Somewhere, An Artist Turns in His Grave

April 27, 2004 New B14 correspondent Kelly P. emails us about Rothko, the Bar Formerly Known As Adult World (Suffolk @ Rivington/Delancey). "I walked by there last Friday night, to see a host of skinny UES girls with blow-outs lined up outside the joint. I walked up to the doorman (he was wearing a head-set microphone thing) and asked, 'Hi. What's the new name of this joint?' He pointed to the words on the building and said "Rothko, it's the original name of the building, you don't believe me, look up," and pointed upwards to show that, yes, in fact it is the name on the building. I know, I live on the block, I should know what it says. Anyhoo, when I returned to my home block at 3ish that night, I heard a Kinks tune blaring out of there. The Kinks? I don't believe that they were being ironic, either. Anyway, they aren't opened every night, since I tried to go there and check it out for myself on a non-weekend (and thus non-crowded night.)" Intrigued, we stopped by early on Saturday night with our boy BluBox, who did reconassiance work at the bar. The space is the same as Adult World, but gutted, with a stage at the far end. Has been open Thurs–Sat nights, but they're throwing open the doors more often in May, cultimating in a "Grand Opening with Bands Coming May 21st!!" according to its calendar of events.

Uhm, that crowd does sound lame but it's hard to take seriously anyone who thinks The Kinks need to be played with some sense of irony. Maybe worry less about being so utterly hip and you'll sound less Top 40. Freakshow.

Posted by: ADP at April 27, 2004 11:54 AM

Was it "Come Dancing?" which is a truly horrid tune? Other than that, the Kinks are NOT to played with irony. Lock, you need to do better screening of your B14 correspondents. And Kelly P, please dont take offense. In fact, I'll make you a mix CD if you ask nicely.

Posted by: krucoff at April 27, 2004 12:50 PM

Lola v. Powerman is one of the greatest albums of all time. Mr. Tuesday Night turned me on to it when we were freshmen.

Posted by: Ken at April 27, 2004 02:25 PM

i was there on friday. don't know what kelly was smoking, but the crowd was super cool, not from the ues, but a totally les crowd. music rocked also and the staff had absolutely no attitude at all.the neighborhood needs more places like this for sure.

Posted by: Jeff at April 27, 2004 02:36 PM

krucoff, can I outsource screening to your crack team? I'm happy to give Gage a bio page on this site.

ken, i salute your first post!

Posted by: Lock at April 27, 2004 02:36 PM

dude, i started as a lasagnafarm intern, then launched TOP, picking up gothamist interview and most recently the gawker data feature along the way. taking on a LS/B14 project would be a MAJOR step back at this point in my career. i mean, my day.

Posted by: krucoff at April 27, 2004 03:21 PM

I think you overlook the fate of your mailbox key.

Posted by: Lock at April 27, 2004 03:26 PM

You guys want a room?

Posted by: joey at April 27, 2004 04:05 PM

Joey, you want 10 pairs of black thongs?

(God I love it here. LS/B14 comments could be the new Eurotrash and Maccers!!)

Posted by: krucoff at April 27, 2004 04:15 PM

Joey, feel free to ignore Krucoff. I have it on good authority that his star has "peaked" in the blog world.

Posted by: Lock at April 27, 2004 08:33 PM

skinny UES girls? as opposed to the rhino-sized hipster chicks on the LES?

is that true about krucoff's star? he's off the sidebar ASAP.

Posted by: dr. glasses at April 27, 2004 10:24 PM

The Kinks are a band to be played "ironically" only. Good lord are you people snotbags.

Posted by: Dave Davies at April 27, 2004 10:33 PM

Screw the room - do you guys want a blog?

http://krucoffvssteele.blogspot.com/

Posted by: morland at April 27, 2004 10:45 PM

Whats next? Nascar chicks? Hey hey.
One really sick place that opened and I mean urp sick is that new club on bowery near spring, huge crowds ruining my once deralect streets. I even saw an elvis impersonator almost get hit by a car while jaywalking to the club. Seems like their m.o. is a free event about every hour of the night with a different crowd of odd balls waiting to get in. I feel bad for the bowery flop-housers who have to put up with this mess.

Posted by: joe blow at April 28, 2004 08:12 AM

opps bad spelling!

Posted by: joe blow at April 28, 2004 08:13 AM

Shit, I could do recon from my desk in California. You could pay me and not have to interface with real live humans. Here's a sample:

Walked by a new hot spot in LES. May or may not be ironic. Didn't go in.

Posted by: sac at April 28, 2004 02:15 PM

sac, i was kidding about this being the new maccers/eurotrash comments. perhaps you need one of lock's velvet rope donkey-kongs to show you the door.

Posted by: krucoff at April 28, 2004 03:52 PM

Yes, please get one. It is dark in here and the exits are poorly lit. I sense another Great White incident.

Posted by: sac at April 28, 2004 04:05 PM

aw shit, you just crushed my high score. fucker.

Posted by: krucoff at April 28, 2004 04:46 PM

Local 138!

Posted by: mr at April 28, 2004 10:58 PM

Come Dancing is actually a great song, just overproduced. But it's a good time to be Ray Davies -- his 'indie hip" quotient seems to be rivalling that of Alex Chilton these days.

Please divert your iTunes to the following great Kinks songs:

Days
Better Things
Father Christmas
Apeman

good shit.

Posted by: Palmy at April 29, 2004 01:03 PM

Why the big hard-on over Starbucks? When they come will you turn you lust after a new Quizzno's or a Home Depot on AVe c? You lose me sometimes lock.

Posted by: Joe at May 2, 2004 09:45 AM

rothko is alright, and although the crowd may erk some people, it's only those people insecure in their own style that are intimidated by what they see. have fun and shut the hell up about what everyone's wearing.

Posted by: ricci at May 5, 2004 05:29 PM