Croton Reservoir Tavern

Summer living…when the temperature rises and so does my BAC. I don’t know what it is about the summer that leads me to crave happy hour more than any other season but I definitely can’t complain. Sure, rooftop bars are primetime but half the time I end up inside in a nice air-conditioned bar instead of even enjoying this weather. As the summer has come to an end, I have found myself enjoying every last second of it to the fullest. When my buddy Brett called me up saying he was having a goodbye happy hour (he quit his company) with some co-workers, I figured it was another good excuse for boozing. I was even more excited when he told me that we were heading to Croton Reservoir Tavern.

Getting toasy with my buddies Brett and Rex

I have been to CRT once before (an INAW First Friday) and had a freaking blast so I was excited to check it out again. CRT is a dual threat, the top floor consists of an upscale atmosphere perfect for an after-work drink with clients or old colleagues alike. However, don’t let the ambiance fool you from the mayhem below. Head downstairs to find a bar crowded with young professionals looking to get a little rowdy and let the stress of work disappear to the tune of loud music and cheap drinks.

I ended up going down and meeting my buddy and some of his co-workers who were already in the process of saying goodbye the only way they know how…by getting a little toasty. We quickly started off with several rounds (and shots) before heading into a rowdy game of Landmine. With in 45 minutes we had a table stacked with bottles and a group of 8 belligerent dudes trying to screw each other over. I really respect CRT for their diverse feel. Even though people were dancing around us, they never harassed us for turning out area into a drinking game lover’s haven. As the game came to an end, I realized I was pretty drunk and after another beer or two decided to head out of there. I definitely will be back to CRT for another happy hour soon.

The Landmine table starting to get a little full of "landmines"

Takeaways from Croton Reservoir Tavern
- Croton Reservoir Tavern is a definite happy hour winner for anyone working near Bryant Park. Impress your boss by taking them out for an after-work drink in the professional ambiance of the top floor. Then make up an excuse and go get rowdy with your friends downstairs!
- For the times you find yourself there outside of typical happy hour deals, take advantage of the INAW Deal: $3 Select Drafts 24/7. When I went it was Bud Lights (I think that is probably the standard) but I was fine with it considering the happy hour deal was $4 Bud Lights. Winner!
- I haven’t tried the food here ever (except for stealing a few homemade chips from someone at our table) but have heard good things from people who have ate here. Feel free to indulge in more than just the booze. Also, I remember seeing something about 80’s parties here before so keep an eye out for special events that they might be throwing on the weekends.

Traffic Bar

Field Day…those words will bring back fond memories of childhood for many in their early adulthood. When my company decided to do a summer outing based around a field day concept, I for one, was PUMPED. As competitive as I get, I knew it would be an interesting team building opportunity which would end up leading less to solid team building on the field and more towards solid

EVERYBODY STOP and look both ways before heading into Traffic!

team building at the bar. I work for an event planning company (conferences…I know glamorous) that is full of young 20-something-year-olds who always want to have a good time. So as I showed up to join the All-American Squad in what was sure to be straight domination (FAIL!), I knew I was in for an interesting night.

The games quickly ensued and the open bar quickly started flowing. From the Scavenger Hunt to the Water Balloon Toss to the Football Toss, everyone could not help but get a little into it. I myself ended up sand deep in fake coconuts trying to score points to help lead us to victory (Editors Note: Coconuts were worth about 1/8^th the points of the pink flamingo drink holders which I had ignored for the first 30 minutes before I realized this sad fact). In the end my team came in 6^th place of 9^th and I had nothing left to do but close out the open bar in style. At the end, 3 Hours of open bar lead most of the “young 20-something-year-olds” I previously described to one conclusion…we need to keep drinking. In came Traffic Bar.

After heading up, we mixed into the post-work crowd that you will find in Turtle Bay when it isn’t Hofstra Night or the B&T Convention. I had never been to Traffic before but was surprised at the nice ambiance it offered. Offering two floors of dimly lit space, we decided to take over some area in the back of the first floor. Traffic has one of those refined looks to it that places it somewhere in between a dive bar and a lounge in my mind. The music was bumping and we enjoyed ourselves over some drinks. I got a beer from a buddy of mine and then decided to try and bust out the INAW card for some specials.

The bartender hesitated at first when I showed my card but quickly offered up the $18 Bucket of Coors Light that all INAW members receive with their cards. I took it back to the group and let the good times ensue. With people showing up left and right from the outing, we drank and embraced the good times that our outing had offered us. Realizing that I had to try and close some sales the next day, I decided that Drinking from 3pm to 10pm was all I needed and made my final move of the night, back home. Quality Company Party…you’re damn right but the fact that we ended at an I’m Not at Work bar afterwards made the irony of the situation perfect.

Too much booze? Maybe...

Takeaways from Traffic Bar
- Traffic has the disadvantage (in my mind) to be located in Turtle Bay. I tend not to frequent that area due to a strong collection of people I don’t want to party with. With that being said, I was shocked to find that they had a fun crowd that mixed in well with our group. Kudos Traffic for your diversity in the heartland of under aged Hofstrians!
- Traffic has a lot of space to mix around in so if the downstairs is crowded, definitely check out the upstairs. When I went, it was pretty crowded downstairs buts wide open upstairs offering a lot of extra space for those that hate tight areas.
- For INAW Members, the following deals are in play 24/7: $5 Mixed Wells, $5 Apple Martinis, $5 Cosmos, $18 Bucket of Coors Lights and $30 Buckets of Coors/Wings. I don’t typically drink Appletinis or Cosmos often but that seems like a pretty good deal for the ladies. Also, any bar that offers wings into the mix of their specials is good in my books. Might have to check them out during football season

Amity Hall

Recently, I started a new job and have been trying to be on my best behavior (aka no boozing during the week). Yet, once Thursdays roll around, I can’t resist the urge to go out and have a few brewskies like I don’t have to be at work the next day. I guess they call it Thirsty Thursday for a reason. So last Thursday, after I got a text around 2 pm inquiring about happy hour plans for the evening I decided it was time to check out a new INAW bar and scoured the website for a good one. I have yet to be to an extended happy hour type spot so my friends and I decided to go with Amity Hall to see what NY’s only Beer Hall was all about.

The view from outside.

I arrived a little before happy hour ended so ordered up a beer without busting out the card at first. Next one up, 8 o’clock had rolled past and the waitress gave me a puzzled look when I brought out the card. After asking her manager, she realized we were right (as always) and was happy to offer us the 2-hour extended happy hour. Amity Hall has a pretty good beer selection and their happy hour specials are a nice change of pace from the typical $4 bud type drinks I see a lot of time. However, if you are a fan of those lovely domestics, they are $4 24/7 with the INAW card.

We hung out downstairs most of the time drinking and grabbing some grub however Amity Hall is an awesome 2^nd floor as well. We didn’t notice it until we were getting ready to leave but this dual-story “Beer Hall” definitely has a lot of room to mingle. The crowd was perfect with a good amount of people there raging throughout happy hour. Unlike a lot of the other spots I go to in the West 4^th area is had a good mix of newly 21 year olds and post-college workaholics like myself. This spot is definitely legit and I have a feeling that I will bring this establishment up more often when my friends try to figure out where to go after a game of pong at Off the Wagon.

Their Happy menu (extended until 10pm for INAW members) offers a nice variety

Takeaways from Amity Hall
-I definitely prefer their extended happy hour deal but if you find yourself here at a random hour, you can still enjoy $4 buds, millers and Coor’s Lights. You also can get $5 well drink 24/7 as well.
-Take advantage of their $10 burger and a beer special during the week as well. We got some grub when we were there and the Lamb Burger (think Gyro) was a huge hit. The rest of the grub we got was delicious as well so take advantage of their eclectic menu.
-After hitting up most of the usual spots in that area, Amity Hall definitely offers a nice change of pace with an awesome wait staff and cool crowd. Not all NYU bars were created in collegiate cookie-cutter fashion like it may seem. Amity Hall definitely breaks the West 4^th Mold in a refreshing manner.

What do you mean you have never heard of I’m Not at Work?

As most of you know I have been on a quest to hit every I’m Not at Work special up throughout the city. Sounds easy right? Well you know, not counting the damage to my liver! One problem…I keep running into bartenders (or waitresses) who have no idea what I am talking about when I get to the bar. I would guess that 1 out of every 6 times I have tried to use my card I have heard the following phrase: “I’m sorry, I have never seen that card before. What is I’m Not at Work?” Naturally, all I can think is ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?!?!? (Note: I believe at all times I should have any discount I was told about honored…Yes, I am that cheap)

Now keep in mind, it is not the bartender/waitress’ fault most of the time. Turnover in the restaurant/bar industry can be high and the owners/managers obviously aren’t thinking about I’m Not at Work when they first train a new hire. Some of the better venues have the specials written out somewhere or even have a key on the register that has the deal listed making it easier for the bartenders to learn. Although, that is not always the case. Either way, you have to be able to get around any obstacles in your way and get your card honored so here are a few tips that I have picked up in my travels to help you out when you run into a clueless bartender.

1) Always pre-empt pulling out your card by asking the bartender/waitress if they are familiar with I’m Not at Work
2) If they don’t know what you are talking about it, explain it to them (it’s a 24/7 Happy Hour service throughout NYC and your bar is one of the participating venues). It also doesn’t hurt to tell them their deal.
3) If they still don’t believe you, try and show them. I have a Smart Phone (like most normal people these days) so bust our your phone and go to the site to show them their deals.
4) If they are STILL being a dick about it, ask them to go talk to their manager.

Most of the time, you will not have to get to the process of asking for their manager but if need be, always go that route. Only one time did I get denied but it was all just miscommunication and in the end, I went back another day and they are honored the deals and even threw a few free beers my way for the inconvenience. Remember people, not everyone on their staff will be familiar with the program, so don’t get ashamed and give up if they don’t recognize your card right off the bat. You paid for the membership fee and you WILL get your money’s worth…as long as you play your cards right!

Drink on fellow INAW members.

Stay tuned for another review next week while I continue stomping my way through NYC’s finest establishments.

East End Bar & Grill

Wow…I have seriously sucked lately, haven’t I? My apologies fellow INAW lovers. As we all know, summer tends to involve vacations, parties and just more of a laid back kind of attitude. Mine has been no exception. After drinking my way through the south, I am now back in NYC and getting as rowdy as ever. My quest to conquer every I’m Not at Work Bar is now back in gear and I promise to do my best to keep banging these posts out as quickly as possible. And on that note, let’s quit my bullshit excuses and talk about one of my new favorite local bars…

Who doesn’t like discovering a diamond in the rough? You truly feel great when you find that nearby bar that has some awesome deals, a killer staff and a great vibe. Recently, I had found one by my apartment and it went by the name of the East End Bar and Grill. After about four seperate occasions enjoying myself there, I found out a game-changer…they were an I’m Not at Work bar! As you all know, I love my INAW bars so I was jacked up to find out that they participated.

I first went there to grab some wings with a buddy after hearing about their deliciousness. Let me tell you something, the hype

These smiling faces know they are getting some BOMB wings

did not lead to disappointment. With 14 different flavors, I recommend the Sampler (20 wings with 4 types) to split with a friend. I have now tried around 10 flavors and love finding the new one that just tickles my taste buds. Not only are their sauces delicious but they have meaty wings that fill you up. Even better, their wings are half off during select night time hours on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Now if wings aren’t your deal, don’t stress. I noticed quite a bit of other grub that looked delightful too…one of these days I might even order something other than the wings.

For those who aren’t enticed to a bar by the food, The East End is like a lot of other UES Bars where they try and recruit a certain crowd by offering tables for beer pong, blasting music and keeping close quarters. When I say that…I DON’T MEAN THAT IN A BAD WAY. It is a lively venue that I have seen bumping most times I go whether there is a game on, it is a Friday night or a Sunday Funday. Hell I even had a great Sunday Funday there where it was a little quieter (think 15 people) but the bartender hooked up the drinks and just BUMPED 90’s Hip Hop and R&B. Nobody could control themselves and a dance party obviously ensued. I love the East End and it has definitely worked its way into my rotation. I highly suggest going whether you want some solid brews, good food or great times with friends.

About 1/2 of their bottle selection, not shown are some abita, lagunitas, flying dog and more

Takeaways from the East End Bar & Grill

-The East End Bar & Grill offer $3 Pints of Coors Lights 24/7. Grab a few but definitely mix it up with their lively group of beers. They have numerous Bottles that deserve a try or two during your stay there. They also offer a free open bar on your Birthday (mine passed while I was on vacation but otherwise I probably would have tried to convince my friends to join me here).
-The bartenders are all awesome in their own way. I have dealt with several and they have always hooked me up in random fashions so make sure to tip well because they have an awesome staff. Also, if you love Syracuse then this bar is for you. They seem to be a Syracuse bar and I am sure that during game days they get rowdy.
-Don’t let the area fool you. This a great bar stuck in a not-as-awesome area to go out in (86^th and 1^st). If you are in the area though, definitely check it out. You might be surprised by what you find.

Get Real NY Belgian Beer Festival

**Guest Blogger**

Hey Everyone,

Our Blogger/Brand Manager, Ric Dexter, is busy partying around the country. Although he’s out having fun, he missed one of the best Beer Festivals that NYC has to offer and I have the privilege of telling you about my experience.

Festival Glasses awaiting their rightful owners

This weekend, our friends from Get Real NY (including Patrick from Rattle ‘N’ Hum and Andy from WinedAndDined.com), put on another successful event. Just as they pulled off with the Get Real Cask Festival earlier this year (check out Ric’s coverage of that fest here), they managed to fill the Altman Building with an incredible selection of beers, food, great music, and most importantly…no lines!

Yes, this is a beautiful site!

This cannot be understated; a beer fest without lines is like a crack house without crack…it just doesn’t happen. The experts from Get Real NY have simple formula that works…charge a little more and sell a lot less tickets to the event. While you may pay more for your ticket, you are guaranteed to try a ton of beers and fill your belly with some excellent grub (Shrimp on Garlic Bread from Luke’s Lobsters, Oysters from Eddie Oysters, Belgian Waffles from Petite Abeille, Cheese from Murray’s and more)…

Team INAW Representing!

Now about the beer…Belgian Beer is an acquired taste but at a festival like this you really have the rare opportunity to find the perfect beer for you. Some of my favorites came from the “Home Brew Corner,” where several home brewers were generous enough to bring their creations for festival goers to sample. Throughout the festival there were over 100 beers ranging from Belgian IPAs to Saisons to Belgian Stouts, and everyone at the fest had a great time trying as many as they could handle.

Even the naked cowboy had a great time!

If you missed this one, Get Real NY has an excellent schedule lined up…so mark your calendars and keep an eye out for special coupon codes for all of our loyal readers!
-Get Real Cask Ale Festival: September 17-18
-All American Craft Ale Festival: September 23-24

Ric will be back soon…but if it means that I can attend and cover more of these festivals, he can take his time!

-Mike
Co-founder, ImNotAtWork.com

Deweys Flatiron

I am one hell of a competitive bastard. YES…I will admit it. If I lose, I not only want to murder my entire team but I need several strong drinks (or multiple handfuls of weaker ones) to calm me down. Is that so wrong??? Well last month, when my company had a charity scavenger hunt, I knew that I had to lead my team to victory. After taking all the necessary pictures with our bananas (The charity day is called Go Bananas Day), my team hustled back to Deweys Flatiron where the finish line was to claim our prize. However, when I arrived I found an empty bar (it was 3:30 on a work day) and no HR reps there to help me secure the win. I WAS PISSED. Turns out….the HR Reps thought no team could do the whole scavenger hunt within an hour (WE DID) and when they showed up 5 other teams were waiting in the wings with me all claiming to have won. In the end, my team may have lost because of shotty management but God Damn if I weren’t going to make the best of the situation. The finish line was an I’m Not at Work Bar and I planned on chugging my pains of defeat away.

The Winning Squad...Don't Believe what my HR team might have said.

Cue Deweys Flatiron. A little bar right by 230 Fifth in the heart of the Flatiron District, Deweys Flatiron is the perfect happy hour spot for anyone looking to unwind (whether from work or defeat in a charity event). When we got there, the place was empty, but as soon as 5 o’clock rolled around, the place filled up! I quickly grabbed a $10 pitcher for my teammates and I and began unwinding. The bartenders were cool and even threw some free shots our way throughout the night. We eventually moved to an upstairs area that offered a second bar and even more space. I am not sure if this is open all the time or just because we reserved it for a party but it was a chill spot to hang out in so don’t feel restricted to the downstairs (you know…unless it actually is a private space).

My co-workers and I relaxed and enjoyed drinks there for a few hours. One of my favorite parts was that since I was the only I’m Not at Work member; I was getting killer specials that nobody else was (and showing off of course). In the end though, the best part was that Deweys was taking a dollar from each drink we purchased and donating it to the charity of my company’s choosing so BIG UPS to Deweys Flatiron for doing the right thing. After about 5 pitchers and some free shots, I decided to retire from the bar (before I started drunkenly rambling about how I was cheated out of victory…Okay maybe I had already started at that point) and head on home. Deweys Flatiron is definitely legit and I am sure I will be back there in the future.

Takeaways from Deweys Flatiron
-With your INAW card, you get $10 Bud and Miller pitchers along with 10% off food 24/7. I didn’t try the food but from what I saw, it looked pretty good so if anyone has had it, let me know if it is worth it.
-Any bar willing to host my company’s charity event is good in my book. The simple fact that they were willing to pitch in a few bucks as well just shows that they have some legit ownership that believes in a good cause like curing cancer. Or participating as an INAW bar to help relieve some pressure on our wallets!
-Regardless of whom my HR rep may have deemed the victors in that situation, I know that my flawless leadership led my team to a victory (medals or not). I think we need to get some sort of I’m Not at Work contest going where we can challenge each other and I can guide a bunch of drunk young individuals (like myself AND YOU) to a big time W. MAKE IT HAPPEN FOLKS!!!

The Overlook

Everyone has that bar that their company always tends to gravitate towards for happy hour. Sometimes it is because of proximity to their office, sometimes it’s because of the drink specials…and sometimes it is a factor of both. For my company, The Overlook has always seemed to be that spot. Located about a block away from our office and offering 2-for-1’s every day for happy hour (ends at 6pm), our group never seemed to need a different spot. For a goodbye happy hour for one of my co-workers, it only seemed fit to hit up our favorite happy hour spot.

I broke my phone and lost all the pics from that shindig....so here goes some random pics from the past at overlook

The overlook is a 2-story sports bar that in the heart of midtown east (44^th in between 2^nd and 3^rd) that as you may have guessed features an outdoor area overlooking the street. Although the view may not be as glamorous as high-class spots like 230 fifth, the patio definitely offers are a great alternative to sitting inside on a nice day. I headed over there with some co-workers around 5ish to take advantage of the 2-for-1’s and say goodbye to a great co-worker in proper fashion…over lots of booze. We quickly made our way outside and ordered up a grip of drinks. After conversating and boozing, the normal happy hour quickly ended and I decided to bust out my INAW card to keep it going.

The Overlook offers a 2-for-1 24/7 for your first drink along with a b-day special. Since it wasn’t my birthday, I decided to try and take advantage of the 2-for-1 by moving to the downstairs bar and hoping they didn’t notice I had been there for near an hour already. After ordering from the bartender who wasn’t aware of the deal, one of the owners who was nearby walked over and told him about the card. Voila – another 2-for-1 courtesy of I’m Not at Work. The owner was pretty excited to see the card and even offered me a free Tecate to shotgun with him (I obviously obliged and was quickly destroyed in the shotgunning contest). For the low price of $6, I got two Stellas to bring back upstairs to enjoy with the rest of the group along with a free Shotgun…not too shabby. After some more drinks and good laughs, I left the bar to enjoy the rest of my Friday night. Even after 2 years…the Overlook always leaves us coming back. Check it out and you might be pleasantly surprised at what you will find in Midtown East.

Takeaways from the Overlook

-While 2-for-1’s on your first drink may not be the craziest INAW deal available, the Overlook has a killer happy hour offering that all the time. It also doesn’t hurt that they have some kickass owners that are always around looking to please their customers. They also feature a Name Night where you drink free for a couple of hours if your name is the name of the day. I drank free one time because of it, totally worth it.
-Not only is the booze good but the Overlook features a solid menu. They have been consistently voted top 10 in NYC for their fries and I can say with confidence that it is for good reason.
-I was a little worried when the bartender seemed to have no idea of what INAW was but when the owner quickly came over, it helped put me at ease. If you are ever there and the bartender isn’t familiar with the card (apparently they have a lot of guest bartenders), ask them to check with Mark or Jeff (the owners) and I am sure they will hook you up.

It was Ric during the NameNight so of course i had to rock out with some free drinks

May First Friday at SideBAR

Most of you reading are card members (I assume) so you shouldn’t be surprised that I decided to check out the SideBAR for the I’m Not at Work First Friday Open Bar. I try and make it to as many of these as possible for the simple fact that I love (a) free booze and (b) seeing all my friends who are also card members in one place. Granted not everyone can make each open bar due to previous plans or being out of town (my usual excuse since I travel for work) but in the end it doesn’t matter because I know I will always see at least a handful of familiar faces looking to get boozed up with me on the bar’s dime.

The ladies were getting down...I couldn't help but be jealous!

I started Friday night by attending a co-workers goodbye happy hour at the Overlook so I was already nice and boozed up by the time I got there. After stumbling around Union Square for a while, I knew I found the bar when I spotted a grip of people hanging out on the sidewalk patio. The SideBAR is a cool little spot that features 2 separate rooms with 2 different bars. Someone told me that the other room was called FrontBAR but I still can’t tell if they were just messing with me. Either way, they both offer a more upscale feel while still keeping the casual ambiance of Union Square bars in tact. The TVs had some games on it while good music played in the background to make for a great overall setting…I would say it is definitely one of the classier sports bars I have been to.

My roommate had two friends visiting for her bday so we all met up there and got our drink on (I totally snuck them some bracelets). Vodka Sodas and Whiskey & Cokes were ordered up from a waitress who was on her serious hustle even knowing that we were getting free booze. We downed the drinks and hung out in a nice cushioned corner catching up a bit. The usual suspects I always see were also there (along with some new, awesome folks as well) so of course I had to mingle a bit. I am not one to be shy from a conversation so the fact that this place was bumping made me enjoy it even more. The bartenders were cool, our waitress was a badass and the company was even better…not a bad start to my Friday Night. Before I could even realize it the hour had ended but the place was still kicking so we stayed around for a bit. After about another hour of schmoozing and boozing, it was time to head out to get ready and celebrate my Roomie’s Bday Weekend. As we left, I bid SideBAR adieu knowing that I would definitely check this spot out again.

Reppin' INAW...yeah I had a few too many

Takeaways from the SideBAR
-Even before the INAW Open Bar started up, this place was bumping. It definitely seems like a great happy hour spot to check out in the future.

-Look out for your waitress and she will repay the favor…even after the 8 o’clock bell rang, she brought over 4 fresh drinks since we had been tipping her well. You got to love any spot that has a wait staff who understands how to please a customer.

-When you aren’t drinking for free due to an open bar, SideBAR offers INAW members 10% off their bills 24/7. I wish I realized that once I rang up that $75 shot tab after 8pm. I guess I probably shouldn’t have drank that much…Yeaaaaah Righhtttttt…..

Hope to see you all at next month’s First Friday…wherever it may be!