Mica Bar, Mercury Bar, <MineralName> Bar, WTF?

Mercury Bar
Mica Bar
Slate Bar

Whence this apparent trend for naming party pubs & clubby night bars in NY for assorted minerals and elements? Is there a primordial yearning for geology hitherto untapped?

For me it conjures up a very literal image of the bar itself, the bit of furniture you set your beverage-glass down on while sitting across from the bartender’s domain, whether by preference of while waiting for an available table: “Hey, come on in, ours is made out of mica!!! You don’t wanna sip your Laphroiag at some indifferently varnished wooden bar, do you?”

Is it a coincidence, including perchance the concidence of me simply having noticed these particular establishments in a large city full of many such businesses? Or ought I to wear a rock-hammer more often if and when I want to take a ride on the wild side?

I always knew those Flintstones movies were a bad idea…

At least it isn’t Slate Bar and Quarry. Come in and get slammed and then operate heavy machinery.

Slate is named after the material pool tables are made out of.

Mercury Bar (both the one on 9th and the one on 3rd) are probably more likely named after the Greek god…or they just like the sound of the name.

Mica probably just sounded cool.

Basically, you can probably find a club in NYC named after anything.

[ul][li]Legz Diamond Gentlemen’s Club[/li][li]Emerald Inn (On the UWS)[/li][li]I think I recall drinking @ a place called the Old Granite Inn: (But don’t recall where in NYC it is/was)[/li]Most importantly: The Red Rock West: (Where a few Doperbabes danced atop the bar a few Januarys ago)[/ul]

An alumnus of ours has opened a bar in NYC named…wait for it…Opal Bar. No relation, I assume. It’s on East 52nd Street. Next time the Alumni Director talks to the owner I’ll have him ask why.

Ahhhh-hah! [url=]More proof outright tavern name theft is occurring.

I wish this alum good luck. East 52nd. I’ll keep an eye out. If it’s any consolation, he’ll be listed right above Opaline on Ave A and +/- 6th. Speaking of Opaline, there’s a great, inexpensive Japanese restaurant on the ground floor atop Opaline