An awful good time

Awful Annie's Irish Saloon is my new favorite place.

As a West Ender, I don't venture to the East End very often. It's not that I don't like the East End - it's that it seems so far away, especially on (drunk) foot. Years ago, I made a weekly pilgrimage to Bottumz Up for Sketchy Wednesday Karaoke with DJ Cougar. Sure, the cops usually showed up, someone stole my pitcher of PBR and every Thursday morning at work was a terrible blur, but every week I walked, biked or cabbed my way to the East End. Since the legendary Bottumz Up has closed, I've had no reason to return on a regular basis (Yes, I like the Snug, but it's usually crowded with people I don't like.)

As you might guess, I am very happy to find that sketchiness of Munjoy Hill still thrives at Awful Annie's. I use the descriptive "sketchy" as a term of endearment, mind you. This is a place where you have beers and conversation with someone you've never met and leave with a new friend - assuming you're the type of person who can hang and watch the game with just about anyone.

The saloon, which is one of the oldest bars on Munjoy Hill, is so small you could fit it in your pocket. It feels like you're hanging out in someone's basement. The ceiling is very low (just a foot above the tall bartender's head), the smell is a little musty and the lights are very dim. Art adorns the walls - some new, some antique - along with shamrock lights and sports memorabilia. The bar seats about twelve people and there's standing room (and three small tables) for another 20 or so.

The atmosphere was quiet, but has potential for rowdiness as long as you can keep the bartender amused. Most everyone is either watching the game or sipping a beer. Oh, and beer is all you can have. There's no liquor license and no intent to get one. Your choices are PBR, Geary's, Budweiser, Guinness (most expensive beer at $3.75) Miller, Heineken, Becks and some Smirnoff fairy juice.

I asked the bartender what it's normally like at Annie's. "Like this," his arms opened to embrace the place. We started talking about East End bars and he mentioned that he really liked Sangillo's and that Annie's was as cool as Sangillo's. The patron at the end of the bar was quick to argue that Annie's is, indeed, "a step up from Sangillo's." I haven't yet been there (look for Sangillo's to appear on the bar guide soon), but I've heard it's the place to go on Thanksgiving.

Either way, I really dig Awful Annie's. I'll probably go back tonight.