he East Village and the Big Easy don’t have much in common. For starters, the East Village’s nightlife is comprised mostly of chic bars — whether it’s ‘90s chic, trashy chic or Prohibition era chic, it’s bound to look like cleaned-up chaos. In New Orleans, nightlife is nearly indistinguishable from daylife, and the famous French Quarter’s bars are far more difficult to categorize. No matter where you go, a hodgepodge of dusty relics, wooden counters, voodoo dolls, “Huge Ass Beers” signs, Mardi Gras beads, Saints flags and indecently exposed women color the atmosphere. It’s no coincidence that, in the years since Hurricane Katrina, the East Village has become home to three New Orleans-themed bars and eateries, each of which shows a different side of NOLA. As it turns out, New Orleans chic is the best the neighborhood has to offer. In all three of these places, fun takes precedence over anything else.
Now that the nuisances of Fat Tuesday have past, we’re free to enjoy these spots in the wake of Mardi Gras season. They’re diverse enough to suit nearly anyone and, unlike in New Orleans, the odds of sighting a bare-chested woman are, for better or worse, low.
Ninth Ward (180 Second Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets)
Absurdity: 5
Authenticity: 5
This bar is inspired by NOLA’s famous Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop on Bourbon Street, which was built in 1772. Rather than decorating with the usual purples, golds and greens of the genre, Ninth Ward opts for a dusty, cavernous feel. The small bites (muffaletta sandwich for $2.50, fried pickles for $5.00) are affordable, while the cocktails cost the typical East Village fare. One hurricane (rum mixed with ice and red juices) alone should be strong enough to knock you off your feet, but should you want two, you’ll be out $24.00. At Jean Lafitte’s, the same cocktail in a larger, take-home cup costs a mere $4.50. At Ninth Ward, you’re better off with an Abita ale.
Billy Hurricane’s (25 Avenue B between 2nd and 3rd Streets)
Absurdity: 10
Authenticty: 7
The moment I spotted a chalkboard on the street advertising “Mustache Rides,” I knew I was in for a treat. Billy Hurricane’s crams the very best of the worst of New Orleans inside a small, orange-lit space. Just like the trashiest of Bourbon Street bars, Billy Hurricane’s doesn’t serve real food or high-quality cocktails — in fact, their Hurricane tastes like an old, melted Jolly Rancher — but the bench swings, manly posters and swirl of neon lights will snap you out of the stuffy East Village attitude you walked in with. I urge you to grab a $7.00 vodka lemonade, take a seat on the lawn furniture in the back, and watch the hilarious frat boy immaturity ensue.
Mara’s Homemade (342 E. 6 Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues)
Absurdity: 3
Authenticity: 9
Should you choose to sit down at the tiny bar of this busy creole restaurant, you’ll be face to face with the glossiest pecan pie you’ve ever seen. (And that’s not the only dessert stored on the counter.) Mara’s is primarily an eatery, but there are enough cocktails on each table to make it appear equal parts bar and restaurant. The food is top notch (nothing beats the crawfish stuffed bread, $16.00), and while the cocktails start at $12.00, they’re served in generous mason jars. If Mara were devious enough to let you walk outside with the glass, her joint would be 100 percent authentic.