Monday: Still Stompin' in The West Village
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the grove street stompers
Visit two of the oldest establishments in Greenwich Village and check out the band that's owned Monday night for over half a century.
STOP 1
pom poms hanging from the wagon wheel chandeliers on a monday in late may (not a normal fixture). the grill man speculated they were left up from cinco de mayo, or maybe just for spring, but nobody knew for sure.
Julius'
First, grab some dinner at Julius'. Opening in 1840 as a grocery store, Julius' began serving suds in 1864. It hosted jazz musicians and literary figures as a speakeasy during prohibition and is also one of the the oldest gay bars in New York. Gay clientele began convening at Julius' in the 1950's and in 1966 staged a "Sip-In", demanding service when the law of the land denied homosexuals the right to assemble. Today, you'll find men and women chatting at the bar and watching MSNBC.
$6.00 Burger with LTO
History is hewn into every surface at Julius'. The heavily weathered tables are fabricated from old beer barrels sourced from the former Jacob Ruppert Brewery, which opened in Yorkville during the 19th century but closed in 1965. These are perfect for enjoying a very solid $5 burger ($5.50 with cheese) cooked on a small grill right inside the barroom. Skip the overly greasy onion rings, which are fused together and resemble deep fried dock lines. Unless you like Bud, Bud Light and Rolling Rock, all $3 during happy hour, order a pint from the limited but adequate draft list for $7 (well drinks are 1/2 price during HH).
STOP 2
After dinner, head over to Arthur's Tavern, another relic from the 1930's that continues to feature live jazz and blues performances and, according to the venue's website, regularly hosted Charlie Parker back in the day.
Arthur's tavern
Monday evenings at Arthur's feature the Grove Street Stompers, who have been performing sets of dixieland jazz on the small tavern stage since 1962. The pianist Bill Dunham, now in his 80's, is the founder and last remaining member of the original band that started the longest running residency in New York history. Along with his fellow Stompers, Dunham continues to entertain crowds of locals and tourists from all over the world. On a recent evening, Peter Ballance, the trombone playing spring chicken of the group (he's now in his mid-seventies), greeted an old friend from overseas in the audience: "What are you doing here and where are the ladies?!?"
UPDATE: The incomparable Bill Dunham passed away on January 11, 2016. He will be missed. Thank you for all the incredible years at Arthur's.
The Stompers continue to play every Monday evening.
RECAP:
- Julius': A laid back, historic gay bar serving cheap and tasty burgers.
- Arthur's Tavern: Prohibition era bar and performance space hosting The Grove Street Stompers every Monday night for over a half century.
ESSENTIAL INFO:
-Julius' is located at 159, West 10th Street, Manhattan. Arthur's Tavern is located at 57 Grove Street, Manhattan.
-Total Cost: About $40 per person for dinner and a drink at Julius', drinks at Arthur's and tip for the band. Tax and gratuity included.
-Happy Hour at Julius' is from 5:00-9:00PM, Monday - Saturday. Order your food at the grill counter across from the bar.
-The Grove Street Stompers hit at 7:00PM and play until 10:00PM.
-No cover charge for The Stompers at Arthur's Tavern, though a tip bucket is passed around between sets. There is, however, a loosely enforced two drink minimum during the performance. Nothing fancy behind the bar and while the drinks are pricey, it's a reasonable cost of admission.
-Arthur's Tavern is cash only.
