Shots at Vlada
Those of you in New York may want to take note that there's a new gay lounge, Vlada, opening tomorrow in Hell's Kitchen at 331 W. 51st Street.
So what's it all about? According to word Towleroad received today, the owners hope to evoke "the European artistic aura of Odeon in the 70s, where artists, actors, fashionistas, models and freaks alike could all gather and be comfortable just being themselves."
Vlada von Shats, the man behind the new venue, also runs Russian Samovar, a place I can't say I've ever been. But he apparently partnered with Mikhail Baryshnikov and Joseph Brodsky on that venue and promises that at some point, Liza or Chaka Khan may be stopping by Vlada for a performance. Or, of course, their impersonators.
Posted Mar. 28,2006 at 4:28 PM EST by Andy Towle in Food & Drink, New York | Permalink
Check out the seating. One person gets to sit on the ledge and then look down on (and I mean down on) the poor soul that has to sit on the attractive, but never comfortable stools.
Posted by: Kyle Childress | Mar 28, 2006 4:53:20 PM
Just what NY needs. Another chilly, over-appointed club for gay men to be simultaneously cruel and sexual with each other.
Posted by: SN | Mar 28, 2006 5:11:17 PM
I've been to Russian Samovar and it's a fun and authentic Russian restaurant, though not cheap.
Posted by: David | Mar 28, 2006 5:12:10 PM
Sex and The City Fans: Russian Samovar was the place Mikhail Baryshnikov (what was his name in the show?) took Carrie on their first date. Remember that 1am date where he introduced her to Russian food.
Posted by: Barnie | Mar 28, 2006 5:44:58 PM
Aleksandr Petrovsky
Posted by: David | Mar 28, 2006 6:22:21 PM
Odeon was the best.
That's when New York ruled!
Posted by: A.J. | Mar 28, 2006 9:07:38 PM
>>could all gather and be comfortable
Comfortable? Looks more like the visitors area at Sing Sing.
Posted by: Jay Croce | Mar 28, 2006 9:08:42 PM
hear, hear SN. looks "very NYC" - self-important, chilly, wooden and quote - fabulous - unquote. it already looks like last year's Wallpaper - or was it in Egg?
Posted by: resurrect | Mar 28, 2006 11:20:52 PM
Ditto to ditto on SN's comment.
I wait for the day when NYC cool implodes.
Posted by: Jacko | Mar 29, 2006 5:50:15 AM
I'm so there.
Posted by: digger | Mar 29, 2006 11:27:48 AM
Not exactly the defunct and sorely missed Russian Tea Room. Used to frequent same with an OCA priest and his wife. It was a place where the ROCOR and the OCA clergy occupied the same space . (grin)
Posted by: Raymond | Mar 30, 2006 5:20:39 AM