Monday, January 3rd, 2011—Bar 358
Day 358—Sunday, January 2nd, 2011
Mumbles
A couple weeks ago I was featured in a Q. and A. on the fine blog, Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York. I got some nice emails after it ran and one of them suggested I go check out legendary Bill’s Restaurant and Piano Bar in midtown. The email was signed, Paul Scanlon. The name rung a bell and then I remembered the name from the Rolling Stone masthead from the ‘70’s (yes, I’ve always been a masthead geek) and from books on Rolling Stone and Hunter S. Thompson. I wondered if it was the same guy and then I looked at where his email came from and sure enough, it said wennermedia.com. As In Jann Wenner. As in Rolling Stone. After a couple of emails I found out that after being the managing editor of Rolling Stone from 1970 to 1979, Scanlon moved over to editorial duties at GQ, then went on to book editing and other projects and now he had come full circle and is back at Rolling Stone working on a couple projects there. Because of the holiday craziness we never did get to Bill’s, but we made plans to meet at Mumble’s, a joint nearby where I live. I'm looking forward to meeting him, you know he's got some good stories to tell. And so it’s off we go!
I told you it was close by, here we are already.
The bar is crowded for a Sunday afternoon, but I spy on seat at the bar. Let's go snag it.
And no sooner am I seated, than Hal, the very friendly bartender serves up an ice-cold beer.
Cheers, seven more to go (pretend I have two extra fingers on my hand.)
Joe and Carolyn were seated at the end of the bar and we had a nice chat about my 365 journey.
A view from my perch at the bar. Wow, that TV is bright, someone needs to tone that down a bit!
Some of the drafts available at the bar. As you can see, there's a TV on either side of the bar, Gene, you'd like it in here!
Lou was seated next to me and he's a somewhat regular in here who lives nearby.
There's a long wooden railing and stools opposite the bar to hang out at.
And behind the railing are some tables to sit and dine at.
And the main dining room is located to the left of the bar.
Kimberly, a pretty waitress at the bar waits for a drink that Hal is preparing. Hi, Kimberly!
Speaking of Hal, here he is in action behind the bar.
Carolyn and Joe are enjoying brunch at the bar and chatting with a friend.
Mike took Lou's seat next to me at the bar and we had a nice conversation about modern technology and the horrors of texting.
A vintage Budweiser sign hangs behind the bar, topped with holiday stockings.
Okay, night has settled in and the bar becomes darker, illuminated by round globes hanging overhead.
And here he is, tonight's special guest star, Paul Scanlon. I always tell people, that it's not the bars that are the best part of this 365 journey, but the people inside of them. Well, this turned out to be a real highlight. I knew Paul would have some classic Rolling Stone stories and boy did he ever. I don't have room in this caption area to tell them and most of it were off the record but some of the name's in the stories included, Jann Wenner, Hunter Thompson, Andy Warhol, Chet Flippo, David Felton, Ben Fong-Torres, Mick Jagger, Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Buddy Miles, Cameron Crowe and it just went on and on. Great stories from a great era in journalism that will never be duplicated. Thanks for an entertaining evening, Paul!
By the end of the evening Paul got into the 365 spirit and joined me for a one-finger salute! Goodnight, everybody!
Review
Mumbles Restaurant and Bar is located near Union Square and has a real neighborhood feel to it. There’s nothing too spectacular about the place, but it’s a friendly spot, mainly filled with locals from the neighborhood. The bar is dark and wooden and globe lights hang overhead. There’s dining tables behind it and a full dining room off to the side of the bar.
It’s a full bar with a good selection of bottled and draft beers. Mumbles also has a large and varied menu with a decent selection of burgers and sandwiches. There’s also pasta and four types of pizza available and if you have a big appetite some of the main entrees include: Blackened Pork Chops, Oven Roasted New Zealand Rack of Lamb, Chilean Sea Bass and one of their specialties, “Better Than mom`s” Meatloaf. That’s a pretty bold statement, because my mom makes a mean meatloaf, so next time I’ll check that out.
Mumbles has brunch on the weekend, available till 4pm. Delivery is also available.
Mumbles
179 Third Ave. (@17th Street)
212-477-6066
---------------------------
Bonus Paul Scanlon Photos!
This morning, Paul sent me a few photos from back in the day and here they are.
Paul with Hunter S. Thompson in the spring of 1973. Paul was one of the first people that Hunter showed the original "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" manuscript to.
Here's Paul with writer Fred Exley, best known for his book, "A Fan's Notes." This was taken from 1978 when they were working on an excerpt from his novel, "Last Notes From Home," for Rolling Stone.
And here's a classic photo of a good portion of the Rolling Stone staff watching Nixon resign. Great photos, Paul, thanks for sharing them!
23 References
Reader Comments (24)
More proof that this bar crawl is all about the people you meet on the way. I would've loved to have been a fly on the wall to hear the Scanlon stories. And I'm dying to know what the Stevie Nicks story is! How about a hint?
Wow.. This is when the crawl is the most wonderful..
Thank you so much Marty for the gift of the last year.
and stories like this:)
Wow, talking with someone like Paul, who literally had his hand on the pulse of America during that time period, would be incredible. I, too, am curious to hear some stories...maybe when we hook up in Peoria next week!
A stellar post today, Marty...that photo of Paul with Hunter Thompson is priceless! You aught to post a clip from 'Where the Buffalo Roam' to celebrate today's epic episode of the crawl!
I also would love to know the Stevie Nicks dirty little secret. Paul and I would have a blast as I have been subscribing to RS for over 30 yrs. Anyone remember Paul Nelson who passed a few years ago in NYC? Also a writer for Rolling Stone. To the writers.
@Al: I remember Paul Nelson, here's a good interview with him:
http://rockcriticsarchives.com/interviews/paulnelson/paulnelson.html
To the writers...and editors!
Mumbles looks like a great bar. Love those tiled floors and Hal seems like a real pro. I like their beer selection (why, hello, Miller Lite!) and everyone seems super friendly in there. Also, I like the fact that the thermostat/poinsettia combo resembles a googly-eyed Mick Jagger-ish monster from outer space! Of all of the E.T.s out there, googly-eyed and Mick Jagger-ish are my favorites. Anyhoo, glad you got to meet up with Paul and listen to some classic rock and roll stories. TO PAUL!
@Biff: TO PAUL!
That's incredible, you jammy git!
.... shame on me!!!!! I can't really say anything about all of this (even if I can imagine How cool it is) because the only 2 names I know (a little) about are Hunter Thompson and Mick Jagger.... And I have no idea about who are the others, I have to google! .... Sorry I'm a french frie ! :D
Also this is not from my culture nor my generation either, so don't lynch me !!!!!
But the first bonus photo is beautiful, I like it alot, and I like the finger salute one too!
Cheers Paul and Marty!
@Torquil: I've been waiting to be called a "jammy git" my whole life! Thank you, sir!
@Zioum Zioum: That's why Google was invented! Cheers to you!
The photo of the RS staff is priceless.
@365: Well it's been a crazy old 2010. It's looking like my regular activities will all be ending around the same time...365 bars and NFL. What am I gonna do? I didn't have the forsight to make plans for what was to happen afterwards.
Seven more to go. I'll be stopping in daily like usual and I'll celebrate the completion of this journey with the adding of Lime to Corona...down at Bunt Custer's of course.
Bunt's might be getting a small TV.
@Clacky: I have a new blog in the works, hopefully you'll follow me over there. I'll continue to put updates on here till I debut that one. You're not getting rid of me that easily!
This is INDEED what the "Crawl" is all about.
To sit and talk with an iconic figure like Paul is a wonderful bonus of
what you set out to do over the course of this past year.
Had we known we could have done up a special "Paulapalooza" shit.
Thanks for wearing the "Crawlapalooza" version to such a great meeting.
PS
Mumbles was a great setting for the meeting.
Perfect.
PSS
As of now, our "plan" may just happen.
Goddamn uneditable posts!
Better make that "Paulapalooza" SHIRT.
HST would be proud.
"Boris"
Plus, Paul wearing a Berghoff's shirt took me back to a few of my "roots".
@"Boris": Let me know about the plan, Daddio!
OMG!! I would LOVE to meet someone like Paul. I can only imagine the stories he shared with you. Wow. *jealous*
mumble's...great post as always...almost sure paul mumbled once or thrice during your conversation...don't really care 'bout stevie's little secret...would rather read 'bout everything else...RS was great in it's day but so was scanlon's avant garde and the numerous others that did not live on....still got copies here and there...way off topic...what the fuck else is new....KOC
rr
Well like ZioumZioum, I don't really know who most of those people are, but I do understand how cool it is. Looks like last night could be an add on to your fire truck book. I wanted to be Stevie Nicks when I was younger.
Only a week! Wow. I bet part of you is excited but I know a lot of us are kinda sad about. I'm sure the crowd will follow you though, whatever you have up your sleeve.
fuck...how i could forget to mention krassner's the realist is beyond any drunken explanation...all 146 issues...fuck me...KOC
rr
It's just me, or the television seems taken from Poltergeist???
Nice bar, with a good beer and great stories? This is a epic crawl!
Super post Marty. Flipping perfect, you hanging out with Paul Scanlon. Good things come to those who drink! You're telling me that Nicks story the next time we see you.