Thursday, June 24, 2010
"Ninth Ward," the New Orleans-style bar in New York City
Posted by Kevin Allman on Thu, Jun 24, 2010 at 8:06 PM
New Orleanians and New Yorkers seem to have an affinity for each other — at least that's been my experience. And I've never had anything less than a great time in New York. That said, I'm not sure what to think of this: a New Orleans-themed bar called "Ninth Ward" is opening in the East Village this weekend:
Ninth Ward is a New Orleans themed bar that will serve Abita beer, Sazeracs, absinthe, and other cocktails ... As for the design, it's meant to evoke 1890's New Orleans, and the owners sourced much of the decor during a road trip down south.
You'll have to click through this link to look at the pictures. It's not bad, it's just sort of ... an Epcot version of Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, I guess. Which, from this other writeup, seems to be the idea:
Ninth Ward is dark as night: the only light leaks in from flickering candles and dim bulbs housed behind old hurricane shutters. Which means it's the perfect place to come in out of the blazing summer sun, order up a cold one and seclude yourself in one of the curtained banquettes to consult your favorite witch doctress in private.
As you might imagine, naming a NYC bar "Ninth Ward" is fraught with complications, starting with the fact the Ninth Ward has never exactly been known as a hotspot for creative cocktails or "Cajun standards." Then there's the name, which is being vigorously denounced and defended over on Grub Street and Time Out New York. (The one thing I think both sides could agree on is that a bar that looks like this could be found in almost any neighborhood in New Orleans except the Ninth Ward.)
What say you, Gambiteers? Is naming a New York bar "Ninth Ward" a well-meant salute to the city, or does it just make you cringe?
Speaking of...
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A&E show to feature Louisiana 'duck-call empire,' and other reality TV news
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Comments (30)
Showing 1-25 of 30
"What did you say, sonny? I can't hear you through all this tone deafness." Definite cringe.
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I know, Maitri ... but in these times when everyone seems to be gearing up to dislike us again, I've got to give these guys credit for meaning well. And I agree with the commenters who said it would've been just as easy to call it "Esplanade" or "Marigny" or any number of names, which might both suit the decor a little better and avoid any cringetastic moments.
This is a direct result of the self-involved hipster NOLA fetish fostered by years of pseudo-intellectual yuppiefication of Jazzfest and exploded to grand new heights by a hyper pretentious HBO melodrama that gets a lot of play on this site.
I'm sure there was no harm intended, just as Paris in Las Vegas is not going to be accurate. Here's the sense I gleaned about what New Yorkers think about such matters, as a New Yorker who was living in Baton Rouge the past three years. For most New Yorkers, unless they have a special interest in the South (an affinity, significant time spent there, relatives, etc.), close enough is good enough, and that's enough thought put into that.
I just don't see why the proprietors thought this was a good idea. "Ninth Ward" is not something I associate with having a cocktail and a good time. Of all the names they could have chosen… why? I do like the private booths though. Reminds me of my favorite place to sit at dba.
P.S. Not trying to say I think it's a good name (it's too sensitive), or that I'm a fan of the New York attitude I described above.
I'm gonna open a bar in Austin in a strip mall under a freeway on-ramp and call it "Marrero".
How much an Abita is? FOREAL? Whuuuuuuuuut. Needs more art on the ceiling. Cringe.
NO theme ok but name has to go...wonder how New Yorkers would like a bar in NO named 9-11 or World Trade Center.
This is my favorite comment, from the Time Out New York writeup: "You guys have the wrong number listed! A sad old man answered the phone and said he’s been getting calls all day." Now that sounds pretty damn authentic New Orleanian.
Ray , can I play at the grand opening? rolling down the street real slow what the fuck are they yellin' marrero love thick rick.
Nola has never liked to outsource itself, no matter what. We can have a New York pizza on Magazine, but God forbid capitalism stretches out to the East Village with an ill named NOLA moniker. For a cool brew, I'll stick to D.B.A. on 13th street, the sister to the famous Marigny bar.
Ani DiFranco opened a bar/music-venue called "The Ninth Ward" in Buffalo years ago. I'm not telling y'all not to have opinions, but I am a little surprised anyone really gives a shit. Wow, a theme bar that ISN'T AUTHENTIC? stop press!
Hey they can have the 9th Ward bar, we still have the Brooklyn Pizza in Metairie!
Ray + MC Thick FTW. lame per usual, but unsurprising. Should've gone with a flooded shotgun theme instead.
If they get the food and the music right, it will catch on. There's nothing in New York that's anywhere near the New Orleans experience, and I applaud anyone giving it a shot. Could become a true haven for ex-pats in Gotham. If I'm sitting in a booth with a really good bowl of red beans and rice on a Monday listening to Walter Wolfman Washington coming out of the speakers, I'll be surprised, but I'll give it a shot.
I don't understand what's so insensitive about it. Its not like it is stylized to look '05 levee-breached. Its just a nice looking bar named after one of many NO neighborhoods. Is that what makes it ill-named to its critics - that its apparently upscale?
In the 90s I remember going to a restaurant in Lower Manhattan featuring New Orleans food whose name escapes me (Great Jones Cafe or some such). We were a group of 7 and they wouldn't let us move two tables together, so we left. That's the difference between them and us.
Cringe-worthy to the max. How despicable to name the place the Ninth Ward, a bar that will cater to the trustfundarians of the East Village. Kinda like so many of the those places that opened there in the 90's that were supposed to be 'Cuban' -- when the Cubans were experiencing the lack of calories brought on by 'the Special Period.' Tasteless, to put it mildly. But it's the east village -- it's not even trendy.
The Great Jones was owned by actual New Orleanians who had transplanted to the East Village. I remember the place well from those days. It's still there, but the owners sold it long ago. They moved into a string of pizzarias. And movies.
