A Good Sign: McGovern's Bar
This is the sign outside McGovern's Bar on the western stretch of Spring Street in Soho. Used to be a great old dive. I see now that, though the sign is still hanging, the place is now something called Sway Lounge, which I couldn't give a flying fig about because it's got a cordon and a beefy bouncer and is obviously some trendoid haunt. At least the sign remains. Give it a good stare and move on.
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10 comments:
Uh, you mean the Western stretch of Spring Street...
Yes, indeed, I do. It's been corrected. Thanks.
I used to perform there in the late 1980's. It was free and fun to hang out. I stopped going when they started charging at the door.
McGovern's was a friendly place to get hammered on cheap beer and hear local bands for free. This was in the late '80s.
I also liked the metallic "nipples" that decorated the facade.
I used to bartend there. I'm female and Black, bartended alone nights and acted as the"bouncer" and locked up six nights a week. Mostly longshoremen and printers then - 1985 to '86.
Got to be too much but one of the best experiences I've ever had.
What ever happened to Steve the owner???
Yes, it's great to find these
comments!! I'm the creator of
the "metallic nipples" on the
facade. The're actually stain-
less steel ladel cups bolted to
form a decorative border, and
weren't intentionally to represent
a human body part. I was also the
the curator for 2 yrs at the Bar/
Gallery '85-'86. I performed at
the venue solo and with a group
called MOONBEAT. I remember fond-
ly the bartender commenter. I don't
recall your name, but you play
flute and were connected to some-
one at Island Records. We had a
bunch of great conversations. Now,
I'm "a real Mainiac!" Best-
Barry V Miller
Used to go there all the time in the early 90's, great for local bands, especially Little Shining Man. Just had a random thought about thsi place and glad I found your blog!
This is the 1st time finding something on McGovern's on Spring St. I have wonderful memories of there--hosting Tues nite open mike for about seven years. A lot of wonderful music happened there. Miss those days, regards, Debi Beryl
My band, The Current, played there a handful of times in 1988-89. Steve was the manager. Always liked the bar. When we played people would drink, dance, and fight. And it was just out of the way enough to feel a little dangerous. I miss it.
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