Maggie Mae's

This is the best bar in Sunnyside.

What's nice about this bar is that at most times, it's pretty chill. The bartenders, especially James, are kind, and can pour a great drink, and laugh along to a good story. The regulars are amazing.

And that's what really makes a bar a good bar. Their beer selection is o.k., not great, but fine, but that''s not what makes this bar great. What makes it great are the people.

Interiors are what you expect. Irish rugby and football are abundant, and the wood is nice and worn.

They just added Trivia (Go Team Venture!), though I won't be there.

Lastly, you can bring in whatever food you want.  Brilliant.

Come in on Fridays, and find my group. We're the nerds laughing at a card game, making dirty jokes.

Team name: Tippin Inn? More like Tippin CRAP!!!
Final standing: 3rd (Guess that team name didn't suck up enough.)
Number of teammates: 4, then 7 (The cap is 6, but keep it on the DL.)

What are these stats for, you ask?  Formerly a Tippin Inn fixture, "Let's Get Quizzical" made a semi-triumphant - weak at first, louder as the rounds went on - return to the Queens bar scene this past Thursday night, at Maggie Mae's.  A few yards from the 40th Street - Lowery 7 station, look for a giant sign that says "99¢ TREAT"; it's next door.

Brian R. and Jess G. brought all their charm and sass back to this clearly Irish bar, and at 9 p.m. on a Thursday, our trivia people were the loudest there.  Don't take this lightly.  The team in front of us, 3 burly men called the Poker Faces (which I guess is in reference to the card game, but my thoughts are forever tainted by Lady Gaga), were whooping loudly enough that from outside it probably sounded like leftovers from the Superbowl.  Trivia was set up to take up the back 2/3 of the bar, but it's a little awkwardly set up compared to how the tables used to be in Tippin, but for the demeanor and service of the bartender and management, we'll take it.

The regular barflies that night seemed kind of lifeless in comparison, but it was freezing outside and I also suffer from a fake kind of Seasonal Affective Disorder, so I'll revisit this in late spring.  I didn't get a drink, so I can't vouch for the mixological talents of Maggie Mae's...but neither can anyone I was sitting with: they all littered the table with beer.  Service was snappy and friendly, and if this is of any help, when Jess told us to treat our bartender well, a good number of people cheered.

But people cheer at bars a lot, right?

I may not be a Sunnyside gal, but I'll be there on the 21st at 8:30 p.m. and maybe I'll even get a drink.  (Don't get too excited, my go-to is a Shirley Temple, reportedly hated by Shirley Temple herself.  Also, grenadine is pomegranate syrup.)

Shes a good girl that there maggie, and the beer floweth overeth. The guiness is always great here. Great for a quick beer