ROWING BLAZERS X HARRY’S NEW YORK BAR

ROWING BLAZERS X HARRY’S NEW YORK BAR
The “traditionally inventive” Harry’s New York Bar, located at “Sank Roo Doe Noo” in Paris, has been a destination for distinguished expats and international celebrities since first opening on Thanksgiving Day in 1911. Its name is taken from both its famed original barman - Scotsman Harry MacElhone - and from the physical bar itself, which was relocated to Paris from its first home in pre-prohibition Manhattan.


Over the past century-plus, the legendary establishment has counted various luminaries from the worlds of literature, music, art and politics among its patrons. Ernest Hemingway, Coco Chanel, Bill Tilden and Humphrey Bogart drank there; Ian Fleming incorporated it into “From a View to a Kill"; George Gershwin wrote “An American in Paris” in Harry’s cozy basement piano bar. And in addition to its celebrated clientele, Harry’s has also had a major influence on the world of cocktails, having invented some of the most classic drinks of all-time: the Bloody Mary, the Sidecar, and the French 75.

“‘HARRY’S NEW YORK BAR IS EVERYTHING WE ASPIRE TO BE AT ROWING BLAZERS: INCLUSIVE AND UNASSUMING, CHARMINGLY RIDICULOUS, BUT WITH A HINT OF OLD-WORLD GLAMOUR AND A DEEP, DEEP APPRECIATION FOR HISTORY.’"

Especially esteemed regulars - including Rowing Blazers Creative Director and founder Jack Carlson - are inducted into Harry’s very own secret society: The International Bar Flies (or I.B.F.). Its rules for members are as follows:

1. The I.B.F. is a secret and sacred fraternal organisation devoted to the uplift and downfall of serious drinkers.
2. Members must buy - if not at the moment, sometime. What is a decade among friends?
3. Any members of the I.B.F. caught cutting out paper dolls after a rough night must hand in their resignations.
4. Those who come to the trap at 5 a.m. and are able to play a ukulele without a rehearsal are eligible for life membership.
5. Members bumping their chin on the bar rail in the act of falling are suspended for ten days.
6. Members who have the idea they can wallop Dempsey are notified that there is a plastic surgeon on duty night and day close to all traps.
7. It is respectfully suggested to Bar Flies that they do their weeping in the toilet, and also bring their own mops.
8. Back-slapping after six drinks should be tempered with mercy. Remember many B.F.s have false teeth.
9. Those seeing cerise cats with purple ears should keep it to themselves. Traps are not zoological gardens.
10. Those sniffling about “the best little woman in the world” and staying for another round must pay for it.
11. Remember nothing is on the house but the roof.
12. Those who decide drinking is a menace are welcome at all times. But just keep quiet.
13. And remember that there are a lot of boys in the rear who might want something.

“Harry’s New York Bar is everything we aspire to be at Rowing Blazers,” explains Jack. “Inclusive and unassuming, charmingly ridiculous, but with a hint of old-world glamour and a deep, deep appreciation for history.” The Rowing Blazers x Harry’s New York Bar collection - executed with help from Harry’s great-grandson Franz-Arthur MacElhone and featuring the bar’s famous cartoon barflies - includes a heavyweight rugby shirt, a polo shirt, a coach’s jacket, corduroy baseball caps, long- and short-sleeved tees, sweats, accessories, and a green golf sweater made to match an original souvenir from Jack's first visit to “Roo Sank Doe Noo”. Learn more about the legendary institution at harrysbar.fr, and shop our Harry’s Bar capsule here.

 

Posted on May 3, 2022