8. A Storied Bar: White Horse Tavern
Open since 1880, the White Horse Tavern labels itself the second oldest pub in New York City. When visiting the White Horse Tavern today in the West Village, diners and drinkers will still see much of the same woodwork the Beat Generation writers laid their eyes upon. It is certified as a Poetry Landmark by the Academy of American Poets.
Since Kerouac lived across the street from the White Horse Tavern, he often drank in its historic halls. He overstayed his welcome so often, some say someone wrote “Kerouac Go Home!” above a urinal. However, other Beat Generation poets often joined him here. In one of the journals Ginsberg kept throughout his life, he wrote, “Finally {Dylan} Thomas decided to go and I closed a cab door on them, ran to other side & stuck my tongue in window at him which I immediately regretted tho’ I meant it as a friendly gesture.” This interaction ended with Ginsberg bruising Thomas. The poet frequented the tavern because it reminded him of taverns from Wales. Thomas would later collapse outside the bar after taking 18 shots of Whiskey. He died four days later in St Vincent’s Hospital. A doctor’s faulty diagnosis leaves all to wonder if Thomas died of pneumonia or alcohol poisoning.
