Angry Wade's Will Make You Anything but Angry

...unless of course your team is playing poorly.

Angry Wade's, on the corner of Smith and Butler Streets, is such a "throwback" that it doesn't even have its own website. A veteran of Smith Street for 12 years, Angry Wade's remains a traditional sports bar unlike the newer yuppie and hipster bars that have popped up throughout the area in recent years. True to its roots, Angry Wade's is home to a long dark wood bar and rickety barstools, like any other dive sports bar in America. Even if there isn't a game, you can entertain yourself by enjoying the coin operated pool table or throw some darts.

With six flat screen TVs, and the beginning of baseball season, it is the perfect place to cheer your for your team. Sit at the bar with a buddy or gather your group at a table near the fireplace, order some munchies, a draft beer, and cheer on. The bar menu includes traditional bar food such as wings, mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, jalapeño poppers, waffle fries, White Castle sliders, Tombstone pizzas, and the ever popular free popcorn. Each item is $6 or less, except the large pizza which is $9.

The fully stocked bar has a great selection of draft beers including Blue Moon, Brooklyn Lager, Guiness, Magic Hat, Stella Artois, and Bass, just to name a few. There is also an extensive list of whiskey and scotch, thirty different varieties to be exact, ranging in price from $7 to $35 a glass.

Angry Wade's happy hour specials are among the best in the neighborhood. On Monday through Friday from 3pm to 6pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 3pm, draft beers and well drinks are 50% off. Now that's a happy hour.

Subway Directions: Take the F or G to Bergen Street then walk four blocks South on Smitih Street. The single story brick building on the corner is Angry Wade's. Enjoy.

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Mad River - Not the Ski Mountain

Apparently Mad River is a bar and grill, but I would know nothing about the grill aspect of this establishment as I went there late on a Wednesday night for the bar scene, and let me tell you, it was a SCENE! This place has all kinds of specials every day of the week, so definitely check out their website to see what is going on when you plan on going. They have trivia on Tuesdays, $20 open bar and $30 beer pong tournament on Thursdays, football deals on Sundays, and DJs nearly every night. You can have a private party here or even be a guest bartender. This place has everything and is a must go on any trip to NYC or even just up to the Upper East Side.

Mad River is located at 1442 Third Avenue at 82nd Street, in the heart of the Upper East Side's bar scene. The website lists that they are open until 4:00am (except on Sundays when they close at 12am), if that gives you any indication of what a hopping party it hosts. Dress however you want, just don't look like a bum. I was coming from a dinner with friends and we were all dressed to the nines and maybe stood out a little bit (which wasn't a bad thing!) but most poeple were in more casual duds, though I don't recall seeing any sneakers or baseball caps. There are doormen/bouncers but I don't think they'd turn you down for wearing sneakers, unless they were really dirty.

There is a large main bar and a small back bar on the ground level. The area in the back serves as a dance floor at night, where everyone crowds in and either dances or doesn't, but the DJ is so good you will find yourself tapping your feet at some point. I wasn't all that impressed with the flavor or quality of the drinks (keep in mind they're served in plastic cups), except that they did the job (they were strong, like whoa). It got very very hot with all the people so dress appropriately! Also, don't wear anything white or light colored as you will get drinks spilled all over you (and maybe someone will apologize about it).

Even though I left covered in booze, sweaty, and slightly wobbly in my wedges, I had the most amazing night, of course aided by good company. I will definitely go to this place again and can't wait to try some of their mid-week drink specials.