A few months ago I wanted to blog an image seared into my brain when Steve and I popped into Cassidy's (Broadway & 35th) to watch the end of the Yankees game. Sadly, the batteries in my camera were dead.Cassidy's is seriously a shitbox. Have you ever been there? It's a weird attempt for the owners to re-live (or relieve?) their fraternity days. Several months after opening as Bottoms Up, this storefront re-launched as Cassidy's.
Cassidy's is very dark, has a small stage in the window, booths, a pinball machine, and those chili pepper lights sported by Jimmy Buffett fans. It has a collection of shot glasses behind the bar potentially collected during Spring Breaks next to a collection of crappily-flavored liquers. It's always dark as hell, but the booths (of which there are only two) have an excellent view of the largest TV ever invented, plus four more TVs. There is never anyone in Cassidy's. On the Yankee's opening day, the bar was more crowded than I'd ever seen it - maybe 10 people. They ran out of beer.
Cassidy's has a "Ladies Night" every Thursday advertised by flyers apparently made with the 1990 release of "Print Shop" which include a pixilated image of what appears to be a naked, passed out, woman.
They also feature terrible bands. Seriously, awful music that must be avoided. In addition they have a "tiki lounge" - a claustrophobic outdoor space with plastic tables, chairs, and a cement floor.
The bartenders range from friendly to obnoxious. One fine Sunday, the bartender was nearly screaming on the phone for 3 innings about her friend's wedding. But we were fortunate enough to be distracted by not only the game, but also the naked, female blow-up doll hanging upsidown next to the widescreen, written on in lipstick - said image.
During this past Yankees v. Red Sox series, after a many-month hiatus, we decided to give Cassidy's another try. The evening ended with the owner literally dragging a very young woman out of the bar by her clothes and, of course, a visit by the police. Needless to say, we missed the end of the game.
I don't think a name change can save this bar.
I agree. We gave the bar a try once. The "patio" smelled so strongly of citronella that we had to go back inside. The cover band that was scheduled was two hours late, so we asked for a refund of the cover. We finally did get our cover back, but only after arguing about it for thirty minutes. We were leaving before the show started and didn't see why we should pay for a band that we weren't going to see. Not good business.
ReplyDeleteyep. I just wish I could find a good place in the neighb to watch a ball game, ya know?
ReplyDeleteHilarious writeup. I live on 34th St and 31st avenue and my girlfriend and I wandered in there one day. The clientele was frightening. So funny.
ReplyDeletethanks. funny + scary, huh?
ReplyDeleteSo, do you have the scoop on the new storefront on 36th & Broadway? Right around the corner from you.
Best bar to see a game at has to be the Irish Rover.
ReplyDeletewill check it out. Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeletesounds about right.
ReplyDeleteI always thought Bottoms Up sounded like the name of a gay bar... not that there's anything wrong with that.
ReplyDeletecassidy's is HORRIBLE -- bad beer selection, bad lighting, bad everything. even the dollar drinks on ladies night (i don't know if they still offer that though) didn't make going there worth it. at least when it was 'the rock palace of queens' the bad-cover-version factor made things a bit interesting.
ReplyDeletei like cronin and phelan's, but gibney's is probably my favorite bar on broadway. have you been to viva mar yet?
I love Gibney's too... It's a great place where you have Mike Cremin (Dave's younger brother behind the bar) along with Rory who are two of Astoria's favorite bartender. It's always fun there but not such a great place to watch a game...
ReplyDeleteGibney's is a decent place to hang, but not ideal for watching a game.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to Viva Mar yet. It doesn't look that...well...nice. But I'll get there eventually. Please let me know if you go, I'd love to hear back.
Cronin & Phelan's didn't really excite me, but maybe I'll give it another shot.
It's nice to see that there's agreement that Cassidy's is a hole. I can't think of any other time where I've actively wished that a small business would go under.
I think I'll have to do an article about where the best game watching is. We'll have to start up a wiffle ball game soon.
I am so in for wiffle ball...Maybe we can even play a good old game of "Skully" afterwards.
ReplyDeletesunswick has a bunch of tvs and probably the best food/beer selection out of places to watch a game in astoria (food is a necessary component to watching games, it's true).
ReplyDelete(i actually watch most games at home because i shelled out for the extra innings package. either that, or i watch them at work, which has the directv version of the package -- that comes with wgn and other channels that don't show up on the cable version. do any bars in astoria advertise that they have extra innings? that tends to imply a greater commitment to game-watching by patrons.)
Sure. If by "kickin" you're referring to the owner beating up a woman, then you're right on target.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post much appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteLaby[big & tall suits]