Bar Tabs

I primarily use this space to write about restaurants, but I go to bars enough (at least three nights a week) that I can offer some color into the local scene. A few friends have requested bachelor(ette) and birthday party recommendations, and every time I put my heart and soul into coming up with some, I accidentally delete the list from my e-mail. Maybe this will help put an end to my brainless habit.

Bars in this city are like cupcake shops-- every time you think you've decided on a favorite, another one pops up that you like even better. Just to give you an idea of what my taste in bars is, here are a few of my preferred boozing holes. I always have a good time at:

*White Horse Tavern, even though the cash only policy bugs me
*Zum Schneider's serves the best selection of HefeWeisens in town
*The Back Room with its brown bag beers and teacups
*Rosie's (46th St.), because they call me by my first name and drink
*Automatic Slims knows what's up in the DJ department and drinks are potent and on the cheap
*Phebe's is the best place to meet a big group on the fly
*Doc Holliday's wins for the $2 Pabst and jukebox
*The Magician has one of the best happy hour deals in town, from 5pm-8pm you can get $3.50 tap beers and $2.50 well drinks, I mean, does it get any better than that?
*Pianos mixes some killer $3 margaritas
*Horseshoe Bar lets you play flip-cup on a Sunday
*Spring Lounge often has cute boys of all shapes and sizes-- prepster and hipster
*Floyd gets props for its indoor bocce court
*Tonic (just kidding)

Then there are the places I wish I could become a regular at, but I don't think it's going to happen unless I win the lottery:

*Milk and Honey
*Tailor oozes urban cool and you won't find its cocktails anywhere else
*S0ho Grand mixes a pretty drink with pretty people (ran into my boy crush Shia LeBeouf a few weeks back)
*Brandy Library has the most impressive menu of any restaurant or bar I've ever seen, including 120 different cocktails
*La Bottega transports you from Meatpacking to the Riviera
*Plunge at the Gansevoort is fun more for its crowd and view than the $15 cocktails

Last but not least, there are the later night spots, where dancing is the thing:

*Naked Lunch, where I seem to leave my credit card a time or two
*Sway can be hit or miss
*Alphabet Lounge for the perfect girls' night out
*Gallery Bar boasts art by day and hipsters by night
*Fat Black Pussy Cat has a couple of levels if you get bored with one and excellent music
*Bulls Head Tavern often lands on the Thursday itinerary for its great cover band
*Automatic Slims

What are some of your favorite bars? My birthday is a few months away and it's never too early to start researching.