About Night Club 101, taking over the former Baker Falls and Pyramid space on Avenue A

Photo Saturday by Stacie Joy 

On Friday, the news became official about the next tenant for the storied venue at 101 Avenue A.

The owners of Brooklyn performance space Baby's All Right are teaming up with the Knitting Factory to debut Night Club 101 in 2025. The bi-level space between Sixth Street and Seventh Street will host live music, DJs, themed dance nights, art shows and "community-building events." 

As we first reported in October, Baker Falls moved on from here after a year in the space. East Village resident Nick Bodor has set up shop at 192 Allen St. between Houston and Stanton — the former Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 — where he's creating his "decrepit-manor in the woods fever-dream alt-rock concept." 

Baker Falls, which featured a bar, cafe, and live performances, anchored the Knitting Factory's latest iteration at the longtime former home of the Pyramid Club. The venue closed in late July for extra soundproofing. 

As we noted in October, a known operator was taking over and rebranding the 101 space, hoping for a legacy name. Reliable sources tell us that the Baby's All Right team (who also ran indie-rock venue Elvis Guesthouse down the block) wanted to use the Pyramid name in the new venture but was rebuffed by the former owners, who are also the landlord of the building. 

So, the team landed on Night Club 101. 

Per the announcement, the space will feature: 

• An Eclectic Music Lineup: A curated blend of live performances and DJ sets spanning genres — indie to jazz, electronic to experimental and beyond. 

• Immersive Events: Art shows, themed dance nights, and multi-disciplinary performances that push creative boundaries. 

• Community Focus: Partnerships with local artists and organizations to ensure the venue remains deeply connected to the East Village's artistic roots. 

• Playful Energy: The name Night Club 101 isn't just a cheeky nod to nightlife culture—it's an invitation for all to join, learn, explore, and participate in defining something ever-changing. 

You can check out the venue for yourself on Thursday with a Pitchfork Club Night (tickets here).

Night Club 101 is expected to make an early 2025 debut. There's a placeholder Instagram account here. 

The Pyramid closed in October 2022 after 40-plus years in business between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. The club ushered in an era of socially conscious drag performances featuring Lady Bunny, Lypsinka, and RuPaul, among many other trailblazers. As a music venue, the Pyramid hosted Nirvana's first NYC show in 1989. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• The next iteration of the Knitting Factory coming to the East Village 

• At the last night of the Pyramid Club on Avenue A

Papered windows at 101 Avenue A, the incoming home of cafe-bar-music venue Baker Falls

A reader inquired about the papered-up windows at 101 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

ICYMI from our post on Nov. 28: Baker Falls is an ambitious new project that combines an all-day cafe, bar and live music via the Knitting Factory brand at the former Pyramid Club. 

East Village resident Nick Bodor, who has owned and operated several local businesses in the past 25-plus years, including the Library on Avenue A and the now-closed Cake Shop on Ludlow Street, is behind this new concept.

You can read Stacie Joy's interview with Bodor here.

Last we heard there's an anticipated opening "around April."

Generation next: Baker Falls will bring together a cafe, bar and the Knitting Factory at the former Pyramid Club on Avenue A

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Baker Falls is an ambitious new project that combines an all-day cafe, bar and live music via the Knitting Factory brand at the former Pyramid Club at 101 Avenue A. 

East Village resident Nick Bodor, who has owned and operated several local businesses in the past 25-plus years, is behind this new concept that's expected to open in the first quarter of 2023. (He received approval from CB3 for a new liquor license in December 2021.) 

"We plan to operate a café, with coffee service during the day, happy hour, live performances, DJs — all with a rock-n-roll feel," he said during an interview with EVG contributor Stacie Joy last week. 

Bodor previously sought to revive and combine several of his former concepts, including the music venue, bar and cafe Cake Shop (2005-2016 on Ludlow Street) and alt-coffee (1995-2007 on Avenue A). However, CB3 did not approve this for the former Meatball Shop space on Stanton Street in the spring of 2021. 

"Once I saw Pyramid Club was closing, I thought it would be great to just buy that. I sent around a letter looking for investors to my circle of friends and contacts," said Bodor, who's an owner of the Library on Avenue A. "Historically, my projects have been underfunded, and if I'm ready to do another project I wanted a cushion, a certain amount of money. So friends were willing to invest, and then Knitting Factory CEO Morgan Margolis reached out and said he was interested." 

The Pyramid closed this past October after 40-plus years in business between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. The club ushered in an era of socially-conscious drag performances featuring Lady Bunny, Lypsinka and RuPaul, among many other trailblazers. As a music venue, the Pyramid hosted Nirvana's first NYC show in 1989. 

Bodor outlined his plans for the two-level space in a building that dates to the 1870s and falls within the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District... and provided Stacie with a tour of the former Pyramid before the renovations commenced. 

"Upstairs, we aren't planning on making too many changes. The bar stays where it is," he said. "We want people who have been to the space in the last 40 years to recognize it. You will see the old 1987 Knitting Factory logo up in the back. Initial programming will be suggested by Knitting Factory Presents, but we also plan to have strong LGBTQ programming and emerging comics and hope to inspire young bands."

One change coming on this main level: "We are going to install a lot of soundproofing," Bodor said. "A big part of our budget will be for soundproofing." 

Bodor is also planning on some all-ages Sunday matinees. And while there won't be an '80s Dance Party, a staple of the former Pyramid, he may host a Goth Night. 

And on the lower level? 

"Downstairs has a 68-seat capacity, and it's what I call a 'fever-dream' or manor house in terms of décor. Decrepit-looking wallpaper, vintage lamps and amps," he said. "We plan to have tables and chairs and great curated playlists."

Baker Falls will have an electric kitchen for food service and a non-alcoholic drinks program. 

The business will also be a family affair. Bodor's 19-year-old son Angus will have a hand in the day-to-day activities here.

For the Knitting Factory's Margolis, the collaboration at Baker Falls is a homecoming of sorts. The first Knitting Factory opened in 1987 on Houston Street near Mulberry. In August, the Knitting Factory's only NYC outpost closed after 13 years of hosting live music and comedy on Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn. 

"It felt like the right time to be back in Manhattan, and this location is and has always been a hotbed for artists, musicians, locals, students and community with a melting pot of so many different cultures," said Margolis, who was born and raised around the corner on Sixth Street, in an email to EVG. 

"Plus, I saw some of the coolest shows at Pyramid decades ago, and I grew up in that area — a lot of memories of running the streets free as a kid. Way before cell phones and the internet. Way before it was 'cool,'" he said. "When I think about the roots of the Knitting Factory in New York, I think 'grit' and back to basics. So here we are." 

For Bodor, he's excited about creating a new era with Baker Falls. 

"We want to honor the history of the Pyramid Club but in a new way," he said. "This isn't just a club — it’s a communal gathering space. Food service, coffee, drinks — a community hub where you can meet and work. We want it to be multi-generational."

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• The next iteration of the Knitting Factory coming to the East Village 

• At the last night of the Pyramid Club on Avenue A

[Updated] At the last night of the Pyramid Club on Avenue A

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Updated 11/28

On Nov. 22, Nick Bodor (the Library, Cake Shop, etc.) shared with us his plans for Baker Falls at 101 Avenue A. The old Pyramid will also feature a collaboration with the Knitting Factory. 

---

The Pyramid Club ended its decades-long run on Saturday night with a Halloween Dance Party Spooktacular.

On Oct. 19, management announced via Instagram that the iconic venue at 101 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street would be closing at the end of this month. 

The club had been dark since March 7, 2020, at the onset of the pandemic. In the spring of 2021, the Pyramid announced that it would not be reopening ... before making a comeback at the end of July 2021, opening on weekend nights in subsequent months. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the two-level space early on Saturday as revelers were starting to arrive and choosing between the 80s Night Dance Party on the main floor or an industrial Halloween with Defcon downstairs.

... by 10:30, the line for entry was a block long...

Overall, the mood was pretty upbeat for the last night at the Pyramid. People were alternately crying and laughing/dancing. 

Meanwhile, there are ample rumors that this won't be the end of the address as an entertainment venue.

Opening in 1979, the Pyramid ushered in an era of "socially-conscious drag performance, led by the likes of the Lady Bunny, Lypsinka and RuPaul," as Village Preservation once put it. In an oral history of the space, Tricia Romano noted: "[The Pyramid] served as a safe haven for freaks, geeks, weirdos, queers, and dreamers to come together and create. Sometimes it was bad; sometimes it was beautiful. But it was never boring."

The Pyramid is closing once again

Photo from July 2021 by Stacie Joy 

Updated 11/28

On Nov. 22, Nick Bodor (the Library, Cake Shop, etc.) shared with us his plans for Baker Falls at 101 Avenue A. The old Pyramid will also feature a collaboration with the Knitting Factory. 

---

The second iteration of the Pyramid Club comes to an end on Oct. 31. 

We've heard rumors from multiple sources about a pending closure this month here at 101 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. 

Pyramid management made it official with a late-night Instagram post: 

After many glorious years of being part of the East Village community, we will be closing our doors at the end of the month after our final party. 

Thank you so very much to all of our new and longtime patrons and the promoters and DJs who have hosted events at The Pyramid Club. And a heartfelt thank you to The Pyramid Club team that has kept everything running smoothly and kept everyone safe. We are appreciative and grateful to all of you, your support means the world to us. We have loved serving the community and providing a space for all to be free and expressive through the arts, fashion, music and dance. The wonderful memories and friendships we have made will be cherished forever. Spread the love and keep on dancing...

A quick recap of what has happened here. The iconic East Village venue shuttered its doors in the spring of 2021 after 41 years in business, as we first reported. The club had been closed since March 7, 2020, at the onset of the pandemic.

However, the club made a comeback at the end of July 2021, opening on weekend nights in subsequent months.

As we understood it, the daughter of the longtime club owners, who are also the building's landlord, was running the show with a few familiar faces who previously worked at the venue. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

Exclusive: Iconic East Village venue The Pyramid Club will not be reopening after year-long PAUSE

Celebrating 41 years of the Pyramid Club

Text and photos by Stacie Joy 

Staff gathered late Sunday afternoon outside the Pyramid Club on Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street to celebrate its 41st birthday. 

The Pyramid, a defining club of the East Village scene in the 1980s, has not been able to reopen since the PAUSE went into effect this past March. 

"We thank our friends, patrons, and the EV community for all the love and support over these past decades," club manager Maria Narciso told me. "You are part of what’s keeping the Pyramid spirit alive during this global pandemic."

There was also a Veniero’s carrot cake to mark the occassion...

To pay tribute to the club, Michelle Joni and friends boarded Glinda the Good Bus for a selection of 1980s music along Avenue A...

Previously on EV Grieve:

• A visit to the Pyramid Club on Avenue A

• A Visit with Michelle Joni and Glinda the Good Bus

Celebrating 40 years of the Pyramid Club

The Pyramid, a defining club of the East Village scene in the 1980s, is turning 40 ... and the celebration officially kicks off tonight at midnight.

Here's more via Facebook:

Friday, Dec. 13 is our 40th Birthday, won’t you join us? Festivities start on Thursday night with a countdown at midnight! Official Bash on Friday, continuing until Saturday! Come HOME, we love you just as you are!

EVG contributor shared these photos of the interior ahead of the party the other night...





You can find more info at the Pyramid website via this link. The club is at 101 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

Find more comprehensive history of the Pyramid here and here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A visit to the Pyramid Club on Avenue A

A visit to the Pyramid Club on Avenue A

[Angel working the front door]

Interview and photos by Stacie Joy

Setting up for an evening event at the Pyramid Club, 101 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street, is serious business.

The iconic space has two floors, although only the top floor is open at the time I drop by to chat with Maria Narciso, club manager. She’s getting the DJ, sound and lighting techs squared away while providing the door person tickets, and briefing security on the night’s plans.

I ask about her history with the nearly 40-year-old Pyramid, the current state of affairs in nightlife and what she sees for the future of the space, which served as a defining club of the East Village scene in the 1980s. (Find more comprehensive history here and here. As Tricia Romano wrote in 2014: "[The Pyramid] served as a safe haven for freaks, geeks, weirdos, queers, and dreamers to come together and create. Sometimes it was bad; sometimes it was beautiful. But it was never boring.")


[Maria Narciso]

Were you a Pyramid regular before working here? What drew you to the Pyramid Club?

I wish I could say I was a Pyramid regular before working there. Actually, I was born in Manhattan but raised in Texas, and always dreamed of one day returning. I kept up with NYC and, because of my love of 1980s music, I kept in touch with happenings at the club.

Once I returned, I found the Pyramid Club Facebook page and started following it. My connection with the Pyramid is actually a love connection. I met the general manager Quirino Perez (resident DJ TM.8), we went on a date, and then I went to the club. I fell in love! I started to hang out there, as his girlfriend, then I saw a need for a hands-on person to assist him, and I was hired. [Congratulations to Maria and Quirino are in order — they are now engaged and hope to be married at the club.]


[Quirino Perez with Narciso]

You’ve described working here as a labor of love. Why is it important to you to keep the spirit of the Pyramid alive?

I’ve enjoyed many clubs in many cities and countries, but I never encountered something magical like the Pyramid: The foundation set by the original promoters, the community the drag queens and punk rockers created, the values, the inclusiveness — I found it all so intriguing.

I think it’s amazing that our community consists of young, old, gay, straight, rich, goths, and everything in between, yet everyone respects themselves and those around them. We are a community, a family, and that is priceless. When we say, “Come as You Are” we really mean it.



There are many regular evenings here throughout the month, including No Return Post Punk Society, Defcon NYC Industrial and the Rapture Dark Thursday 80s Dance Party. What is consistently the biggest draw for the Pyramid?

In a city with many options, we are blessed to have a regular following who come every weekend, regardless of the event. Each event/promoter has their own following and everyone is able to blend in and enjoy both levels, even when the music genres are different. It's not surprising to see goths dancing at one of our Madonnathons or our Class of 1986 “Pretty in Pink” Prom, and see neon-covered young people dancing to post-punk or industrial music.

It’s an amazing environment where everyone can actually dance like no one is looking/judging, and I believe it’s what has kept us successful. Besides the community factor, consistency is what works for us. Our patrons know what to expect, cover is always the same, drink prices are low compared to other venues in the area, music is always 1980s with a little 1970s and 1990s, everyone is treated equally, and our staff is very friendly.


[Nette Moreno, coat check and bartender]


[Vicky and Russell]


[DJ Mike Stalagmike]

While the Pyramid is well-known name to longtime residents, do you see it resonating with a newer generation?

Believe it or not, there are many longtime residents, some living just blocks away, who are surprised to find out we’re still open! Many find us online, or walking down Avenue A, and share stories of their experiences back in the 1980s. A lot of the newer generation express interest in the nostalgia of the 80s.

The music reminds them of growing up listening to what mom and dad played on the car radio. It’s amazing to see groups of 20-somethings, dancing along with patrons that have been coming over for two or three decades, or entire families coming over to dance! Sometimes we find ourselves educating them on particular artists, songs or genres. For example, someone asked about a picture of a lady on our walls, and it was Boy George.



What’s next for the Pyramid Club? Are you hopeful for a 50th anniversary?

If the owners don’t decide to sell, and we are blessed with good health, then we’ll do this until we can’t anymore. It saddens me to see news about businesses shutting down, and their patrons reminiscing. We’re living in very uncertain times; the neighborhood is in constant change. A 50th anniversary would be EPIC!

---

The Pyramid Club is open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8 p.m. until 4 a.m. and is available for private events at other times.

Photos: 'Best Wishes' from Harley Flanagan at the Pyramid Club last night

Harley Flanagan is on tour now to mark the 30th anniversary of Best Wishes, the second record by hardcore legends the Cro-Mags.

Last night, in the first of the shows, Flanagan and his band performed at the Pyramid Club on Avenue A, playing a set from Best Wishes as well as an array of other tracks spanning the Cro-Mags catalog. (Flanagan has been in a long dispute with John Joseph over the band name. You can read more at this link.)

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was on hand for the soundcheck ... and sold-out show. Here's a sampling of the scene last night...





The Pyramid is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year (which we'll have more on in an upcoming post...)


[DJ Mike Stalagmike]




[Nette Moreno, bartender and coat check]


[Pyramid manager Maria Narciso and Dominic Martinez, executive chef/partner at Desnuda NYC]


[Flanagan with his wife Laura Lee Flanagan]


[Opening act HUGE]

... and the main event...