Monday, February 21, 2011

American Trash: R.I.P. 1988-2011

Updated 2/21/11:
From an anonymous post in the comments section: "They are still negotiating with buyers. They just haven't signed on the dotted line yet. So,in the meantime the doors will stay open. Hopefully, the new owners will keep the bar the same and just enhance it! "

Updated 2/15/11:
So even after two "closing parties", they are still "open for now". If I hear anything else, I will share it here, but I am not going to go chasing this story.

Updated: 2/9/11

My sources tell me that the bar has negotiated with the landlord to stay open another week. Closing night is now scheduled for Saturday, February 12, 2011. See facebook invitation.

American Trash NYC

Tonight Saturday is closing night at American Trash. After 22 1/2 years of defying the odds (a biker bar on the upper east side?), they will be pouring their last shots tonight this Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011.

My favorite memory of the place was when MurphGuide sponsored the Gotham Girls Roller Derby Jeerleaders tailgate party. My friend Sam helped me hand out MurphGuide t-shirts to GGDR fans. Sam was thrilled that we got to meet GGDR legend Suzy Hot Rod's dad. He was such a nice man. When Sam offered to buy him a drink, he accepted a ginger ale. And I befriended jeerleader Minnie Pearl Haggard, who entertained the crowd with her fire eating skills (see video below).

Monday, February 7, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Closing Night
RSVP via facebook
at:
American Trash
1471 First Ave. (between 76th & 77th St.)
New York, NY
NYCAmericantrash.com

Below is a clip of Minnie Pearl Haggard performing her fire eating tricks at a Gotham Girls Roller Derby tailgate party, hosted by the GGRD Jeerleaders, held at American Trash. Not shown in this clip was what happened next: after the act, a bar patron tried to help douse the flames...with newspaper! As you could imagine, newspaper is a very bad flame retardant. The bartender finally had to unleash the fire extinguisher, sending patrons into the street for fresh air.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Way too many memories from over the years...a few I don't remember thanks to some of the most amazing bartenders in NYC. Sitting at the bar talking to Jim Leyritz all night and meeting Nancy B & Klausie Boy rank up there. Gonna be missed for sure.

Anonymous said...

Good riddance, many years too late. I used to live at 76th and 1st, and lost many nights of sleep to the loud bikes.

Unknown said...

@ Anonymous - Nerd!

Anonymous said...

The time they announced they were closing & then never actually closed... oh wait!

Anonymous said...

Paulie Morgan, the original rat bastard behind the bar, my beautiful Triumph and Charlie the cute Englishman who I'm still searching for.....Rachel

Anonymous said...

Funny, it was open tonight when I stopped by. Check them facts, Murph.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
MurphGuide.com said...

Thanks for the note, "anonymous".
I checked them facts and learned that closing night is now scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 12.

I also heard that there are negotiations going on with potential buyers. So we'll see what happens...

Anonymous said...

They are still negotiating with buyers. They just haven't signed on the dotted line yet. So,in the meantime the doors will stay open. Hopefully, the new owners will keep the bar the same and just enhance it!