By Max Kyburz
When you combine one of New Haven’s best bars with an organization responsible for the most kick ass shows in Connecticut, you’ve got yourself a hell of a Wednesday night. Best of all, it’s free.
The renowned BAR, located on Crown Street (which hosts Gotham and the now-defunct Hula Hanks), has been a staple of New Haven cuisine and nightlife since 1991. Why is it so special? Its classic, non-glitzy tavern-style appearance, for one, but two things make it stand out above all the rest: pizza and beer. If you haven’t already sampled either of BAR’s tasty treats, know they are not simply hocking Bud Light and Celeste. All the baking is done on the premises, and they’ve been micro-brewing since 1996, boasting themselves as “the place for any and all in downtown New Haven.”
Upon entering, you’re bound to be distracted at first by BAR’s equally delectable sights and smells. To your left, you have the Front Room, a classically outfitted bar with pool tables and flatscreens. It’s basically a beer snob’s version of Elmers. It’s widely stretched to avoid claustrophobia and the weathered walls are adorned with art. What’s more, the Front Room hosts the finest brews BAR has to offer. My particular favorite is the appropriately named Damn Good Stout, well worth the five dollar asking price. Also, you can grab a mug of their delicious hot apple cider (spike it with Jameson for a couple extra bucks). Yes, the place is a little pricey, but you won’t be sorry.
If you wish to make the affair more intimate, you may want to venture into the BruRoom, where you can grab a pie (or a slice after 11pm) of their brick oven pizza, fire roasted to perfection. The set-up is your classic pizza joint set up, except with a more London-influenced panache. The BruRoom’s many booths and tables enjoy a great widescreen view of the outside, reminding patrons to enjoy the great city of New Haven while they sample its eclectic culture.
Manic Productions, also based in New Haven, has been Connecticut’s harbinger of underground music since 2002. They’ve helped bring both legends and up-and-comers alike to any bar, veterans hall and arts space within reach. Manic even helped bring punk pioneer Jello Biafra to CCSU’s Torp Theatre in 2007. In most cases, if theres’s a punk, folk, metal or indie show going on, Manic’s likely to be fronting it. Just to give you an idea of the kind of prime entertainment Manic’s brought to our fair state: Built to Spill, Dinosaur Jr., Man Man, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Boris, Jenny Lewis, Municipal Waste and Joanna Newsom. Need I say more?
BAR and Manic first shook hands in 2006 for a Jack Rose show, but their partnership never fully bloomed until January. Every Wednesday night at 9 p.m., BAR has been Manic’s official hideout, starting with The Beets (sadly not the band from Doug) on January 5th. Shows are hosted in BARtropolis, the pub’s neon-lit dance club. If that sounds like an odd place to hold an Americana folk show, you’re correct. Thankfully, you won’t notice once you’re there. The environment is chill and without any problems. Trust me, we drunk hipsters in thick framed glasses are as harmless as a box of kittens. With just a 21+ ID (fakes need not apply), plus a few bucks for pizza and beer, you can enjoy a night of fresh tunes and grub.
