Anonymous vs Regular: choosing from the repertoire

I've been meaning to write a little about one of my favorite pool bars, Doc Holliday's. Along with Sophies and Whiskey Ward, it's up on my top shelf of regular favorite places to play. At Doc's (above and at right), I've gradually shed my anonymity in exchange for handshakes and chit chat, with patrons as well as staff. The bartenders there have stopped asking me if I need quarters because they know I always bring some. There is a slightly amusing sketch factor at Doc's, as the parade of characters coming and going is endless. It runs the gamut from PBR-guzzling college students to old drunken men asleep at the bar. But I pretty much just stick to the pool table, where I know a few players well enough who will agree to play for a dollar or two per rack (of 9-ball, even). To me, Doc's is the quintessential "Road House" because it's as much a destination as it is a pit stop after the walk there.

Every time I'm headed toward Doc's, unless I'm coming from the west, I walk straight up Essex Street and cross Houston onto Avenue A. Along this route I pass by several pool bars, all of which I try not to frequent too much. Why? Because it's refreshing to go into a place and be a total stranger, nice to keep a low profile. I'm talking about places like Boss Tweed's, Welcome to the Johnson's, Nice Guy Eddie's, Julep, J.P. Warde's, Double Down, Cherry Tavern as well as my favorite place to avoid: Lucy's.

At Lucy's, which is a couple doors down from Doc's on Avenue A, there is a bit of an intimidation factor. Pool's presence in this bar is very palpable. Not just one table, but two. And not only that, a big one and a small one. I prefer one table and one list at a time. For every ten trips I make to the neighborhood I'll stop into Lucy's probably once. Still, walking by, the allure is pretty strong. Every time I look in I think, "Damn there's got to be some action in that bar." I haven't made any attempt to figure out who the best players are. I went in a couple Saturdays ago for probably my fifth time ever and quickly won a dollar in my first game. Then, with nobody next, I went outside for a few minutes to talk to the owner. Once I came back inside somebody was putting quarters into the table wanting to play his friend but I said it was my table. I let it go because the real reason I was there was to get a photograph (below). A very photogenic bar. Speaking of, I found this slide show of Lucy's digging around online.