Losing a Friend
Hey all, I needed to write this out because the world is crazy right now, and along with our indoor routines changing, things will be forever changed when we go back outdoors. This is mainly because one of my most beloved restaurants, Coogan's, has closed it's doors for the final time on March 17th. This restaurant meant so damn much to me and I'm devastated that even after our successful petition to keep it open in 2018, I still had to witness their farewell on March 17th, 2020. Coogan's Irish Pub in Washington Heights was a personal historic landmark to many of us in the small neighborhood in Northern Manhattan. I have celebrated so many milestones, had so many meetings, met so many people, and made so many memories there. It was a place I always recommended to anyone visiting The Heights, and a place I always ended up at on any random day or night when I just wanted a casual drink. The service was always friendly, the food was made with love, and the atmosphere was like no other neighborhood bar I've ever been to. Even if it was your first time there, you felt like you'd been going there for years. To celebrate this fantastic place, here are all the photos I've gathered from a decade of going to Coogan's. Hope you enjoy.
My High School Graduation in 2009. I could've gone to any place downtown but I wanted to celebrate here.
My 18th birthday later that summer. I baked my own cake and got everyone to wear something purple because it's my favorite color. There were 22 people in attendance that day. Coogan's made me feel so special by customizing my own menu with my name on it and I will literally never forget our waiter (pictured) because he had us in tears from laughing so hard. What a great birthday.
Brunching outdoors with the family.
A very drunk me on my 21st birthday. I actually took my first shot of alcohol at Coogan's (there's a video of it somewhere) and discovered my favorite drink in true Carrie Bradshaw style, the Cosmopolitan. I kept coming back for more because they were $6 on Thursdays.
I met my college roommate's partner (future hubby) here for the first time in 2012.
Then last year I introduced (pregnant) AJ to my partner at Coogan's for lunch here as well.
My 22nd Birthday. Things hadn't changed because I still designed my own custom cake to match my dress, haha.
Another birthday at Coogan's with my go-to drink, Sex on the Beach. My other go-to was their famous Watermelon Martini with a juicy watermelon slice.
I could just walk down to 169th street when I wanted to clear my head and have a 1/2 liter of wine (that became my new favorite) after the waitress recommended it. Oh, and dessert of course.
My little sister's 5th grade graduation. She chose the brownie sundae, always.
Halloween 2012 with my brother, Victor. I was a cheeseburger and entered MY VERY FIRST costume contest and lost to Borat haha. (nobody knew what I was). This was the first out of many Halloween costumes I created myself.
Halloween the very next year with Victor again! This really nice guy kept putting our drinks on his tab. See how nice everyone was? Hahaha....
Me and Victor always ended up drunk at Coogan's......Lol
I loved the fried calamari!
One of the most memorable experiences was Coogan's New Year's Eve Party in 2016. It was the first time I had ever done anything for New Year's and I also got my mom on board which was really rare! She ended up partying the whole night and we had an amazing time! Check out the end of the gallery for the dancing machine which is my mom.
We loved the party so much we returned again for NYE 2017!
What a great night that was, For $25 you got streamers, hats, champagne, and a great party surrounded by wonderful people. All we had to do was walk home two streets over...
Coogan's, I will miss you dearly. I am sure there are more photos and videos but I truly believe the best memories are the ones we forgot to take pictures of. So many things happened in that pub on the corner of 169th street. I don't think I'll ever be able to replace you. Thank you for providing a space for great hospitality, awesome food, inclusivity, family, and celebration. Dave, Tess, and Peter put it best in these words:
"To many of us, Coogan’s was a public house, a meeting place, a table to break bread and solve problems. We were a place of celebration and remembrance. We were a bar full of life…a place to listen and a place to talk. We were a place to leave behind the burdens of everyday life and, more often than not, inherit new ones when we volunteered to help a neighbor in need, a kid in search of himself, or a stranger down on his luck. We were people of different races, creeds and ideas, all with the same dream to be secure and love. We were a place to find out you weren’t alone but if you wanted to be, your space was sacred. And together at Coogan’s we became stronger and powerful, with an urge to share and offer ourselves with deeds that gave us, in return, the realization of life and the essence of beauty." You can see the rest of their farewell letter here.
