Maybe I'm getting old, but I actually want to hear the booth audio or the radio call if I'm out for one of these 9:40 PM starts. Last night I walked over to a place on 30th Ave that had the Mets on three screens but the speaker was playing some playlist at full volume. Asked the bartender if he could put the booth audio on one of the TVs and he looked at me like I asked him to put on C-SPAN. Where do you go when you want sound, not just captions? Prefer Astoria/Sunnyside/Woodside but I'll take recs off the 7.

Solid request. Late regular season games in a bar are a tough ask because a lot of places flip to a playlist once the dinner crowd thins out. I've had okay luck at the old spot on 43rd St off Queens Blvd in Sunnyside—small, older crowd, one side TV with sound if you sit near the taps. But it helps if there's four or five of you asking, not one guy at the rail. Don't just ask for sound; say 'can you put the Mets radio call on that one?'

Wait, bars will actually put game audio on for regular season weeknights? I just moved to the city and assumed you only got sound for playoffs or maybe Sunday football. This explains why the two places I've been in Astoria had the game on mute. I thought people just read the captions. Following this thread because I'd love a place where I'm not pretending I can hear the pitch sequence. Also how late do these spots stay open on a weeknight? I'm not trying to get home at 2 a.m. on a Tuesday.

Some will, some won't. Rule of thumb: if the place has a DJ, live music, trivia, or a brunch-menu candle on the table, don't expect game sound. If it's a corner tavern with mostly stools and the bartender owns a fantasy team, you have a shot. I usually ask 'is there any chance we can get the booth audio on the one by the back?' Be specific about which TV. If you get a yes, put a couple extra singles down early. It buys you the 9th inning when someone asks for Britney.

Ha, yeah, the candle-on-the-table rule is undefeated. One time I asked at this spot in Woodside and the bartender said 'I can put the audio on but it kills the jukebox.' I told him I'd tip for every half inning. He did it. Problem is now I feel like I have to keep going back there and buying a Diet Coke to watch a 10:40 first pitch. I may just do radio app with one earbud at the local and watch the screen. But then the delay is wild.

Nolita_N is right about being specific. Don't say 'can you turn the sound on'—say 'can you put the TV above the well on the Mets feed?' Half the time they just don't know which remote or which box controls what. I like a patio if it's open because outdoor speakers are less likely to be blasting bar music. The beer garden up by Ditmars will put the game on out back if the crowd is thin, but good luck if it's a weekend night.

Okay, update: I tried the place Gowanus_G mentioned in Sunnyside last night. It was pretty much what he said—one TV with sound, older guys at the bar, nobody looked at me too weird. I stayed until the 8th inning and then bailed because I was the last person under 40 and I wasn't sure if I was keeping them open. Is that a thing? If I'm the only one not finishing a pitcher, do I just leave? Felt guilty.

Don't feel guilty. If the lights are on and there's still a bartender, you're allowed to watch the game. Just don't order one thing and camp for nine innings. Buy a snack, get a refill, maybe settle up early and leave cash on the bar. I've been the only woman at the rail for extra innings more times than I can count. Bartenders are usually just happy someone cares what happens in the 9th. The only time it's weird is if they start stacking chairs.

Alright, after a few nights of testing, I think the move in Astoria is: pick a place where the TVs are actually set to the game already, then ask for the radio broadcast instead of the TV booth. Less likely to mess with their music system. The bar on 30th wouldn't do booth audio, but one bartender let me run my phone on the edge of the bar with the volume low. Not ideal, but better than captions.

Low volume phone on the bar is underrated except for delay. I tried to sync it once and ended up hearing the home run call before the ball left the pitcher's hand on the TV. Killed the whole thing. Honestly for these west coast trips I've been just watching the first 6 at home and then walking to the local around the 7th. By that time the crowd's gone and the bartender is usually fine flipping on the game sound.

This is helpful. Question: what do you do when there's a Knicks or Rangers game same night? I went looking for Mets on Friday and a place near me had basketball on every big screen, with audio. I get it, but I also don't want to argue. Is it bad to ask them to put one side TV on Mets with captions? Or do you just find another bar?

Not bad to ask, just don't go in expecting it. If the Knicks or Rangers are in a close game or playoffs, the audio will almost never go to a regular season Mets game in the same bar. Best bet is a place with multiple rooms. Ask before you sit: 'Will you have Mets sound tonight, or are you all-in on the Knicks?' If they say all-in, head to the next spot. Most bartenders would rather you know now than pout through three hours.