if you build it, they will come.

once again i find myself needing to stress a few points to some inquiring minds in regards to my affiliations and work with dingo's den. as many people well know, i took over all the promotion and advertising for them. people have been wondering what i'm getting out of it and what i'm doing it for. and for all the inquiring minds, i'm going to break it down for you:

many people also know that i bartended and bounced at dingos for a few years. i was always a regular at dingos since i was old enough to drink. but when i started working there, my life was at a very low point. i had been fired from my previous job over some complete bullshit and i was collecting minimal unemployment and just barely scraping by with my bills and even putting food in my stomach. at this shitty time in my life, freddy dingo was kind enough to throw me a few bouncing shifts here and there for extra cash. i told him that i had bartended for many years, but there were no openings behind the bar. one night i went in for a bouncing shift, and one of the bartenders called out last minute. they asked me if i wanted to bartend and obviously, i said yes. it was all history from there. i wound up becoming a steady bartender there for a couple of years after that.

so obviously, i will always have loyalty to dingo's den because it helped me in a real time of need. but beyond that, i truly believe it is an awesome place with tons of potential. it is literally one of the only places in clifton and the surrounding areas where you have basically zero chance of running into guidos and such. it is the only place around that has such a diverse selection of music without a DJ. the selection of metal, rock, oldies, classic rock, 80's, funk, indy, hardcore, punk, thrash and everything else is second to none and its still being improved upon. there is definitely something for everyone. we never made the switch over to a digital jukebox, because i think some old-school things are better. but i challenge anyone to find a better selection in an old-school CD jukebox anywhere in this area. outside of possibly bars in manhattan or other parts of the city, i doubt you'll find it.

i've travelled all over the place. i've been to countless numbers of bars in different cities and countries. i can honestly say that dingo's den is a truly amazing bar. it is a dive bar and its dingy, rustic and old-school, and that's exactly what i like about it. in a lot of ways, i have a very old spirit. i enjoy simplicity and good times with good friends. i've gotten to a point where i've seen so much and explored so many places, that i can truly appreciate a place that just feels like home. i've met so many amazing friends in dingos. i've met so many talented artists and musicians. people from all walks of life. rich, poor, young, old. you name it. i've never been anywhere else that has such a diverse group of people that all like to hang out at the same place.

but i digress.. basically what this boils down to is that i ain't making shit from all the advertising and promotion that i do for dingos. not one single dollar. i do it because it's something that i believe in, and something that i'm taking on like a school project in a sense. it used to be packed 7 nights a week. now its packed on weekends and randomly during the week. obviously, i understand the economy tanked and people had to curb a lot of spending, but i really believe we can get it back to its rightful place. as of late, i have done many major improvements to start getting people back. anyone who knows me, knows that i throw good parties and fun events.

here's a breakdown of everything we are doing:

DAYS:

HAPPY HOUR 12PM-7PM / 7 DAYS A WEEK

SUNDAY - FREE BACKYARD BBQ 12PM-9PM (WEATHER PERMITTING) / FREE HOTDOGS AND BURGERS FOR EVERYONE AND YOU CAN ALSO BRING ANYTHING YOU WANT FROM HOME OR THE STORE AND USE THE GRILL LIKE YOUR OWN.

NIGHTS:

SUNDAYS, MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS: $2 DOMESTIC PINTS / $3 IMPORT PINTS 9PM-CLOSE

WEDNESDAYS: LADIES NIGHT - $2 LADIES DRINKS / $2 PBR CANS FOR ALL 9PM-CLOSE / HALF-PRICE APPETIZERS 9PM-2AM (INCLUDES 3 VARIETIES OF WINGS, CHICKEN TENDERS, BROCCOLI OR JALAPENO POPPERS, CHICKEN QUESADILLA ROLLS AND BAR PIES)

THURSDAYS: $2 BRING YOUR OWN MUG (DOMESTIC BEERS ONLY / 32oz MAX / MUST HAVE A HANDLE)

EVERY NIGHT: THE DINGO'S COCK AND BALLS SPECIAL - ONE DOMESTIC BEER AND TWO SHOTS FOR $10

WE HAVE 5 TVs IN THE FRONT ROOM FOR ALL YANKEES, METS, WORLD CUP, NBA, HOCKEY, FOOTBALL OR ANY OTHER GAME YOU WANT TO WATCH.

BACK ROOM HAS ITS OWN JUKEBOX ALONG WITH TWO POOL TABLES AND A DARTBOARD.

i put a lot of time and effort into all the improvements and i learned a lot in the process. i talked to literally hundreds of people over the last few months and got suggestions on music for the jukebox, specials and all kinds of other things. we are really trying to make it a bar for the people, by the people. if you have any suggestions, please send them my way.

and if you haven't already, please add the offical facebook page. click here. thanks!