Callahans

If there's a common theme of bars in the Northeast section of Philly, it's Irish Pubs. The new Callahan's does a pretty good job of providing it's patrons with a decent bar and entertainment option for the price of a $5 cover. A fire may have put Callahan's out of commission for awhile in 1999, but it recently re-opened in 2000 even bigger and better.

Callahan's is one large room that has a bar on the right hand side of the room and a medium-sized stage for live acts and DJ's on the left. Towards the back of Callahan's are tables and chairs if you prefer your conversation face-to-face. Not to down-play the bar, but the bugger is huge. The green marbleized bar countertop runs the entire length of the building and even curves around in a "J" to provide a few seats that provide a great view of the incoming customers and the stage. The entire bar probably seats about 50 people.

For an Irish Themed Pub, their taps do not disappoint: Budweiser, Coors Light, Yuengling, Harp, Guinness. Well, I guess we could live without the Bud and Coors, but Callahan's does have to cater to the masses. Continuing the Irish theme, Harp and Guinness mirrors a well as lots of Guinness swag hang on the walls. TV's are strategically mounted around the establishment so if you get tired of girl/boy watching you have something to do.

We visited Callahan's on a weeknight where they had a DJ playing a wide variety of tunes: ABBA's "Disco Queen," Creed's "Higher" (played twice - it was a slow start to the night), assorted Sinatra, Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl" and The Platters "With this Ring" - you get the picture. On DJ night's you get the feeling that DJ nights are a lot like you're at a frat party where the guy with the largest record collection gets elected to spin the tunes.

Although the crowd was primarily people in their 20's and 30's, there were a few gray haired patrons enjoying the varied sights and sounds. I suspect that the TV's (showing sports channels) and cheap brews were keeping the older crowd glued to their seats...or was it the womens?

Speaking of which, Callahan's did seem to bring out the cute Northeast Philly women. There is a distinct difference between the women you see in Center City/Olde City and the women who "shake their money makers" up in the Northeast. The basic difference is style. Ladies in Center City often get dressed-up in short skirts and have their hair cut like the girls on the TV show Friends or Ally McBeal. While on the other hand, Northeast Philly women usually wear tight jeans and tight tops, often showing a little belly and their hair style is often puffed up, frizzed out or just the same style they wore their hair back in high school.

As far as the Northeast Philly guys go, they're stuck in the same style that they sported back in senior year of high school. So don't be surprised to see a few clueless blokes with "tails," wearing Philadelphia Eagle's sweat shirts - forgive them, they've never seen an issue of GQ in their lives.

Located right on the 7600 block of Frankford Avenue, Callahan's is easily accessible from Septa and the Cottman Exit of I-95. If you're even thinking of rolling to another bar, you'll have to pick a designated driver or get those SEPTA tokens ready - not many worthy pub neighbors.