This Bushwick club has reportedly been hosting wild indoor parties since June
Another Brooklyn nightlife venue has been reportedly hosting secret indoor parties, but that’s not the worst part: It’s also been operating under the name “the Illmore,” according to a new report from the New York Post. The Bushwick venue — located at 209 Evergreen Avenue, between Cedar and Hart Streets — reportedly hosted dozens of revelers on Saturday and Sunday night, with unmasked bartenders and an apparent disregard for social distancing among attendees, per Instagram stories reviewed by the Post. Neighbors and friends of attendees tell the Post that the Illmore has been operating late into the night since at least June, when it allegedly reopened as a space for bands to rehearse and host live streams.
In addition to the Illmore, countless other outdoor and indoor parties have popped up across the city, catering to New Yorkers apparently eager to attend their first party in months. Earlier this month, the NYPD broke up two raves in Sunset Park with close to 200 attendees gathered indoors, while a separate event hosted unmasked dancers under the Kosciuszko Bridge. In a press conference following the Kosciuszko Bridge incident, Gov. Andrew Cuomo reminded New Yorkers that the parties are both illegal and disrespectful. “It not only violates public health, but it violates human decency,” he said at the time.
As of Monday, the Illmore had another indoor party scheduled for this Friday “from 8 p.m. till late,” though with a few more safety considerations in place. “We will have a contactless thermometer at the door so we can check to make sure everyone is safe to party, plus hand sanitizer,” according to an Instagram post from local artist djtrstkills that has since been deleted. “And wear a mask if you must!”
In other news
— A new report from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce estimated that close to 30 percent of small businesses in the borough did not pay rent in August. Roughly half of the 234 small businesses surveyed reported that business was down by 50 percent or more during the pandemic.
— 88 Lan Zhou, which remains temporarily open, has beefed up its sauce offerings. Bags of 50 frozen dumplings are still available for $14 each and the restaurant recently teased the possibility of bringing back fresh dumplings, as well.
— The Flatiron District’s “lush and nuanced” Mediterranean restaurant, Nur, has reopened. The restaurant’s adapted outdoor dining menu is available from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily and for takeout starting at 12 p.m.
— A car crashed into an Upper East Side restaurants outdoor dining area last night, injuring three. The injury comes one day after some restaurateurs raised concerns about safety issues with outdoor dining.
— New York City bakeshop Ovenly will be celebrating 10 years of business next month, according to a spokesperson for the bakery.
— Astrolabe, a new newsletter from photographer Gary He, will focus on pandemic dining in New York City with original photography.
— Early reviews are in for Kimika, the newly opened Japanese-Italian restaurant from the Wayla team.
— Hands-free: