Now you can really know before you go.
Introducing Toilets of New York, a Tumblr devoted the the peculiar artistry of the dive bar toilet. (Finally!) The site features dozens of photographs of the gross, the graffitied, the ugly—and in some rare occasions, the clean.
The blog is the brainchild of Ian Macallen and largely features hipster spots in Brooklyn and the East Village. The Observer reached out to the toilet traveler and asked him how, exactly, he came to chronicle crappers.
“I realized someone was taking a whole lot of time on these bathrooms. They’re really delicately curated, both the objects in them and the wallpaper,” he told The Observer.
But when does inspiration strike? Mr. MacAllen said he choses his “subjects” based on where he happens to be hanging out. And while he doesn’t go to bars solely in search of the next flush, he admitted to taking a leak just to check out the facilities. And after two months of toilet touring, he’s starting to notice patterns.
“To me, the graffiti in the bathroom is something kind of in itself interesting,” he said. “Some [bathrooms] have the classic New York City subway tiles, some have this black and white theme from the 1920s.”
Now, next time you drunkenly stumble into the bathroom at Duck Duck or Cherry Tavern after one too many PBRs, you’ll know what you’re in for. Which is, in some cases, toilet paper all over floor, empty glasses on the back of the tank, red mood lighting or our favorite: a sign that reads “PLEASE, PLEASE PEE ON THE TOILET AND NOT ON THE SEAT.”
Click through the slide show for a sampling of the Toilets of New York’s photos. Just don’t forget to wash your hands.