lonely tables

Playerless pool tables, as promised. Above is 119 Bar. Located on E. 15th Street just off of Union Square, it's a staple for Irving Plaza concert attendees. Even though it's not one of my go-to bars, I like stopping in when I'm in the area. I've played there countless times and have always had a good time. They have a well-worn chalkboard for putting your name up, and it makes the wait to play virtually painless. I look forward to my next visit there.

Over to Third Avenue and down a few blocks is Bar None. I've never played pool there, but I recently came across a picture I took July 3, 2002, of a cigarette hanging on the edge of the Bar None pool table. I've walked by here a lot recently and next time I see some folks playing I'm going to stop in and take them on.

Below is a picture from Hanger, located on E. 3rd Street between Avenue B and C. I photographed this bar for the Village Voice in 2004 after it opened. They have since acquired a pool table, which is always good news. Unfortunately, it is impossibly dim in there. This picture tells it all.

Finally, a photograph from 40C, at 40 Avenue C near 3rd. After this photo caught my attention, I had to seek it out. After asking around, I finally found it. I'm all for the back room of a bar being devoted to a pool table, as I was expecting to be the case there. But the first thing I noticed was that the table had been moved out toward the middle of the bar. A good thing? It definitely appears to fill the space nicely. But I'll have to go back and spend some time there when more people are around.