For those residing outside of New York City as well as recent arrivals, the loss of an aging dive bar in the East Village is probably a welcome thing. It's ugly isn't it? Who wants that around? The Mars Bar was the final remnant of a neighborhood that once included CBGBs, the original Knitting Factory, and various haunts of the Beats and other NYC literary notables. But ever since Mayor Bloomberg got his hands on the Landmark Preservation Society, potential landmarks have dropped like bombs over Dresden. No neighborhood is spared the erection of blue glass condos and endless banks, drug stores and yogurt shops.
The spirit of New York lies comatose on a gurney in the Lower East Side; long live New York.
16 comments:
I agree with you on that one. How well I remember this bar. Never went in it, but worked right down the block on Bowery in a halfway house for recovering alcoholics that was closed in lieu of condos. Now, I work down on Delancey. If you haven't been down there lately, check it out. Aside from a few ugly condos that take away from the history of the neighorhood, the place is becoming a ghost down. The Delancey we once new exists no more.
Mary
so sad. Bowery and thereabouts are changing. Here I thought it was immune.
I thought the Mars Bar was on a one year hiatus though? I guess not.
New York is going to become one giant pied-a-terre for the wealthy to visit for a few days before jetting off. We have sold out.
Geez, what a load of crap, to take away the character and soul of a city, to take away what makes it itself, all for the rich to grub more money!
it's a colorful little spot...a nice clean strip mall would be a better fit there ha!
i love dive bars!
a friend of mine commented that the area was once also the home to crack dens, thieves and the like. One day it's hell, one day it's commercial Disneyland...
The Mars Bar will definitely be missed.
Yes, it is in these spaces where the heart of a city lives. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I remember all those candie stores growing up in the Bronx, and having a soda made from scratch. Anyone remember getting an egg cream?. It was not really that long ago, as im talking about the 1970s. Richard from Amish Stories.
That looks like a fun place to show up wearing a black beret and bodysuit like Audrey Hepburn. It is original. I can't stand all the sameness that has pervaded the land. Down with strip malls and Starbucks!
I just saw an old Anthony Bourdain piece on East Village dive bars, but I can't remember the name of the one where he filmed. It does hurt to see such places go. If your old Detroit is ever able to renovate seriously, I bet they'll find it cheaper and easier to tear down some gorgeous old structures rather than refurbish them.
Yes, it's sad...
With this photo you did a good work of documentation and memories preservation of the City.
About the only thing that comes to mind after reading the post and comments.......
It's complicated.
One thing is for sure, local color is a good thing!
Have a great rest of the week and send me e a link to your David Byrne interview!
Speaking of candy stores, is there any left in New York city today?. Richard from Amish Stories.
I'm just glad you are taking such delicious pictures of these places before they disappear.
Great name and amazing colors in this sad abandon!
beautiful picture
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