this image will soon only exist in pictures (and Seinfeld)...

The NY Times reports:

Bleecker Bob's will close its store at 118 West Third Street at the end of April, according to a manager, Chris Wiedener.

"It's kind of disappointing," said Giancarlo Caccamo, 19, a customer at Bleecker Bob's on Thursday evening, upon learning the news. The vinyl records that pack the wooden bins and milk crates in the cluttered, narrow space are an increasingly endangered species, said Mr. Caccamo, who was in search of a record by Mott the Hoople.

The store's closing seemed to sound a death knell for vinyl itself. "I just love the warm fuzz that you get," he said. "There's nothing like that sound."

Javier Medina, 43, who began shopping at Bleecker Bob's in the 1970s and has worked there as a salesman for the last decade, was more concerned about the loss of a piece of history. "This place should be a landmark," he said while chatting with Gary Rookard, 53, who sells glass pipes on a table outside. "Everybody in the world knows it."

Watch the Beastie Boys video "Open Letter to NY" (Bob's shoutout included), below...

Continue reading "Bleeker Bob's closing (but not becoming a Starbucks)"

Southpaw, July 2009 (more)

And, it's true:

"A long-standing Park Slope concert hall will close and become a tutoring school now that the hood caters more to kiddies than roadies, owners say.

Southpaw -- the legendary music venue that hosted the likes of Patti Smith and Joan Jett -- will close on Fifth Avenue and Sterling Place by the end of February, according to co-owner and music guru Mikey Palms.

"I'm kind of over Park Slope -- it's not a destination for nightlife anymore," said Palms, who also owns Public Assembly NYC in Williamsburg. "It's time to go."

He said a firm called New York City Kids will soon replace the grocery store-sized house of music, offering academic tutoring and rock climbing for tots." [Brooklyn Paper]

Southpaw in 2010 (more by BBG)

According to many with connections to the Park Slope club (some who emailed me and some who are tweeting), Southpaw is closing on February 20 (possibly because "The venue's been sold."). The 5th Avenue Brooklyn venue was getting ready to celebrate their 10th anniversary in a big way too, which would make this news, if confirmed, even sadder.

Home of The Rub, Nuclear Family, numerous soul shows, many hip hop ones (like the upcoming Action Bronson/eXquire gig), and even a lot of indie rock at one time (just off the top of my head I remember seeing Sufjan Stevens, John Vanderslice, Andrew Bird, Mogwai, Davila 666, Mannequin Men, Keren Ann, Metric, Neko Case, Sondre Lerche, Bob Log III, Sharon Jones, and Negative Approach there), Southpaw has been a great piece of the NYC music scene for almost a decade. Unfortunately, possibly due to the increasing popularity and number of Williamsburg venues, and newer competition from Union Hall and the Bell House (not to mention Littlefield), shows have been somewhat less frequent there in the past few years (especially notable indie rock ones).

Stay tuned for more info, and an official confirmation (one way or another). Meanwhile check out their schedule (which at the moment has four shows on it past 2/20).

The Court Tavern is closed indefinitely, owner Bobby Albert said on Wednesday.

The venerable New Brunswick club was shut on Wednesday. Albert declined to comment further on the club's closing when reached at his North Brunswick home.

There was no notice of its closing posted at the club at 124 Church St., its website or its Facebook page. Music promoter Andy "Diamond" De Nicolo said that he was not alerted of the club's closing, nor did he known how the situation would affect upcoming shows scheduled there, including the high-profile concert by city punk legends Ensign on Friday. [myCentralJersey.com]

Sad news:

It is with great sadness and a touch of disappointment that Nick and
Andy Bodor from Cake Shop are announcing the closing of Bruar Falls,
our sister venue in Williamsburg.

After two and a half quick years, Bruar Falls will cease to exist on
November 1st 2011. We opened with nothing but optimism and
excitement, after designing and building our ideal combination of a
local jukebox bar with a stage to showcase all the great bands coming
out of Brooklyn. It was soon apparent to us, however, that people in
Williamsburg have lots of other options to see bands. We love and are
inspired by these places, but really, between loft/warehouse parties
and D.I.Y spots, where you can bring in your own cheap beer, smoke
inside and hit on the same people...we totally understand why it's hard
to spend money at your local legit small club. It is difficult not to
be a bit jealous of their freedom, but we have always worked hard to
be in for the long haul.

Our closure is not a victim of Whole Foods' bulldozers, nor did we get
our sound equipment stolen by thieving assholes. Actually, we wish it
was something that dramatic and awful. No, its due to the classic
creative differences issue, plus the fact that we had to maintain a
hard-to-honor midnight curfew; and the simple fact that if you can't
bring in enough money to pay your bills (no matter how low your rent
is), you can not stay in business. At this point, it is actually way
easier to shut down, save the name for another location, and start anew.

We created Bruar Falls to assist in nurturing the Brooklyn independent
music scene, and help the bands that continually inspire us. We hoped
to serve as a Williamsburg outpost for the bands that enjoyed the NYC
Cake Shop experience in the borough where many of them live. We
wanted a place where fledgling bands played for free to get started
and be seen by their peers before maybe going on to bigger rooms and
more pay. Many larger-stature bands played here to intimate crowds to
help keep everything in perspective. We hold most every band that
played here close to our hearts.

Of course, Cake Shop will continue with your help, we are now better
than ever: we are developing our ongoing filmed-band series,
"Cakeshop Presents" on www.cake-shop.com (which you can check often
for new videos). We will be starting "Cakeshop/Capeshok Presents"
bills at larger area clubs, featuring Cake Shop graduates. Our
partner and us are close to announcing the Cake Shop club experience
to another area of the world (location TBA) in late 2012.

So... Thank you to every single band that ever graced our stage.
Thanks to each and every crowd member who paid for those bands, thanks
to all who sweated through their shirts when the AC was busted. And
huge thanks to the incredible local and touring talent that played for
peanuts all in the name of art, rock & roll, and a good time.

Please support Bruar Falls the entire month of October for our last
CMJ Music Marathon, and crazy Halloween closing-night parties. We
want everyone to take a few last glances at the club, but we really
need your help to get out of debt. Both Nick and Andy have been
working for free to keep Bruar Falls going as long as we could, and we
have many bills that need to be paid so that we can walk away...We
will be offering drink specials and hoping to secure only the best
bands in our final month.

Continue to check www.cake-shop.com, for what we will be up to next.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to learn about upcoming secret shows
and drink deals...and thank you for your endless support for anything we
love enough to attach our name to.

Meanwhile go see a show there while you can!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Monster Island (more by Leia Jospe)

Monster Island, Williamsburg's landmark center for the arts home to, Live With Animals, Secret Project Robot Art Space, Kayrock Screenprinting, Todd P. Practice Spaces, Mollusk Surf Shop, Oneida and a multitude of studios and rehearsal spaces would like to say goodbye in style.

Over the last 7 years we have always thrown an annual Block Party where we invite the entire neighborhood in to listen to live bands on the street, tour the building and host 2 giant art installations; as that this is our last block party ever (the building is slated for demolition in November), we'd like your help.

This year's block party will entail over 12 live music performances from building bands and members of bands such as Golden Triangle, Oneida, Man Forever, Soldiers of Fortune, DudknowDub, Cult of Youth, Vaz, K-Holes, Knyfe Hyts, Divine Order of the Blood Witch, TrycryTry and many more. It will host 2 art installations themed "Outer Space the Final Frontier" and "Liquid Gold." It will also host open studios, an all day BBQ, DJ's, a video installation in the basement by Robot Death Cult and live music in several practice spaces.

The block party will take place September 10th, 2011 from 2pm until 10pm. Monster Island will be closed by October 1st.

Secret Project Robot said back in January that they'll be moving to a new space. That is still true according to their website.

Oneida played Secret Project Robot in June. NYC Taper just posted a live recording.

In related news, Todd P recently wrote, "My show schedule this summer is very reduced, for happy personal reasons. More than ever, I recommend you check out SHOWPAPER for show listings (big announcements coming soon from that organization!) and also follow the list of links to independent, all ages venue/organizer folks on this page."

And the Silent Barn Kickstarter is now over $31,000!

Back in January, we mentioned that legendary East Village dive bar Mars Bar was set to close. Yesterday the venue reportedly closed for good....

Earlier this afternoon, word spread that Mars Bar, the beloved and soon to be leveled dive on 2nd Avenue, was closed by the Health Department and would be opening up soon. Not the case. An EV Grieve tipster just stopped by and says it's finally time to close for good. Grieve writes "George is frantically taking down art. So -- if you have stuff here, now would be a good time to stop by and collect it."

The owner Hank Penza plans on reopening the bar once the shiny, new replacement condo building project is completed. [Eater]

by BBG

Haymaker at Sonar (more by BBG)

"We here at Sonar regret to inform you that we are no longer able to operate as a venue. Mr. Lonnie Fisher, corporate owner of Sonar, has shut the building down. He has refused to renew the liquor license and the corporate charter for 407 Saratoga Inc. All of the money in our account went into paying our taxes with the promise of the license being renewed and transferred to the new owners."-[Sonar's Facebook]

The venue is also supposed to house the upcoming Maryland Death Fest. MDF issued the following statement:

"Yes, we know about Sonar. It was just brought to our attention. Please DO NOT panic. The festival will still go on as planned. If Sonar does not end up working, we already have a alternative site in the same area that would have a similar set up, so you do not need to worry, and you do not need to consider changing plans. More info about this is expected to be posted on Friday."

"In just a few hours, we've managed to get some positive news regarding a new fest location. Everything should be wrapped up in the next couple of days. If the plan stays as is, you will not need to change your hotel plans, etc."

Don Hill's (photo via WNYC)

The NY Post reports:

"Just weeks after the sudden death of nightlife fixture Don Hill, his eponymous SoHo club closed its doors for good Monday night. Don Hill's was reopened in September by Nur Khan and Paul Sevigny, and on Saturday drew Julia Roberts and Danny Moder for a Tribeca Film Festival after-party for "Jesus Henry Christ." But Khan told Page Six that the one-story building will be turned over to developers. Public records identify the current owners as TriBeCa-based Ponte Equities. Khan said, "After the unexpected passing of Don Hill, there was no doubt in my mind about continuing his legacy by bringing in incredible talent over the last year, such as Iggy and the Stooges, the Kills, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, as well as nurturing younger talent. Don Hill was loved by the community. Unfortunately," he added, the property offered a "moneymaking opportunity unconcerned with preserving Don's legacy. I will be sad to see the doors close as it was such a passion project for me." Ponte Equities didn't return our calls."

"The rock and roll club never seemed to break through a very crowded marketplace, and in an ominous sign, basically skipped Fashion Week when it rolled back around in 2011. Then came the news the Don Hill passed away last month. At a party held that night in his honor, Khan and Sevigny promised those gathered that the party would roll on, but apparently not for long. According to a tipster, the rent hasn't been getting paid and the landlord went and changed the locks, telling the club owners he will be tearing the building down.

Maybe Khan and Sevigny are stretched too thin by running a restaurant and a Los Angeles nightclub. Maybe the landlord was willing to look the other way for his recently deceased longtime tenant on back rent but not the new partners. Or maybe the crowds that once populated the Beatrice Inn, Rose Bar and Sway have moved on and were never replaced."

"In an age where bottle service pays the bills, greed might win out. Paul and Nur will do their best, no doubt, but death brings vulture--types who feed on despair and confusion. They may have other less fabulous ideas about the property. We must support the legacy of Don Hill, and maintain one of the few places in town where guys like him and I could actually hang out. Don Hill was a gentleman, and that's the greatest compliment I have about a fellow."

From a petition attempting to save the beach:

"Please help us save our beach! Long Island City's Water Taxi Beach has served the neighborhood, the city, and beyond for 6 years now. It brought in revenue and boosted the economy locally here in LIC, as well as within the whole of New York City from visitors far and wide.It employed 47 workers, enlisted over a dozen vendors w/ many employees. The city has closed it down to accomodate the new Hunterspoint South developement, which is understandable. So WTB asked for permission to move this unique urban experiment to a vacant lot further away from the construction, just to the south of the existing parking lot. They developed a new design, expanding the Beach, adding a nine-hole miniature golf course and a better volleyball court configuration. The site has great views and a lot of open space. But NYC EDC has shot down the proposal with little consideration."

by Klaus Kinski

One of the semi-necessary evils of comedy is the dreaded visit to a formal comedy club. Let's face it people; this city is overflowing with awesome comedy shows happening at all sorts of small, fun, intimate venues. Yet once in a while a comic rolls into town for three nights of gigs at a comedy club, and you have no choice but to bite the bullet and venture in. I mean, he/she might end up at one of your smaller shows to workshop material. But he/she might not either. Ugh. The hefty cover charge. The cattle herding method of corralling people into the room. The army of drink servers in your peripheral vision for the entire show. The likelihood of a bachelor/ette party treating the show like their personal (Doug) Benson Interruption (catch HIM at Gramercy on 5/21/11). The two-drink minimum. And Cod forbid someone at a neighboring table orders something from the menu that smells like the feet of someone who ran 50 miles in 100 degree weather in boots full of brie cheese. Yes... I know... these shows represent a significant amount of bread and butter for our favorite laughsmen and women. No doy. But, man, am I the only person whose hypersensitive neuroses go buck wild at a comedy club show?

And yet, Comix comedy club always seemed to do everything they could to take the sting out of all these common perils. Over the course of several years, Comix consciously evolved their business model to draw everyone from indie comedy snobs to mouth-breathing over-cologned douche bags and created an environment where we could coexist happily together. They had a superior crew of behind the scenes staff that kept the programming super diverse (FYI, Kambri Crews is one of the nicest people you will ever meet in the biz). They turned the basement area into Ochi's Lounge; a super cheap way to see up-and-coming locals perform alongside comedy veterans like Jim Gaffigan. They opened up their main upstairs bar early to anyone who wanted happy hour drinks with zero commitment to seeing the show happening in the main room or downstairs. They were the proud and clearly enthusiastic hosts of the ECNY Awards show (of which BV was nominated once), complete with red carpet and all the other accoutrements one might expect at your larger awards shows. Their support of NYC's lesser known comedians was nothing less than inspiring. They also hosted all kinds of benefits for all kinds of causes. Their cover was always about half of what you'd expect at a place like Carolines, and their menu was eclectic and very reasonably priced. I've seen so much great stuff there including Flight of the Conchords, Zach Galifianakis, Marc Maron, Brian Posehn, Paul F. Tompkins, The Marijuana-Logues, John Oliver, Kurt Braunohler and Kristen Schaal's Hot Tub Variety Show, Maria Bamford, Andy Kindler, David Cross and a phonebooks' worth of other talent. And, yes, you can see someone like Todd Barry on any given night in NYC (like tonight at Whiplash), but to see him do an hour-plus headlining set in your own backyard is priceless.

But this is New York, where institutional lifespans are grotesquely short. Comix began to lose steam and eventually found itself sold to a couple of jerks who decided it'd be in the venue's best interest to become NYC's next Copa Cabana. Their idea was to devise a half-assed, dated and schizophrenic programming model that would cover everything from burlesque to smooth Jazz.

The new owners tried to promise all sorts of things when they spoke to me last month, but things quickly went south. How quickly? Within days, veteran stand-up comedian Bobby Slayton was telling anyone who'd read his Twitter feed that he and others had been stiffed on their paychecks by the club. Apparently, there was a million-dollar investor who the owners were relying on, but who stiffed them instead. Then comics weren't the only workers getting stiffed by the club. More employees were let go. The club stopped restocking paper. And on Saturday, performers were notified when they showed up that this was it. There will be no more. It was a beautiful space and everyone from comedians to employees loved it, but whether it was location location location, or something else, Comix never quite worked as perfectly as it should have. - The Comic's Comic

All upcoming shows are cancelled. RIP Comix.

Downtown strip club and sometimes music venue Pussycat Lounge (I even have it listed on our now-slightly-out-of-date venue map) is closed. NY Mag talked to the owner...

"...we reported that the 41-year-old Pussycat Lounge was closed owing to construction permitting issues, and now we've gotten in touch with owner Robert Kremer, who tells us, "I don't know what I'm going to do yet." Kremer, who owns the building, says he doesn't plan to sell the space and may eventually reopen it, but he hasn't determined whether or not it will remain the Pussycat Lounge. He tells us he's been struggling since 9/11.

"The whole area is decimated. Business is so bad that it's better we don't reopen -- it's cheaper that way." He says he's been trying to renovate his building inexpensively, since "we're not one of those places uptown that make a lot of money." But, he says, "The city is neglecting everybody downtown," reiterating a complaint he voiced to City Room in 2009. "It's like a step-child. There's a lot of regulation they're imposing on everybody that's very difficult. The costs are rising. It's a general thing, but I really do believe the city gives me some special treatment.""

A jewel of a venue tucked into one of the less-trendy corners of Williamsburg, close by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Rose Live Music celebrates its fifth anniversary this week -- and also its last. The intimate bar and restaurant, located at 345 Grand Street, is set to close at the end of February.

After hundreds of performances of jazz, classical, funk, African, Brazilian and Cuban music, the club is for sale. Its owners are ready to move on to other adventures.

"What do you want to do in this lifetime with the time you have?" asked Carlo Vutera, a Sicilian opera singer who opened the space in 2006 with his sister, Gina Vutera. They named it Rose, after their mother.
[Wall Street Journal]

Continue reading "Rose Live Music turning 5 and... closing"

"Good news! Sort of. PAPERMAG has gotten the exclusive that legendary LES watering hole Max Fish will not be closing on January 30th (as we reported) and that owner Uli Rimkus has negotiated with the building's landlord to stay open for one more year. At which point Rimkus will have to find another location. In the meantime, everyone has a full year to say their last goodbyes to the scruffy and beloved downtown dive!" [PAPER] (thx Mike)

Continue reading ""Max Fish to Stay Open For Another Year""

Ridgewood Masonic Temple (more by Jessica Amaya)

"A local events venue is in trouble with the police after a series of liquor licensing issues, with possibly dire financial consequences for the organization that owns it.

The 83rd Precinct elected to block alcohol sales at the Ridgewood Masonic Temple, at 1054 Bushwick Avenue, which caused a last-minute site change for a scheduled New Year's Eve show thrown by local indie-rock promoter Todd Patrick. Patrick is known to Brooklyn showgoers as Todd P.

...According to Ridgewood Masonic Temple manager Frank Williams, an organizer for a non-music event in November did not get his permit in time, but threw his event anyhow. The police randomly dropped in on the event and discovered the infraction. Because of this and other previous incidents at RMT, the precinct decided to block the issuance of any more temporary liquor permits for events held there. Patrons are not even allowed to bring their own alcohol. Though the NY State Liquor Authority issues the permits, the local police precinct has jurisdiction to deny one. As a result, Patrick moved the event to 285 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg, where he could legally sell alcohol.

"[Community Affairs] Officer [Damarys] Franco was very understanding," Patrick told BushwickBK, "her feeling is just that they've given [RMT] a lot of chances, and she's going to stop cutting them any slack."...

..Patrick's decision to move the event was social as well as economic. "New Year's Eve is not any fun dry," he said. "If we don't sell alcohol, we can't pay for the place. Unless you're not paying the talent, you're either [charging] $25 a head or you're selling alcohol." $15 tickets for the show sold out shortly after the location was moved. -[BushwickBK]

Deerhoof is is scheduled to play Ridgewood Temple on 2/8, but the BushwickBk article makes it seem like there's not much of a chance we'll be seeing a show at the venue anytime soon (unless someone buys the building, changes the zoning and keeps having shows there). We'll keep you posted if the venue changes. Tickets are still available for advance purchase @ Desert Island Books (540 Metropolitan Ave @ Union Ave | 718.388.5087).

We're not sure what the non-music event that caused the trouble in November was (see above article if you don't know what I mean), but Todd P last succesfully hosted a show at Ridgewood Temple on Halloween.

Oh, and as some commenters pointed out last week, this is not the first time a Todd P show (that Titus Andronicus was playing) that didn't happen at Ridgewood Masonic Temple because of alcohol issues. In 2008 a Titus Andronicus/Black Lips show was moved to Market Hotel last minute. Market Hotel meanwhile still can't host shows anymore either.

Listen to the speech Titus singer Patrick Stickles gave on New Year's Eve (at 285 Kent), below...

Continue reading "Ridgewood Masonic Temple can't have alcohol anymore (which is why the Titus Andronicus show moved)"

Sad news you may have read back in December:

As the [LES] became gentrified -- a Steve Madden shoe store and the posh Rivington Hotel have helped bring a commercial sheen to the artsy quarter -- Max Fish and Pink Pony remained popular.

But [in December], the two Ludlow Street colonizers announced they will shutter Jan. 30 because of a steep rent increase. And nearby, Mars Bar, at First Street and Second Avenue in the East Village, is also set to close as plans to redevelop the site into a mixed-income condo move forward.

Mars Bar -- a dingy saloon famous for cheap brew, punk rock and its lack of toilet paper -- could reopen in two years but would have to negotiate a market-rate rent with the developer. The community board is scheduled to vote on the proposal later this month.

"The Lower East Side felt like it was over a while ago, but [Max Fish] is a very symbolic closing," said author Richard Price, who used the neighborhood as a backdrop to his best seller "Lush Life."

"There are no neighborhoods in Manhattan anymore. South of Harlem, it feels like a bunch of districts where rich people can crash." [NY Post]

And as far as Mars Bar... I'll be sad to see it go, but like CBGB before it, does it even matter at this point? No disrespect to the owners, but Mars Bar sticks out like a sore thumb now that everything around it has already changed. It hasn't felt the same for a long time, even if it still looks exactly the same on the inside.

Royale, RIP

I honestly didn't even realize Brooklyn bar/club Royale closed. Their website is still up even, but a new business is already planning on opening open in the space located at 506 5th Ave in South Park Slope. The new venue ("performance space") is called The Fifth Estate and they have a "grand opening" scheduled for October 1st (they are open already) ("it had a soft opening a month or so ago.")

A press release they just sent me can be read below...

Continue reading "The Fifth Estate open where Royale was in Brooklyn "

"After announcing the closing of their New York and Los Angeles locations, Fat Beats is excited to present a send-off worthy of their hip-hop legacy. A week-long series of in-store performances and music industry panels at both stores will allow the music community to not only learn about the history of Fat Beats and what the future of the music industry holds, but to also celebrate the legacy of one of the strongest music brands in the company of their favorite artists. These week-long in-stores are sure to go down in hip-hop and New York history. Everyone is welcome to come and all events are free.

Today marks the official start of the week-long in-stores for the New York location. This location will host artist performances every day this week from 4-9pm until it closes its doors for the final time on Saturday, September 4th, 2010. Additionally, both locations will be selling limited edition commemorative t-shirts, as well as discounted music and merchandise"

Continue reading "free in-stores all week @ Fat Beats (leading up to closing)"

by BBG

After 16 years, Fat Beats has announced the closing of the legendary label's two remaining retail locations in New York and Los Angeles. Fat Beats will celebrate the legacies of the stores, which are scheduled to close in early September (New York: September 4th, Los Angeles: September 18th) by throwing a series of blow-out sales and tribute parties open to the public during their last weeks. Fans can check www.FatBeats.com for updates.

Fat Beats' longest running and most famed location is at 406 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan. Since the 1994 opening of Fat Beats' flagship retail location, hip-hop fans have traveled far and wide to visit the iconic store. With locations soon following in Los Angeles (7600 Melrose Ave.), Atlanta, Amsterdam, and Tokyo, the record stores were a place to experience hip-hop culture and its legacy, which became a global phenomenon. "The closing of Fat Beats is just like one of my friends passing away. They promoted vinyl at its highest degree for the culture of good music and that makes it more difficult to say goodbye," says DJ Premier.

Continue reading "Fat Beats closing NYC & LA stores"

by Andrew Frisicano

Freddy's last night... (pexy)

"Today is a sad day for a lot of people who live close to Flatbush Ave. Fort Greene, Park Slope and further. In fact for a lot of Brooklyn. It is sad because Freddy's is closing. It's closing because greedy, glutinous rich people think they know what's best for this neighborhood & are erecting some god awful monstrosity that is going to turn this Neighborhood in to a Manhattan-esque commercial nightmare.

The Barclay's Arena.

Freddy's is the bar where so many people have partied in Brooklyn. Some have had too much to drink, have danced way too long and accidentally torn muscles. Some even made out with people because their beer goggles were on super tight. But that's what happens when you're with friends creating memories that last a lifetime. To be honest, the fight to keep Freddy's isn't all about these memories. It's about the rights of the people to live in their homes, drink in their bars, and love their neighborhood.

Unfortunately, we lost the fight to big business and millions of dollars. The organizers say a giant arena is supposed to give back to the city. Some people say that Ratner is a huge philanthropist and that the arena is intended to revitalize the community. I'm going to put my money on the memories to revitalize rather than basketball scores.

We're going to miss you Freddy's. You always knew how to make us feel like old friends." [pexy]

Freddy's Bar & Backroom, the Prospect Heights bar forced out by the Atlantic Yards project, had its final nights on Friday and Saturday. Friday was supposed to be the last hurrah, but the bar was open for business on Saturday too...

Freddy's packed Bar - Saturday, May 1, 2010 (by Tracy Collins)

The decidedly upbeat crowd, crammed into Freddy's to celebrate, commiserate, and pay their respects. They treated to ridiculousness that only happens at Freddy's. Speeches by bartenders professing love for each other and fake marriage proposals, a constant stream of women dancing on the bar, a fire dancer that twirled flaming torches and the frequent "DON-ALD! DON-ALD!" chants, cheering Manager Donald O'Finn, that interrupted its dance friendly music selection were just a few of the highlights.

The patrons, who poured in from all parts of Brooklyn and the rest of the City, spanned every age, neighborhood, and ethnicity danced the night away and purposefully ignored the smoking ban, lighting up cigarettes all night long. The ridiculously hot backroom was somehow even hotter as the sweaty band and patrons rocked. [NY Drinker]

More pictures from Saturday, like the one above, can be seen at Tracy Collins' Flickr. One more, with the full entertainer list from Saturday night (including Alex Battles and a skimpily dressed Anna Copa Cabana), is below.

Freddy's had planned to move to a new location on Union St and 4th Avenue (about 10 blocks into Park Slope), but NYDrinker (the site quoted above) says that playn has fallen through. Admittedly I did get nervous when I read the bar owner's recent (and still posted), and apparently premature, letter that said, "Currently we are negotiating a new location near Union Street and 4th Avenue. We'll be open as soon as time and paperwork allows, hopefully in about 2 or 3 months."

Some videos of the bar's last night (music, dancing, open flames) are also below...

Continue reading "Freddy's Bar & Backroom stayed open one extra night (RIP)"

Market Hotel (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

"so.... Market Hotel got into some police trouble. What does this mean? Hard to tell. Places have survived such things before, including Market Hotel, but every situation is different and we will have to wait and see. For the near future, Market Hotel will go dark, and scheduled events will be relocated. The longterm goal remains as it always has been: to make Market Hotel a licensed community space... but money is a challenge of course. We have consulted many times with architects / lawyers and it is attainable! If you want to help achieve that goal, please get in touch @ themarkethotel@gmail.com. Thanks for your support!"

Please remember, shows in other spots are not affected - including tonight's Easter punk show at Monster Island Basement. Come out, it'll be terrific, and triumphant!" [Todd P]

Video of Beach Fossils playing "vacation" at the temporarily (?) closed venue (in August 2009), and the current schedule that needs to be relocated, below...

Continue reading "Market Hotel going dark, upcoming shows being relocated "

"SoHo gallery Deitch Projects will close after more than a decade as a result of the appointment of its owner, Jeffrey Deitch, to the directorship of L.A.'s MoCA, according to the museum's board chairs David Johnson and Maria Bell." [Observer] (via)

"The menu here read like a map of the zoo." - Yelp Reviewer

"One of the most intriguing restaurants and performances spaces in New York will close next month: RIP Monkey Town, a multi-room destination for adventurous food, performance art, music, and video. Owner Montgomery Knott tells Brooklyn Based that "due to landlord issues" the space will close on January 24th." [Gothamist]

"The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC will conclude its stay in New York on January 3 at 8PM. The Rock Annex is exploring opportunities for a tour that would bring exclusive artifacts to music fans and rock enthusiasts around the world. Fans have just one more month to experience the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC, showcasing rare artifacts from legendary artists including Springsteen, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson and its featured exhibit, JOHN LENNON: THE NEW YORK CITY YEARS"

Not too surprising. Adult tickets are $25.60 each. Videos from inside the museum, below...

Continue reading "NYC's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex closing in January"

...and turning into a sports bar in mid September?