Barhopping on the East Side doesn’t require much skill.  All it requires is a good pair of walking shoes and a hearty thirst.

Few bars really stand out.  Most are smallish and on the friendly side.  Most offer some sort of fare.  Many have English or Irish bents.  One such bar is the Manchester.  But on one particular Saturday afternoon, it offered something quite unique in the otherwise nondescript pattern of East Side pubs.

Lacrosse.  That’s right. Lacrosse.  Nothing irritates me more that a bar that claims to show sports but it has either no knowledge of how to get a sporting event or which one to put on.   The premise of walking into a bar when a pro or college sporting event is on and only Nascar or the Home Shopping Channel is on gives me nightmares.  Not a problem at the Manchester.

A variety of TV’s were all tuned to the best sporting events of the day, including a fascinating NCAA semi-final lacrosse match.  It captivated the attention of the packed pub, and seemed to fit in so nicely with feel of the place.

This small well laid out bar features a wide selection of beers from the British Isles on tap.  The seating is tight both at the bar and at the high top bar tables.   The youngish lad with the thick brogue poured rapid-fire pints with great enthusiasm.  The place is open air, with people settling in for hours or just stopping in for one.

As East Side pubs go, when searching for sports on the tube, this one clearly shoots and scores. – D.M.