Results tagged “venue”

The folks who run Bowery Presents certainly have some of the best music venues in New York City, but where would you rank their superclub Terminal 5 on a list of best venues in the world? more ›

Is the world’s first steampunk bar (according to owner Andy Heidel) at risk of shutting down before it even gets started? The Brooklyn Paper reports that Prospect Heights' Way Station has high hopes of becoming a live-music venue... but can't seem to get a liquor license. more ›

Adding to the mix of venues and restaurants in the neighborhood, a new (gorgeous) space combining space focused on food has opened in Williamsburg. The Rising Tide is a new culinary and events loft that was built over the summer and is now open to the public. This is the same space that will soon be seen on IFC's Dinner with the Band (starring chef Sam Mason). "The Rising Tide is a unique production and events studio, located in a two story loft in Brooklyn." Measuring in at twelve-hundred square feet, if you aren't looking to film a show (because, you probably aren't), it can even host dinner parties for up to forty people. more ›

The Knitting Factory has officially left Manhattan for Brooklyn, taking over the old Luna Lounge space on Metropolitan in Williamsburg. And it looks fly. They completely overhauled the unnecessarily vast room that served as Luna's main space, and split it into two spaces: the live room and the bar (from which you can see the stage). The design playfully evokes a low-budget basement recording studio, with classic pegboard walls backing the stage, and a glass window embedded stage left, where the sound engineer's room would be. The venue officially opens tonight with Les Savy Fav; and here's their upcoming lineup. How will they fare in such a venue-heavy neighborhood? more ›

An interesting police strategy is described in this otherwise "non-story" on Free Williamsburg, which overall delves into a rumor that someone is out to bring down the Market Hotel, a Todd P venue in Brooklyn. The promoter has now addressed the rumors that were in the original story, which focused on a "raid" that took place last Friday and included baseless accusations that he was "being brought up on a slew of charges including weed and underage alcohol distribution." more ›

You'd think over-charging for drinks (including water) for all these years would have given them a nice financial cushion...but allegedly Webster Hall is in debt and in danger of closing. DBTH reports that "the club is in serious arrears to the City, State and vendors, and may be on the verge of declaring bankruptcy." It's the usual story of overdue rent, bounced checks, back taxes, bills piling up and creditors knocking on the door. "They are looking for some kind of bail out from the state (for the taxes issues) and the landlord (apparently they would like their rent lowered by half until things "get better")." Guess their new Studio venture hasn't been bringing in the cash, but maybe the bridge & tunnel crowd that pack into the place on club nights can help bring in the $600K they need. Nightclub shenanigans aside, it would be a shame to see the place shutter, considering it's been open since the late 1800s and hosting music since the 1950s. more ›

The folks behind Brooklyn Bowl have been sinking lots of money and time into their ambitious bowling alley/rock venue/restaurant hybrid, and the grand unveiling is coming soon...hopefully. The massive space boasts a 600 person capacity for concerts, 16 lanes, a stellar sound system (remember this place is brought to you by the Wetlands guys), a menu including french bread pizzas and burgers from Blue Ribbon, dining tables made out of old bowling lanes and aesthetic touches by one of the designers of Dressler. more ›

Rejoice Williamsburg residents, there's finally a music venue coming to your neighborhood. Okay, so maybe it's already saturated with sonic dens of slack, but why not add one more...with a roof! Eater has been on top of the goings-on at 4 Berry Street since March, and reports that the new venue/bar/restaurant/roof deck should be open by June (they'll be hosting a Northside Festival show in mid-June). "One of the owners tells us that they will have a large selection of European beers with an emphasis on their German selection and will serve 'beer infused menu items.' The lower level is 35,000 sq. ft. but the big focus here will be the 3,000 sq. ft. roof." Most recently they noted the roof fencing was in, and the bar is being built. To top it all off, it's under 450 feet away from the Gutter! [via Brooklyn Vegan] more ›

With every venue that shuts down in Manhattan, a new one seems to pop up in Gowanus! We first heard about Littlefield last September, and now the performance and art space is ready to open this Saturday, May 16th! more ›

No one likes to see another music venue shut down, but it's happening again, people. Grub Street declares, "We hear an off-Ludlow music venue with high ceilings, a mezzanine, a basement, and a capacity of 300 is trying to sell off the remaining eleven years of its $15,000-per-month lease. The tavern-club hybrid, once a destination among rocker-hipsters as well as the young glam set, comes equipped with cabaret and liquor licenses." This has to be Fat Baby or the Annex, but have either actually ever been a destination for rocker-hipsters? Maybe in a "we could see it being used as a generic backdrop in Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist" or a "the cast of the Real World Brooklyn may have gone there" kind of way. Anyway, LES, take either as your sacrificial lamb, just keep your greedy paws off of Cake Shop. more ›

It used to be that only Phish and Dead fans got to hear live recordings of the shows they attended, thanks to the band's many taping fans. Now the NY Times reports that, following building a recording studio downstairs, Webster Hall will give fans the option to buy a freshly pressed CD of a show after the curtains are drawn. "This downtown New York club, a haven for indie rock bands, has reached an agreement with Best Buy to sell recordings of live shows at the chain’s stores in the New York area. Performances will also be available through iTunes and Webster Hall’s own Web site. Bands that choose to take part will receive half the revenue from the recordings and be exempted from the cost of recording and producing discs, with the right to pull out if they don’t like the way they sound." Could this kind of idea save the sinking music industry? more ›

Who can keep up with all these Studio B rumors! Last we heard the Greenpoint venue was definitely, maybe closing forever-ish. Then on December 23rd, creative director Chris Love (if that is his real name) emailed us that "Studio B is not closed and will be open at least until the beginning of February for sure. Mid February the decision will be made to weather [sic] or not the club will keeps its doors open." And now NYMag is reporting that promoter Dave P, and his partner Josh Houtkin are taking over by managing, running, and booking the joint. Houtkin declared, “We both feel this is the best club in New York.” Har har. He really said that! Other things neighbors can look forward to: regular shows and parties coming in March, the illegal rooftop finally getting legalized and fully opening, and patrons under 21 allowed to partake in all the festivities. It's like it died and came back three times as powerful! more ›

Designated a landmark in 1979, the 2,800-seat Beacon Theatre has undergone a $16 million restoration, and earlier today the final look of their 7-month-long project was unveiled. Thanks to the work of thousands, the venue "is back to its original 1929 grandeur, fulfilling the commitment the company made to New York when it acquired the theatre in November, 2006." A full list of restorations can be found after the jump, and the NY Times has a cute story about an old gold-painted coffee tin discovered during the facelift and found to be the fixture supporting "the principal ornament at the tip of the 900-pound chandelier in the rotunda" (pictured here). more ›

It's been nearly two years since the rumor-mongering surrounding Mercury Lounge's future began. Back then, word was spreading that the 217 E. Houston Street venue would soon lose out to real estate development, but the rumors lasted about as long as Tapes n' Tapes hype. more ›

It seems like just yesterday that Sound Fix Lounge (the bar/venue attached to the record store) in Williamsburg was being shut down, only to be joyously reopened soon after. Well kids, now your precious Sound Fix is being taken away again! Reportedly "the license to serve booze will go bye-bye a little over a month from now" (and we all know comedy, nor music, work without alcohol). Word is that "the owner simply didn't want to fight the neighbors on this any longer." One of whom is allegedly Teresa Polonski, who works for Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, and as speculated last time she may have brought the Mayor's task force down on the venue. more ›

Owner of the now shuttered Luna Lounge, Rob Sacher, has spoken out about the closing. As the space transforms into the new Knitting Factory (which is moving over from Manhattan), he explains: "I was unable to get enough shows on a regular basis. I still own the name Luna Lounge and am interested in finding another space in which to work with bands. In the meantime, I will soon be opening a new bar called The Satellite Lounge on Havemeyer Street in Williamsburg." The new space holds up to 75 people, and will not have live music (but allegedly will have a jukebox). Meanwhile, over in Greenpoint Studio B has put up notice on their website that they are "not closing," however in an email they told us they "will be open at least until the beginning of February for sure. Mid February the decision will be made to whether or not the club will keeps its doors open." more ›

The restaurant formerly known as Anytime Cafe on North 6th Street in Williamsburg has been transformed into Lovin' Cup Cafe...and now, an attached space in the back of the joint will become a venue. more ›

When most venues close they don't necessarily get all sentimental and pack up every piece of floorboard and pint glass that resided there...but CBGB was different, with every peeling sticker a commodity. The NY Times takes a look at where it all went following their closing and dismantlement in 2006, and keeping in tune with the venue's recent history: it's pretty grim. more ›

Last night the City Winery opened its slightly unfinished doors to the press, revealing New York's only fully functioning winery/venue. Downstairs in a temperature-controlled room, casks of wine made on the premises were being stored...some of it for customers who had already purchased their own. (Customers like Lou Reed.) That's right, possibly the best thing about this place is that you can put your name on a barrel and come tap into it whenever you like...for a price, of course. more ›

A little over a year ago, a young gay man named Charlie was allegedly beaten by the bouncers at the Williamsburg bar/venue Union Pool, and it wasn't the first time the bar's employees have been accused of despicable acts. Now another complaint has come out against the bouncers at the establishment; a reader writes in about his friend, "the only black guy there," getting tossed out on Wednesday for seemingly no reason at all. When he mentions the incident to someone, they tell him: "Oh yeah I used to work here I'm not surprised. They're totally racist here, this shit happens all the time." Is it time to start boycotting Union Pool, hipsterati? [Photo cred.] more ›

One of the (many) new venues taking root in Gowanus will be opening its doors this week. Back in June we checked in on the progress of The Bell House (run by Union Hall and Floyd owners Jim Carden and Andy Templar, along with Union Hall booker Jack McFadden). To recap, there will be a huge bar in the performance space as well as a front lounge bar, and an entrance to each will be located in a foyer that connects the two. Located at 149 7th Street between 2nd & 3rd Avenues, the venue was was crafted out of an old 1920’s warehouse once used as a printing press. more ›

This fall Gowanus gets another venue! Located at 622 Degraw Street, this one is called Littlefield and will be housed in an old, 6200-square-foot warehouse renovated with an eco-friendly touch. They tell us "Green elements include a landscaped interior courtyard, sound walls formed from recycled rubber tires, and a bar constructed of salvaged bowling alley lanes." more ›

Last year Red Hook venue The Hook shut down, leaving the unique space empty. Luckily, some new folks came in, slapped a new name on it and have reopened the place this weekend. The name, Hello Brooklyn, might not roll off the tongue quite as nicely, but let's see what they have in store for 18 Commerce Street. more ›

Recently landmarked Webster Hall is undergoing some renovations, building a venue inside the venue called The Studio. The new downstairs performance space will hold around 275 people, and is set to open just in time for CMJ (around October 21st). A venue rep tells us that they plan on having shows "every night of the week" but would like to include a party night on Mondays and a comedy night on Sundays. Don't fear, B&T; crew, the club nights upstairs will still go on. more ›

Studio B has been met with some serious opposition in their Greenpoint neighborhood, and this week they'll be meeting with Community Board 1 to discuss their cabaret license, or lack thereof (they've been operating without one for two years). more ›

Earlier this month news of Brooklyn Bowl opening in Williamsburg started to spread. The bowling alley, located over by The Gutter and right next to the Brooklyn Brewery, is also a venue, and has promised to offer up some grub once they open in the fall. So far former Wetlands owner Peter Shapiro and manager Charley Ryan, who are opening the joint, have been hush hush about the dining options at the place, but now Eater reports that they'll have "a full Blue Ribbon menu." The downside? The menu might only be served in the VIP section, which (if true) would seriously harsh the vibe, Wetlands dudes. more ›

Galapagos has officially set up shop and opened their doors in DUMBO, though a full schedule isn't planned to go into effect until September. The beautiful new space, located between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges on the corner Water and Main Streets, can hold 175 seated and around 230 standing. Director Robert Elmes told us that the new arts space will continue to focus on the cultural ecosystem by hosting "theater, dance, performance art, cinema, puppetry, classical and world music, lectures, literary events and fundraising events for non profits and local cultural groups." There will be no rock concerts, as there were previously at the Williamsburg space. Check out some of what is in store, after the jump. more ›

Word has come in via The NY Times that the Knitting Factory will officially make the move to Brooklyn...and Boise? Jared Hoffman, who took over the good ship Knit five years ago, announced that both the Idaho and a new Spokane, WA venue have already hung up signs -- something that Brooklyn may see soon as well, as the venue has just received the borough's approval. The Times reports they "won community board approval to begin moving into 361 Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the former site of the Luna Lounge." The space will give them a smaller New York presence, moving their multi-level, multi-room venue that's been housed on Leonard Street for 14 years, into one room with a smaller capacity (around 300). Look for a grand opening between 4 and 9 months from now, and don't expect to see the same look as Luna Lounge, as they'll be doing some renovations. more ›

Last year a NY Times article announced that former Wetlands owner Peter Shapiro and manager Charley Ryan were opening up a 20,000-square-foot bowling alley/performance space in Williamsburg called Brooklyn Bowl. Gowanus Lounge now reports that the alley will be ready to open as early as this fall...and it will be conveniently located nearby Williamsburg's only other bowling alley! more ›

Spiegelworld returns to Pier 17 this summer...but not until August! Their lineup is a hefty one, however, running through November 2nd. The 100+ year old traveling venue became a seasonal fixture in New York three years ago. Holding 350 people, the shows are pretty intimate, and the views from the garden are on par with the beauty of the tent itself. And this year there will even be a perfect night view of the Brooklyn Bridge waterfall. more ›