A.T. O'Keeffe's. Boston, Massachusetts.

911 Boylston Street

Guinness Tag: $10.00 | Overall Rating: 8.00

Today's Dedicated Pint: Elevator Chris

Boylston Street here in Boston gives pedestrians a very interesting walk, as it offers an abundance of shops and restaurants catering to everyone (aside from those who are very strapped for cash). Just within the two to three block radius of O'Keeffe's, you'll find three Irish Pubs: a proper one (Sweeney's... $13.00 Guinness), a musically driven one (The Bebop), and this one. O'Keeffe's is where you'll find a lot of hardworking, blue-collar locals and it's my favorite one out of the trio. O'Keeffe's shares the wall to Dani's Queer Bar, who was hosting a Drag Brunch while we sipped on our pints of Guinness today (I figured I'd let you know).

The curb appeal is inviting, as most storefronts along this street are. Tall windows,

fresh foliage, and gold-plated lettering will always suck me in. As soon as we sat down, we were introduced to a guy that goes by "Elevator Chris." A total character with quite a sense of humor. He talked our ears off, but it was a blast. We talked to a few of the regulars here, and the laughs were constantly pouring in. Someone said, "I got a limp dick and a stiff liver." It was hilarious in the moment, but it lost a bit of its comedic relief just now as I type it out by myself on the computer. Cheap jokes are fun nonetheless, and you'll find a lot of them inside these walls.

"I went on a cruise and came home with an $1,800 bar tab and a set of twins."

Again, these quotes were much funnier with a few pints of the black stuff inside. Especially when you counter in the accents and the full-blown passion behind each word spoken. Anywho ...

The bar offers a dark atmosphere with a large L-shaped counter that holds roughly 24 cheeks (12 asses all day). The bartop has a good worn-in feel to it (that's a good thing). You'll find exposed brick behind the bar and light-wooden shelving. There's not a whole lot of fine craftsmanship or detail here, but sometimes that doesn't matter when the Craic is on full display. I've seen much prettier ceilings and shelving throughout my travels, though. I like the barstools, although I don't think they're the right fit for the place (if I'm going to be picky). The decor throughout the building is fun, and there's a lot of space for when the place gets stuffed. The other rooms have much better eye candy than the bar area itself: better ceiling tiles, better light fixtures, nice wallpaper, and better furniture.

If the second bar was open, I'd rather have sat there, as I do believe this place can offer a great vibe at the right time. It's evident the place gets absolutely packed to the gills most nights, and I'm having a hard time believing the crowd is anything short of obnoxiously loud and sweaty people screaming at the top of their lungs for no reason other than being pretty lit. I could be wrong, but I doubt it. Anytime you see one of those photbooths with a curtain inside a bar, you kind of just get the sense that a certain type of crowd frequents here. There's a reason you won't find a photobooth of this nature inside a proper Pub like The Kerryman in Chicago or Sweeney's just across the street. Hey, it's a Pub for Pete's sake, you can't knock the place for catering to a bunch of people dropping a bunch of cash every evening. Just because I personally don't like to stand like a sardine inside a hotbox with a $10 beer in my hand while screaming to my friend 1 foot away because the drunk college girls nearby feel the need to yell at the top of their lungs doesn't mean other people can't enjoy that type of scene... I just don't see the draw factor there. Call me lame, but I'll continue opting for the daytime sipping with the older crowd and working class at the bar top.

Speaking of the bar experience, the bartender today wasn't the best. He poured both a good and bad Guinness (I had two), but the engagement level was pretty weak. Maybe he was having an off day, so who cares, but I'd be lying if it felt like we were

appreciated for stopping in. He had headphones in the entire time we were there, and we had a couple of rounds that last about 45 minutes or so. It's one thing to be having a shitty day and to just go through the motions at times as a bartender, but when you pull out the headphones, to me that's a blatant "I don't give a f*ck." I do my best to be the friendliest and least needy person at the bar possible. I bartend myself, and I understand what it's like to have to cater to needy assholes all the time. I try to be the bar guest I wish to have at my bar, because whenever someone with manners shows up to one of my barstools it makes my shift a lot better. Society is filled with jerks. Don't be a jerk. Be nice, damn it. It's not hard to be nice.

This is a tough Pub to slap a rating on, so take it with a grain of salt. I wish I had more time here, but I spent more time here than most places. The whiskey and draft selections are worthy, the decor is fun, I love the curb appeal, and the Craic was present while we were here. With that being said, you'd think this would be high on the list, but the shelving, the cruddy hospitality, and the somewhat shitshow at night vibes turn me off a bit. If I worked or lived within the immediate area, I'd probably be here every week. On that note, I'm giving the Pub an 8.00, as opposed to the 7.45 I originally wrote in my notes before leaving the place. I never tell anyone to take my ratings full heartedly anyway (not that I think they're meaningless because they certainly aren't), but every once in a while, I just don't have enough substance to be totally confident in the score. What are your thoughts on O'Keeffe's if you've been? Am I missing anything?

Kick some ass today. I'm off to another barstool.

Slainte.