'Go home Santa'

[Photo by Steven]

This sign is on the front door at dba on First Avenue between Second Street and Third Street ahead of SantaCon tomorrow.

The copy underneath a naked Santa (with seemingly ambiguous genitalia) reads:

It might be hard to realize with your super awesome santa hat on,

but try and understand:

Manhattan isn't a sprawling playground

built for your exclusive right to visit once a year

and puke and/or piss all over our homes and businesses.

That said, SantaCon is annually overrun with terrifying predators.

If you find yourself feeling unwell and in need of help please come in

and we will make sure you are safe, comfortable, hydrated, and have a way home.

dba loves you, always.

It's not immediately clear who the invitation inside is for: People fleeing SantaCon? SantaConners who may have had too much to drink ... or maybe SantaConners feeling creeped out by other SantaConners?

The dba Instagram account makes it more clear: No Santas, period...

View this post on Instagram

🚫🎅. Get away from the Santa's. Come hang with us. They aren't allowed in. Not them, their elves or* their damn reindeer. Let's keep the holidays happy and safe.

A post shared by d.b.a. (@d.b.a.eastvillage) on Dec 12, 2019 at 11:34am PST

SantaCon begins tomorrow in Times Square ... aside from bars in that area, as well as Midtown East and Murray Hill, more than a dozen East Village bars are officially participating. Find the list here. We'll do a separate post later listing the local bars taking part.

Here then, the new-look men's room at d.b.a.

As we mentioned on Saturday, d.b.a. is back open with new ownership at 41 First Ave. between East Third Street and East Second Street.

The bar was closed for renovations for several weeks... we haven't had a chance to stop in ourselves, but we hear that the place essentially has the same look and feel ... except for the bathrooms.

EVG reader Spike shared a shot of the new-look men's room...



And for a comparison (sorry, our d.b.a. bathroom-photo archive is quite lacking)...


[Photo via]

d.b.a. is back open on 1st Avenue

A reader told us that d.b.a. reopened last evening.

The bar at 41 First Ave. between East Third Street and East Second Street closed for renovations in early December.

As previously noted, David McWater is d.b.a.'s new owner. (His other bars include Milano's and Doc Hollidays.)

It was our understanding that the bar would have the same basic look and feel... except for maybe the bathrooms. We'll swing by later to see how it all looks.

Ray Deter and Dennis Zentek opened d.b.a. in 1994. Deter died in July 2011 from the injuries he suffered in a bicycling collison. Zentek died on March 23 from head injuries he sustained in a fall down a flight of stairs.

The d.b.a. in Williamsburg closed for good in late November.

Previously on EV Grieve:
David McWater looks to be the new owner of d.b.a.

d.b.a is temporarily closed for renovations

We walked by d.b.a. last night and noticed that the gates were down at the bar at 41 First Ave. We didn't spot any signs offering an explanation.

However, there is a message on d.b.a.'s Facebook page dated Monday:

Dear Customers!!! d.b.a is temporarily closed for renovations. Stay tuned for reopening date - and Yes! new loos!!!

As previously noted, David McWater is the bar's new owner. On Nov. 17, CB3's SLA committee approved a new liquor-license for the 20-year-old bar. As BoweryBoogie reported: "Nothing about the bar is changing; it’s the same name, same method of operation, and same staff."

Ray Deter and Dennis Zentek opened d.b.a. in 1994. Deter died in July 2011 from the injuries he suffered in a bicycling accident. Zentek died on March 23 from head injuries he sustained in a fall down a flight of stairs.

The d.b.a. in Williamsburg closed for good after service this past Sunday.

Report: CB3 OKs liquor license for a David McWater-owned d.b.a.

As we reported earlier this month, David McWater, a local bar owner and former longtime member of Community Board 3, emerged as the new proprietor of d.b.a. at 41 First Ave.

And last night, he went before CB3's SLA committee for a new liquor-license approval.

As BoweryBoogie reported: "Nothing about the bar is changing; it’s the same name, same method of operation, and same staff."

CB3 OK'd the new license, though there was debate about the legality of the bar's backyard. (You can head to BoweryBoogie for the back and forth about that issue.)

Paperwork (PDF!) on file at the CB3 site shows that McWater, who also owns part of The Library, Doc Holliday's and Milano's, and Tower Brokerage's Bob Perl as the principals for d.b.a.

Ray Deter and Dennis Zentek opened d.b.a. in 1994. Deter died in July 2011 from the injuries he suffered in a bicycling accident. Zentek died on March 23 from head injuries he sustained in a fall down a flight of stairs.

According to BoweryBoogie, the heirs of d.b.a. had reached out to McWater about taking over the ownership.

David McWater looks to be the new owner of d.b.a.

A familiar name is set to become the new owner of d.b.a.

David McWater, a local bar owner and former longtime member of Community Board 3, has apparently emerged from a number of potential suitors for the popular 20-year-old d.b.a. at 41 First Ave.

According to paperwork on file at the CB3 website ahead of this month's SLA licensing meeting, McWater is behind "41 1st Avenue Rest Corp." that is applying for a new liquor license.



McWater, an often controversial local official, resigned from CB3 last September citing an array of reasons. According to The Villager, McWater has an ownership stake in Doc Holliday's, the Library and Milano's. He also owned Nice Guy Eddie's, which closed in June 2012 on Avenue A and East Houston.

As The Lo-Down pointed out in September 2013, McWater came "under fire for strongly advocating for the rights of bar owners, as a member of the community board’s State Liquor Authority Committee. McWater served as chairman of CB3 for four years until June of 2008. He has played critical roles in two major CB3 initiatives — the 2008 rezoning of 111 blocks of the LES and the East Village and the Seward Park development plan."

One d.b.a. source tell us that McWater isn't planning on any major changes at the bar, which specializes in craft beer.

Ray Deter and Dennis Zentek opened d.b.a. in 1994. Deter died in July 2011 from the injuries he suffered in a bicycling accident. Zentek died on March 23 from head injuries he sustained in a fall down a flight of stairs.

The application for 41 First Ave. will be heard at the Nov. 17 licensing committee meeting.

At the memorial for d.b.a. co-owner Dennis Zentek

Here are a few scenes from the memorial today for Dennis Zentek, the co-founder and owner of d.b.a. who died on March 23. The afternoon began at the Marble Cemetery on East Second Street followed by a New Orleans-style Second Line Parade …



By EventPhotosNYC

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Photo by peter radley

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Photo by Bobby Williams

Memorial today for d.b.a. co-founder Dennis Zentek

Dennis Zentek, who opened d.b.a. at 41 First Ave. in 1994 with friend Ray Deter, died on March 23 from injuries he suffered in a fall.

The folks at d.b.a., where he was the co-founder and owner, have updated the details about a memorial celebrating his life today:

• The bar at 41 First Ave. will be open as usual starting at 1 p.m.
• The memorial service will be held around the corner in the Marble Cemetery on East Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. The memorial, led by non-denominational Life Cycle Celebrant Sacha Jones, begins right at 4 p.m. (People may start arriving at 3:45 p.m.)
• A New Orleans-style Second Line Parade will follow the memorial.
• Afterwards, there will be a slide show in Dennis's memory as well as a showing and silent auction of his photography at d.b.a.
• Please, no flowers, but donations are welcome to Dennis's favorite charity - the d.b.a. bars!

"We the dba family thank you so much for your support and kindness during this time. The bar is open, and we are enjoying a beautiful spring. See you soon …"

[Photo by KM Keller via Facebook]

Memorial set for d.b.a. co-founder Dennis Zentek

[Photo by KM Keller via Facebook]

Dennis Zentek, who opened d.b.a. at 41 First Ave. in 1994 with friend Ray Deter, died on March 23 from injuries he suffered in a fall.

The folks at d.b.a., where he was the co-founder and owner, have released details about a memorial celebrating his life.

Via Facebook:

On Wednesday, April 16 at 4 pm SHARP, we will have a ceremony at the Marble Cemetery, on the north side of East 2nd Street between 1st and 2nd aves, around the corner from d.b.a. This will be a non-religious Celebration of Life and Memorial Service led by non-denominational Celebrant Sacha Jones. All friends of Dennis are welcome.

This will be followed by a New Orleans-style Second Line parade, leaving from d.b.a at 6 pm.

We will continue to honour and toast Dennis well into the wee hours at d.b.a., 41 First Ave. between East Second and Third Streets

Please, no flowers, but donations are welcome to Dennis's favourite charity - the d.b.a. bars!

His brother Ron wrote the following on Facebook on March 26:

Those of you who knew my brother ... will remember him as a unique individual whose greatest pride was saying he never worked a day in his life since as a Rock n Roll photographer, a bartender and finally a bar owner ... he was being paid for being at places he would have been anyway doing things he loved to do surrounded by beautiful women.

He passed [March 23] at Bellevue hospital from the head injuries he suffered in fall down a flight of stairs on [March 21]. To my knowledge, he never regained consciousness.

Deter died in July 2011 from the injuries he suffered in a bicycling accident.

RIP ‎Dennis Zentek

[Image via Facebook]

Dennis Zentek, who opened d.b.a. at 41 First Ave. in 1994 with friend Ray Deter, died last night.

Here is the official message via the d.b.a. Facebook page:

It is with such a heavy heart that we make the announcement that our beautiful friend Dennis Zentek passed away last night. Dennis with his friend Ray was one of the co-founders, co-pioneers, co-visionaries of what has become a huge family. We will share more details later on, but for now we ask that you send love and say prayers and raise a glass to a dear friend who will be so very missed.

Deter died in July 2011 from the injuries he suffered in a bicycling accident.

Another look at the dba cab accident

[Monday morning, with a dented canopy]

In case you missed this... late Sunday afternoon, a cab backed up into dba on First Avenue... said one witness on the scene, the driver "had a diabetic incident, according to the cops on the scene."

Here a few other photos from the accident, where thankfully no one else was injured... These photos are via Event Photos NYC ... where you can find more shots here.







BoweryBoogie also has a few shots here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Cab backs into dba today

Cab backs into dba today

[Via an EVG reader]

As we understand it today around 5 ... a cab driver somehow backed into dba on First Avenue...


[Via an EVG reader]

...as our friends from dba tell it, the cab driver was taken off in an ambulance with unknown injuries, but amazingly nobody else was injured... all the more amazing when you look at the photos from inside via EVG reader Shawn...

Last Saturday for d.b.a.'s annual holiday fair

The annual holiday fair at d.b.a. on First Avenue wraps up today ...

Holiday fair season

Two wholly unique places to pick up some holiday-related items today... the annual holiday fair at d.b.a. on First Avenue...

... and the Christmas Bazaar at the Ukrainian Museum on East Sixth Street...

This weekend: It's the 7th annual d.b.a. holiday fair (part 2)

This weekend (and next!): It's the 7th annual d.b.a. holiday fair

At the Second Line March tonight for d.b.a.'s Ray Deter

Tonight at 7, friends of d.b.a. owner Ray Deter arrived at the bar on East First Street to celebrate his life with a Second Line March.

Deter, the owner of d.b.a., died on July 3 after a bicycling accident.

Thanks to jdx for all the photos here.

Second Line March tonight at d.b.a for Ray Deter

Tonight at 7, friends of Ray Deter are invited to d.b.a. on First Avenue to take part in a Second Line March. Per the bar's Manhattan Facebook page: "Please everyone bring a candle, if you like an umbrella, and perhaps a tambourine. And ladies please bring a white handkerchief. We plan to send Ray off in the spirit he would have wanted. N'awlins style." See Edible Manhattan for more details.

Deter, the owner of d.b.a., died on July 3 after a bicycling accident.

Saying goodbye to Ray Deter

East Village resident Ray Deter died last night from the injuries he suffered in a bicycling accident on June 27. Deter, the owner of d.b.a. on First Avenue as well as the locations in Williamsburg and New Orleans, is survived by his wife Catherine, and sons Jake and Maxwell.

Per the d.b.a. East Village Facebook page:

This evening we say goodbye to our dear friend Ray & wish him peace in his place of rest. We remember him as a pioneer, a community-maker, a father, partner, & friend. He touched countless people & his loss is felt far and wide. ... Details of his memorial ~ the celebration of his life will be posted soon. Thank you for all your love and kind words.

[Photo via Brew York, New York]