Joan Jett At Coney Island

Q. What do you get when you cross a free Joan Jett show with Coney Island?
A. This week’s blog!

The special guest star for this outing is the Duncester! We met at the Union Square subway station for the trip on the Q train to Coney Island. It’s always a quicker trip when you have someone to talk to and kid around with on the train, so I thank the Duncester for coming out with me. Okay, it’s off we go...

And through the magic of the internet, here we are at the last stop, Coney Island!

We came a little early so we could take a walk on the boardwalk and look around.

There’s Paul’s Daughter, always glad to see they them surviving with a new lease.

And there’s the Wonder Wheel behind the chain link fence.

I heart this garbage can!

Of course, we have to make a pit stop at Ruby’s bar!

Wow, there’s a big crowd at the bar, looks like we’ll be sitting at a table.

And here’s the beautiful bartender Stephanie, who we met a few weeks ago.

Our view from our table in the back.

I had a three course dinner of a hot dog, fries and a bottle of Budweiser. The Duncester had a hot dog and a knish. Great Coney Island dining at Ruby’s as always!

You’ve got to love the signage on Surf Avenue!

The Duncester got an ice cream cone from Williams Candy for dessert.

Here we are heading down Surf Avenue, almost there!

And we’re here, you have to pay five bucks to get a seat closer to the stage, but still, five bucks for a Joan Jett show, what a deal!

Here’s the program for the show.

As the sun sets, the show is just about to begin.

Everyone’s getting up as showtime is about to start.

Ladies and gentlemen...Joan Jett and the Blackhearts! They started the show off with, “Bad Reputation.”

I was a little nervous, because they said on the website that there’s no cameras allowed. As you can see that rule is not enforced.

Joan Jett rocked the house, as always.

This is as close as I could get to the stage, it was jammed up here.

So I retreated back to our spot.

The Duncester wisely brought binoculars to get a closer look at the show from our seats.

Here’s a shot of Joan on the big screen, she looks fabulous as always!

Another shot of Joan on the big screen.

Flashbombs went off during the song, “Cherry Bomb.”

A tale of two dipshits, check out the guy on the phone during the show and the guy in front of him texting. Jerkoffs.

It was a great show, this is the fifth time I’ve seen Joan Jett and she always puts on a great, rocking show!

Afterwards we decided to have a couple of beers at the Freak Bar.

It was crowded inside with people from the show.

Love the Freak Bar poster!

How cool is this Coney Island pinball machine?

And I ran into my old pal, Frank Wood! He told me to say hi to Clacky and Shannon, so hi to Clacky and Shannon from Frank Wood. If you want to check out one of his shows, he’s at Otto’s every Sunday.

Of course I had to get a shot of Nathan’s at night, always a spectacular view!

Back to the subway for the trip home.

Of course we’ll end with the obligatory subway window shot. Thanks to the Duncester for coming along, it was a great show and a great night!

Further Watching (Videos from the show): Bad Reputation, The French Song and Cherry Bomb.

She can sing,
You want to see her ding a ling.

Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!
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P.S.

I’m posting this super early because I start a temp job this week. As usual, I don’t blog about work, but it could lead to a full time job, so wish me luck please! I’ll comment back to everyone  later tonight when I get home. I don't think I should be messing around on the internet my first day!

Astoria, Queens Bar Crawl

One of the cool things about doing this blog is meeting people I wouldn’t have met if I wasn’t doing this. A good example of this is my friend, Ray. Ray first appeared on this blog via a comment when he saw me walking in midtown to my parents hotel. You can read it here, it’s the 20th comment on the page. Later we all met Ray at a Happy Hour at Bar Nine. Well, today Ray has invited us all on a bar crawl where he lives in Astoria, Queens. This won’t be the first time we’ve tripped out to Queens, we’ve gone to the Bohemian Beer Gardens with Gene from the BBC and Gene did a guest post from Astoria that same week, but it is the first time that someone who lives in Queens is hosting the bar crawl. So it’s off to Queens we go!

Here's a familiar sight on TWM, the subway station at Union Square. We'll be taking the N train to Broadway in Astoria.

And through the magic of the internet, baboom, here we are on Broadway in Astoria, Queens.

Okay, we're going to meet Ray at McLoughlin's a bar that's located right around the corner from this subway stop.

"School Supplies and Cigars," who could ask for anything more?

Check out the Marty flyer!

And here we are, McLoughlin's, the first stop of our bar crawl today.

It looks nice in here and I think I see a familiar face...

It's our host, Ray, who's a little camera shy. I didn't push the issue, I didn't want our host going all Alec Baldwin on my ass.

Jimmy the bartender hoists an ice-cold Budweiser my way. Jimmy told me McLoughlin's has been a family owned bar in Astoria since 1965.

Wooden tables line the wall opposite the bar.

There's a pool table in the back room.

A long shot of the bar that's been in use since 1965.

And check out the poster on the bar, Marty G. & The "G" Men are playing here at McLoughlin's! Also note the unplanned obligatory bar mirror shot. It's Marty mania!

Okay, out the door and onto the next spot.

Astoria is a great neighborhood, I just wish it wasn't so bright outside.

Ray's next stop is a bar that Gene from the BBC likes, the Sunswick bar. Gene sent in a picture from his Astoria bar crawl and now we get to see the inside of it.

It's really crowded in here for this early in the afternoon, but I spy a couple seats at the end of the bar, so Ray and I snagged them.

Here's the view from our perch at the bar.

As you can see, it's pretty much a full house in here, this is a popular spot.

There's a comfortable couch to pass out relax on in the front of the bar.

As you can see, they have a lot of beers on tap. I had a Pilsner Urquell.

And before you know it, it's time to head out and keep this show on the road.

On the road again!

Surprise, our next stop on Ray's tour is a bar, but not just any bar...

It's Veronica's Bar, another one of Gene and the BBC's favorite Queens stops. Let's go in and check it out.

Wow, it's crowded in here too, they go out early in Queens!

There's no seats at the bar, so Ray and I grabbed a couple of chairs here, directly across from the bar.

Bartender Bridget brought our beers over to us. She's really nice and what a beautiful smile!

Shortly after Bridget delivered our beers a couple seats opened up at the bar and here's the view from where we were seated.

I'm not quite sure what this means, but it does give me an excuse to to do this: Fire!

Bridget's behind the bar, taking care of business.

And once again, we're out the door on to our final destination.

Ray told me this was going to be a hike and it sure was. Finally the sun has set on Queens as we approach our final destination of this bar crawl in Astoria.

Ray chose this place, The Sparrow for drinks and some dinner. This place has become famous in Queens since that goofy-ass Guy Fieri featured it on his show, Diners, Dives and a Dipshit on the Food Network.

Nice and dark in here and there's a couple seats at the bar.

Tommy the bartender does double duty by serving up a beer and flashing the TWM card all at the same time.

The tables are all filled in here, looks like that Food Network spot paid off!

iPhone Zombie alert, part one!

iPhone Zombie alert, parts two and three! I wish people would put those fucking things away.

When I return to the bar, dinner awaits me. I got the grilled cheese, which is made with truffle oil and has mushrooms in it and it comes with a side salad. One of the best grilled cheeses I've ever had.

I also got an order of Tater Tots.

Ray got the pork tacos and I have to say, that lone Tater Tot on his plate is making me a little sad.

After a beer for dessert, it was time to call it a night.

As you can see, it's finally nighttime in Queens.

We've come full circle, back to the subway station.

A shot of Queens from the elevated subway platform.

And here's the train that'll take me back to Manhattan.

And of course I have to take an obligatory shot of Gumby and me in the subway window. Thanks to Ray for a wonderful tour. We'll do it again soon and maybe then he'll let me take his photo!

McLoughlin’s
3106 Broadway
Astoria, Queens
718-278-9714

Sunswick 35/35
3502 35th St
Astoria, Queens
718-752-0620

Veronica’s Bar
34-04 36th Ave
Astoria, Queens
718-729-9744

The Sparrow Tavern
24-01 29th St
Astoria, Queens
718-606-2260

Further Reading: Wikipedia, New York Magazine and New York Times.

Queens of noise,
Not just one of your toys.

Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!

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Bonus Linkage!
My friends Karen and Jon have put out a fabulous new edition over at their online magazine, Grade “A” Fancy. The subject matter is “Zombie Restaurants” and you can check it out by clicking right here: “I Eat Your Restaurant’s Brain!” Check it out, you’ll be glad you did!

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And More Bonus Linkage!

DJ Gidget, the most fabulous DJ in the world had a super-cool new photoblog and you can check it out here: Gidget Bates's Crap She Shoots. And don't forget to listen to her and "Boris's" "Secret Weapon" show exclusively on Woody Radio. Okay, as you were.

Mike's Tavern and Jerry's Bar

Okay, last week was my dad’s 83rd birthday, so I traveled back to celebrate it with my family and friends in Peoria. And whenever I return to Peoria I have to stop at my favorite bar in the world, Mike’s Tavern. For those of you who followed my 365 Bars blog, you’ll remember that Mike’s was the last stop on that year long tour. And so now, let’s take a trip to Mike’s and then we’ll have Happy Hour at the infamous Jerry’s Bar, hosted by the birthday boy himself, Jerry Wombacher.

And here we are at Mike's, always great to stop in here!

It's like taking a step back in time when you visit Mike's in West Peoria.

And here's the pretty and friendly bartender Jessica serving up an ice-cold can of Budweiser. Ah, it's nice to be back here!

Bags of Kitchen Cooked potato chips hang directly uner the tin ceiling.

I love that Busch Beer sign. Head for the mountains!

A shot of the well-worn bar at Mike's. If that bar could talk, it would probably slur its words.

You've gotta love the school desk's lined up behind the bar!

There's a tribute to Tony Ward, who owned Mike's for decades. R.I.P. Tony.

A picture of Tony hangs on the wall, surrounded by friends.

And here's the next generation running the bar. Tony's son-in-law, Roy and his wife Shannon, Tony's daughter, now run Mike's. Roy told me the bar is definitely staying open, which is great news!

Roy said they recently found some old pictures of Mike's in the backroom, and that my Grandpa Leo Seitz was in a couple of them. My grandpa was a regular at Mike's for as long as I can remember.

And there he is, sitting at one of the desks! Too cool!

I love the caption on this one! Cheers to my Grandpa Seitz!

Here's two guest stars, my friends Phil and Karen Luciano, who just got married this year! Great to see both of them on my trip home. Congratulations to both of them for getting married. And check out the vintage Scorpions t-shirt on Phil. It rocks you like a...well, you know.

Jessica in action, behind the bar.

One of my favorite things in Mike's is the Little Nut Hut.

Dave Schwindenhammer shows off the world's longest phone cord at the bar.

Okay, now that we've had a few afternoon brews, time for Happy Hour at Jerry's Bar. Hmm, "Drugs available under the bar," I'll have to check that out!

The stairway to Jerry's Bar. Somebody queue up the Foo Fighters already!

And there it is, a bar I remember from my wild youth. Hey, speaking of my wild youth, let's check out the drugs under the bar.

I think I see something over there...

Aleve, Bayer and Centrum Silver vitamins. Hmmm...I seem to remember different drugs available in the '70's and '80's at Jerry's Bar, but I won't get into that, I may have prospective employers looking at this thing!

Here's the hosts of Jerry's Bar, Anne and Gerry Wombacher! They're always quick with a drink and a smile.

The crowd is growing at Jerry's, from left, my brother Tom, my mom, Anne, my niece (Tom's daughter) Caylin and my dad, Jerry. It's my dad's birthday and we're having a few drinks before his birthday dinner. Tom works in sales at Lexus of Peoria, if you're looking for a great deal, stop or give him a call. Even if you don't live in Peoria, you can buy a car there, via the internet. (Marty's note to Tom: I'll just send you a bill for that ad, Tom.)

Official, Jerry's Bar coasters line the bar, along with one of my beers.

As you can see, the beers have caught up with me. Time for a little nap before dinner.

Here we are in downtown Peoria on a Sunday night. As you can see, it's a hotbed of activity down here!

My mom stands in front of our dinner destination, Jim's Steakhouse. This place is one of the best restaurants in Peoria.

Here's the whole crowd, that's my sister Terry and her husband Phil up front. My dad and Caylin and Tom are behind them and at the end of the table are my niece, Mary Beth, her boyfriend, Matt and my nephew, Greg. My mom and I aren't seen in the picture, perhaps because we were passed out under the table, but I'll never tell!

It's the birthday boy with a Turtle pie, he's 83-years-old!

And here's some of his gifts, just waiting to be unwrapped.

Caylin watches as Jerry starts digging in to the gifts.

A sweater!

And here's my gift, it's a little hard to read, but it's a bottle of, "Maybe You Touched Your Genitals," hand sanitizer. Tears came to my dad's eyes as he opened this up, either out of joy or because my sense of humor has never matured past a 13-year-old wiseass. It was great to see everyone on my trip and I had a great time. And happy birthday to the best dad in the whole wide world!

 Further Reading: Phil Luciano, 365 Bars and MAD.

News on the radio, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday.

Surprise link, click on it, I dare you!

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Bonus Picture From Danny The Freelancer!

Last week, TWM commenter, Danny The Freelancer, mentioned his band, The Cherry’s in his comment and I asked him to send in a picture and here they are in all their power pop glory! Here’s what Danny has to say about the photo: “This is a shot of the Cherry’s live about 1982/83. That’s me on 

the right with the tambourine and the white Les Paul Custom guitar.  The guy on the left with the black Les Paul Custom is Georgie Seville, He was the original guitarist for D Generation.” Very cool, thanks for sending in the photo, Danny!