Where love (and booze) calls you by name
“Where everyone knows your name,” isn’t just a corny cliché from that ‘must-see’ sitcom of days gone by. At No Idea Bar (30 W 20th St, NYC), it’s an actual fact. Every night is a different ‘name night’. If your name matches the one on the calendar (or reasonably close), you drink for free from 5:00 to 11:00. To distinguish the freebies from the payees the bar uses yellow plastic cups. So, if you are holding a yellow cup, then everyone knows your name.
Founded in 1992, No Idea is a fine old American pub with a large, carved oak bar, and loaded with character as are much the patrons. There’s a pool room in the back, a party room off to the side and a jukebox loaded with music. The beer is always cold and mixed drinks are served in pint-sized glasses by an always friendly bar staff. Be careful where you stand in the summer as certain points under the air ducts are like standing in a wind tunnel.
I’ve been here a few times. Last week I was for here ‘Nelson Night’. Since it’s not a name that comes up often, I thought it would be a fun treat for my buddy Nelson of the band clueLess. I had gotten there early and was chatting with a lovely, sweet bartender named Anna about living and driving in NY vs. LA and the best cell phone to get when you have relatives in London. When I asked if ‘Nelson’ would be a popular name tonight, she joked that a few old guys would probably be in. I told her to repeat that when my buddy showed up. And she did. And we laughed.
Fast forward about a week later and it was ‘Steve Night’ … my night. Well, mine and a gaggle of others. After all, it is a fairly common name. Anna was not here and, I’m sorry to say that after a few yellow cups of spirit, I forgot the names of those serving me. But all was fine as several friends were there to greet me. Some were Steves and others were not. Steve Morgan and John Knutsen who were with me in Ireland last year were there as was Sean Murphy of MurphGuide.com and that same trip.
Check out No Idea Bar’s Calendar to see if your name is on there. Names are generally chosen at random. However, as you frequent the bar, your chances of getting a night may either increase or decrease depending on what type of customer you are. You should stop on by whether it’s your name night or not but, if you are blessed with a name night remember two very important rules.
- Bring friends. Those arriving alone will not drink for free.
- Tip your bartender. A good habit no matter what night it is.
I met several new faces including a Steve from England who was all happy and having fun until the American-style, free-poured drinks apparently got to him. He took a little nap in the pool room. As the night drew to a close, I met several more new faces. Some names I remember, others have gone lost in a booze induced cloud. Let’s see, there was Jaime and Julie who were playing pool and Teague (pronounced ‘tig’).
Three Happy Steves @ No Idea Bar
One Sleepy Steve
Julie, Teague and I ended up at a place where I have not been for years; The Wilton House (58 Newark St, Hoboken). As bartender Jack and I caught up on old times and the crowd I used to hang with, Julie and Teague fed money into the jukebox. Jack was telling me about his adventures in Toronto and we traded some tales about various local businesses and Hoboken folks.
Sipping on the Wilton House’s famously cold (and cheap) beer—so cold it feels as though your lips will stick to the mug—brought back many great memories. Chatting with new friends and reminiscing with Jack brought a pleasant end to the evening.
See Also:
No Idea Bar
