Reincarnated

The title of this post could easily refer to what's happened to the former Corner Billiards. But I've been meaning to write about Blue and Gold since I started this blog, and now I can sort of kill two birds with one stone. Last weekend I stepped into B&G for the first time in I can't remember how long. I had forgotten how much I like playing there. I had been thinking about the place lately because my girlfriend Yvonne told me one of her former coworkers got hired at the reincarnation of B&G's former E. 7th Street neighbor, Bar 81, which has moved to Second Avenue and St. Marks Place and now goes by the name Bar 82. She told me Bar 82 has a pool table and so naturally it was only a day or two before I went for a visit (above). I wasn't disappointed. Yvonne (who is Polish) and I even stopped back in a couple nights later on my birthday, when we learned from the bartender on duty, Al, that the space occupies what was formerly a Ukrainian speakeasy. And, as everybody knows, that neighborhood still has a lot of Ukrainians whose native flag's colors are B&G's namesake. Bar 82 is going to do just fine. It's a massive increase in space from their old digs, which, as I remember, were a mirror opposite of the layout of B&G. The bar itself is really nice, with a sort of leather padding lining the length of it. And, its location more or less on St. Marks Place can't be beat. The establishment that has taken over the old Bar 81's space is now called Cafe 81. I never played pool in Bar 81, but I know it hosted a league team. Not sure where they went after it closed. Al did, however, mention that "they're going to come in on Mondays" (referring to a league team). The table appears to be like new and accepts both dollars and quarters ($1.50 per game). My only suggestion is perhaps to get some stools near the pool table, as well as some sort of ledge along the wall where drinks can be placed. Both times I've gone I've had to search around for a place to put my drink, resorting to putting it out of the way on the floor.

Curiously, I've noticed that one avenue block over from Bar 82, Continental seems to have gotten rid of its table. I can only imagine why. Perhaps the table takes up too much space, or perhaps somebody pulled a knife in a dispute. Doubtful, but I just wonder why one would go to the hassle of having one delivered, only to have it taken away a couple months later. Anybody's guess. Until I find out why, I'll post a few shots from my most recent trip to 7th Street: