Ode to the Cornelia Street Café

As 2007 gets underway, we New Yorkers need to take stock of the all the things that we should be thankful for.

First, we can never claim that there is nothing to do around town.

Second, we don’t have to drive a car if we don’t want to. It’s easier to be green when you have public transportation, and of course pedicabs (at least for the moment).

Third, there is always some new opening for us to run go and gawk at.

Fourth, there are lots of old venues that we adore and whose loss is felt deeply (like CBGB’s).

Among the old venues that we adore is Cornelia Street Café, a restaurant and art space that has since its inception intended to be the haunt of those dedicated to the arts rather than a flash-in-the-pan foodie outpost.

A little history:

May 1977: Robin Hirsch (writer and director), Charles McKenna (actor) and Raphaela Pivetta, (visual artist) conceive of and launch Cornelia Street Café as an artists' café. Poetry, theater, performance art and music in-medias-res follow.

1980’s, the Cornelia Street Café provides refuge for a host of artists working off the grid, and becomes known as a venue that inspires rather tires performers traveling through town.

1990’s, the restaurant becomes better known and in 1998 wins the Village Arts Award for "inspired cuisine."

2000 and onward: The owners of Cornelia Street Cafe (founder Robin Hirsch, Judith Kallas and Bob Siegler) continue to provide New Yorkers with a venue where art is the thing.

Currently, the restaurant is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

The performance space boasts more than three hundred cultural events a year. Few venues can claim that, and even fewer can claim that cost is that of a drink.

What to know:

1. Cornelia Street Café is located on Cornelia Street in the heart of the village.

2. Spoken word events usually begin at 6PM and Music at 8PM.

3. There are several popular series where drops in can contrinute (see calendar).

http://www.corneliastreetcafe.com/

4. Another important note: Cornelia Street Café has birthed a Brooklyn child, Biscuit BBQ on 5^th Avenue and Presidents Street in Park Slope (stay tuned for a review).

And now for the Ode:

Oh Café of Art, you

Wondrous survivor in this our capitalist environs

I pass by your blessed portal and smile

For you exist, there in time and now

Please do more poetry

Sing to me, long into the night as I travel

From 401K to trochees and spondees

And from email to words passed from lip to lip

Tags:   Art Spaces, Cornelia Street Cafe, Inspiration, Music, New York Art Spaces, Poetry

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Posted on 3/1/2007 ( Permanent Link )
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