The rumor mill's in motion and word is that The Knitting Factory will be moving out of its long time home on Leonard Street. The news doesn't come as a surprise as last April brought word that the building the venue is housed in would be sold.
The Knitting Factory to Relocate?
Overdose at the Knitting Factory
Over the weekend we pointed to a death at the Knitting Factory that the cops were deeming "suspicious." Yesterday it was announced that the man was Nicholas Phillips, an East Village resident. The Post reports:An East Village man who died of an apparent drug overdose at a Manhattan rock club has been identified, sources said yesterday. Nicholas Phillips, of East Ninth Street, was found unconscious in the bathroom of the Knitting Factory on Leonard Street...
Four Years of Street Photography
Paul McDonough, New York City 1968-1972 is the current exhibit at Sasha Wolf's gallery. Wolf, as curator, worked closely with the artist for over a year putting together a collage of street photography from the time. McDonough, a current Brooklynite, says when he arrived here in the late '60s, photographing "satisfied my sketching impulses...I learned to carry a camera everywhere, all the time, loaded with 400-speed film."
Fire and Firefighter's Death Spotlights Illegal Lofts
The tragic death of Firefighter Daniel Pujdak, who fell four stories while responding to a fire in Bushwick, has been deemed a terrible accident. But now there are some questions about the factory building that had been illegally allowing artists to live and work there.
Firefighter Dies While Responding to Brooklyn Blaze
A 23-year-old firefighter died from injuries sustained while responding to a fire at 146 Leonard Street in East Williamsburg. Daniel Pujdak, a 2-year veteran with Ladder 146, fell four floors from a bucket ladder and suffered serious head injuries; he was pronounced dead at Bellevue shortly after. Over 60 firefighters were needed to control the fire, which allegedly started because of a cigarette left on a window sill.
Knitting Factory: Next Venue Casualty?
It seems a week doesn't go by without more news of venues closing. This week The Real Deal reports that the 27,000-square-foot building that houses the roughly 11,000 square foot Knitting Factory, is up for sale. The sale, which includes the venue and 18 decontrolled residential loft apartments, is expected to go for $15 million or more.
On the Plate: Upcoming Food and Wine Events
February 11: Second New Indian Dinner - A Benefit for Kids with Cameras
Pencil This In
COMEDY: Our favorite duo, Gil Faizon (Nick Kroll) and George St. Geegland (John Mulaney), will be bringing their "Oh Hello" show to UCB. Drop by, even if it's just for their famous Tuna-tina recipe. In addition, there will be NEW drink recipes...and special guests.
Tonight, Tonight
Come join us TONIGHT at our Movable Hype Anniversary Show. Just a year ago we threw our first show/concert/party at the Knitting Factory. Since then we've actually thrown 4 more there, tonight is the 5th. In addition we've had a slightly smaller version of the show at Pianos and one comedy (Laughable Hype) show at Tonic. Technically that means this is lucky number 7, but we'll still call it 5 (because we never were very good with numbers.)
Movable Hype 4.0 is TONIGHT
We hope to see you all out at Movable Hype tonight. We're really excited about the lineup:
Week in Films
Three times a year, comedians and comedy writers gather before a live, drunk audience to showcase 5-minute film shorts. SPOILER, a film project run by a creative bunch of rowdy, young filmmakers and emerging comics, feels more like a party than it does a festival. This SPOILER's theme is "Action" and features standup by Slovin & Allen (SNL writers) and Andrea Rosen (Comedy Central's Stella), films by Aziz Ansari (Comedian, Filmmaker), Late Night Ritalin, The Wicked Wicked Hammerkatz & more as well Mr. Move as a musical guest. Tonight April 18th @ 8pm at the Knitting Factory [74 Leonard Street], ADV $5, Door $7
Ground Zero Art
Residents near Ground Zero are upset by a painting at 17 Leonard Street. The 10x14 foot mural is meant to be a memorial of sorts. The artist, Brooklyn resident James Peterson, says, of the work titled "Caution: 2003," "If you take a low humor view of it, that's really in your mind, not mine. It wasn't meant to be offensive." Some neighbors agree, including one who thinks that selling souvenirs at Ground Zero is more offensive.

