Dan R.
Yelp
Where else but New York can you find a craft beer-slingin', semi-divey, sports bar the size of a studio apartment?
Standings - presumably named for various league standings hand-updated on chalkboards hanging on the establishment's walls and/or the fact that you will likely be on your feet the whole time here - is not only the most unique sports bar in the city, but thankfully, one of the best.
Kitschy sports memorabilia, do-dads, and knickknacks cover every inch of this small space. Think stadium beer cups strung and hung from the ceiling, collectable player bobbleheads, pennants, banners, and stickers instead of some pricey, nicely framed and matted, autographed black and white prints. Even the bathroom is wallpapered with sports section articles. It would seem every team, professional and collegiate, is represented here. Perhaps with the exception of one big one, but more on that later....
Standings prides itself on its seasonal (overwhelmingly American craft) beer selection. Brews are a necessity at sports bars, but the brand is typically an afterthought, with other places going the easy route for your generic lights from mega-breweries. Standings is clearly not like other places, and every time I've come in here, I'm pretty sure I've had something different and delicious. For your less bougie friends, however, Bud Light is your one low-brow option kept perpetually on draft (which, personally speaking, is the only acceptable Light out of the Bud-Miller-Coors trifecta).
Despite its craft beer leanings, do not mistake Standings' affinity for lesser known taps for misguided hispterism, as this is still most definitely a sports bar of the highest order. I'm talkin' multiple TVs, sound blasting for the biggest game on at the time, and maybe 85% dudes. It's typically packed, but never overflowing. Just don't expect to sit down and it's a damn good spot to kill a long day of sports viewing (NFL Sundays, March Madness, go crazy, you name it).
One thing, though - Standings is kinda-sorta-maybe-subtly anti-Yankees (I told you we'd get back to this one). With so many other teams represented here, it's easy to miss at first glance. But then you start seeing more and more blatant Red Sox fare and the search for anything Bronx Bombers-related becomes more ridiculous than a Where's Waldo? beach scene (you know the one I'm talkin' about). Even if I am a bit slighted to not see a hometown franchise get its fair share of real estate (I'm not so naive to believe everyone supports pinstripes, even here in New York), it certainly won't stop me from coming here, which is, in itself, a strong endorsement. Frankly, if it weren't for the dismissal of my Yanks, Standings would very likely be my favorite sports bar in the city. But, hey, you can't win 'em all.