Minnie, the tabby cat currently residing at McSorley’s in the East Village (and facing a lawsuit), isn’t the first feline to make her home in a downtown drinking establishment.
This sly tuxedo kitty can be seen in a couple of 1940s photos of Sammy’s Bowery Follies—a legendary 1890s-style saloon at 267 Bowery that was part fleabag dump and part tourist trap.
No saucer of milk for this street cat. When a patron at Sammy’s nodded off, he made his move.
Tags: cats drinking beer, cats in bars, deli cats, McSorley's cat, McSorley's Old Ale House, Sammy's Bowery Follies
Ephemeral New York 
February 28, 2011 at 3:59 pm |
they always had cats in this club
February 28, 2011 at 4:21 pm |
There’s another photo of this cat (or a strikingly similar black and white cat) lapping milk from a bowl on the bar. I’ll try to find it. I think it’s watermarked Corbis.
February 28, 2011 at 6:45 pm |
what’s this lawsuit now?
February 28, 2011 at 6:50 pm |
A NJ woman claims Minnie attacked her at McSorley’s. I’m not sure if the case is still headed for trial but here’s a fun write-up about it in the New York Post:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/is_this_the_face_of_killer_5FCMGAandQ7gKgFqkroSnN
February 28, 2011 at 7:36 pm |
Sammy’s is another terrrific Bowery building where some incredible events took place that is not landmarked. How soon before someone wants to tear it down? http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/html/propose/landmark.shtml