205 and The Box

Right now two of the hottest and most exclusive night spots in Manhattan can be found just doors apart in the Lower East Side, and why not, as I believe they share some of the same owners.  But, one is a club and the other an experience. 

As my friends were getting married this weekend, they wanted to show their out of town guests a real New York Night out.  Our night started at Stanton Public for a round of drinks, and a little TV.  It was an old black and white version of Robin Hood, and as the sound was turned off, we MST3Ked it. 

After a few stiff ones, we moved around the corner to check out 205.  This hip club is filled with today's downtown folk, who seem to have missed the glory years of the LES when it was dark, a little scary, and edgy.  Now it's become as much of a party scene as poor old Chelsea, but filled with hipsters and hipster wanna-bes instead of Madonna wanna-bes.

In the basement of 205, we hung out long enough to get a couple of shots.  Above you see my two soon to be married friends, sharing a lovely moment beneath the words "BUTT INJECTION."  Painted on the walls of 205's basement is text from a variety of myspace classifieds, or at least that is where I was told they came from.  Where ever they are from, they are classified ads of all kinds.

At The Box, our table was ready and we started ordering bottles of tequila.  The service was impeccable, and the night was off to a great start.  We had some time to kill before the show started at 1 AM, so more drinking was in order.

We had two intimate tables for the twelve of us, but once the show started, it was a free for all anyway. 

About half way through the first act, the groom managed to lean back into a candle and his jacket burst into flames.  Luckily for him I, ripped it off his back and we put out the fire before it became a hospital-wedding. 

The show at The Box was a huge hit with our crowd, many of whom were in from out of town.  Hosted by Raven O, the show is filled with burlesque and vaudeville style acts.  We saw highly polished fire eating, magic, singing, dancing, stripping and a host of other acts.  While I am glad these performers have risen into the mainstream and are now making money, I miss the days when I could go to LES performances venues like Surf Reality and see the same type of show for $5.  And you got a free can of Bud as a part of your admission price.  Now that's class!  At The Box, you can't even be sneered at by the bouncer for $5.  If you have to ask the price of visiting The Box, you can't afford it.

tags: the box  box  205  vauvdville  burlesque  new york  new york city  magic  fire eating  dance  music  party  club  stanton public  raven o  wedding  les  lower east side  surf reality  

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