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Euro 2012 kicks off on June 8. Sixteen national teams square off in a month-long competition, known more formally as the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship. The 16 national teams have been divided in to 4 groups of 4 teams. Each team plays a match against the other three teams in its group, with games four days apart.

Two Euro 2012 Group Matches will be played each day from June 8 through June 19. In NYC, they will be shown at noon and 2:45 pm NY time,

Two teams in each group will qualify for the quarter-finals, of which one game shall be played each day from June 21 to June 24. The semi-finals will be played on June 27-28, with the final on July 1.

The official Euro 2012 website keeps you up to date on the latest information, including the schedule for Euro 2012.

Now you’re likely wondering, “what is the best bar in NYC for Euro 2012?”

• Of course, the most important credential a bar can offer is plenty of televisions. Like many bars in NYC, Rattle N Hum has plenty of televisions, so everyone gets a good view of all Euro 2012 matches.
• The next most important thing, given that many of the matches will be played in the heart of lunch hour, is that the bar realizes that soccer is more important than lunch, and commits to showing the games, with sound, no matter what. At RNH, soccer comes only after  beer, and we will be showing all Euro 2012 matches.
• With those boxes checked, the last thing to consider is the quality of food and drink. RNH’s entire menu is perfect for munching on while watching your team score goals, with feature items such as IPA Fries, Hopped Up Calamari, four types of sliders, and a Celtic Cubano.
• So it all comes down to beer. CBS New York has written that Rattle N Hum is the best craft beer bar in NYC, and every other list we’ve seen of best craft beer bars in NYC, the US and the world has included us. So, are you going to a bar with the best craft beer in NYC, or will you instead be drinking the same swill you cut your teeth on in high school? We also offer wine and spirits for those so inclined.
• Rattle N Hum is also conveniently located; we’re the best restaurant near the Empire State Building, and convenient to anyone in midtown or on the East Side.

Call 212-481-1586 to reserve your table today.

Thousands of sailors, Coast Guardsmen and marine are visiting New York City this week, brought to our faithful shore by navy and Coast Guard vessels and tall ships that are available for public viewing. It’s all part of FleetWeek and OpSail, a once every four years celebration of tall ships.

For sailors, Fleet Week is a chance to cut months of monotony and isolation with a visit by tens of thousands of New Yorkers and tourists eager to get a glimpse of the seafaring lifestyle. It is also an opportunity to take in all the sights and sounds of New York City. For many, their first question is, “what are the best bars for Fleet Week in NYC?”

For visitors, its a chance to see some of the most seaworthy ships on earth, and enjoy the youth and energy of a dedicated group of seamen and seawomen,

We heartily welcome all sailors and visitors to Rattle N Hum, on 33rd St. between Madison and Fifth (around the corner from the Empire State Building). Zagat’s, CBS, and many other publications have named us the best craft beer bar in NYC. We offer 40 taps of craft beer, 100 more types of beer in bottles, and a full bar for those who prefer wine and spirits. We also offer outstanding pub food.

For tourists enjoying the city this week, we are happy to tell you that we are also the best family friendly restaurant near the Empire State Building. We welcome children of all ages until about 6 pm. Also, if you’re in Times Square, visit our sister establishment, Beer Authority, the best family friendly restaurant in Times Square.

Today from 5-7 pm is the Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Race Course, near Baltimore, MD.

The winner of the Kentucky Derby, I’ll Have Another will try to add the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, to his resume.

In his way stands a full field of 11 horses, including:

• Bodemeister, 2nd in the Derby after setting a blistering pace,
• Creative Cause, who lost a close one to I’ll Have Another in the Santa Anita Derby and ran fifth in the Kentucky Derby, and may be ready to produce a top effort that could put him in the picture at nice odds, and
• Went the Day Well, a fast closing fourth after a troubled trip.

With our 40 taps of craft beer, and another 100 types of beer in bottle, there’s no better place to drink craft beer in NYC. We also offer a customary full bar.We also offer outstanding pub fare, from Shepherd’s Pie to four types of sliders, to a bevy of salads and wraps for those who like to walk on the mild side.

This Saturday, May 19, it’s FC Bayern München vs. Chelsea FC in the 2012 UEFA Champions League final, live from Fußball Arena München.

For many Euro soccer fans, it’s hard to find where to watch the Champions League Final in New York City.

Rattle N Hum shows most European sporting events and will be one of the best craft beer bars in NYC showing the Champions League Final. Unlike many of the alternatives you might be considering, we do not get insanely packed for these events; we usually have room to spare and everyone can watch the game in relative comfort.

We’ll be serving our regular menu, including our extraordinary 40 taps of craft beer.

Call us today at 212-481-1586 to reserve your table, and come early.

On Tuesday, May 15, our beer event will feature a large number of beers from Harpoon Brewery, from Boston, MA and Windsor, VT.

Take this tour of Harpoon’s brewing process.

The list of beers is still being finalized, but we expect that Harpoon will be showcasing about 20 of its brews, including some rare specialty beers.

Names that will certainly be included:

Harpoon IPA

Leviathan Barleywine 2010 and 2011

Leviathan Imperial IPA

Leviathan Quad

100 Barrel Series: Catamount Maple Wheat

Rich and Dan’s Rye IPA

Harpoon Summer

UFO Hefeweizen

UFO Pale Ale

UFO Raspberry

UFO White

Harpoon Cider

Harpoon Celtic Ale

Harpoon Dark

Come out this Tuesday and try of all your Harpoon favorites! We’ll be pouring some of these all week, as well, and likely offering some on “Kick the Keg” Sundays.

Come see why some consider Rattle N Hum the best craft beer bar in NYC!

Rattle N Hum: the best bar near the Empire State Building.

Looking for a new spot for Girls’ Night Out in NYC? In case you haven’t heard, there’s a craft beer craze taking over NYC, and it’s not just for the boys. With blogs like Girls’ Pint Out and The Beer Babe leading the way, ladies are stepping into the wonderful world of craft beer like never before. As the best craft beer bar in NYC, there’s nowhere better to experience craft beers than at Rattle n Hum. Come see, and let us help you develop an appreciation for craft beer while you’re here.

Not sure where to begin? Well, don’t worry about having that confused newbie experience and a condescending server. Our staff warmly welcomes newcomers – we love craft beer and we love talking and teaching people about it! We are more than happy to make recommendations, and to teach you as much (or as little) as you’d like to know about craft beers. (Read up on what makes a craft brewer here.)

Why Rattle n Hum? First, our beer menu changes regularly – we have 40 taps of craft beer that we rotate constantly, so you’ll always be able to try new things. We clean the lines after we change every keg – which we’re doing all the time, since we sell so much beer – not once a week, as required by state law and practiced by most bars in the area (gross!). So, you will get the taste and experience that the brewer intended, not a dirty or watered down version of the same.

While you’re enjoying and tasting beers, you’ll also love our food menu. We have beer/food pairing recommendations for everything on our extensive and varied menu – think bar food, enhanced. Enjoying Strong Ale? Try our Spicy Chicken sliders, served with jack chees, jalapeno, greens and brown ale mustard. For a lighter, refreshing experience, pair a Hefeweizen with our Rattle n Hummus platter. There’s literally something for every taste.

You’re of course welcome any time, but we also offer fun events regularly. Every Tuesday, we offer craft beer tastings, hosted by different breweries each week; this is a great way to experience and learn about craft beer. We also have a relaxed Jazz Night every Monday evening, live music most Saturday nights, and our famous “Kick the Keg” special $5 drafts on Sundays.

Beer is way more than B*d L***t. But, it doesn’t mean you have to shimmy up to the bartender and ask for “whatever is good, light and a little fruity.” If you’re going to drink it, know what you’re drinking. – and we’re here to help. And, we’ve got to say, you’re going to get bonus points with the guys for knowing your beer too. They might not say it aloud, but they’re going to be impressed. So, for your next girls night out, skip the wine bars and skip Meatpacking, and come see us at Rattle n Hum. You’ll be glad you did.