Podcast Summary – All Of It with Alison Stewart (WNYC)

Episode: Best Sports Bars to Watch the Olympics
Air Date: July 24, 2024
Guest: Melissa McCart, Editor for Eater New York

Overview

This episode of All Of It celebrates the upcoming Paris Olympics by highlighting the best sports bars and viewing experiences across New York City. Host Alison Stewart and guest Melissa McCart help listeners find the perfect spot, whether you crave a raucous crowd, chill neighborhood vibes, or inventive Olympic-themed eats and drinks. The episode also features recommendations from NYC listeners, showcasing the city’s vibrant bar culture and diverse communities.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

What Makes a Great Sports Bar Experience?

• Personalization: Different moods and personalities call for different venues—some want big crowds, others seek low-key spaces.
  • “For me, I’d want to go to a place in my neighborhood that has really good bar food, where I can actually hear what’s going on, and that feels like an extension of my living room.” — Melissa McCart [03:04]
• For Major Events: The Olympics (once every four years) is an excuse to step up your viewing game, even if it means braving a bigger, buzzier spot.

The Rockefeller Center Rink Experience

• NBC & Michelob Ultra Transform the Rink:
  • Parisian-themed patio for Olympics viewing, with lively photo ops and drinks.
  • Adjacent restaurants offer special Olympic menus:
    • Naro — Korean-French mash-up plates ($18–21)
    • Jupiter — Fun Italian spot with fresh pastas and “APER TV” menu
  • “You can get food from say Jupiter on their terrace and watch on a huge screen TV where there's like a fake Eiffel Tower in the rink and the whole nine yards.” — Melissa McCart [03:04]
• Is it a commercial for NBC? Not just that, says McCart; it’s a next-level communal sports experience akin to an “international Super Bowl” [05:09].

Hudson Yards “Backyard”

• 30-foot screens, ample open space, and a festival vibe.
• Street-food vendors, canned cocktails, and a casual, drink-focused setup (food less emphasized) [06:47].
• Best to arrive early, especially for the opening/closing ceremonies [06:19].
• “It’s first come, first serve…definitely an emphasis on drinks over food.” — Melissa McCart [06:56]

Classic Neighborhood Choices

George Keeley’s (485 Amsterdam Ave @ 83rd)

• For regulars; great for those who value tasty food and an unfussy vibe [07:58].
• Noted for excellent wings (“I’m a classic wings person…spicy buffalo with blue cheese over ranch.” — Melissa McCart [08:39]).
• “If you are looking for an even keel watch situation where there’s no karaoke in the background or cornhole—this is your place.” — Melissa McCart [07:58]

Cornerstone Tavern (961 Second Ave @ 51st)

• A massive bar—great for office outings or large friend groups [09:16].
• Offers different zones: super-fan areas with sound on, quieter nooks for conversation and games.
• Adds trivia and karaoke for extra entertainment, creating a lively, sometimes “sensory overload” [10:29].
• Distinction between “tavern” (old-fashioned, plated comfort foods) and “sports bar” (classic bar snacks) [10:50].

Listener & Community Picks

• Luz Athletic Club (384 Knickerbocker Ave, Bushwick): Big booths, affordable drinks [11:17].
• Union Ground (Smith Street): “Great little place, decent food, and they have the sound on for important events.” — listener Mario from Brooklyn [12:52].
  • Discussion: The pros and cons of sound on/off during games.
• German beer gardens: McCart recommends seeking out venues with international crowds for marquee events and authentic fan enthusiasm [13:08].
• Roebling Sports Club & Banter (Williamsburg): Both great soccer bars with stellar food—Roebling for wings, Banter for European fare like kielbasa [14:04].
  • “You get people from all over the country, from immigrants, for like World Cup, Euro Cup, everything.” — Phil (Caller from Brooklyn) [14:51]
• Keg & Lantern (Red Hook): “Great food, great beer, tons of screens, but low key.” [15:22]
• The Fox (Harlem, 8th Ave/Frederick Douglass Blvd): Hosts its first Olympic party, with lots of screens, diverse crowds, “awesome sliders,” and inexpensive drinks.
  • “We become a little bit gentrified, so it is very diverse and it is fun.” — Gregory (Caller from Harlem) [15:35]

Beer Gardens & Novelty Experiences

Lorelei Beer Garden (7 Rivington, Lower East Side)

• Going “all out” with whimsical, collectible cocktails: tri-level frozen drinks topped with red, white, or blue rubber ducks [16:36].
• “If you’re into novelty collecting, that’s your place.” — Melissa McCart [16:36]
• Detailed description of a “red froze, classic margarita, blue margarita, and a duck garnish” [17:08].

The Standard Hotel Beer Garden

• Offers a “passport” program: drink all five national-themed cocktails, collect stamps, and get 25% off future visits [17:58].
• Hosts a “beer Olympics” with games and dressing up encouraged [17:58].
• “Anybody who’s going to these bars is going to be fabulous.” — Melissa McCart [17:47]

The Turnmill Bar (East 27th, off Park Ave South)

• Branding itself as “Olympic Headquarters” (not officially affiliated).
• Notable for all-day happy hours aligned with Olympic schedules—“If you’re looking to save a few dollars and have a fun time, I think this is your spot.” — Melissa McCart [12:01]
• After-work crowd, “Cheers-like” atmosphere [12:35].

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Choosing the Vibe:
  • “Some people like the hustle and bustle of large crowds, while others prefer low key. Some like to watch with the sound on, others in silence.” — Alison Stewart [01:48]
• On Viewing Olympics in Public:
  • “This is like a next level kind of event in terms of sports…an international version of the Super Bowl.” — Melissa McCart [05:09]
• Wings Loyalist:
  • “I’m a classic wings person…spicy buffalo with blue cheese over ranch.” — Melissa McCart [08:39]
• On Beer Gardens and Olympic Novelty:
  • “It’s like a drink in a jar with a red froze on one level, a classic margarita in the middle and a blue one on top. And the duck is like the garnish.” — Melissa McCart [17:08]
• On The Inclusivity of Fabulousness:
  • “Anybody who’s going to these bars is going to be fabulous. So there should be nothing that’s keeping you away.” — Melissa McCart [17:47]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [01:48] Alison Stewart introduces the episode and Melissa McCart.
• [03:04] What makes a good sports bar experience?
• [04:11] Rockefeller Center’s Olympic patio and special menus.
• [06:04] Hudson Yards “Backyard” viewing.
• [07:58] George Keeley’s on the Upper West Side.
• [09:03] Cornerstone Tavern’s massive venue and varied experiences.
• [12:01] The Turnmill Bar as “Olympic Headquarters.”
• [12:52] Union Ground and a discussion of “sound on vs. sound off.”
• [13:08] The case for country-themed beer gardens.
• [14:04] Caller Phil: Roebling Sports Club & Banter.
• [15:35] Caller Gregory: The Fox in Harlem.
• [16:36] Lorelei Beer Garden’s duck-topped cocktails.
• [17:58] Passport drinks and games at The Standard Hotel Beer Garden.

Tone and Atmosphere

Warm, knowledgeable, and as effervescent as a pint poured in an NYC bar. The conversation mixes practical tips and affectionate local flavor, creating FOMO (and encouragement!) for anyone considering venturing out for the Olympic spirit.

Final Recommendations

Whether you want mega-screens and theme nights or a low-key night with classic wings, New York’s vast sports bar landscape has something for every kind of Olympic viewer. Prioritize what matters most—food, crowd, sound, or spectacle—and prepare for some memorable communal moments.

Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Melissa McCart (Eater New York)
Episode: Best Sports Bars to Watch the Olympics (July 24, 2024)