Who said happy hour had to be brief? Stop by the Rusty Knot anytime on Tuesdays to take advantage of its two-for-one drink deals. That includes two pints of Busch beer for $3, or two well drinks for $3.50 to $4. For those who are hungry, a pint of Busch with a pretzel dog is now $5 all week long.

Through that haze is a plaid-shirt–wearing Taavo Somer. Take our word for it. (Photo: Gabriella Gershenson)

Last night at the Rusty Knot, a banner saying “Happy Birthday” hung over the bar. Part owner Taavo Somer was working the smoke machine, sometimes holding it above his shoulder, or in a saucy moment, letting the vapor spew out at groin level to the delight of the crowd. “It smells like pancakes,” said a euphoric Somer, referring to the mystified “Fog Fluid.” “It’s amazing.” No doubt: It was a party. Read more »

It's tiki time all the time at the Rusty Knot.

Ah, how the time flies. It seems that only yesterday the West Side Highway was devoid of pretzel dogs and blender drinks. But alas, Monday marks one year of everyone’s favorite faux dive, the Rusty Knot. Host with the most Ken Friedman alerted The Feed to the impending festivities: select 99¢ drinks, a DJ (”she’s, like, 15, but she plays music from, like, 25 years ago”), a fog machine (!) and some new menu items, including a recently debuted mini sloppy joe (”served with cheese, the dive-bar way”) and a redux of the chicken-liver-and-bacon sandwich, which has been missing from the menu since the early days. Read more »

Rub-a-dub-dub, booze in the tub

The economic meltdown may continue to ravage businesses across the city, but everything seems copacetic at New York’s favorite gastropub, The Spotted Pig. Or so it appeared last night at Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield’s bitchin’ faux-house party annual staff party, held at the Meatpacking District’s exclusive Soho House. Read more »