those bars have great jukeboxes. I thought every couple of weeks I’d visit one and spotlight the jukebox there. Tonight’s destination not only houses a great jukebox, it’s owned by the legendary, proto-punk lead singer of the Dictators and Sirius radio host, Handsome Dick Manitoba. When my friends, Britta and Tom came to town last year, we stopped for a drink at Manitoba’s and met Handsome Dick and took a photo with him. Let’s go see if he’s there tonight!
And we're off, we'll take the familiar trek down 14th Street to the East Village.
One of the great things about Manitoba's is that it's just a few blocks from Tompkins Square Bagels! Let's go get something to eat.
Here's Juan making my sandwich, everyone in here is always very friendly.
The sandwich was delicious...
And moments later my friend Shawn appeared, always great to see him!
After my sandwich, TSB owner Chris, took Shawn and I downstairs to see the bagels as they are hand-rolled by an expert.
Chris introduced us to Celestino who hand rolls each and every bagel for the shop. There's an art to this and Celestino has been doing it for years.
It's amazing how fast he can roll and entire tray of bagels from the raw dough. These are ready for the ovens and I'm ready for a drink or three!
And here we are, Manitoba's on Avenue B.
It's early on a Monday evening, so there's plenty of seats at the bar.
Sean's the bartender on duty and he happily serves up a bottle of Budweiser. He said we had just missed seeing Handsome Dick, he had just left to go do his radio show. Oh well, maybe next time!
A "Welcome to Manitoba's" sign is painted above the bar.
And below it is Handsome Dick merchandise piled above the vintage jukebox.
Here's a long shot of the wooden bar.
We didn't sit at the bar though, we got a table in the back because we were joined by...
Goggla! It appears we've got a mini cash mob going on here at Manitoba's!
Okay, time to check out the jukebox in the back.
It's not the fanciest or most complex jukebox in town, but it's stocked with some great tunes from AC-DC to Johnny Cash to Frank Sinatra to, of course, The Dictators. Let's crank out some songs on this, click on the following links and you can listen to the tunes I picked: The Damned, Johnny and June Carter Cash, Cheap Trick, The Kinks, The Beatles...
Louis Prima, Merle Haggard, Nancy Sinatra, Joan Jett and of course, The Dictators!
Tina put on some songs after I did. I asked if she had a favorite song on Manitoba's jukebox and she just said, "All of them." I agree! Great selection of songs to be listened to in here.
In addition to the jukebox, the walls are plastered with classic rock and roll photos, most of them from the late '70's punk era. That Handsome Dick was a part of.
Here's Handsome Dick and Joan Jett back in the day.
Gabba Gabba Hey, it's the Ramones!
Here's a signed record sleeve from Little Steven. It says, "To Handsome Dick, Who Loves Ya?"
This is a classic shot of Handsome Dick and a friend in front of CBGB's. My photo is a little fuzzy, click here to see the photo in all its glory.
A framed cover of Punk Magazine featuring the Dictators.
I love the hand-painted bathroom doors in here.
And one glance out the window and it's time to call it a night.
And as I venture out, I see the night has fallen on Manhattan, you got to love that! See you tomorrow!
Manitoba's
99 Ave. B (Near 6th St.)
212-982-2511
Further Reading: Rolling Stone, All Music and Maniblog.
I live for cars and girls,
There's nothing else in this crazy world,
Except for cars and girls.
Handsome Dick, Manitoba's, The Dictators, Tompkins Square Bagel Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 9:31AM
Reader Comments (31)
I like Manitoba's ... definitely a top 10 bar in NYC !
Who doesn’t love a Handsome Dictator?
In other news: I’m still dead
Joan Jett was HOT back in the day (not that she isn't now...grrrroff)! That toasted cheese and onion bagel would be perfect with a bowl of tomato soup on a raw, cold windy day like it is today in the midwest...(sigh), not much to do around here today except finish reading 'The Bell Jar' by Slvia Plath and then go stick my head in the oven.
(Oh, shit, that's right...it's an electric....)
Mmmm grilled cheese bagel sounds amazing!!!
Goggla's hair is absolutely brilliant! Hope you guys had a great night!
hello Marty and everyone.
Now that looks like my kind of bar. Similar jukebox offerings to the Double Down Saloon perhaps?
Those bagels look delish!
I had never heard of The Dictators (shame on me) but I really like them!
Mmm...those bagels looked good. I wonder if Joan Jett eats bagels? Manitoba's looks like a great place. Must be, because my pal Debbie guest bartends sometimes and she pretty much rocks. I'll have to move this to the top of my queue. And get ready...I'm coming soon! (That's what he said). Also, I love that Louis Prima compilation.
@GENE: I agree, top 10 for sure!
Generalissimo Francisco Franco: Goodnight and have a pleasant tomorrow!
@Jaws: I hear you about Joan Jett, she just keeps looking better and better! That was a tasty bagel! Glad you discovered that about your oven before you broiled your scalp!
@Lindsay: I've never had a grilled cheese bagel and it was amazing, as is everything at TSB! It was a fun night and yes, Goggla's hair is always amazing!
@Tiki Bar Susie: The Double Down has a good jukebox, but not quite as varied as this one. The Dictators were are a great band that not everyone knows of, but they helped usher in punk rock. Great band and a great bar!
@Biff: Try and give me advance warning next time Debbie guest bartends, it would be great to meet her. When are you coming...that doesn't sound right, but you know what I mean!
I didn't know Tompkins Square Bagels would do a grilled cheese...mmmm! The photos of the bagel-making are great.
@Lindsay - haha, thanks!
great post! bagels, jukeboxes and beer, the holy trinity!! lol! tonight i'm going to go home pop open a beer and listen to the tunes and look at your photos and it'll be just like i'm there!
Celestino making those bagels,,,,hard at work. I wonder what his story is,,,,where he lives,,,,etc. Great CD jukebox, Beatles 65 is there. The last picture,,,night fallen on Manhattan,,,that's a great shot.
A great 'Trip' on this one Daddio!
I've always enjoyed the 'Juke Box' excursions and what a great stop at none other than Manitoba's.
Checking out Jukeboxes in joints has always been a thing I have done over the years.
You can tell a lot by the music offered (and played).
Also a great peek at the Bagels!
You have been on a 'roll' here on this entire venture.
what an awesome fucking bar!! Man, I wish places in NJ had jukeboxes!
Manitoba's is a great bar and it's really cheap!
Only in North East France there are Bagels.
Cool Jukebox of Old Classics !!!
Cheers !
@Goggla: Try the grilled cheese bagel, it's great! Thanks for coming out last night, nice hanging you with you Shawn and the Duncester!
@Booby D: How true about the Holy Trinity! Glad you're going to relive the night at Manitoba's, that's why I put the links up!
@Al: According to Chris, Celestino rolls bagels for a lot of places around town, there's a real art to it and only so many people know how to roll them correctly and efficiently. Cool that you noticed "Beatles 65" on the jukebox, you don't see that on many jukeboxes these days! Glad you liked that last shot, sometimes I get lucky!
@"Boris:" "You have been on a 'roll' here on this entire venture." Ha ha ha! God one, Daddio!
@meleah: It's a great bar and a great jukebox!
@Alan Simpson: True, you won't go broke drinking in Manitoba's, especially during happy hour!
@JHwang: I need to send you a bagel care package! Cheers!
The mini-cash mob should be called the Oxymorons and can only buy stuff like jumbo shrimp.
You should also get similar jackets as the Dictators.
You should also fight crime in your spare time.
@csp: Okay, I'll put those on my list of things to do.
I love going to Manitoba's and looking at all the great pics on the wall. Your post reminds me that I haven't been there in a while and I need to make some time for another visit!
I always look forward to seeing Goggla's hair...
always so pretty...
Handsome dick is a fun dude and runs a smooth bar:)
and I took get all excited over jukeboxes...
last time i went to a bar..it also had dick in its name but was less friendly..
i spent like 20 on the jukebox..
I can only imagine what trouble you me and boris would be in a bar with a cool jukebox:)
oh and i love grilled cheese bagels.. I like to dip mine in guacamole:)
@Peter: Let me know when you go and I'll meet you there, first round is on me!
@Gidget: "last time i went to a bar..it also had dick in its name but was less friendly.." Ha ha ha! I hate it when that happens! You'd go nuts over the jukebox in Manitoba's for sure!
This post makes the East Village seem pretty cool!
Great blog! I think you have a bit of a drinking problem though!
@legitimate beer: as bad as things get, there's still lots of cool spots in the East Village, we should enjoy them while we can!
@Jake: Thanks, glad you like the blog. And I really don't have a problem drinking, I do it almost every night!
I'll be there in the next month or two. And Debbie'll be at Manitoba's tonight.
9 pm to 4.
@Biff: Let's condiment soon about your trip! And I'll try to get there tonight to meet Debbie!
Marty!
Did you see my ass print in the bar stool closest to the fire door? Manitoba's was my office in the East Village from '99 to 2004 I think. Loved the Adam Roth "Stump The Band" they used to have on Friday nights. You are doing bar visits at reasonable hours now? Hit me up and we'll visit a couple of my fave Financial District dives some time.
@Fishwrap Fan Fuzz: I'm just seeing this comment today, I missed it somehow! I'll send you an email today!
Hey Marty - I've been off-line for a bit so I just saw this. Wow - I feel like I've never even seen that bar - it was so crowded last time all I saw were other people and didn't get to enjoy the actual bar. I'll have to go back when it isn't hosting a roller derby.
@Britta: Good to see you back here again! Yes, next time we'll have to go earlier and not on a Saturday night!
Dude thanks for the article! I don't say this often, there are just so many terrible "articles," I wouldn't even take the time out of my day to leave a comment. This on the other hand, I genuinely believe was very well-written and I appreciated it as well as the content. Certainly made me want to check out this amazin gem! Looks like a hell of a good time, I don't even live anywhere near New York currently but if I ever end up there again, I'll definitely have to stop by and if I remember, will say it was thanks to this amazin article and music!