Cain, Imperial, Limelight and Meet

The NYN Club Report for October 30, 2008
Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

Opening
Imperial: Street art gets a new home in Flatiron.

Meet: Another SoHo townhouse becomes available for events from corporate meetings to strip poker.

Re-Opening
Cain: The West Chelsea den gets a makeover and returns as Cain Luxe.

Stillborn
Limelight: The previous reports of the club’s revival were premature.

Have fun.
G

NYC Poised for Growth in the Nightlife Industry

By Gamal Hennessy

Despite the gloom in the economic press there good things that can come out of the recession for nightlife natives. In spite of the bottle service decline and the community board moratoriums there is opportunity for a revitalized club scene. If recent history is any indicator, an infusion of new thinking can be the bright spot in an otherwise dark period.

From Problem to Playground
To understand the potential for growth, it makes sense to look at a previous crisis. In the late 1970’s America’s dependency on foreign oil spiked and the price of a barrel of oil jumped from $5 to $17 (which doesn’t seem that bared when compared to the price of crude today). That oil crisis contributed to economic malaise of the early 1980’s.

It was during this period that megaclubs opened and flourished. Between 1977 and 1985 legendary venues like Studio 54, Limelight and the Palladium defined nightlife culture. Entrepreneurs from other sectors understood that people need release and escape during periods of economic struggle. The result was a playground for the excessive 80’s that was imitated all over the world.

Fast forward
Today it is housing and credit that is causing the headaches instead of oil. AIG, Merrill Lynch and other investment banks are being torn down and sold for scrap creating a pool of finance, insurance and real estate (FIRE) workers looking for a new start. The fall of bottle service is a direct effect of this situation. The closing or repositioning of clubs that relied on this trend is the indirect effect.

But it is in these ashes that a new era in clubs can rise. The credit crunch has had a direct impact on real estate expansion in the city. Many people in the field see an inevitable drop in prices per square foot. As property prices fall and people look to take money out of the stock markets and put them into other investments, you also have a potential pool of talent coming out of the FIRE industries who can translate their skills into the hospitality industry. Rounding out the equation, you still have patrons who have the need for temporary escape from their daily lives. Some experts think that this combination will lead to a new period of growth in the nightlife industry.

Obstacles
Of course, the next Studio 54 isn’t going to just magically appear. Every new spot that opens is still going to have to find a way to get credit, deal with the community boards and police, overcome the jaded malaise of many veteran nightlife natives, compete with all the other clubs in the city and find a way to make money. There are sure to be a lot of failures but there is room for success. It will take creative thinking, personality and financial skill to make the next great spots work, but we have been in this situation before.

In the last few months, promoters have approached me asking my opinion on looking for the best club to buy and different ways invest. The advice I gave them isn’t original but I believe it to be sound. First, find someone who has experience over the long term that you can work with. Second, contribute your expertise and bring your people into the venue. Third and most important, learn how the whole business works. Those steps, a lot of work and some luck can revitalize nightlife in New York.

Have fun.
Gamal

Aspen Social, Beast and Scores

The NYN Club Report for October 23, 2008
Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

Events
Halloween (Friday, October 31)
Use these guides and find a place to get your scare on.
Clubplanet
Going
Martini Boys

Opening
Aspen Social Club
(Thirllist)
If you’re in Midtown West and you need a rustic bar, go here.

Beast
(Urban Daddy)
An underground art lounge opens in Chinatown.

Changes
Scores
(New York Observer)
Owners of the rival strip clubs are moving in to take over the struggling strip joints.

Have fun.
G

Milk and Honey, Ono, and Southside

The NYN Club Report for October 22, 2008
Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

Events
CMJ Music Festival (October 21-25)
The music marathon sweeps through the city celebrating its 27th year.

Opening
Southside
(Urban Daddy)
A new dance spot moves into the LES.

Closing
Ono
(Down by the Hipster)
Halloween is the last scheduled night for the Meatpacking Garden.

Changes
Milk and Honey
(Gothamist)
The exclusive club will go private in an attempt to control the noise.

Have fun.
Gamal

Houndstooth, M Lounge and the New York Comedy Festival

The NYN Club Report for October 16, 2008
Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

Events
The New York Comedy Festival (November 6-9)
A-list comics take over venues across the city next month

Opening
Houndstooth
(Shecky’s)
A new neighborhood bar and event space opens in the Garment District

M Lounge
(Thrillist)
A late night lounge opens above Megu

Personalities
David Rabin
(Black Book)
An interview with the President of the New York Nightlife Association that coincided with the New York Food and Wine Festival

Sex
Hawaiian Tropic Zone
(UPI)
Supervisors at the midtown tourist spot are accused of forcing female employees into sex.

Have fun.
G

Tequila: The Mexican Treasure

By Gamal Hennessy

A libation lesson brought to you courtesy of the New York Food and Wine Festival.

Four things come to mind when we usually think of tequila: margaritas, worms, shots and hangovers from the depths of hell. The margarita association is accurate, the others are not. If you put down the lemon for a minute and take a closer look at tequila, you will discover a refined spirit with a rich history, a complex taste and an often expensive price tag.

The back story
The history of tequila is rooted in necessity and linked to Spanish conquistadors invaded Mexico in the 16th century. I guess since raping, pillaging and subjugating populations requires a certain amount of inebriation, because the invaders ran into a problem when they finished all the brandy they brought with them from Europe. To solve this problem, they began distilling the local agave plant as a substitute, creating North America’s first native liquor.

The varieties
If your only experience drinking tequila involves licking the back of your hand and slamming a shot, you might not realize that there are subtle flavors in tequila. You might have also missed the fact that there are different categories of tequila in the same way there are different blends of whiskey and rum. This short lesson will solve that problem.

· Blanco or "white" tequila has a strong pepper and spice taste and is often used in cooking.

· Reposado or "rested" tequila is aged for three months to a year in oak barrels and usually offers a smoother drink than the blanco.

· Añejo or "vintage" tequila is aged for one year to three years in oak barrels which gives it the smoothest and most complex taste. Añejo is the tequila that is usually used in bars unless you ask for another type.

The Drink
Los Dados hosted the tequila tasting in the Meatpacking District during the festival. During the presentation, the chef explained that shooting tequila (aptly referred to as tequila cruda) is the juvenile method of drinking. Mexican importers originally introduced this technique to gringos in an effort to lure unsuspecting consumers into drinking large quantities and spending a lot of money. Only in the last few years has the main use of tequila been discovered in America.

As premium brands like Casa Noble, Jose Cuervo and Patron become staples in local nightlife and shots easily go for $25-50 a glass in clubs, tequila cruda makes even less sense than it did before. This is liquor created to be sipped over conversation and enjoyed with quality Mexican cuisine. It’s doesn’t have to be a one way ticket to a hangover if you don’t treat it that way…

Have fun.
Gamal

The Studio, Naya and the New York Food and Wine Festival

NYN Club Report for October 9, 2008

Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

Events
The New York Food and Wine Festival
Gourmet food, vintage wine and celebrity chefs take over the Meatpacking District this weekend.

Opening
The Studio at Webster Hall
(NME.com)
The B&T mecca gets an intimate performing space just in time for CMJ

Naya
(Thrillist)
A futuristic Mediterranean lounge opens in Midtown East.

Have fun.
G