Anyway Cafe, the wholly unique Russian restaurant-vodka-bar-live music venue at 34 E. Second St. near Second Avenue, is currently closed ... and management recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to help make it through the COVID-19 crisis.
I asked Natasha Stolichnaya, a bar manager who's also one of Anyway's performers, how things were going.
Well, I wish I could give you some uplifting quote ... but the reality is that just like most people nowadays we have a lot of anxiety going on. And of course, there are more questions than answers. Even though we have a lot of regulars, would they come back? And if some of them do, would it be enough for us to stay afloat until better times?
And what about our musicians, the soul of our place? Will it be OK for them to perform, maybe not the full bands but maybe duos or trios? We absolutely have to and will support them to the best of our ability!
It's certainly an emotional rollercoaster. One day it's all doom and gloom, and the next day we say — no worries, we'll be fine, just gotta get creative. After all, we are New Yorkers damn it — we've been through so much already.
I hope they return, it's one of my favorite restaurants in the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteI love this place so much I wish I could have one of their bloody mary's and salmon plates right now! or some of their vodka infusions and salads.
ReplyDeleteAnyway is great. Support live music! (after the Pause lifts of)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, this I know, WE are All going thru the Pandemic and it's been very Surreal and challenging to say the least. But I don't know what it's like to have a restaurant that closed because of it. This I know, WE are New Yorkers, we are tough, we go down but come back up! "Anyway" don't give Up,if you can, open up for Take out/Delivery, put a table in front of your door, get creative, lay out a simple menu with cocktail offerings, limited hours of operation, new rules and play some Jazz or whatever. "ANYWAY" if you can, just try, see what happens. We Miss you
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