Bowery Poetry Club Revival: Crowdfunding for Restaurant Component
The year is 2002 – CBGB is still a few years from becoming John Varvatos, the Bowery Hotel is still John’s Garage, the Avalon mothership is nowhere in sight, and the glass dildo of the Cooper Square Hotel Standard East Village is just another row of Lower East Side tenements. It’s also the year that poet Bob Holman opens the Bowery Poetry Club at number 308.
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Ten years later, this part of the boulevard has undergone a sea change, yet the seminal hangout continues its quest as torch-bearer of downtown creativity. Bands, burlesque, Mr. Lower East Side Pageant, and of course, poetry. It’s a reminder that there’s always hope. Now Holman and company are angling to expand the concept to include a restaurant component, and are utilizing the crowdfunding services of Kickstarter to raise the $50,000 in capital needed.
According to their appeal:
The Bowery Poetry Club (BPC), where Poets are Born and the Poetry is Spoken, needs your assistance in a real way. With your help, our space will morph into a super restaurant that will provide a beautiful space for spoken word, poetry, slam as well as other arts of the Bowery: burlesque, vaudeville, and music. This is a unique concept for those who love a great show, great food and a great price. Combining our already incredible lineup of entertainment and arts for the community with a special dinning experience that would include a bar, cafe/restaurant and a remodeled performance space, we’ll be aiming to become a central hub for poets, musicians, actors, as well as lovers and supporters of the arts in New York City.
308 Bowery was built in 1850, and originally functioned in the lumber industry.
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