Profile

On the surface, not much has changed since this neighborhood spot was Mickey’s Blue Room: The blue-painted brick walls are still the distinguishing characteristic in the barroom (with its MP3 jukebox and video poker machine) while the adjacent room is dotted with metallic two-tops plus a single snug booth built into the wall. Though the owners—a photographer and a musician among them—are determined to lure fellow bohemians by periodically projecting films by local directors onto a 100-inch screen, displaying the works of East Village and Williamsburg painters and photographers, and hosting the occasional singer-songwriter, they also appreciate the fine art of drinking: Wine and well vodka are served in the same type of glass; cans of PBR and drafts of Labatt’s are cheaper than the third-hand Liz Phair CD played by the bartender one seven-hour happy hour. On Sundays a build–your–own–Bloody Mary session allows patrons to make ‘em horseradish hot or not. — Daniel Maurer