The Last Reason to Go to Times Square

mchales
Originally uploaded by dangunderman.

McHale's Bar on 46th Street and 8th Avenue is one of the greatest places in New York, for both tangible and intangible reasons. I was first introduced to the place by a teacher I had in college. A couple of us joined him for a play near Times Square, and he took us to McHale's after. He explained that it was the regular hangout for Broadway stagehand union members.

McHale's was my first New York dive (I think it's CitySearch that describes it as "noir," and that's not completely inaccurate). Shady activities only add to the appeal -- ticket brokers (i.e. scalpers) use the place as a drop-off, so on more than one occasion, I've picked up tickets for a concert or play from the bartender.

McHale's was also home to my first good burger outside of Kansas. So for the past twelve years or so, anytime my sole purpose has been to get a burger, I've made McHale's my destination.

A few years ago, I was doing reviews for the Time Out New York Eating & Drinking Guide, and they were kind enough to assign me McHale's. This was my review (although the goofiness was totally their edit):

"God bless McHale's. God bless it for serving one of the tastiest burgers in town, and God bless the Yankees and Rangers fans who eat them. God bless the sheer joy of digging into a fresh bowl of Italian pasta (fettucine porcini) at an Irish pub. God bless the back booths, whose tables are just high enough to make you feel like a child, and the atmosphere, which is just divey enough to make it seem more a part of the old Times Square than the new one. Don't forget to bless the servers, who are hired on the merits of their friendliness, not attractiveness (though they are good-lookin', God bless 'em). And God save the clueless tourists who wander by outside, never imagining that inside the doors is a bona fide -- not Disneyfied -- New York institution."

McHale's is closing January 1. The owner plans to knock down the building and put up a high rise. McHale's put up a good fight, but it seems that Disney has won.