About
About Kettle of Fish – The Kettle as it’s lovingly known is one of the oldest and most famous bar/taverns in the West Village, NYC. With a rich history like no other it has been the home of many a colorful character.
Established in 1950, Kettle of Fish remains true to it’s roots, a Greenwich Village neighborhood bar. Through the years we have welcomed people from all walks of life. Beat writers like Jack Kerouac, musicians such as Bob Dylan, sports fans, intellectuals, and your average Joe or Jane have found a second home at the Kettle. After opening on MacDougal Street, the Kettle has moved twice and now resides on Christopher Street just off Sheridan Square. Our current location features a main bar and a back room with sofas, tables and chairs. Along with dart boards, there is pinball, Ms Pacman/Galaga, and Megatouch machines in addition to a variety of board games. Some say the jukebox is one of the best in NYC.
CHARACTERS OF THE VILLAGE
By Brian and Joy Pape
Kettle of Fish bar at 59 Christopher Street reminds us of the Cheers bar from the television series where “everybody knows your name and everybody’s glad you came.” It’s opposite the Christopher Street Park and has the same warm feeling as the TV show.
Kettle of Fish was established in 1950 in the West Village as a restaurant/bar, named for a catch phrase popularized by comedians Laurel and Hardy. “Well, here’s another nice kettle of fish you’ve pickled me in,” they’d exclaim, meaning, “Here’s another fine mess you’ve gotten me into.”
A Rich History
From Wikipedia
Kettle of Fish is associated with Beat Generation figures such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg and was also frequented by folk revival musicians such as Bob Dylan. During the 1960s, Kettle of Fish was located above The Gaslight Cafe, and performers at the Gaslight would often go to the Kettle between sets. According to Blues figure Dick Waterman: “Whoever was playing at the Gaslight, they went upstairs between sets. The Kettle of Fish had a bar on the left and a middle aisle all the way back to the restrooms… Bob Dylan and his manager, Albert Grossman, always sat at the back table with their backs against the air conditioner, looking at the room.”
Musician Tom Paxton, discussing the Gaslight, noted that during the 1960s “it was really the Kettle of Fish where all the ideas, gossip, songs, and friendships were exchanged. There were constant comings and goings, and the cast of characters included Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Dave Van Ronk, Eric Andersen, and David Blue.” The original MacDougal Street facade was recreated for the 2013 film Inside Llewyn Davis, loosely based on the life of Van Ronk. A recreation of the original location has also been featured in the TV series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, which took place in the 1950s and 60s.
Kettle of Fish is currently noted as a New York City Green Bay Packer bar, and has been visited by Packers players such as Aaron Rodgers, Jerry Kramer, and Dave Robinson.
Greenwich Village Sports Bar Named Among 15 Best In New York City
BY Gus Saltonstall, Patch Staff
A Greenwich Village watering hole famed for being a favorite for legendary writers was just named among the best in the city.
First opened in 1950, Kettle of Fish at 59 Christopher St. earned a spot on Eater NY’s recent list of the “15 Bars to Cheer on Your Favorite Sports Team in NYC.”
Creative Juice: Drink Like a Writer at These Literary Bars
BY Gayatri Bhaumik
Next time you can’t find the right words, grab a drink at one of these literary haunts and find inspiration with the world’s greatest writers.
From London to New York, St Petersburg to Paris, the world’s greatest cities all have serious literary heritage. Whether making appearances in popular novels, hosting writers as they soak up inspiration for their next masterpiece, or building storied literary circles, these cities are inseparable from the written word. But writers are also known for liking a drink—or five—to get the creative juices flowing, so it’s no surprise that these cities also have bars where literary greats gathered to talk shop (and imbibe).
A Love Letter to Drinking in Bars
BY Andrew O’Hagan
From dingy dives to Old World establishments, watering holes are one writer’s paradise.
Read entire article…
Kettle of Fish a slice of Wisconsin in NYC
BY Dirk Van Susteren
In a city of 8.4 million, the Kettle of Fish can be an escape to Wisconsin, just a subway-ride away.
At this New York tavern, expats and tourists alike find a slice of Wisconsin, in cozy and familiar surroundings: pennants of the Brewers and the old Milwaukee Braves gracing a wall, bobbleheads of Aaron Rodgers and Ray Nitschke looking down from a liquor shelf, a signed photo of Willie Davis expressing “best wishes.”
A Little Wisco in New York City
(from Madison Magazine)
Flavors of the Badger state create a unique corner of the Big Apple
By Ruthe Young
The oldest and most casual is Kettle of Fish, a sports bar just off Sheridan Square, down a flight of stairs marked only by a small wooden sign hanging out front. It’s got dartboards, New York brews on tap and a history that dates back to visits from Jack Kerouac and Bob Dylan. But more than that, it’s been the favorite spot in the city to watch Wisconsin sports ever since former Wauwatosan Patrick Daley bought the business in 1998.
“It’s a Greenwich Village Bar with a strong Wisconsin tint,” Daley explains. The draught list always includes a beer from Sixpoint, a popular New York brewery that is, as it happens, owned by a Wisconsinite. On game days, patrons enjoy Usinger’s brats, aged Wisconsin cheddar from Marathon and summer sausage from Oshkosh. Though Daley has lived in New York for decades, his friendly demeanor and hearty laugh reveal he keeps his home state close to his heart. “My dentist is still in Wisconsin,” he explains, “so I get back at least twice a year.“
Other Kettle of Fish Press
Huffington Post, Coen Brothers Transform East Village Into 1960’s For ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’
Time Out New York, Jack Kerouac birthday tour
New York Times, When a Bar Moves, Do Its Patrons Follow?
Time Out New York, 1000 things to do in New York
Zagat, Kettle of Fish Zagat Review
Shecky’s, Kettle of Fish Shecky’s Review
AM New York, Tracking New York’s Literary Spirit
The Villager, Community Handbook 2007
GridSkipper, Beatnik Boozing in New York
City Life, Bull’s-eye
New York Post, Hunter S. Thompson Memorial Pub Crawl
Rolling Stone, Norah Jones, Accidental Superstar (cover, page 1+2, page 3)
