Revolution in the Air at O’Hara’s

Today marks the 22nd day of the Wall St. occupation and, going there for the first time last Sunday, my third thought after watching a girl get her bike sawed in half by the cops for standing on the sidewalk with it was, ‘Where is the local pub where people are getting their talking done, exchanging ideas, meeting like-minded people?’

I mean, every great revolution has to have a great bar behind it, right?

After walking to the T.G.I.F. and being told by the bartender (a complete douchebag) there were no open bars till 14th St. (Though it is true open bars in the Financial District on Sunday are rare, I could tell by his tone and by the fact he said “14th St.” he wanted me to leave the Wall St. area… Or he thought I was a complete idiot!), I started walking towards the ghost of the World Trade Center, and there in the distance I saw a green awning that read “O’Hara’s” and I knew, I knew I had found what I was looking for. Inside at the largest table in the joint sat a group of fifteen protesters, discussing seriously something about them being the 99%. And as I surveyed my surroundings, I realized everyone in the bar was from the protest half a block away.

Drinks at O’Hara’s are reasonable too. If you’re going there, expect to pay $5-$9 on anything from beer to top shelf liquors. They also have food that is a bit overpriced, so unless you have $20 to spend on a meal don’t order anything but the appetizers. The bartender I had was a great guy who agreed with what the protesters were doing, but thought a lot of his customers that night were living in “a John Lennon dream world.” Definitely a solid guy.

So, if any of you broke-asses are going down to Wall St. to show your support, check it out, or become apart of the movement, I lend this advice from one drunk to another:  O’Hara’s.

O’Hara’s Pub and Restaurant
120 Cedar St.
Between Trinity St. and Greenwich St. [Financial District]

Image from citymaps.com