December 29, 2006
What's New in 2007
With 2006 coming to a close, there's a lot to look forward to in the new year. Some expected highlights:
Museums: The New Museum on Bowery will be opening. Yes, it's another oddly shaped building that will stick out amongst the old lighting and restaurant supply shops in the area, but we're all for more art downtown. This museum will be bringing more of the uptown art world, below 14th.
Venues: This year we saw new venue, The Box, open. Coming up...Bowery Presents has a lot up their sleeves for next year. Right now we'll focus on what's already been confirmed. They're taking over Northsix, naming it the ever so literal Music Hall of Williamsburg. We're looking forward to the other changes they'll bring to the venue, and keep our fingers crossed that the bleechers will stay put. Meanwhile Luna Lounge will reopen, the new space is in Williamsburg and will be booked by Live Nation. Sadly, 2007 may also bring us the closing of Galapagos.
Shops: Japanese retailer Uniqlo settled in to Soho in 2006, the new Apple store opened with much fanfare and Viktor & Rolf caused a stir at H&M. 2007 has got the old Limelight (also Avalon) being turned in to a mall, and a Topshop may be coming to town...finally!
Restaurants: We just want Grilled Cheese NYC to reopen!
What are you looking forward to?
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make your own grilled cheese. it's not that difficult.
Ripley's Believe It Or Not is opening up an "odditorium" in Times Square. Sure, it'll probably be touristy, but good god do I love Ripley's Believe It Or Not. If their TV show is any indication, they'll probably have people break records or display zany talents there too.
Galapagos Art Space isn’t closing; the rumor is just a rumor, like the 'supervenue' rumor in October.
But cultural infrastructure is evaporating in our white-hot real estate market. If a pier in Red Hook, not even the one with the best view, sells for forty million dollars, and a parcel of land in Greenpoint can fetch one hundred and forty million, then it will become increasingly difficult, desperate by some accounts, for artists to maintain a meaningful presence in our city.
The real estate rumors that swirl around the arts are evidence of a community under great stress, wondering where it should go and fearful of how it will get there.
Robert Elmes
Director Galapagos Art Space
Hey Guys,
Just a quick point of information regarding Luna Lounge. I will be booking Luna, not Live Nation. However, the folks at LN will be helping me out and will book a show or two each week.
Best wishes,
Rob Sacher
http://www.LunaLounge.com
The old Luna Lounge was great because it was free. Wanted to see some random act without losing money because you have no idea who they are? You went to Lounge. The new place is just another club. The old one was special.
RIP Luna Lounge (for the second time)
Luna,
I appreciate the joy in walking into a club, paying nothing for the band, and discovering something special. However, for me, there were all too many nights when there was truly just 'another band' on that stage....
This version of Luna Lounge will be able to present bands that are more developed in their ability and their career. That's why they will get paid now. We will never be just another club. If I had stayed on Ludlow Street, that would have been the result...
Now we're about to open in Williamsburg in a brand new venue with a capacity somewhere between Mercury Lounge and Bowery Ballrooom.
Come by and see a band before deciding we are just 'another' club. You might find that the new Luna Lounge will provide opportunities that the old club could not...
Best wishes,
Rob Sacher
http://www.lunalounge.com