Downstairs at Lit (2008)

By Nico Lustgarten

(Well, as the title states, I’m transitioning these posts to my new web site (nicolustgarten.com), which should be open soon. Maybe by the time you read this, it’ll be live. Now that I’ll be without a day job, I’ll be focusing more on my DJing career and a specific location for information regarding my gigs, etc. is due.)

The crowd definitely keeps me on my toes. It’s not one of those gigs you can sleep through. There is such variety in the tastes in music people enjoy, which makes it more difficult due to my self-imposed restrictions on playing Hip Hop. Just can’t do it anymore. I used to feel like a pigeon dodging tires but I’ve figured the crowd out.

I used to practically live at Lit – that island of debauchery in the East Village where everything from the Cure to Curtis Mayfield was played. Even now, I hear Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!’s “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth,” and I think of dancing on the ground floor then I’d surrender to the cavern in the basement for cigarettes and more alcohol for a slightly different experience — these two rings of Manhattan hell commingling the experience of the night. But that was a couple years ago and now things are different. Can’t smoke downstairs. The speakers turn off and on randomly like a sick game of musical chairs but the influence of the music never severed itself from my style.

These days, if you walk into Angels & Kings on a Saturday night, you’ll hear a reminder of the old Lit days, before Murray Hill took over and the last of the renegade artists and hipsters hold on to the yesterdays. Not saying that AK is the new Lit by any means…just different; the music played inspired by that seedy and wonderful bastion.

It’s been a while since I’ve shared my playlist. You’ll notice that the music is a bit darker, grimier, and yes, I’m leaning toward post-punk/goth and house. This will give you an idea of what you’ll hear this Saturday night when I get to share the decks with another Whiskey Dregs writer, Jenn Sussman (aka DJ Belladonna).

Playlist for 5/22/10

1. Adam Ant “Puss n’ Boots”
2. The Horrors “Excellent Choice”
3. Skywave “Over and Over”
4. Public Image Limited “Annalisa”
5. Shocking Blue “Fire of Love”
6. Sia “Clap Your Hands (Diplo Remix)”
7. Britney Spears “3 (Wolfgang Gartner Remix)”
8. Amanda Blank “Big Heavy”
9. Gene Loves Jezebel “Desire (12″ White Label GW Childs Remix)”
10. Engineers “Sometimes I Realise (Sasha Invol2ver Remix)”
11. Alien Sex Fiend “Zombified”
12. Crystal Castles “Celestica”

(12’s a good number)

I’m taking a break from writing quasi-political diatribes of observations and decided to write a list of things to do for Valentine’s Day… The way I would do them.

I am almost sad to report that your old friend Carlitos does not have a valentine for Valentine’s Day. This doesn’t mean that I still can’t give advice on what to do for St. V’s special day. These are things that I might do if I felt the urge to do something different.

I’m disturbed by this day as much as the next person but if you have to do it might as well have some fun.

1. The Almighty Card

Here’s where it usually begins. The card. The endless expression of love contained within a little cardboard flap because that’s what it really is. It’s that flap on a cardboard box filled with generic words like, “I’m so glad to have found the mate for my soul.” and blah, blah, blah. I say forget that little Hallmark card. Make your own. Get some cardboard paper, twist little designs on it, glue things to it, write your own words – whatever… Just be creative. The thing with Valentine’s Day is that it should be a celebration of love or partnership and not a competetion with yourself on how much you can buy for a person or how elaborate of a prefabricated card you can get. Just make it. I promise they’ll appreciate it more. You don’t even have to make it that fancy. Get some computer paper and draw a picture of two stick figures together holding hands – that’s suppose to represent you and your date or partner.

2. The Gift

Don’t go crazy with this and remember that if you go out to eat, your partner will have to carry this around with them everywhere you go which can become cumbersome. The focus should be on having a good time.

3. Food! Food! Food!

Restaurants are oversaturated with dates. I mean, it’s really bad. Some places you have to reserve a couple weeks in advance. It’s nuts. It’s packed and it can become more of a problem than the romantic candle lit dinner that you had imagined. The truth is that it’s waiters bumping into you, it’s a roaring bedlam of couples yapping away and then there’s the wait for the food because the kitchen might be backed up. Skip all of this and do a dinner at home. You can cook for your date or together. Doesn’t matter. Listen, you can pick the music you want to hear, pick the candles, the menu, the wine… It’s a lot more fun and it’s a display of genuine care. Anthony Bourdain once said that cooking is an expression of self. So… Express.

4. If The Date Makes It Past Dinner

Go out. Have some fun. Get to know your date. Get sexy. Get silly. Have some laughs. Go get some drinks and listen to some music. My suggestion is Lit. Here’s where I start to lose people but really… Hear me out. At Lit, the music isn’t banging. It’s loud enought to dance to but not overpowering enough to balk any conversation. Forget about the ground level floor though and hit the basement that’s where you’ll find nooks where the two of you can go and talk, drink, laugh… be merry. You can even argue down there because no one will hear you. After midnight, you can smoke. Good times.

5. So Things Are Going Really Well, You Say?

About this time, you should be having a lot of fun but maybe you’re not ready to go home yet. Where to next? Well, hopefully before you left the apartment, you considered emptying a bottle of fruit punch and pouring some of your favorite red wine into the bottle. I like El Coto – a Spanish red wine from the Rioja region. Fucking tasty. Now you have this great wine that is always at room temperature wherever you go. Where do you take it? You take it to Central Park. What??? Yes, Central Park. Specifically Bethesda Fountain. It’s packed with cops and there’s actually a lot of couples who go for strolls out there. I’ve been there several times at night and have never felt my life or wallet at risk of danger. If that’s not your concern then I’m sure the cold will be but that’s not such a bad thing either because it forces the two of you bundle up. Now you have your wine, a great night together and if you stay up late enough the sun might even peak through the trees.

6. The Next Morning

Call in sick.

P.S.

If you’re looking for a good album to get sexy with, check out the latest album by Burial called Untruth. Trip Hop style beats, old school House vocals like we love it  and ethereal pads. It’s good for some slow lovin’ and beats out my previous pick of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Trust me on this.

• Can’t smoke anywhere near Queensborough Plaza but you can yell and threaten a police officer while he’s giving a ticket. Miguel and I were finishing a cigarette and a cop walked over and asked for our IDs. While writing our tickets, a man became unruly at the ticket counter and yelled and threatened the cop. The cop responded by being louder than him and waving his baton. What happened next? Nothing except that Miguel and I now have to pay 50 bucks for some bs.
• Can’t park anywhere at night. Marcus parked in the Lower East Side in a section that was accompanied by a very confusing no parking sign. Apparently, “no standing” means no parking and now that sounds obvious to anyone, however the times that were designated were not. There was a difference on the sign between “no parking” and “no standing” depending on what time you “stood” or “parked” the car. What happened? Marcus got a friendly $150.00 ticket. Nice!
• Can’t stand directly outside of a bar. What happened? Miguel, Marcus and I left the gallery bar and while deciding our next destination, a bouncer informed us that we couldn’t stand “there”. We were at least 15 feet from the door but no matter – we had to move.
• Can’t dance in New York. Why? While it is not strictly enforced, people are not legally allowed to dance in a bar unless the establishment has a cabaret license. We can thank Giuliani for being the town asshole and enforcing an antiquated law. Side note: Giuliani is a fascist and don’t let anyone tell you different. Rememeber that we live in America and not Mussolini’s Italy.
• Can’t smoke anywhere. Now I understand this, believe me I do but… C’mon now… Seriously? Nowhere??? Shouldn’t there be some kind of 70/30 law like the one enforced in Orlando? Orlando isn’t a haven either. Everything closes at 2AM.
• The city that never sleeps? What a lie! Everything is done for by 4AM… That means EVERYTHING. And because a liquor license isn’t granted for anything open after 4AM that means that you can’t go anywhere but home. City that never sleeps??? Give me a break. Lie, lie, lie.
• Too many guys and you won’t get into Lit. Lit is seriously one of my favorite bars – period. Drinks are reasonable. The music is great and after a certain time, one may partake in an unmentionable favorite activity downstairs in their basement. I really love this place but if you try to go in with too many guys (more than one) then good luck. You ain’t gettin’ in. So here’s what happened: Last weekend, my buddy and I after a good night of partying decided to go to Lit at 3 in the morning. The both of us are standing in line trying to seem as if we don’t know each other but when it’s time to go in, the bouncer looks at us and says, “Sorry, too many guys. Can’t let you in.” Lit is a place that I spend good money in all of the time and because of this bouncer, I couldn’t go in and enjoy the rest of my evening with cool drinks and good tunes. I love that place so much that I’ll still throw my support but I have to mention it here because it’s not just Lit – it’s everywhere. Have a cock? Good luck.

I love New York just like every one else but if you want to go to a city that revels in freedom, go to New Orleans. Somehow these people have been successful in maintaining a healthy night life without all of these damn rules. Not one of these rules applies there. If you leave a bar at 5AM the same bar will be open when you wake up at 10AM.

Honorable mention – If you’re interested in doing your own party - good luck. New York has a law against that too. Ask the hundreds of hard working promoters who have had to fight this city to do one freakin’ venue.