In the city that never sleeps, the recent repeal of the city’s Cabaret Law is a landmark event for some night-owls. But other parts of nighttime New York have their own stories.
‘In real terms, the repeal alone is not going to increase the number of spaces that are able to offer dancing.’
The Abbey has had a series of underage drinking complaints since 2013, according to the State Liquor Authority.
Although the pursuit has traditionally been about finding necessities, online sites and flea markets allow people to easily profit from once-trashed treasures.
‘The Upper East Side is a residential neighborhood, people do not come to this neighborhood for dancing,’ was one City Council office’s take.
‘It was frustrating having to tell customers why they can’t dance. Especially when you have good music going on.’
Many 12-step groups that meet in New York church basements and rectories after business hours have had to close or move when the churches sold off property or raised the rents to cover the church’s own expenses.
Residents have dubbed on area ‘Hell Square’—a 24-block area below East Houston Street with over 100 full liquor licenses.
But some local venue owners and community organizers are worried the Office of Nightlife will do little to protect artists from the impact of real-estate development that threatens dramatic change to the city’s cultural map.
Artists with disabilities say efforts at inclusion in the process behind and language of the de Blasio administration’s CreateNYC plan were welcome. Now they want to see efforts to make sure both funding streams and art spaces become more accessible.
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