A New York City soccer community lost its home because some greedy landlord sold the property to a greedy real estate developer - to build apartments that none of us can afford to live in on a block no one would visit were it not for a bar like Smithfield (FIT students don't count, as usual). Welcome to the wealth gap NYC-style.
As many of you know from my Facebook check ins, Smithfield has been my second home for the past 3 years (my last 2 birthday parties were here!), so this was a tremendous emotional blow. Worse than the hit the patrons took, the staff - every bit a part of the soccer community - found themselves unemployed...Merry Christmas, here's your lump of coal.
And that's what made Smithfield so special - more than the beautiful fixtures, the fantastic spaces, the impressive foodie menu (with first rate options even for a vegan like me) - it was the people. The soccer crowd, sure, but the owners and the staff (from the door staff to the floor staff (yes, I made that rhyme on purpose)) made you feel welcome, attended to...at home. To call Smithfield our "Cheers" bar doesn't even begin to describe the psychic space our bar occupied.
Smithfield will have another incarnation soon - another location, perhaps another name. Until then, here are some good memories of the last days of (this) Smithfield.
(I have left out some names and many other photos on purpose because I didn't ask for permission to post them...if you see this and would like a photo/name removed (or added), please let me know.)
Here's Fitzy who greets me at the door when I arrive (someone else is there when I leave - yes, that's how long I stay).
This is Eddie - I regularly harrassed him to play 1) Sunday, Bloody Sunday and 2) Fields of Anthenry (I'm a one trick pony).
This was the last league match the Barcelona Penya watched at Smithfield. Getafe lost. Of course.
Here's me and Kieron on Smithfield's last night - New Year's Eve.
Me, Tom and Willy.
Me and two other regulars (I didn't ask permission to use their names) from the Penya. Notice the photobombers behind us.
Me, the Mayor of Smithfield, my friend Inessa...and everyone's favorite Arsenal fan (not).
Looking forward to being together again under one roof!
