John, the bartender could not have been kinder sharing the history and philosophy of this eight year old bar. What a nice experience we had while sampling their "kick ass" bloody Mary and a refreshing pint of Guinness. We, literally, came in out of the rain to have a drink here late one Saturday afternoon. “They are always trying to bring young people into the fold, ” Helen commented. ” The old group, now in their seventies and eighties, enjoy having a drink and chatting with one another, but they also invite “guests” into the conversation - passing the baton, as this is their legacy. To them, Julius’ is not a bar - rain or shine, they need to be here. m., they sit in a corner and share stories of what it was like back in the day. ”What better way for young men and women to learn about landmark events like the renowned “Sip-In, ” where gay activists challenged New York’s prohibitions on gay bars? The patrons who have been frequenting Julius’ for decades are happy to provide a history lesson. “We are a good reminder of the struggles people went through for those of us today. Many who stop by are keen to dip their toes into an earlier, more troublesome period. The owner of Julius’ considers it an honor to be a part of this history and to allow others to share in it. “We are one of the oldest gay bars in the city, ” said Helen Burford. We could not get enough of how interesting this place is - both the concept of art and beer coming together and the two fascinating minds behind it. In addition to their rotating display of art from both established and up-and-coming artists, the Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor also hosts a monthly lecture series on the subjects of art as well as culinary topics. Robert also astounded us with how small the carbon footprint of the Parlor is - he told us they are very conscious of keeping things compostable and earth-friendly. Described by Robert, as the “Bugatti of beer systems, ” the twenty plus beers the Parlor keeps on tap rotate monthly and are kept by this state of the art system at a refreshing 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The constantly changing art is displayed along the wall opposite the bar, and an exposed brick wall and fireplace give the parlor a true “extension of your living room” feel. Just as intriguing as its owners, the interior of Arts and Crafts is beautifully designed the sophisticated wallpaper is custom made by Bradbury and Bradbury, and the soft green and beige pattern was Frank Lloyd Wright’s favorite, supposedly. and that they actually met enjoying a pint of beer in Manhattan. Robert informed us it was a love of American Craft Beer and the visual and performing arts. He told us that the other owner, Don, has an impressive resume working with the FBI and counterterrorism efforts both in New York and around the world - which left us wondering what brought this dynamic duo together as friends and eventually co-owners. Robert is an internationally recognized speaker and writer on dining out and traveling with special diets (he co-authored the series Let’s Eat Out! ), and he also has a background in acting and producing on Broadway. ”When we visited, we spoke to Robert, one of the two owners, with whom we thoroughly enjoyed chatting. The Parlor is also named for the Arts and Crafts movement, “a cultural revolt against the ideals of industrialization. " Artisan and craft beer are brought together in a friendly environment that certainly had us feeling like we were right at home. down a flight of stairs from street level on 8th Street, Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor is the "antithesis of a sports bar.
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