Skillman Ave. business leaders met at Claret for planning meeting (Photo: QueensPost)
Sept. 23, 2012 By Bill Parry
Several bar and restaurant owners have joined forces to organize a pub crawl on Skillman Avenue in recognition of Oktoberfest.
This will be the third time in as many years that the group is putting on the event, known as the Skillman Avenue Oktoberfest Pub Crawl. “The last two were an awesome success,” said Stephen Murphy of Murphy’s Bar, “so we just had to put it on again.”
The participating bars and restaurants include: Claret Wine Bar, Flynn’s Garden Inn, Quaint Bistro, Murphy’s Bar, Cafe Marlene, The Brogue, Aubergine Cafe, the Kettle, and at The Dog and Duck. These establishments are located on Skillman Ave., between 46th and 51st Streets.
The event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 13, with registration beginning at The Dog and Duck at 3:00 pm. Participants are asked to donate five dollars–or canned goods–for a local food pantry; in return, they will receive a wristband that will get them half price pints on select beer all day.
This past Thursday, many of the owners of the Skillman Ave. establishments gathered at Claret Wine Bar to discuss the pub crawl and other events on Skillman Ave. The owners are trying to come together to present Skillman Ave. has a destination spot.
“The idea is to put ourselves firmly on the map to attract outsiders to Skillman Ave.,” Murphy said. In July, these establishments presented the Skillman Avenue Music Festival that took place in Windmuller Park with each pub sponsoring a music act. Several hundred attended the concert.
On Nov. 1, the Skillman Ave. group will be putting on the Festival of Flags for 10 days. Each participating pub and business will select a foreign country to represent with flags, food, music, beer and wine.
Gary O’Neill, the owner of Aubergine, said, “We can get people into the neighborhood over the two weekends with this event.” The flag festival is timed to coincide with the New York City Marathon; organizers hope that visitors in town for the Marathon might find their way to Skillman Avenue.
Aubergine will adopt Germany, “We don’t have TVs so maybe I’ll bring in a German poet,” O’Neill said. Paul Flynn said his pub will represent “Poland. My barman, Gerry Ryan, is half Polish.”
Event:
- Skillman Avenue Oktoberfest Pub Crawl
- Date: Oct. 13, 3 pm
- Begins: The Dog and Duck (46th and Skillman)
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14 Comments
AWESOME CANT WAIT! 🙂
Damn it @NoMoreMrSensible and @86Mets we were THIS close to a flame-free comment section! Now you’ve ruined it for everyone. Cue Ruben…
@no more mr sensible
If it’s so obvious why are there still so many drunk drivers on the road?
Really 86Mets?! Always someone that has to state the obvious and be a bore.
So happy to hear our neighborhood doing this. I’m going to try to get my friends to come!
Great ideas for showing off our neighborhood!
I hope though we can also get some Southside bars on the map too 🙂
I think I” have alot of Oktober cocktails that day. OOOOOOOOOOOOOH!
They should have t-shirts for the event with each of the bars listed on the back like tour dates on those rock band shirts.
Steve Murphy is looking mighty fine!
Nice!
Another excuse to drink!
Just remind people to take a cab home or walk.
Yeah!! Oktoberfest right in our neighborhood and international culture to boot! Great to see owners of local establishments getting together to present fun events for all. I hope the events are well attended.
I’m glad to hear about this Skillman Avenue owners’ group. Sounds like a very postive way to keep up and enhance the attractiveness of the avenue and the neighborhood. Good Luck!
Marilyn S.