The Skinny

Just a quick post from the "Wow, I've walked by that bar a million times and never noticed a pool table before" department. This is a bar called The Skinny, and it's on Orchard right near Stanton Street. That block of Orchard just below Houston has been a big construction mess for as long as I can remember. Keen readers of this blog will remember me writing about that block and the long-demolished Rivertown Lounge here and here. A couple weeks ago Yvonne and I took Aris to dinner at our new favorite Mexican restaurant, El Nuevo Amanecer, on Stanton and Essex. Afterwards, before Aris went back to his car to go back to New Jersey, he and I decided to grab a quick beer somewhere (not to play pool). So we stepped into the nearest place, which was The Skinny.

Yes, the bar obviously gets its name from the dimensions of the space: it's long and narrow. But the first thing I noticed is the lofty 20-foot ceilings. And the reason I'd never noticed a pool table before is because it's way up in its own little loft area at the back of the bar. If there hadn't been a couple up there playing when Aris and I walked in I probably wouldn't have thought to check. Needless to say we played a couple games, more or less so I could get some pictures for the blog. It's a little cramped up there around the pool table, but at least they have a couple short cues for when you're up against a rail. By far, the biggest draw is the cost, at $2 per game (bills only). I think I saw something, however, where it gives you an option of getting three games for five bucks. I'm pretty sure it was a Sunday night, so it was by no means crowded. The DJ was playing some excellent tunes (in particular, some old Rush) in a loft at the front of the bar, above the entrance. I don't see myself ever going back to The Skinny, solo, to challenge people at the pool table. But for when I'm with somebody else and we want to play pool without having to go onto some long list, The Skinny is a good bet.