By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Jul 01, 2020 at 6:58 PM

Every American city seems to have at least one Green Bay Packers bar and in New York, one of them happens to be a Greenwich Village landmark.

Kettle of Fish, 59 Christopher St., has a long history in the neighborhood (some of it at two previous locations), where it sits just a few doors from the historic Stonewall Inn.

Ever since 2007, the Kettle has been one of the places I always visit whenever I'm back home in New York, in part because owner, Tosa native Patrick Daley, is such a nice guy, and in part because I've always been devoted to the West Village, where my father and grandmother grew up.

A familiar Brew City vibe doesn't hurt, either. The Kettle is where my worlds collide in a good way.

Now, the Kettle – which is 70 years old in 2020 and which Daley has owned since 1988, showing Packers and Brewers and Badgers games and hosting an annual Brewers-Mets tailgate in Flushing – is in danger of closing due to the pandemic.

It's been closed since St. Patrick's Day and Daley has set up a GoFundMe campaign to try and raise $100,000 so he can keep the subterranean tavern alive.

"Like many small neighborhood bars in New York City, we have been closed for over three months due to the COVID 19 pandemic," reads the campaign page. "With full reopening still to come at a very limited capacity, we are asking for your support as we navigate this uncertain future and try to keep our doors open.

"Kettle of Fish is also a globally known destination bar for visitors to watch Green Bay Packers football games, so much so that Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers paid an off-season visit in 2019, and previously other Packer greats such as Jerry Kramer, John Brockington, and Dave Robinson have stopped by for games, camaraderie, and meet-and-greets. With boisterous group singing, Usinger’s brats, and a group of passionate game-day regulars, it’s a unique experience.

"Whether you are looking for a place to grab a pint and read on an afternoon, meet up with friends for a few after a long week, or just Wisconsin sports fans watching the Badgers, Brewers, or Bucks (oh my!), all are welcome at the Kettle of Fish."

At the time of posting this, the campaign has raised just over $33,000.

You can donate by going here, and by going to Kettle of Fish for a beer and a brat when it reopens and you find yourself in New York. Tell Patrick I said howdy.

Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.

He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.

With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.

He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.

In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.

He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.