Be Good or Be Gone

There is a famous little Irish pub in the East Village called McSorley's. 1854. That was the year that this magical place opened. Of all the glorious dram shops this city has to offer, nothing compares to the wonderful saloon that is McSorley's.

From the moment you step in and the sawdust on the floor sticks to your wingtips or sneakers, you are immediately aware of the history that surrounds you. Irish history. American history. New York history.

One beer is served in two half pint glasses. There are only two options: light or dark ale. If you don't care for a beer, they keep bottles of Coke in a refrigerator that looks several year older than anyone you know. The light fixture hanging above the bar contains dozens of wishbones coated in about two inches of dust. They are from one of the World Wars. Just before the soldiers left they put the wishbones up there and said they would get retrieve them when they came home. Those wishbones up there today are from the soldiers who never returned. They have remained untouched for generations out of honor and respect.

Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, John Kennedy -- almost every president since the civil war has made a stop in McSorley's. On St. Patty's Day, a line forms to get in as early as 7:00 a.m. and remains throughout the entire day. It is an annual pilgrimage, for locals and out-of-towners alike. It is the St. Patrick's Cathedral of pubs. Many of the servers have Irish accents and a few are even the descendants of John McSorley himself.

Carved in wooden signs a couple of places in the bar is their motto: Be Good or Be Gone. I always wonder who in the last 150+ years was asked to 'be gone.' Leaving McSorley's is something you never want to do for good.

Slainte!