THE UPPER EAST SIDE BAR SCENE
How Pop Culture & Dorrian’s Red Hand
Made It So Popular
If you have ever lived in, or even visited, Manhattan in your 20’s, it’s likely that you’ve headed to the Upper East Side (UES) for a night with your friends, or family. And chances are your decision to bar hop above East 60th Street was influenced by the scenes at the bar in the 1988 hit Cocktail, starring Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown and Elisabeth Shue, the endless urban myths about the UES’s nightlife or the most influential Irish bar and restaurant in the city, Dorrian’s Red Hand.
Most members of Generation X remember the scenes from Cocktail, such as when Tom Cruise walked through the doors of the original T.G.I.Friday’s on 63rd Street and First Avenue (location is now called Baker Street Irregulars). After all, that’s where his character, Brian Flanagan, learned the art of flair bartending from Doug Coughlin played by Bryan Brown. In the movie, Coughlin pontificates about the Upper East Side being “the saloon capital of the world, the big time…” as he called it. The UES is also home to the fictional bar Flanagan opened, Flanagan’s Cocktails & Dreams. Then there are the urban myths driven by pop culture in other movies, TV shows, and gossip around the world. But even more remember the iconic red and white-checkered tables and jukebox of the legendary Dorrian’s Red Hand on the Upper East Side. In this writer’s opinion, and that of the millions who have ever walked up those sacred few steps to enter the bar on Second Avenue and East 84th Street, Dorrian’s is the best Irish bar and restaurant in the city. And has been since patriarch Jack Dorrian opened the doors in 1960.
A HISTORY WITH THE OWNER FAMILY
In the interest of full disclosure, I have known the family behind the famed Irish bar and restaurant virtually my entire life. I knew Jack; went to school with a couple of his children; worked at CNN with a daughter and at the now shuttered Water Club with his brother; and have been friends with a few of his children over my lifetime. And it’s no surprise that generations of New Yorkers have hung their hat, hunkered up to the bar, and enjoyed a night with countless friends, fans and regulars – because it truly is the most special place in the city for good times and great memories.
Dorrian’s has been a beloved favorite for over 60 years. It’s not only a local watering hole, it’s a destination millions have sought to imbibe in. And for good reason. If you have never been there, and I doubt you haven’t, the good time feel, nostalgic decor in many ways and atmosphere alone is worth a visit. However, Dorrian’s Red Hand is home to bartenders and staff who are beloved by everyone. Not to mention the delicious fare and great cocktails Dorrian’s serves, it is also a place where incredible memories are made by the very people who call it home. And I am one of them. As an example, believe it or not, there are a lot of people who have actually gotten engaged at Dorrian’s. Yes, I know – many of you are saying, “At a bar?” Yes, because it is just that special to so many of us. I can name about a dozen people who have gotten engaged at Dorrian’s – including myself. My wife of 23 years, Kylie, arrived from sunny Perth, Australia, on June 22nd of 2002. In the heat of a passionate moment on June 25th, on a romantic whim, at my old table (the one in front of the jukebox), I got down on bended knee and asked for Kylie’s hand. She didn’t even think about it and said yes. Unbeknownst to me at the moment, one of my oldest and dearest friends, Kerry Cheeseboro, bore witness to this, told my old schoolmate Jimmy Dorrian (who currently manages Dorrian’s) what had just happened, and brought me two flutes of champagne. Yes, Dorrian’s is that kind of place for so many. And almost a quarter of a century later, Kylie and I are still happily married, through thick and thin.
THE REGULARS, GLITTERATI AND THE ALUMNI
Sadly, I am no longer a regular at the legendary bar as I live in Gramercy. But, I still go up to my old stomping grounds at least a few times a year. A lot of the staff are still the same as are so many old friends. The two times of the year I try my best to commit showing my mug at the Red Hand are St. Patrick’s Day (or Sean-Patrick’s Day as many of my friends refer to it as) and the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, also called Natives’ Night (when countless Dorrian’s “alumni” show up to reminisce, and catch up with old friends; be it from school, college or just the neighborhood).
At Dorrian’s, you just never know who is going to walk through those doors. Over the last 60 plus years, Yankees legends, celebrities, influencers and famed locals similarly have all called the Red Hand home at one point or another. I remember Yankees icon David Cone and Roger “The Rocket” Clemens showing up on different nights with some regularity. On various themed nights, like karaoke, we have sung our hearts out with actors, ball players and political mavens alike.
I could sit here waxing poetically about the hundreds of memories like these that I have seen with friends and experienced myself, but would rather focus on why Dorrian’s has been so influential in driving millions of people to not only their doors, but that of the countless bars and restaurants on the Upper East Side.
NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT
It’s actually very simple. A lot of the influence has to do with the “halo effect” of a popular venue, combined with a very well run bar and restaurant, as well as beloved personalities who serve and are served. The old adage is, “location, location, location” and Jack Dorrian couldn’t have chosen a better one. Not only is it located on one of the most heavily traversed corners of the UES , it also happens to be on the longest thoroughfare of hospitality in the city, Second Avenue (it is important to note that 84th street is where you exit onto from the Central Park 86th Street transverse coming from the West Side and ends at East End Avenue). Jack was also known for his relationships, and the way he ran his business; he wanted everyone to have a good time and knew how to make people feel at home. With the draw of Dorrian’s and their offerings as well as its infamous regulars, crowds would flock there and then also explore other bars and restaurants in the area. When Jack first opened, the lower part of Second Avenue was more densely populated with venues and crowds. That all changed once the crowd found their mantle at the Red Hand. And the rest, as they say, is history! Was Dorrian’s solely responsible for this movement? No. But they were, and still are, a driving force and destination in the neighborhood unlike any other that feeds commerce to the surrounding businesses.
THE GOLDEN ERA OF THE UES BAR SCENE
So let’s talk about the golden era of the area, the 80’s and 90’s into the early 2000’s, No one knows the Upper East Side bar scene from then better than Kerry. I first met him at Dorrian’s in 1990. And we have been thick as thieves ever since. He is one of the most talented creative people I have ever known, and has a heart you just cannot compare to anyone else. And even though Kerry no longer lives in New York full-time, I am still amazed at his depth of knowledge of the comings and goings of my old neighborhood.
Kerry and I recently had a chance to catch up over Zoom and found ourselves gabbing about the neighborhood, what’s changed and the memories we cherish so dearly. In the digital edition of New York Lifestyles Magazine (our website as well as on ISSUU.com), you can see some of the hilarity that ensued for yourself. As Kerry said on that call, “Dorrian’s has been, over decades, even generations, now, the ever-loyal ‘root’ from which so many dear, deep friendships and fond, meaning memories have sprouted from and blossomed, and as well the social beacon where all avid regulars, present and past, find great comfort in returning ‘home’ to, regardless of how the neighborhood and city changes around it.”
In the late 1980’s through the mid-1990’s, endless pubs, bars and restaurants filled every nook and cranny of the Upper East Side. And scores of every kind of persona of the era, be it preppies, yuppies, bikers, gangsters, and everything in between flocked to these venues. It truly was the melting pot of city nightlife in ways you could not possibly imagine today. From a trend perspective, much of the spillover of the glam and decadence of the 80’s began to give way to the grunge craze of the early 90’s. This held true for outposts like Nick’s Grove (though it closed at the end of 1992, famed entrepreneur, and Dorrian’s alum, Tom Chernaik would be heartbroken if I didn’t call out that this was one of his favorite haunts, so much so that he rented a U-Haul in Syracuse to drive down for the closing party). During that time, the blue blazer gave way to flannel shirts at other local haunts like Pedro’s Corner, Avalon, Fleming’s, Fitzpatrick’s, Phil Hughes and Pat O’Brien’s. Especially by the college crowd. By 1994, Bailey’s Corner in Yorkville was one of the hottest pubs in the neighborhood with locals pouring out the door every night (Bailey’s is still popular amongst locals and open on York Avenue at the southwest corner of East 85th Street). Ryan’s Daughter on East 85th Street, between 1st and 2nd avenues (closer to 1st), was jammed to the rafters with patrons rocking their way in and out all night long. And from what we hear, still is! Avalon (now closed), across from Heidelberg Restaurant, had to turn people away. At one point, the noise coming from Drake’s Drum (now closed) was so loud, they had to keep their doors closed. The halo-effect was real, and extremely powerful. Then there are those venues that opened because of the popularity Dorrian’s had created on Second Avenue, and began influencing others to open their doors too. And while many of those establishments are no longer in business, they have since been replaced by similar bars, pubs and restaurants.
In 1995, notorious UES nightlife fixture Iggy Hughes opened Iggy’s on Second Avenue between 75th and 76th Streets. A popular personality on the UES with many, Iggy started heavily promoting karaoke nights as locals, professional baseball players, actors, and firemen began crowding what quickly became “a kick ass bar.” And as a former regular who loved Iggy like a brother, I can tell you it definitely was. Previously, Iggy had been behind the stick at many a hot spot over the prior decade including East 86th street’s Fleming’s (which burned down mysteriously right before the owner sold the building). A lot of venues on East 86th street in those days were part of that aforementioned Dorrian’s halo effect. Interestingly enough, the neighborhood between 76th and 72nd street began to see a surge of new venues opening a year or two after Iggy’s. Unfortunately, we lost Iggy suddenly in 2016. I frequently think of Ignatius and the times we had: the laughs, the songs, the arguments, and the pool games. But most of all, his larger-than-life persona for a tough guy with the heart of Irish gold. For those who aren’t aware, Iggy’s is still open and owned by his family. The nieghborhood’s favorite bartender, Kristy, is still behind the stick a few nights a week and the bar is still doing what it does best – kickin’ ass.
“CLUBBY” WITHOUT PRETENSION
OR MEMBERSHIP
Dorrian’s was also known to have a “clubby” atmosphere with respect to its regulars. The notion of that description is more about close relationships between the regulars than a frat or elitist nonsensical organization. Another famous haunt of the UES, was even more notorious with the “clubby” feel, Elaine’s. Though in this case, it was both that similar feeling to Dorrian’s as well as an elitist to its crowd. Located near 88th street on Second Avenue, Elaine’s was a bar and restaurant that opened in 1963. It was frequented by many celebrities, and writers. It was established, owned by and named after Elaine Kaufman. Sadly, Kaufman passed away in 2011 and resulted in the legendary haunt for journalists and authors alike closing shortly after.
Then there are the countless neighborhood favorite restaurants that also have very popular bars like Maz Mezcal, Doc Watson’s, The Supply House and more.
NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANTS TO LOVE
Maz Mezcal, at 316 East 86th Street, is the best Mexican restaurant on the Upper East SIde. Since 1987, the multi-generation Silva family owned and operated restaurant has served fare that is authentic, packed with flavor that isn’t overpowering, but blends just right as if it is a symphony. And the cocktails are just as genuine and harmonious with one of the most extensive Mezcal offerings we’ve seen. With every sip, with every bite, and every laugh, Maz Mezcal makes you feel as if you are in Mexico.
Doc Watson’s Irish Bar & Restaurant, at 1490 Second Avenue, has been a neighborhood staple since 1996. Most who frequent the 79th street to 72nd street Second Avenue corridor have been to this venerable establishment and love it. And with good reason as they serve good food and cocktails.
The Supply House, at 1647 Second Avenue, according to their website is an old-school NYC bar located on the Upper East Side, featuring an industrial feel and cozy atmosphere. Yes, the atmosphere is very cool while much of the menu is standard fare for this kind of place. However, it is important to note that they have a good amount of incredibly creative weekly specials, starters and burger variations.
DORRIAN’S RED HAND IS EVERYONE’S “HOME”
The point in all of this is simple: The UES has the most densely packed corridor of pubs, restaurants and bars in the city for many reasons. But it’s Dorrian’s Red Hand that has been the consistent driving force for many of the crowds that flock to the neighborhood, to everyone’s benefit, and a place they can call “home.”
For many of us, Dorrian’s was our St. Elmo’s Fire. The only difference is that we were the “Brats.” And on a few nights of the year, we still are.
1) St. Elmo’s Fire is a 1985 American coming-of-age film co-written and directed by Joel Schumacher and starring Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Andie MacDowell and Mare Winningham (Wikipedia)