Wendy MacNaughton, illustrator of the killer “Meanwhile, Mission Bartenders” that appeared in The Rumpus, just published a bunch of b-sides to her blog, including this sketch of the front step into Zeitgeist.  Like Wendy, I've always been curious about what “Lally's” was all about, but figured the bartenders' time would be better spent blowing off another customer's question.  Wendy, on the other hand, got the scoop:

this is the doorstep of what is now Zeitgeist, but was once ice cream shop that doubled as a speakeasy during the prohibition years. ice cream was served upstairs, booze down below. the original tile entry remains.

Not that I don't enjoy a good tamale in a buck with my pint, but ice cream with an speakeasy in the basement?  Sounds like my dream come true.