Palais Royal

I actually almost cried at the bar last night. No, I didn't have my heart broken by a girl, but instead I was living the nostalgia of a place that has defined my New York experience. It's often difficult to pin point why a bar is better than another bar, but this one definitely better than its peers, even despite the fact that the music is never loud enough for me to dance. By the way, it's closing within a month.

The most obvious thing that makes Palais different than most other places is that there is a free pool table. What I don't understand about it though, is that almost no one plays it. Mind you, it is the most fucked up pool table I've ever played on in terms of a warped slate, but since it's my table I have adjusted my game to accommodate for the 30º slant to the far right corner. I usually win again people who are just stopping by for a drink. They don't know what hit them.

However, I rarely play against people just stopping by. It seems like everyone there is a regular of sort. It's uncommon that anyone on the table doesn't know the names of the bartenders, and have some story about some guy they met while playing pool there (and about half the time, that guy is Eduardo). There is no beef on this table, just a lot of Wild Turkey.

Palais has over 30 bottles of bourbon. They only have 1 beer on tap (Bud Light). I have not ventured too far into bourbon land, I stick to the Wild Turkey. That shit fucks me up. Due to the impended closing, when they ran out of the normal 80 proof stuff, they didn't order anymore. 101 Turkey hurts so good.

Tonight is Sammy's last night. She works at Palais six nights a week. I once thought saw her at a party in Brooklyn, but it turns out it was her twin sister. We've been cool ever since. I know the next bar Sammy is going to work at, but I don't think it will have the same vibe. I'm sure a lot of Palais regulars will follow her to King-Size, but I checked the place out - they play the music too loud.

These reviews of the place echo my sentiments perfectly.