And let's recall this story from Goggla from 2009:
"A gaggle of girls came in to Mars Bar. One ordered a watermelon-flavored vodka with soda. By some chance, the watermelon was in stock, but had probably been sitting there for years.
She was horrified to find fruit flies in her drink and sent it back. The bartender held the glass to the light and just said, 'Huh.'
Another patron recommended the girl get a beer since that comes in sealed bottles. She insisted on a fresh drink from the same vodka. There were flies in the bottle.
We cheered and said that was lucky, but she walked out, leaving her jaw on the floor behind her."
19 comments:
Ha. I can just imagine the conversations about authenticity and grittiness flying around that place.
"Um. Like. Did you know that like the Bowery used to be like this really authentic place. I mean like people used to buy like heroin right on this corner and like homeless people slept right out on the street."
"And there was this bar like called the Mars Bar. Yeah, that's where these photos were taken. I like went in there once and it was like tots real. I mean this one guy had like no teeth and had probably been drinking there since noon. Becky totally ordered a watermelon vodka and it had like flys in it. O.M.G. it was like so nasty and the bartender was so rude. I'm glad they tore it down. It was tots bringing the property values down around here. So like where are you summering this year. I tots can't wait to go to the Hamptons"
Puke!
Ehh---no---don't recognize anybody.
you don't know how much i wish i could have been a fly on that wall.
If anybody should have a Mars Bar photo exhibit it should be Goggla, she's got the definitive photos of Mars Bar.
Marty, agreed. can we make that happen? surely we can find a gallery in the neighborhood to launch a truly authentic Mars Bar show.
what do you think?
I think I may be allergic to Blue & Cream. I couldn't go in after seeing this and this. It's like there was some sort of magnetic or force field that prevented me from going in. Sorry. Besides, I wasn't wearing no khakis, blazers, pink shirts, nor my hair is blonde. I also doubt that they'd have let me in my authentic derelict attire. Next time, I'll suck it up.
@Jeremiah: Let's try to make this happen, maybe it shouldn't be in a gallery, but some place that is more Mars Bar like. Anybody have any thoughts?
Marty, i'm all over it. i really want to make this happen. just got in touch with a Mars Bar regular and artspace owner--we'll see what he says.
I dropped by the Blue & Cream show last night. I was thinking that it might make for a good comic. But I found the group so depressing that I didn't really want to hang around. Basically it looked like a group of publicists at the end of a very long day. A bar (a long card table covered by a white cloth) had been set up with alcohol on one side and bottles of water on the other. The publicists were standing inert, mostly carrying the bottled water. A DJ had just started playing. The song choice was "Another One Hits the Dust." A tall man at the door was checking IDs. No one appeared to be looking at photos. Then again, I got there early. Maybe the art appreciation started later. -Kate
thanks Kate for that report. it really does sound like a satire.
I might have gone inside, but I was sick and wearing gym clothes and was kind of put off by the sight of the bouncers/doormen.
You guys are too nice. I've thought about doing a show, but a one-person Mars show wouldn't feel right. The place was known for its many artists and personalities, so I think a group show would be appropriate. There are several photographers out there who have some fantastic portraits.
I was also thinking it might be fun to build a faux-thentic Mars replica somewhere and fill it with the photos. I don't know where, but Le Petite Versailles did an exhibition one summer where a guy rebuilt his apartment in the garden, so there are possibilities...
I went for over an hour. I just blogged the horror. It was not funny..it was just depressing. I even have video! I may never recover fully.
if you happen to do this, you should involve some other mars photographers. maybe francesca romeo (exbartender) and ellen dontknowlastname (also exbartender). theres a bunch of others too - in all the years past (ie: not just the last 5).
I should have gone and taken photos of people at the gallery buying photos of people sitting at Mars Bar. Then I'd put those photos up for sale at the new Mars Bar.
It would take Stephen Hawking years to figure out the quantum mechanics of such a thing.
i have been asking the same question for years: when will people pick up & move out from the LES? before the turn of the century, more like mid 19th century there were mansions on 2nd ave. those were destroyed, & apt houses built. then the area became a haven for poor immigrants. like both sides of my family. they got out. then it became a place for poor latinos & blacks. then a place for artists as well. now we are going back to mid 19th century. i dont like those glass towers, but now the wealth is coming in. things shift, & its time to leave. when & where will this migration happen? rich have fled from poor, middle class from minority groups, artists from un affordable areas etc. who will be the next pioneer? who knows, this could be the start of something new.
mars photo show: if you do this, do it ONCE then let it die. you dont want a replay of the 'andy' thing or the 'maxes' thing.
laura said...
"i have been asking the same question for years: when will people pick up & move out from the LES?"
GENIUS...where would you want us to move out to?
unclewaltie, there are many areas in brooklyn queens etc. take your pick. east harlem is more convenient. west harlem has come up & i read of new people moving in. of cause if you own a nice place in the LES or rent for a good price, then stop complaining.
"east harlem is more convenient. west harlem has come up"
Convenient, hmmm. You sound as if our neighborhoods are these nice experiments for people. There is plenty of heart and soul being ripped out of them.
Also, why should people move if they don't want to. Why can't someone fight to stay in a community they have love for years and years?!
Post a Comment