It's been over a year since we reported that West Village record store Bleecker Bob's was closing, but they're still open. That will change soon though, or so they say. As NYU Local points out, the store posted this on Facebook:

STORE UPDATE:: 3/6/13

looks like the new tenant has signed the lease. we've heard they want to be open by June 1. it will take probably around 2 months to get work permits for the massive remodeling job they'll need to do so we're figuring we should be open until May 2013!!
---get ready for another chain of self serve yogurt/coffee/hot chocolate cafes NYC!!

Time Out commenter Jukebox Jodi writes:

Been bartending at Motor City since the doors opened almost 17 years ago! We play all kinds of Rock'n'Roll, R&B, Soul, Garage, from the 50's and 60's to Punk to Rock to now. We have set the standard for the best Music on the Lower East Side and everyone has tried to copy us,but we always manage to stay one step ahead of them! Wednesday Happy Hour and Friday Nights are my nights in which the above mentioned music is showcased! Weds. I do gourmet cocktails for 2 for 1 Happy Hour, and Friday Nights we have the amazing Go-Go Goddess, "Anna Copa Cabana" shaking her shimmy to the 60's grooves dance party! Stop by for some fun!

Head over to 127 Ludlow Street for one last drink while you have the chance, and leave your Motor City experiences here in the comments.

"Music and DVD retailer HMV said it was calling in the administrators after a last-ditch attempt to secure funding failed, bringing the curtain down on one of Britain's best-known high street retail stores.

The accounting firm Deloitte has been named as the administrator and intends to keep the business running while it seeks a potential buyer, HMV said in a statement late on Monday." [Reuters]

NYC record store Dope Jams, which is located at 580 Myrtle Ave in Brooklyn and has been home to a great collection of electronic music for the last 7 years, has announced via a statement that they will close its doors on January 26, 7 years to the day since opening. They will also be throwing a closing party that night from 8 PM until the store closes for good. The statement begins:

At the end of this month, 7 years to the day since it opened, Dope Jams will be closing its doors for good.

Rattling off a bunch of positive hyperbole or sentimental cliches without taking a good, hard look at the past would be a mistake. The truth is, we've made a lot of mistakes. Opening and holding down Dope Jams, however, was definitely not one of them. When we started working on the space at 580 Myrtle Avenue, well before it was the polished and finished form that you all know, dance music record shops were already jumping ship like the fucking Titanic. We knew exactly what kind of a logistical and financial shitstorm we were getting into. But ultimately, we wanted to devote ourselves, to put every ounce of energy and every dime saved into the perpetuation and expansion of dope music. We threw ourselves into installing the sound and the aesthetics to situate our project and our philosophy, and with that set in place, we proceeded to push music we thought was worthwhile, music that was beautiful and pure and capable of wading past the massive expanses of mediocrity and opportunism that we saw as gaining the upper hand. And along the way we did a lot of things that set us back, whether out of economics, ignorance, or idealism. We did our best to push past that, because we truly believed in what we were doing, we believed in the music we were championing, and we believed in creating a space and a community to allow that music to flourish. We gave enough of a shit then, and have continued to give a shit for 7 long years struggling through dwindling sales, personal loss, and daily disappointments. If only for the barage of weirdos, freaks and outcasts walking through that door every day, it was absolutely worth it.

Continue reading "Brooklyn record store Dope Jams closing its doors"

Broolyn DIY house show space Dead Herring will be no more soon. They announced:

Hey everybody, we're very sad to announce that January is gonna be our last month at Dead Herring. They're raising the rent on us and we can't afford to live here anymore so we're moving on. We're super bummed but also very grateful to everyone who's ever performed here and hung out with us and made the last 6 years here so awesome. Rest assured, we're going out big and we have a ton shows lined up for January. Dead Herring is dead! Viva Dead Herring!

outside of the Living Room (more by Amanda Hatfield)

At the end of January, The Living Room will be closing the doors at its 154 Ludlow St location (right next door to Pianos and Cake Shop), where they've been for the past ten years since moving from their original Stanton St location. In a press release, owners Jennifer GIlson and Steve Rosenthal mention that higher rent costs have made it too difficult to keep the Ludlow St location, but they're promising to move to a new space, and are asking for your help to fund the move and construction. To help out, you can donate to their PledgeMusic campaign.

In terms of the current location, LES blog The Lo-Down reports that their neighbors Pianos have filed documents with Community Board 3 to take over the space. What they'll do with it is unclear, though the documents mention the possibility of "live/world music similar to the current method of operation." Time will tell. CB3's SLA Committee will be considering the proposal on January 7 at 6:30 PM at the JASA/Green building (200 E 5th St).

In a Columbia University student publication, Living Room co-founder Jennifer GIlson was interviewed about the damages done during Hurricane Sandy and mentioned that they lost at least $15,000 and were applying to the LES Business Improvement District for a small grant. As The Lo-Down article points out, the ownership change was probably in process before Hurricane Sandy though.

Meanwhile check Living Room's calendar for their list of upcoming shows at the current location. They'll have a few bands and karaoke at midnight at New Year's Eve.

Head to Pianos on New Year's Eve to catch Spirit Family Reunion.

by Bill Pearis

people at Zebulon for an El Guincho show in 2010 (more by Erez Avissar)

Rumors have been floating around for a while, but now it's official: Williamsburg venue Zebulon, which has always been a great place for world music and jazz, as well as local and touring bands (including being the home of Grizzly Bear's first show in 2004) for about a decade (and almost never charged admission), will be closing its doors for good after their show this Sunday (12/9). The press release (via Zebulon's facebook) reads:

On Sunday, Dec 9 Zebulon will be closing its doors after ten exciting years of pioneering music and arts. Williamsburg has changed significantly since we opened, and unfortunately it is no longer possible today to continue the business in the manner in which it was conceived. Nevertheless, it's been a great run. We are proud to have given many celebrated artists a chance to play in an intimate setting or develop their sound in readiness for a larger audience. Zebulon has employed and supported struggling artists and their families, connected them to a wider musical community in New York and given them a stage on which to experiment. This is our final week so if you haven't been down in a while, please come and say hello/wave goodbye, and pay your respects to this gem of an institution. Thank you for your support and stay tuned for news of our next endeavors and adventures!

The schedule of upcoming shows for Zebulon's final week (including Mike Wexler, Colin Stetson, Hubble and more) is below.

Continue reading "Zebulon closing its doors for good next week"

The sound system forever went silent Monday night at a famed Greenwich Village club that had provided a stage to struggling artists and superstar musicians over a storied [45] years.

Adoring fans had packed Kenny's Castaways on Bleecker Street to hear singer-songwriter Willie Nile and garage rockers The Smithereens blister through a pair of last sets inside the closing music Mecca.

"We started playing here in July of 1980. We were just starting out," said Jim Babjak, lead guitarist for The Smithereens. "A lot of people wanted you to play cover songs. This was one of the few places that let us play our own stuff."

Former neighborhood resident Steve Simels was in awe seeing his idols play one last time at the club.

"I used to live across the street and this was my clubhouse. Willie Nile and The Smithereens were like gods to us," said Simels. [NY Post]

A few videos from the show, below...

Continue reading "The Smithereens & Willie Nile shut down Kenny's Castaways (video)"

Sadly there are just 11 days left to get to Hue-Man Bookstore & Cafe. The store's final farewell will go down on July 31 at 7pm. Stop by on July 22 and meet the cast of Fela! the musical.

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

The Sonar compound during Maryland Deathfest 2012 (more by BBG)

Greetings, everyone. In case the rumor hasn't made it to your ears, we can let you know that Sonar (the home of MDF since 2006) is closing. Why? That's not important.

What is important is that we've known about this situation for months, and we were already searching for a new location only a few days after MDF X ended. Currently, we have THREE locations to choose from, all of which would be in Baltimore. Once some more logistical and financial planning takes place, we can make a decision on next year's location. With a little luck, we'll reveal that info before the end of July. Worst case scenario, we'll let you know sometime in August.

In the meantime, we will be announcing the first round of confirmed bands for MDF XI very soon, maybe even as early as next week.
[Maryland Deathfest]

NYMD reports:

"Lakeside Lounge has been sold and will be closing at the end of April. After just over fifteen years in business, the bar that defined oldschool East Village cool will be replaced by a gentrifier whiskey joint, no doubt with $19 artisanal cocktails and hedge fund nebbishes trying to pick up on sorostitutes when their boyfriends are puking in the bathroom - or out of it."

Meanwhile, stop by Lakeside Lounge, not to be confused with Parkside one more time. Check out their final two-week schedule below...

Continue reading "Lakeside Lounge closing"

Ithaca's "home of live music" posted the following message on Facebook:

Dear Ithaca,

Looks like the Castaways are getting off the island.

After 6 years of battling and 2 years of "negotiation", we have worn out our welcome and the landlords are not renewing our lease. Obviously, not all the rumors you hear are going to be true. Sure, some will be, but we assure you that we have paid every month of rent that was due. With the new West End zoning on the horizon, the long term investment in an aged, unmaintained building does not make sense. After years of rotting pipes, a leaky roof, insufficient "fixes", and all the mold up in the ceiling that resulted, we can no longer take it. As the 2nd highest rent in the West End, it feels like we are paying for a nice Volvo and driving around in a old Yugo. We look back with pride at what we have done to clean up this place, at the money we raised over the years for the Finger Lakes Cancer Resource Center, the many families in need who held benefits with us, for the Chamber of Commerce fundraisers for the Waterfront Trail, and at all of the incredible, wonderful music we have shared together over the years as a community. It isn't over yet but we wanted to thank everyone who has been part of our family. That's you! Later this Spring, Castaways will have its final last call on the waterfront. But first, lets have a really kick-ass April.

Gonna need a new home once that Hydrilia takes over anyway, right? ;)

http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20120327/NEWS01/203270376/Town-Ithaca-pushes-hydrilla-funding?odyssey=nav|head

Still Lots and Lots of Love,

Castaways

photos by David Andrako

Park Slope club Southpaw closed its doors forever after a February 20th show. Here are some pictures taken inside the venue on its final two days. More of them below...

Continue reading "some final pictures of Southpaw (RIP)"

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 "Bleecker 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.""