Lit Lounge

Former nightclub in New York City

Lit Lounge

Logo of Lit Lounge

Address| 93 2nd Avenue
Location| East Village, Manhattan, New York, US
Coordinates| 40°43′37.8″N 73°59′20.3″W﻿ / ﻿40.727167°N 73.988972°W﻿ / 40.727167; -73.988972
Public transit|

*     * Astor Place
* Second Avenue

Owner| Erik Foss & David Schwartz
Type| Nightclub
Opened| February 22, 2002 (2002-02-22)
Closed| July 30, 2015 (2015-07-30)

Lit Lounge was a nightclub in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. The two-floor complex housed a concert venue, lounge, dance floor, and Fuse Gallery, an art exhibition space. Lit Lounge was noted as a major venue for New York City's hipster subculture in the mid- to late 2000s, particularly the indie rock and electroclash scene of the era.

## History

[edit]

Lit Lounge was owned by Erik Foss and David Schwartz, who worked at East Village and Bowery-area bars throughout the 1990s. Lit opened on February 22, 2002, while Fuse Gallery opened on March 16, 2002, with an exhibition of works by H.R. Giger.[1] Lit quickly became a major venue for New York's hipster subculture, particularly the indie rock and electroclash scene of the era.[2][3] It was among the first New York clubs to embrace European DJs in the mashup genre such as Soulwax and Erol Alkan, along with post-hardcore artists such as Sergio Vega of Quicksand.[2] Lit declined in popularity after The Beatrice Inn converted into a nightclub in 2006, though enjoyed a resurgence after Beatrice was shut down in 2009.[2]

In 2010, the bar was the subject of protests during a request for a license transfer for a new venture, in which local residents claimed Lit frequently played music past 4 a.m. on weekends and contributed to crowding on sidewalks.[4] Lit withdrew their transfer request in response, and committed to hiring additional security and installing additional soundproofing material.[5]

Fuse Gallery closed on August 6, 2013, citing financial difficulties.[6] On July 8, 2015, Foss and Schwartz announced that Lit Lounge would close "within the next two months."[7] Rising rents and the changing social scene of the East Village were cited as primary reasons for the closure, with the majority of Lit Lounge's clients having migrated to the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Bushwick, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg.[7] Lit Lounge abruptly closed on July 30, 2015, following an incident in which a 34-year-old teacher at Léman Manhattan Preparatory School was alleged to have had sex with a 16-year-old student in the bathroom at Lit Lounge.[8][9] In December 2015, the gay bar The Cock moved into the space at 93 Second Avenue formerly occupied by Lit Lounge.[10]

Foss and Schwartz announced plans to reopen Lit Lounge at a location in the McKibbin Street Lofts in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, which was at the time occupied by the Currant Cafe, a restaurant they opened in March 2014.[11][12][13] The venue opened as a nightclub under the name Tilt in December 2016,[14] which closed in February 2019.[15]

## Reception and legacy

[edit]

One of Elliott Smith's final live performances in New York at Lit Lounge, January 2003

AM New York Metro described Lit Lounge as "the nexus of cool people and indie bands in the early-mid 2000s."[11] The club attracted numerous celebrities as patrons, including Chloë Sevigny, Kirsten Dunst, and The Strokes.[11][16] Notable artists who performed or exhibited at Lit include actors Mike Myers and Leo Fitzpatrick; photographers Ryan McGinley and Mick Rock; filmmaker Spike Jonze; and musicians Karen O, Nick Zinner, David Yow, and James Iha.[1][17] Writer Cat Marnell, a regular at Lit Lounge, described the club as "such a piece-of-shit place in the best way possible" and "like Cheers ... but with PCP and vodka."[1] Several music videos were filmed at Lit, including "Rich Girl" by The Virgins and "Boy Boy" by Lissy Trullie.[1]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Disser, Nicole (13 August 2015). "'It Was Our Fantasy': The Story of Lit Lounge, Told By Its Regulars". Bedford + Bowery. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
2. ^ a b c Lemoine, Ray (March 14, 2012). "The Three Lives of Lit Lounge". The Local East Village. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
3. ^ "NYC's 5 Best Hipster Bars". CBS New York. May 24, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
4. ^ Amanda, Klundt (March 16, 2010). "Porchetta Follow Up is a Go; Lit Seeking to Change Identity". Eater. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
5. ^ Solish, Scott (April 29, 2010). "Like A Good Neighbor, Lit Lounge Is There". NY Eater. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
6. ^ Maurer, Daniel (August 9, 2013). "It's the End of Fuse Gallery as We Know It, and Erik Foss Feels Fine". Bedford + Bowery. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
7. ^ a b Lewis, Steve (8 July 2015). "Lit Lounge Will Close". Club Planet. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
8. ^ Tempey, Nathan (July 30, 2015). "Prep School Teacher Arrested For Having Sex With Student In Lit Lounge Bathroom". Gothamist. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
9. ^ Rosenberg, Rebecca; Rosenbaum, Sophia (July 30, 2015). "Prep school teacher had sex with student in nightclub bathroom, cops say". New York Post. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
10. ^ Maurer, Daniel (December 10, 2015). "The Cock Slips Into Lit's Old Home, Gets 'Bigger, Longer, Harder'". Bedford + Bowery. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
11. ^ a b c Kral, Georgia (July 10, 2015). "Lit Lounge is leaving the East Village". AM New York Metro. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
12. ^ Maurer, Daniel (February 25, 2014). "Lit Is Opening a Place in the McKibbin Lofts". Bedford + Bowery. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
13. ^ Shiffman, Allyson (March 14, 2014). "Eat a Sloppy Joe at Currant Cafe Sunday While You Wait For Lit Brooklyn to Open". Bedford + Bowery. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
14. ^ Maurer, Daniel (December 8, 2016). "Lit's Follow-Up Inside of the McKibbin Lofts Finally Opens Friday". Bedford + Bowery. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
15. ^ Graves, Cassidy Dawn (February 1, 2019). "McKibbin's Club Tilt Is Becoming A Gay Bar, The Vault". Bedford + Bowery. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
16. ^ Arino, Lisha (July 9, 2015). "Lit Lounge Leaving East Village After 14 Years and Moving to Brooklyn". DNA Info. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
17. ^ Maurer, Daniel (August 6, 2013). "After 11 Years, Fuse Gallery Is Closing Behind Lit Lounge". Bedford + Bowery. Retrieved October 19, 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website (defunct, link via Internet Archive)
* "Nick Zinner and Company Celebrate Ten Years of Lit", retrospective video by The Local East Village (via Vimeo)
* Music video for "Rich Girl" by The Virgins, filmed at Lit Lounge (via YouTube)

* v
* t
* e

East Village and NoHo

Manhattan, New York City

Green spaces

* Abe Lebewohl Park
* Carmen Pabón del Amanecer Jardín
* Chico Mendez Mural Garden (former)
* Esperanza Garden (former)
* La Plaza Cultural de Armando Perez
* Liz Christy Garden
* New York Marble Cemetery
* New York City Marble Cemetery
* Open Road Park
* Tompkins Square Park

Education

* Cooper Union
* 41 Cooper Square
* East Side Community High School
* Grace Church School
* Harvey Milk High School
* High School for Health Professions and Human Services
* Ottendorfer Library
* Third Street Music School Settlement

Religion

* Church of the Immaculate Conception and Clergy Houses
* Church of the Most Holy Redeemer
* Church of the Nativity
* German Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Mark
* Grace Church
* Middle Collegiate Church
* Mission of Our Lady of Loreto (Sheen Center, Barat Settlement House)
* San Isidoro y San Leandro Western Orthodox Catholic Church of the Hispanic Mozarabic Rite
* Slovenian Church of St. Cyril in New York
* St. Ann's Armenian Catholic Cathedral
* St. Ann Church
* St. Brigid Roman Catholic Church
* St. Emeric Church
* St. George's Church
* St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery
* St. Nicholas Kirche
* St. Nicholas of Myra Church
* St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Church
* Tabernacle Baptist Church

Culture

| Restaurants/
nightlife|

* B&H Dairy
* Bar Miller
* Bungalow
* Burp Castle
* CheLi
* Club Cumming
* Death & Co.
* Foul Witch
* Foxface Natural
* HAGS
* Indochine
* Joe's Pub
* Kanoyama
* KGB
* Lucien
* McSorley's
* Nuyorican Poets Café
* Penny
* Please Don't Tell
* Pommes Frites
* Pyramid Club
* Somtum Der
* Superiority Burger
* The Cock
* The Talking Band
* Torien
* Tuome
* Veniero's
* Veselka
* Webster Hall

|

Theater|

* Astor Place Theatre
* Classic Stage Company
* Connelly Theater
* La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club
* Metropolitan Playhouse
* Nublu Club
* Orpheum Theatre
* Performance Space New York
* Playwrights Horizons Theater School
* The Public Theater
* Joe's Pub
* Theatre 80
* Theater for the New City
* Village East by Angelika
* WOW Café

Stores|

* Barbara Feinman Millinery
* Ray's Candy Store
* Strand Bookstore
* Trash and Vaudeville

Museums and galleries|

* Anthology Film Archives
* Brant Foundation
* Merchant's House Museum
* Swiss Institute Contemporary Art New York

Other|

* 4th Street Food Co-op
* Alamo
* C-Squat
* The Houston Bowery Wall
* Museum of Broken Windows
* Russian & Turkish Baths
* The Standard, East Village

Former|

* 8BC
* A7
* Angel's Share
* Astor Opera House
* Cagen
* Charas/El Bohio
* Club 57
* Dos Blockos
* Fez
* Five Spot Café
* Gem Spa
* Ground Zero Gallery
* Heartbreak
* Harry & Ida's Meat and Supply Co.
* Jewel Bako
* Kiev Restaurant
* Kim's Video and Music
* King Tut's Wah Wah Hut
* Kyo Ya
* Lanza's
* Limbo
* Lit Lounge
* Lucy's
* Lynn Redgrave Theater
* New St. Marks Baths
* New Theatre Comique
* New York Vauxhall Gardens
* Now Gallery
* Old Reliable Theatre Tavern
* Other Music
* Paresis Hall
* The Ritz
* The Saint
* SideWalk Cafe
* Sin-é
* St. Mark's Bookshop
* St. Mark's Playhouse
* Ukiyo
* Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre

Other buildings

* 51 Astor Place
* 57 Great Jones Street
* 339 Lafayette Street
* 640 Broadway
* 770 Broadway
* Astor Place Tower
* Bayard–Condict Building
* Bracetti Plaza
* Christodora House
* Colonnade Row
* De Vinne Press Building
* Firehouse, Engine Company 33 and Ladder Company 9
* First Houses
* Hamilton Fish House
* Hamilton-Holly House
* Isaac T. Hopper House
* Metropolitan Savings Bank Building
* Riis Houses
* Robbins & Appleton Building
* Schermerhorn Building
* Silk Building
* Tompkins Square Lodging House for Boys and Industrial School
* Stuyvesant Polyclinic Hospital
* Van Tassell and Kearney Horse Auction Mart
* Village View

Transportation

| Subway stations|

* First Avenue
* Second Avenue
* Third Avenue
* Astor Place
* Broadway–Lafayette Street/Bleecker Street
* Eighth Street–New York University

|

Streets|

* First Avenue
* Second Avenue
* Third Avenue
* 4th Street
* 6th Street (Curry Row)
* 8th Street and St. Mark's Place
* 14th Street
* Astor Place
* Avenue A
* Avenue B
* Avenue C
* Avenue D
* Bleecker Street
* Bond Street
* Bowery
* Broadway
* Cooper Square
* Great Jones Street
* Houston Street
* Lafayette Street
* Taras Shevchenko Place

Regions

* Alphabet City
* Book Row
* East 10th Street Historic District
* East Village/Lower East Side Historic District
* Little Germany
* St. Mark's Historic District
* Yiddish Theatre District

See also: Manhattan Community Board 2, Manhattan Community Board 3, 9th Precinct
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template