M2, Super Dive, Paul Seres and the New York Times

The Nightlife Report for April 22, 2010
Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

…I hunt down the nightlife news so you don’t have to…

Closed
M2 and Pink shut down
(New York Times)
West Chelsea staples M2 and Pink were closed by the order of a special administrative judge on Friday. The venue is currently fighting threats to close it related to the smoking ban but this new issue revolves around the actions (or inactions depending on who you believe) of the security guards. Police allege that they stand by while fights, drug dealing and other offenses are committed. As with other nuisance abatement related cases, there is still a lack in logic in the police approach. If cops see patrons dealing drugs, why not build a case against the dealers and arrest them? If fanatics are fighting in the club, why not arrest them? If the security guards and the other operators are not dealing drugs or fighting, why do the patrons get to commit crimes and walk away while the people who work at the venue are punished economically when the place is shut down?

SuperDive
(Eater)
Meatpacking’s newest dive bar might be a bittersweet memory. The venue has been through some economic turmoil over the past few months and now it seems to be closed for good. That real estate might not sit on the market for long considering the location. Maybe the new operators will leave the beer pong table out of the new design plans.

Coming Soon
Le Baron
Black Book
A Parisian operator is bringing his exclusive lounge concept to New York. No official word on when the doors will open, but if exclusive lounges in Paris are anything like exclusive lounges in New York it will be small, annoyingly hard to get into and very, very trendy. Bonsoir.

News
Major News Outlets Planning Ongoing Nightlife Coverage
(Business Insider)
The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal are both planning ongoing coverage of New York nightlife. They will throw their hat in with major news outlets like NBC, Blackbook and New York Magazine as well as smaller players like Thrillist and Urban Daddy. While the size and influence of these sources will get them into the biggest parties and the exclusive openings, it isn’t clear if they will devote space to ongoing issues in the industry that could use the exposure and reach to bring these issues into the mainstream. Of course, until they take up the mantle of in depth coverage of the business and culture of New York nightlife, you can always come back here…

Personalities
New NYNA Head Paul Seres
(Good Night Mr. Lewis)
Leadership of the New York Nightlife Association has shifted. Long time president David Rabin has stepped aside and Paul Seres has stepped in. The operator, owner and community board member takes control of an organization dealing with political, economic and social issues of all types. This interview touches on many of the things he plans to tackle including security guard training, zoning and relations with the police. With a new head of the State Liquor Authority and a new head of NYNA can the industry make progress in light of all the things working against it in New York? Stay tuned…

Have fun.
G

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Nightlife Racism, Tiny Hotels and the Cocktail Olympics

The Nightlife Report for March 5, 2010
Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

…I track down the nightlife news so you don’t have to…

Coming Soon
Le Baron
(Societe Perrier)
Operators of a well known Parisian club are planning to set up roots in Chinatown. Hopefully they can use some of that French charm to overpower the NIMBY element of the community board.

Yotel
(The Independent)
Pod Hotels are big in Japan. They are called pod hotels because the rooms are about as big as a coffin. The operators of an international pod hotel chain are bringing the concept to Times Square in 2011. With all the space they save on the rooms, they plan to open the largest outdoor lounge in New York putting themselves in direct competition with Hudson Terrace. I’m not sure the coffin sized hotel room thing will work here, but its hard to go wrong with a roof top bar.

Events
Martini Week (March 1-14 at Various Locations)
(Tasting Table)
Spend the next two weeks sampling new martinis all around the city in an event brought to you by Tasting Table and Thrillist

Ultimate Cocktail Challenge (April 12-14 at the Astor Center)
(Bar Business Magazine)
If you’re still going through Olympic withdrawal head down to the Astor Center for the ultimate in cocktail competition. It’s a lot more exciting than curling.

Opened
Tangled Wine Bar
(Time Out New York)
You want to feel like you are protecting Mother Earth while you drink. You’ve already been to Greenhouse and you’re over it. Now you can go uptown and drink from a organic, biodynamic (whatever that means) wine menu complimented with Mediterranean tapas.

Opinion
Segregation in Clubland
(Good Night Mr. Lewis)
Very few venues can boast about having a diverse multi-ethnic crowd. Several natives and operators have pointed out that the “top venues” in the city today are more segregated than a Birmingham lunch counter in the 1950’s. In contrast, they point to a high level of diversity in the days of Studio 54, Limelight and Paradise Garage. Is this the result of niche marketing or outright racism? Read the article (and the comments) and decide where you stand.

Have fun.
G

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