Red Sox bar The Riviera in NYC is closing

Hendu At The Wall

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Jul 31, 2005
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Woodstock, NY
Looks like the Riviera is going to be closing August 31st.

For those not familiar, this is probably considered the main Red Sox bar in Manhattan. From the article:

"The Riviera might look like just another sports bar, and a Boston Red Sox bar at that, but it's much more. A classic hangout for hipsters (the old-school kind) since the 1960s, this is where Lou Reed kicked John Cale out of The Velvet Underground."

[link]
 

Strike4

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Jul 19, 2005
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I remember being there for a few games...Pedro's immaculate inning to start the game against the Mariners on May 18, 2002, one time when Hazel Mae was there for NESN and she was throwing back drinks with everybody, some other random times. But the food wasn't good and the atmosphere for non-big games was lame. I always thought the Hairy Monk was better and eventually Professor Thom's took over as the #1 spot.
 

InstaFace

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Sep 27, 2016
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I do miss the Hairy Monk, but I always liked the food and atmosphere better than the densely-packed bro-fest of Thom's. I'll always remember Kenny Albert showing up with a film crew during Game 7 of the ALCS and being told, in choice words, to go away.

This is sad. We need one last NYC SoSH bash at the Riv later this month. I'll start a thread in the Bash forum.

edit: Okay, bash thread made. Fill out this doodle with your handle and select which dates you're available and we'll meet up and toast to days gone by.
 
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RedOctober3829

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Jul 19, 2005
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I do miss the Hairy Monk, but I always liked the food and atmosphere better than the densely-packed bro-fest of Thom's. I'll always remember Kenny Albert showing up with a film crew during Game 7 of the ALCS and being told, in choice words, to go away.

This is sad. We need one last NYC SoSH bash at the Riv later this month. I'll start a thread in the Bash forum.
I'm really busy this month but I am going to try to make one of the Yankees games next weekend. I'd be interested in some kind of hangout pre or post game.
 

Saints Rest

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I love the idea of a bash at the Riv.

I was there for much of the 2003 playoffs, with a lot of SOSHers at the time: G String Quintet, Quintannariffic (or one of the Quintanas), Rod Becks Mullet, smnookin, and a few others. I remember finding some random cowboy hat in my office on the way to one of the games and wearing that for all the games there. I dropped the hat intentionally on top of the pistachios machine on my way out the door, likely before Aaron Boone had finished circling the bases.

I remember that the upper level bar had TVs that were on one source (cable, probably) that were about 2 seconds faster than the ones in the lower level, so we could hear the crowd react before seeing the action.

There was some hot actress (Famke Janssen?) who was a Red Sox fan who would stop in fairly often.
 

Quintanariffic

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Yeah that was me (not Famke). Good times in both 2003 and 2004. Danced "like wild Injuns" on 7th Ave outside after Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS. Most of the bar scenes from "7 Days in October" were from there. Those two post-seasons were an amazing moment in time. T&P
 

notmannysfault

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Was back in Boston by 2003 but always took refuge at the Riv during my time living in union square.

Sad news. Restauranting in NYC ain't easy...
 

joyofsox

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The Riv was great. I remember being there for several games in 2001 and 2002, including 2002's shitty Opening Day when the Jays shelled Pedro and UUU lost the game in the ninth.
 

mulluysavage

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Jul 19, 2005
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This sucks. I've watched most of the Pats games there on Sundays for the last 5 years or so. It's the only time I get to see one of my good friends, we meet to watch the games. We were there for SB LI, hugging each other in disbelief after, and the staff unexpectedly gave us a bottle of the cheapest champagne. We doused everyone. Same happened from other tables. The food is bad, the staff is awesome. Billy buys us beers. Tom's is too loud and crowded for us. This is the end of an era. I want to party there this month.
 

OurF'ingCity

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Apr 22, 2016
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Was there when the Bs won the Cup in 2011 so it will always have a place in my memory. IMO it was a pretty average bar other than the fact that it showed Boston games (though I admit I only watched games there a handful of times so I defer to others on that front and it sounds like even that may have been past its peak (wasn't in NYC until 2010)) but I totally agree it was a much better atmosphere than Thom's, which at this point is barely an option if you actually want to watch and follow a game.
 

Deweys New Stance

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The Riv was really fantastic in 2003-2004. Will always be grateful to Jim McGuire for slipping me in through the back door when there was a line around the block trying to get in for Game 4 of the 2004 WS. Never went back after Jim left around 2007 and started up Professor Thom's. It's funny hadn't thought about the place in a long while, but I had just looked it up online last month to see if it was still around.

I'll always remember Kenny Albert showing up with a film crew during Game 7 of the ALCS and being told, in choice words, to go away.
He did, however, manage to get in with a camera crew for the World Series, and as a result the official '04 Championship DVD features us celebrating at the Riv after the final out of Game 4.

There was some hot actress (Famke Janssen?) who was a Red Sox fan who would stop in fairly often.
That was Frankie Rayder the Victoria's Secret/SI swimsuit model. I remember she would stand in the back watching nervously.
 

Moviegoer

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Feb 6, 2016
4,898
Was just there a couple months ago for a game when I had a job just down the street. This sucks. Thom's is okay but I preferred the calmer atmosphere there. I will have to try and get there one more time this month if I can scrape up the money for a night out.
 

Buster Olney the Lonely

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Jul 16, 2006
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Used to go there fairly frequently back when I lived in the east village. Don't remember the food. I doubt I ever ate there.

My favorite memory had to be game 2 against the Angels in 2008. This was a few years after I moved out of NYC and happened to be up there for my friend's bachelor party. Was at the Riv by myself; place was packed. Game was a real nailbiter. Sox scored two in the top of the ninth and the place exploded. I hugged a bunch of complete strangers.

I'm sad knowing that place isn't going to be there anymore.
 

OCD SS

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Living in NY without a TV, I watched many a game there through 2005. As I remember it after that the guy who worked there who kept the bar Sox-oriented left and the owners just tried to keep the Boston theme, but it seemed a bit hollow. The energy shifted to Professor Thomas and I was married (with a TV) so I wasn't making trips out to watch Sox games.

Whenever I pass it, I remember those days & games fondly, but I don't feel the need to go back the way o did when Freddy's Backroom.
 

Ramon AC

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Had my first date with my wife there, in 2002. I think Fossum was pitching against the Orioles.


2003 ALCS w/ I12XU

2004 ALCS, in spite of my hysterics they didn't kick me out during Game 5, but they wouldn't let me back in for Game 7.

I will miss that place. A lot.
 

Lose Remerswaal

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We were there for a Pats game (the one with THE BLOCK) last year and also a few years back. Was talking about The Riv today because that first time we were there we were sitting with Tom Wopat who was rooting for his Packers on another TV. And he just got arrested in Waltham.
 

Rod Becks Mullet

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oh man, the memories from that place. I will never forget game 7 vs the MFYs in 04 when the entire bar was singing God Bless America with Ronan Tynan with the Sox holding the lead. The whole song and release felt so cathartic after dealing with the pain in 03. It was a very fun group. Wish I could meet up for the bash, but I've moved out to suburbia and my work schedule really doesn't fit the couple week days that are picked. Enjoy a final pint there fellas.
 

PtownRedSox

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Jul 1, 2017
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As a life long, since '77 when I was playing for the Biscoe Red Sox T Ball team in North Carolina at 4 years old, I have been to Boston more times than I can remember, no way that bar was better than any in Boston. I never made it there. I will appreciate the memories y'all have. Aside from that, y'all keep it up. Paint that city Red.
 

OCST

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Jan 10, 2004
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Used to live not far from it and ate/drank there a lot. A good place to grab a no-fuss lunch or dinner even if there's no game on.

This is happening all over the city and it blows. That's a V&N discussion but still.
 

twibnotes

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Jul 16, 2005
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Sad to see this. Spent a fair amount of time at the Riv in my 7 or so years in Manhattan.

One game is particularly memorable. The Sox had a really long game with the Rays when they were fighting for first place in the division (I recall it being at least 15 innings). By the end of the game, the only people left watching at the Riv were me, Matthew Broderick, Louis CK (then not nearly as famous) and their friend. Sox lost, but I talked baseball with Matthew Broderick (and to a lesser extent Louis CK) for about an hour. Both were really friendly.

Above all, the Riv was a home away from home for transplanted Bostonians. I always felt I'd run into someone I knew and often did. Great spot.
 

simplyeric

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Feb 14, 2006
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Yeah I was there on a date once back in either 03 or 04. Place was full except for one table right next to me that was empty for a while, with a tag that said 'reserved for Mike' and the Tv next to that table had a hockey game on. People complained a bunch because everyone else was watching the Sox game and yelling and stuff.
So Mike Myers shows up with a few friends to watch hockey. Canadians, eh?
So Mike and a few friends watched playoff hockey while everyone else watched Sox.
Sox won, and everyone was excited, but then no one left because we all stayed to watch the end of the Yankees game. Clearly it's early in the season so it's not like a Yankees game was so critical. So like turns to me and asks 'you guys already won, why are you all still here cheating about the Yankees game' and I explained that we were cheating because the Yankees were receiving an epic beat-down. Like 16-0 or something. So we were excited.
Mike just kinda went wide-eyed and said 'wow you guys are crazy'.
 

shaggydog2000

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Yeah I was there on a date once back in either 03 or 04. Place was full except for one table right next to me that was empty for a while, with a tag that said 'reserved for Mike' and the Tv next to that table had a hockey game on. People complained a bunch because everyone else was watching the Sox game and yelling and stuff.
So Mike Myers shows up with a few friends to watch hockey. Canadians, eh?
So Mike and a few friends watched playoff hockey while everyone else watched Sox.
Sox won, and everyone was excited, but then no one left because we all stayed to watch the end of the Yankees game. Clearly it's early in the season so it's not like a Yankees game was so critical. So like turns to me and asks 'you guys already won, why are you all still here cheating about the Yankees game' and I explained that we were cheating because the Yankees were receiving an epic beat-down. Like 16-0 or something. So we were excited.
Mike just kinda went wide-eyed and said 'wow you guys are crazy'.
Yeah, but he wrote, directed, and starred in "The Love Guru", so who is he to call anybody crazy, right?
 

Dick Drago

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Great memories at the Riv. I first remember going to watch the Sox back in '98, Jim had just started there. Always had a mix of sports fans, theater ppl etc.

One of the denizens back then was Jen Royal, at the time supposedly a big Sox fan. Had an altercation w a Yankee fan after game 1 in 99...it wasn't yet a full fledged Sox bar, and plenty of booze and bad blood.

Best times were game 5 vs Cleveland in 99, and of course game 7 vs Yankees in '04.

Rip Riv
 

simplyeric

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Feb 14, 2006
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Yeah, but he wrote, directed, and starred in "The Love Guru", so who is he to call anybody crazy, right?
Ha but he also made Wayne's World and Austin Powers, so he's love-guruing all the way to the bank.

Anyway, today I figured 'what the hell' and came to the Riv to watch the game.
Got my old spot by the pole, where I always lurked back in the day.
Not here 1 minute before some old man comes out of the bathroom and just stands there looking around, confused.
He looks at me and says 'where the heck is the Yankees game?!'
Me: 'well, it's kind of a Red Sox bar...'
Old man: what? Why didn't they tell me that when I came in here??
And then he just kinda sulked off to the upstairs (where, as was noted earlier, I think the feed is still 2 seconds ahead...)
 

PseuFighter

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Dec 22, 2003
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Watched lots of Pats games there over the years. One of my fondest and foggiest memories was watching this game there with a bunch of SoSH'ers, who insisted I go in for the two-hour unlimited drink brunch. Not totally sure how that day ended, but I do remember it was a lot of fun. I was first downstairs during the 2004 Game 1 ALDS. Darrell's a super friendly Boston native behind the bar most of the times I was there so I hope he, along with the rest of the staff, lands on their feet. I hate to see these places closing.

As for Thom's, was never a fan of Thom's, but I discounted it largely for the loud college crowd, and tend to eliminate any place that blasts music during commercials. The Riv was no frills, laid back, and a great spot for NFL Sundays for sure.

Count me in for any end of month get together.

Also count me in for starting a Boston bar in Williamsburg. Just saying.
 
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Manuel Aristides

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Apr 7, 2009
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Man! I move to New York in two weeks and had The Riviera on my list of must-hits. Go figure. I'd be game to help establish something new... Williamsburg or elsewhere...
 

PseuFighter

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Dec 22, 2003
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Barring Boston hate, and everybody loves Boston, all it *should* take is a consistently healthy crowd. I'm all for commandeering a new spot.
 

JCizzle

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Dec 11, 2006
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Slight tangent, but is anyone aware of a similar bar in DC? Rhino used to show the games, but that place kinda sucked and closed a couple years ago. I've never found another spot that consistently airs Sox games.