It’s been about 5 days now since I first stepped foot in The Marz Bar (real fans spell it with a Z) and I haven’t come down from the high that place gave me. I have wanted to go there for the past few months especially in light of the fact that it is closing after Jan. 31st, due to an exorbitant rent hike, but this friday I finally checked it out with some pals of mine from college and An Beal (my favorite bar probably ever). Before going, I read reviews that had all pretty much described it as the definition of a true dive bar. They were right. Upon entrance, there was a certain scent that caused me to almost heave and I still don’t know what it was, but 5 mins later you get used to it. The next thing you would probably notice is that the only light the bar has comes from the neons outside and ONE solitary desklamp turned upwards. They have no tap beer at all. Just bottles and at 5 bucks that is pretty standard for NYC/LES. They serve shots that should be rocks drinks for 6 bucks, and thats where you really get your money’s worth. The bartenders are exceedingly generous with their pours and also do buy-backs, which have steadily been disappearing. The bathroom I was not brave enough to check out cause I’ve heard stories of how they have never been cleaned ever, and toilet paper is simply an amenity they don’t carry. After seeing all of this one would probably want to leave, but the fact that this place looks like a literal hole in the wall hooked me, and the clientele was even better.
I met two men named Antonio and Caz who were trying to hit on the bartender. I figured these were guys to talk to. A few mins into the conversation I was surprised to find that these guys had just met 48 hours ago at the bar. What they have been doing since that time I will assume was drugs and drinking as neither of them had any money and their phones were dead. They asked me for money, but I politely declined, I did however let them borrow my phone to make “an important call” which turns out was just making a phone call to pickup weed. Anyway real nice creeps. Then a man, who I’ll assume was homeless came around selling “Ball Sack Faces”. Yup they were what it sounds like they were, and Mike Lep bought one! Later the frame broke and everyone danced on top of the broken glass. A few other snapshots: Dudes got naked, I berated a woman in what I thought was discreet (it wasn’t) for having cornrowable armpits, I was slapped, Peter was punched, and another friend pulled a knife on another friend! It was semi-in jest. This place lets you do whatever you want. The crazier you are or want to get, the more this place embraces it. It’s Four Loko personified and I am sad I am just experiencing the magic. I get that it doesn’t really sound all that appealing, but do trust, that it is if you are there. I plan on going this Friday night again to chase the crazy/fun dragon and all are welcome to get a taste of weird history before The Man shuts it down.
