Back in the 70’s Mugs Up was a pretty cool spot to hang around in the afternoon. You could sit at a booth right near the window and look out at the street as Eastman students scurried by with their musical instruments in tow. They tore the place down to build the Sibley Library which is today the largest academic music library in the US. I’ve never been in the music library but I miss Mugs Up.
The thing that caught my eye in this old photo is the little guy in the hat waiting for the bus. The worst bike accident I ever had was when I ran into a guy that looked a lot like this when he stepped off the curb in front of the old Music Lovers Shop about a block down the street. I was whizzing by and he stepped out right in front of me. He didn’t look and probably didn’t hear me coming. I slammed into my handle bars and then rolled over them and onto the street. I broke a few ribs and was all scraped up. He was crumpled in a ball on the street. I remember asking, “Are you alright” Are you alright?” over and over because the guy was not saying a word. I guess he was in shock. After a few minutes he got up slowly with my help and worked his way back to the curb. I asked again, “Are you alright?” and he said, “Jesus Christ.”
6 Comments
I used to eat there at least twice a week when I worked in Midtown. I had a major crush on a blonde waitress who was much older- maybe two years! She intimidated me but was actually very nice. It was a good place. That area is a part of downtown that has changed completely with the building of the Y, the library and many old buildings gone.
Martin,
Your choices are Dianna, (with whom I lived), Luba, or Diane (the owner’s lover.) They were all very nice. The owner (Steve) was a bit of a cave man and only hired women who were large on top. This resulted in the bar having the unfortunate nickname of “Jugs Up.”
Paul, do you remember Dianna? She and I frequently went to Tim’s house and saw you and Peggi. D’s now happily married to a lawyer and lives in an affluent suburb. She’s still a blast!
paolo.
Not Luba. Diane/Dianna? Could be. I met her many years later and she said I should have asked her out. But that never would have happened. I was too shy. My loss but I got over the shy thing!
Paul, remember the printers where we had band posters done? Same neighborhood. And anyone remember the White Swan diner on Swan st.? How about the Olympus? Same building as Mugs Up, I think.
I do, I think that may have been an early version of Ayers Printing that did those HiTechs posters and I remember the Swan Street diner. My brother and I used to skip school and have breakfast at the Cavalier near the four corners (Main & Clinton not Main & State) in the block where they put the white Lincoln First tower. We’d hang around until Jay’s Record Ranch opened or the novelty shop next door where they sold the garlic gum and fake puke. And we’d often catch a daytime movie in the old RKO/Paramount.
I worked at 50 Chestnut (the Old Knights of Columbus Bldg) and the Cavalier was my lunchtime mainstay.
Martin, after Mugs Up, Dianna worked at Iggy’s Study on Park Avenue which was kind of a dumping ground for people from Webster. My friend, Tim Schapp worked there, so did Jody Baker, Wendy Allen, and a few others.
Young Mahoney, do you remember Marge from the Cavalier?