quote:
Fly Life
by Tricia Romano
January 15 - 21, 2003
Williamsburg is, like, so over. At least Richie Hawtin seems to think so, reports Jockey Slut, a favorite U.K. mag among trainspotting geeks like me. The bald one, who moved to our fair city not even a year ago, taking up residence in trendy Williamsburg, might already be leaving. Jockey Slut reports that he's headed for Berlin"”where things are a bit more poppin'. "Apparently the Canadian is tired of the North American techno circuit and wishes to live somewhere more creative," they write. But Mr. Hawtin e-mailed from his main studio in Windsor, Ontario, where he is working on new material, saying he hasn't made up his mind yet. If he does decides to leave, I can't say I blame him. You can smoke in bars in Berlin, and better yet, you can dance, hassle free.
Also in the same column, a bit of gossip about other clubs around town struggling to survive. (this article also posted in the Nightclub Crackdown Watch)
quote:
Fly Life
by Tricia Romano
Disappearing Acts
January 15 - 21, 2003
Now you see them, now you don't. No sooner had we heard about all these superclubs"”which found everyone heralding the return of New York nightlife"”than many of the aforementioned clubs closed temporarily or permanently. The much hyped reopening of Estate @ Limelight was a dud, and the club is closing shop"”with the exception of John Blair's gay Sunday parties"”until Fashion Week, says publicist Claire O'Connor.
Also going on hiatus is Powder, the chi-chi nightspot in the meatpacking district. The space, which opened with much hoopla (its swank interiors were conceived by famed designer Karim Rashid), abruptly shut down after New Year's Eve after one of its investors reportedly pulled out. (The club's CEO, Anthony"”he refused to give a last name"”denies that an investor bailed, saying tersely, "We don't wish to comment at this time," before hanging up on the Voice.)
The club was supposedly so cash strapped that they ran out of glasses on New Year's, and, says a snitch, employees were locked out when an owner changed the locks on the staff without notice. (A club employee denies that ever happened.)
The space has not yet been sold (the employee says the owners are still taking offers), but they hope to be reopened by February. In the meantime, construction on the downstairs room will be completed.
And rumors abound that Spa is also getting a face-lift. But Claire O'Connor says that while the owners have "been talking about it for a while"”getting a new look and a new name," there are no immediate plans to switch things up.