City Winery's final night on Varick
photo by @janepetri

Joan Osborne, Lee Ranaldo, Robyn Hitchcock & more celebrated City Winery's final night on Varick St

After 10 years on the corner of Varick and Vandam, City Winery is moving to a new location at Pier 57 in Hudson River Park early in 2020, while their former space is razed, along with the rest of the block, to make way for Disney’s new headquarters. Thursday (7/31) was the venue’s final night on Varick St, and Joan Osborne took the stage with the help of some special guests to say goodbye to the space. After doing a set of her own, Joan invited a series of guests to join her on covers of Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead, Soul Brothers Six, and Patti Smith. Lee Ranaldo, Robyn Hitchcock, Joseph Arthur, Jill Sobule, Teddy Thompson, Rhett Miller, Jill Hennessy, James Maddock, and Brian Mitchell all appeared, and most of the group reconvened onstage for a finale of Patti Smith’s “People Have the Power.” Check out pictures and watch video of many of the covers and collaborations, and see the full setlist, below.

Meanwhile, City Winery has a new pop-up wine garden in Rockefeller Center, between 50 and 51 Streets, and 5th and 6th Avenues. It’ll be open daily from 11 AM through midnight (weather permitting) until the fall, serving four City Winery wines, beer from Montauk Brewing Company, and snacks. More info here.