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While you were getting busy in your "Marriage Bed" at the compound or being bitter and shooting guns, we were having a blast with Quizzo. I mean, sure the pope gets to wear an awesome cap and gets carted around in a fancy bullet proof thing, but is seeing an ex-Nazi in a mu mu chit-chat at a stadium worth getting worked up over? My hungover blahg after the jump...

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This New Years you can celebrate in one of two ways. You can go to a bar that will charge an enormous cover, feed you well drinks and shrimp cocktails to make you forget you dropped $50 to get into a bar that is normally free, give you a glass of champagne at midnight and send you home to cry yourself to sleep, or, you can come to National Mechanics where there is no cover, our great everyday deals and all your friends. So ring in the New Year with us, your friends and no stupid cover. We'll be setting trends all night.

So our First Friday fest this month is a totally interactive exhibit featuring real alcohol consumption combined with music which, if you choose to realize the artist’s vision, will lead to dancing, sweating and maybe even more, depending on the level of crowd participation. So bring your dancing shoes and prepare to commit a faux pas.

The Old City Sideshow returns once again to National Mechanics. Stop by this First Friday for another taste of the in-house sideshow that is OCSS. The show starts @ 9pm this Friday, September 7th, and will not be at a loss for sword swallowers, fire-breathers, and the carny likes. If you've had the chance to see it before, you know it's not to be missed. Get here early and grab a bite because the room fills quickly. There is no, zero, zilch cover for this event, so beat out the crowd, see you there!

From the minds that brought you Hands and Knees at the M Room comes Faux Pas; a First Friday party with Dave J. (Hands&Knees/Fort Awesome) and Diamond Girl (Hands&Knees/Click) spinning indie, rock, electro and dance music for your auditory delight while Johnny Sorber (Hands&Knees) provides pictures for your visual consumption. To complete the sensory overload; for your gustatory enjoyment the drink specials are $2 PBR cans and $5 well drinks from 10-2 and $3 Three Olive Vodka drinks and Cherry bombs from 10-12. $5 cover. Come get awesome.

Saturday July, 28th, Flying Monkey Extravaganza presents: Clown Carnival III! Starting at 10 pm, a FREE circus and costume party complete with a cotton candy machine, tarot readings, games of skill and chance, rickshaw rides, firebreathing, a human pony-girl and a contest to determine the best dressed will go down at National Mechanics. Music will be provided by DJ's Alex Smith and Mighty Mike Saga spinning d n' b, electro, indie, house, new wave and intergalactic beats all night. 21+ with ID.

A few choice reviews described Friday’s Olde City Side Show at National Mechanics as nauseating, disgusting and entertaining. I just wish I could have seen the balloon guy make a taint balloon animal…

National Mechanics has a new claim to fame! No longer are we just a great place to fill up on beverages, but a great place to relieve yourself of them too! City Paper has rated National Mechanics as the 4th best bathroom in the city, we shit you not.

Read the CityPaper article here

The real acclaim lies with artist Kate Swan’s “organic art” sinks which City Paper called an “intricate, rootlike network of exposed copper piping.” Combining form and function she made an absolutely amazing, and now award winning, space. Take that Steven Starr.

National Mechanics is delighted to present, LUXX, a tastefully edgy discotheque and lounge combining art, style, performance and music in our tolerant and upscale atmosphere. DJ’s will be spinning an eclectic mix of industrial, thrash, dark-hop/downtempo, trance, electroclash and more. There are the regular drink specials ($2 Pabst and Yuengling, $3 Yards, $5 Pabst & Jack combo) as well as 18 beers on tap and a beautifully stocked bar back full of spirits waiting to be imbibed. The space is perfect for this event with our gently twisted décor such as our dark-wood church pew booths, stained glass windows, subdued lighting and our beloved little taxidermy dogs.

This is party is going to be off the walls, and with past write ups in the Inquirer and a LUXX myspace page full of images of these twisted goings on, who can resist coming out for cheap drinks, electronic music and "tastefully edgy attire." It’s time to get nuts kids.

The Beach Balls sound is unlike anything you’ve ever heard, but strangely, it speaks to you. It sounds like dim rooms with dusty shag carpeting and old family photos on wood paneled walls; but also bright ballrooms with mirrored walls and gaudy chandeliers. It's as if Frank Sinatra and David Byrne birthed an acoustic trio.

Friday, March 23 at 9PM at National Mechanics.

That's right folks, the first benefit was such a hit, we're bringing it back for a second round. We figured since everyone had such a great time and we were able to raise a bunch of money for the ACS, we should give it a second go. So here it is!

March 3rd join the American Cancer Society and National Mechanics for a benefit to raise money and awareness for cancer victims. The optional cover is $35 (a portion of which goes to the ACS) and gets you access to the open bar from 9-11. DJ John Gornik will be back spinning the hotness all night and the after party will again be at Zee Bar directly following the bash.

For you light drinking folks who aren't up to dropping the $35 for a beer or two, drink specials will also be available (also of which a portion will be donated) including $5 "Call" Vodka Drinks from 9 to 2 and 3 dollar domestic bottles and wine also from 9 to 2. This time through we also have the honor of lovely shot girls and beer tub girls on hand to personally make each shot and beer that much more exciting.

The party is again being hosted by National Mechanics, Anthony Bucci and DJ John Gornik, so make sure you come down and show your support for this great cause, and if you're calling to complain about something, just send it Bucci's way.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

Come out and celebrate New Years Eve at Philadelphia’s hottest new spot, National Mechanics Old City Bar and Restaurant. We've got a huge event in the works with live music, drink specials, a midnight champagne toast and much more. The debauchery and madness of nights like this go down in history folks; you won't want to miss it.

In other news, the bar is mostly finished; people and support are rolling in as we prepare to sing Auld Lang Syne, and business is going swimmingly. We've been having a blast hanging out with all the good folks who've made their way out and we extend our open doors to anyone passing by. We'll be having many more parties in the future so make sure to check back often.