2002-06-27 - 9:54 a.m.

I've got a new neighborhood bar! And lately I've been running into more people than Lilliams would on a sunny day on the Diag in Ann Arbor. Everything is lovely, just like back in '87.

For anyone who cares, Buttermilk is the new creation by the folks who brought you Boat and Great Lakes. The name is pretty stupid, but at least it's a nautical reference, just like the other two. The Buttermilk Channel runs between Brooklyn and Governor's Island just past the mouth of the East River (such as it is, and it isn't, kinda like the Detroit River).

The bar opened up two Fridays ago. I made it there last night with Nami. Before going to check it out, we were walking up to Hollywood to return a DVD. In front of Timboo's (gnarly neighborhood bar) I spotted Annie C. hanging out on the street, just like the crusty regulars at the bar. But she was just chilling with Matt, who was moving himself into the apartment above the fish market there. We agreed to all meet up at the bar, and there we ran into Stephen L. of livejournal fame, plus convinced Lauren and Don to come out. Good times.

Buttermilk is just like Boat and Great Lakes, but bigger. The jukebox (the main strength of all three places) is just as amazing. It's not as cozy as the other two, but space can be really welcome sometimes. Plus it's closer to me -- it's 11 blocks to Great Lakes and three subway stops to Boat, but just four blocks to the new incarnation. Bar bliss just moved in down the block.