Cheers Shot Bar

I was contacted by Chester who has opened a new bar in Koenji.
Keen to support the local businesses, so here's the link.

http://www.barcheers.jp/

Music Of the 70's, 80's, 90's.
Hip-hop, R&B, Disco, Reggae, House, Trance, and more.

"Fuck Off" aka "Welcome"

This bar, "Locohead", in Koenji notches up as my first pub that I've seen, or at least recall with a smashed window like this.

Not quite "put-through" and "boarded up" as properly demonstrated in England by the English on a Saturday night, but nevertheless, a good effort.
7/10.

Locohead

Locohead's a newly opened bar on Azuma Dori.
"punk rock bar" they say.
About 3-4 minutes from the North exit of Koenji station, just up the road from The Grapes.
The walls are still quite bar inside, with just a few posters and flyers.
On this day, the 12th, they had a special on drinks for 200yen.

Bonus pic.
Opposite Locohead is a flower shop which has a budgie doing his thing every day to the delight of passers by.
He's a noisy little bugger, but whether or not he'll be noisier than the music which will be coming out of Locohead remains to be seen.

The Grapes - Beatles Bar

Well, only a few days after posting about The Grapes - http://koenji-live.blogspot.com/2009/03/grapes-beatles-bar.html - I finally got around to going in.
Small and cozy place.
Had the "Todays Special" which was like a stew and rice called "hayashi rice". Very nice it was too.
The whole place is decorated with Beatles memorabillia, and as you'd expect, Beatles music plays in the background on vinyl.
There's lots of photos adorning the walls, and the table had a partition in the middle splitting it into two sides. The partition is made up of vinyl Beatles record sleeves.
It's "No Smoking", which being a non-smoker was all right with me, and maybe quite rare in Tokyo.
Liked it, and I'll be heading back.

The Grapes - Beatles Bar

One thing about living in a large city, you notice that new places pop up all the time.
New to 2009 is this Beatles bar and cafe called "The Grapes".
Have a coffee, have a beer, or try a cocktail named after each member of the band.
Food is served, should you feel to supplement the alcohol(or coffee).
It's a small place and I've yet to have been in there, but it's only about 2 minutes walk from my apartment...pay day can't come quick enough!

http://www.koenji.info/02_gourmet/cafe/the_grapes.html

http://www.koenji-azuma.com/shop/grapes.html

Books and Sake

For that fabulous combination of drinking and reading.

Here is "Book Sake" in Koenji.

Coffee House POEM

"POEM coffee house" offers 100 different types of coffee...and I bet it's not a cup full of fuckin' froth! Come on Starbucks match that.

Over the road you can see another shop. It's a used trainers/sneakers shop. They also have some deadstock models.
Mostly Converse and Vans with a few Adidas thrown in for good measure.

At the corner and down the slope are a used record shop, darts and billiards hall and "Clothing Time". Pics of these later.