# Mica Bar, Mercury Bar, \ Bar, WTF? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 14, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mica-bar-mercury-bar-mineralname-bar-wtf/279685 "2004-12-14T00:06:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mica-bar-mercury-bar-mineralname-bar-wtf/279685/1 "2004-12-14T00:06:54Z")
[Mercury Bar](http://www.clubbing101.com/US-Clubs-and-Bars/10138.html) [Mica Bar](http://micabar.com/party_pics_main.htm) [Slate Bar](http://www.slatebayside.com/) 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? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mica-bar-mercury-bar-mineralname-bar-wtf/279685/2 "2004-12-14T14:30:25Z")
I always knew those Flintstones movies were a bad idea… ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mica-bar-mercury-bar-mineralname-bar-wtf/279685/3 "2004-12-14T15:03:12Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mica-bar-mercury-bar-mineralname-bar-wtf/279685/4 "2004-12-14T16:22:07Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mica-bar-mercury-bar-mineralname-bar-wtf/279685/5 "2004-12-14T16:26:19Z")
[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] ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mica-bar-mercury-bar-mineralname-bar-wtf/279685/6 "2004-12-14T17:24:43Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mica-bar-mercury-bar-mineralname-bar-wtf/279685/7 "2004-12-14T17:38:47Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > An alumnus of ours has opened a bar in NYC named…wait for it…Opal Bar. 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