DC’s Tavern: 'A Respite From the Frat Scene'
It was nice to not hear Katy Perry at a bar for once.
Bartenders Larry Nieroda and Jon Ernst at DC's Tavern, 505 8th Street, Hoboken.
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Photos
If you are wearing a rhinestone-studded Affliction t-shirt, or are getting a spray tan in the winter, please avert your eyes for the remainder of this week’s column. Actually, just hit “back” on your browser and go look up happy hour Jaegerbombs at McBoozkin’s Tavern of Bro-dom (I made that up, don’t really go searching for it).
I have discovered my favorite bar in Hoboken and I’m not sure that I want to blow up the spot.
Okay, fine. Last week I saw a couple of tattooed punk rockers (I’ll assume) going into DC’s Tavern, on Eighth Street. I made a note to investigate.
“People think we’re this big biker bar," said bartender Larry Nieroda during my visit one Tuesday evening. "We’re just a little left of center."
Inside, DC’s is the best kind of dive bar. The walls are a collage of concert flyers, newspaper clippings and stickers (and was that a picture of a young David Hasselfhoff we spied?). There’s no overwhelming beer list to pore through, and the drinks are cheap (I paid $4 for my bottle of Bud). The liquor selection is overwhelmingly whiskey. There’s a jukebox, and the tunes are good. It was quiet, as I visited on a weekday, but was promised that the space fills up quickly on the weekends.
DC’s has been open for the past eight years, “owned and operated by people in punk bands,” said friendly, bearded bar tender Nieroda, who added that the bar’s customer base is a lot of musicians and people in the local music scene.
“We have a good run of regulars,” he said. “We’re a local bar with lots of rock ‘n roll, punk rock and blues.”
In fact, the jukebox is a pretty big draw. It’s old school—“No satellite jukebox here!”—and has a big selection. There’s pool, darts and Big Buck Hunter, too. On Sundays the bar hosts an event called “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” featuring horror films and $5 Bloody Mary pints. Despite the small space, the bar sometimes hosts live bands. They’ve got cheap cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon and Schlitz and, for the love of God, drinks in mason jars – where else are you going to find such a place in Hoboken?
“We’re the one respite from the frat scene,” said Nieroda.
Or better yet, there’s the straightforward description by another bartender, John Ernst (that would be Jon Ernst III, I am informed): “You should come here if you want a good f***n bar.”
That pretty much sums it up.
I hesitate to award DC’s Tavern with all the frosty mugs it can get, because as I said, I don’t want to see the place overrun with fraternity brothers passing through for vodka Red Bulls on their way to college house parties.
Let’s put it this way: are you the type of person who freaks out if your gelled hair gets messed up? When you go out, are you generally a hot mess that throws up on your Ugg boots? If you’ve answered yes, this may not be your bar. But if these stereo types do not apply to you and you're an actual human being, you will probably have a lot of fun at DC’s. So here it is, DC's receives the Bar Hopper's highest honor: I'm awarding it with ten out of ten frosty mugs.
Have you been? Agree/disagree with our review?
Tell us in the comments.
4321
4:41 pm on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
I wonder what the unemployment rate/ unemployment benefits abuse % is, for those that frequent this bar?
Donny Bergers
9:14 pm on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Yet another confirmation of the existence of narrow-minded, mind-numbingly ignorant people. Thanks GHIII.
Cheese
12:57 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
1000% and proud of it! Lookit me, middle of the week and I'm sittin' at home playing Xbox! Thank you mommy state! I'll be at DC's tonight, spending my welfare check on grain alcohol!
beelmedia
6:11 pm on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
I wonder, GHII, do you have trustfund? See -that's totally unfair too. I'm a musician and a full time worker and a DC's regular. Tell you what, you stop by sometime, because you clearly haven't been to DC's, and I'll buy you a drink with my hard-earned money.
alex_ebr
9:08 pm on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
GHIII are you a real person? I can't imagine somebody would read this and have that as their first thought. You need to get out more.
Hoboken1653
10:57 am on Thursday, January 13, 2011
Great Bar!!!
thebear
11:16 am on Thursday, January 13, 2011
Would fit in perfectly with any # of great bars on the LES in NYC. I had a great time there on New Year's Eve 2 years ago and I din't break my bank account or have to deal with drunken morons. Great fucking bar.
Michael
11:26 am on Thursday, January 13, 2011
I've been coming to this bar since it first came into existence and if you are looking for a no-frills, no-cover, no-bullshit kind of bar, with an awesome staff. DC's is the place for you. The weekends are a great time as are the weekdays. I myself love Tuesday's with Larry "The Hunter". Stop by, grab a beer and have a nice conversation with Larry.
GHIII, that is one of the most idiotic statements I have heard all day. Your ignorance is amazing to me. DC's is not for uptight, self-centered and totally ignorant people such as yourself. I would stick to Nine or perhaps the Chandelier room at the W. This seems to be a place more suited for one such as you.
Dina Dimopoulos
11:56 am on Thursday, January 13, 2011
It's pretty much a consensus here GHIII is someone that would NOT be comfortable in a place like this - which is SO MUCH BETTER for the rest of us. 8-)
4321
1:22 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
Let’s put it this way: are you the type of person who smirks when someone's Ipod does not contain the first album that Heaven Fish released back in 2006? When you go out, are you generally rolling up the sleeves of your flannel to reveal your career killin tattoos? If you’ve answered yes, this may be your bar. But if these stereo types do not apply to you and you're an actual productive human being, you will probably have a lot of fun at DC’s as well, because when it all comes down to it, everyone likes to go out, get drunk and cast aspersions upon people's characters.
valus
8:47 pm on Friday, January 14, 2011
Is it the hair product comment that offends you so? or was it the comment about throwing up in your Ugg boots that hit closer to home? Either way, your gripe is with the author of the article. Why then cast aspersions, as you call it, at patrons of the bar in general. Not only were you presumptuous, you are now being exceedingly hypocritical in your accusations of aspersions when you yourself began the defamatory remarks against innocent patrons. Tuck your tail between your legs, hang your head, walk away and tell it to someone who cares.
4321
8:33 am on Saturday, January 15, 2011
I said that everyone likes to cast aspersions - including me.
None of the comments in the article hit home - but yes, you are the secret winner. Not only this article but all Bar Hopper articles are filled with a bit of "high horsed-ness".
I've actually been to DC's a few times, and have no problems with the bar or people. I did find it a little interesting however that of all those that commented, only one (Valus) saw where I was coming from and more or less picked up on my hypocricy.
Finally....what % of those that read these comments tried to google and find Heaven Fish??? ;)
erinmaiden
2:28 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
career killing tattoos. you are a moron, i'm sure that fact has stymied your career
capnjon
2:47 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
i want to get all snippy with GHIII, but all i needed to do was click on his name and see he made a post to support the st pat's day parade mayhem in hoboken - that shows what he's about there....
as far as a)heaven fish? never heard of them.
2) flannels? yes, when it's cold.
3) career killing tattoos? well, since you're probably some sort of hedge fund turd, i won't say anyone at the bar makes more than you, but i will say, all the tattooed folks who hang out there (myself included), have quite successful careers. In fact, in all the years i've been going to DCs, i can't say i've ever met an unemployed person who hang's out there....
capnjon
2:52 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
and sorry, forgot to say "released back in 2006"... what are you, twelve? since you seem to judge the patrons of this bar, you'd realize they're all (generally) old.... and the records they care about (vinyl, not digital) are DECADES old........ not a few years old....
Billy D Three
4:26 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
I have career killing gas and would like to Dutch Oven GHIII.
Billy D Three
4:41 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
The funny thing is that we have all kinds of people that drink at DC's. Doesn't matter where you work or what tax bracket you file in. DC's is all about good music and good people. If you're an asshole with tattoos, an asshole with a Brooks Brothers suit or both, then you're not welcome. That's all. Be good or be gone. Drink up.
4321
5:43 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
Are you buying? I'm broke.
beelmedia
5:53 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
No trust fund then? My offer still stands if you show up. As long as you follow mr bill's rules.
Neil McCoy
8:06 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
It would appear he already broke the rules.
jon
1:13 am on Friday, January 14, 2011
Honestly I frequent the generic bars on washington street due to most my friends and can deal with them but this is the only bar i've been to while listening to lucero so this is my favorite place by far
Triple s
6:40 pm on Monday, January 17, 2011
Triple s - yep all kinds of hot dogs welcome at this place - even guys who run around the pool table smearing ketchup and mustard on their chest - stay classy Hoboken!
jingle
11:43 am on Wednesday, January 19, 2011
I think GH III might've been thrown out of DC's, hence the nastiness.