Showing posts sorted by relevance for query superdive. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query superdive. Sort by date Show all posts

Friday, February 19, 2010

Is the keg party over? Superdive closed last night; plus, have they even really been trying?



Superdive was closed last night. A look inside found the place awfully empty looking. A few bar stools, but not much else near the front.



Sure, they may have just been closed for the night, but why not post a note on the door if everything is OK? A Superdiver has left notes before for bargoers when the joint was closed for "renovations."

I called the bar -- (646) 448-4854 -- and got a recorded message saying that their mailbox is full.

Anyway!



Let's see... Holiday decorations still up. Six weeks later, the front door window is still smashed, held together with some tape. Only open three nights a week...

Plus...the bar was hit with a violation for working on the place without a permit and reportedly allowing people to gather in the basement (Mad Dog Room!) without a certificate of occupancy.

And, of course, four months after opening, the owners put the bar up for sale...

One Superdive watcher has always been curious why they only accept cash... particularly when some kegs are upwards of $400... And why did an official at the last CB3/SLA seem surprised when he or she heard that the bar was still open...?

Meanwhile, it looked as if someone was working on the basement one day last week...




Previously on EV Grieve:
CB3 didn't approve a liquor license for Superdive; "a nice neighborhood Internet café-bookstore" becomes a bar with keg service at tables

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

At Superdive, the toilets are presently portable

An EV Grieve reader noted that the gate was up at Superdive yesterday and that workers were inside possibly "cleaning up." So we took a stroll by.... and found the gate open as well!



We didn't see any workers, though the space does seem to be in some state of renovation.... which might explain the presence of the toilets by the front windows ...




Or maybe this is just some new drinking game... or it's the Superdiver's variation of Homer Simpson's toilet chair...



Also, no Superdive on September's CB3 docket. Previously we were told that Superdive would remain closed for the summer.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Superdive not going 5 for 5 this CB3/SLA meeting



So, you know tonight is the July meeting for the CB3/SLA folks.

Meanwhile, for the first time in four months, Superdive is not on the CB3/SLA agenda for a transfer, alteration, etc. They were on the docket then scratched each time.

However! A trusted source says Superdive will be on the August CB3/SLA docket for an alteration. Unless they bow out. Again.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Another month, another Superdive scratch; Plus, Avenue A bars give it another go tonight

Monday, February 22, 2010

Superdive is now cheaper

Back in November, Eater reported that Superdive was on the market for $350,000 key money (the price you pay just for the space)...plus $10k a month in rent... Our friends over at East Village Feed have now noted that the price has dropped to $225,000. (Tower Brokerage listing half way down the page...)



Meanwhile, Superdive was open this past weekend... and apparently all is well... (via Twitter):



Previously on EV Grieve:
Is the keg party over? Superdive closed last night

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

New Year's will be rung in with Superdive Surprises

Speaking of Superdive... Eater brings word that Superdive is open on New Year's Eve...


And it may not be the only time to enjoy Superdive in the New Year...

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Three stars for Superdive



Time Out reviews Superdive this week.



Let's see what they have to say:

Rowdy frat bars don’t usually pique our interest. But Superdive so perfectly replicates the Alpha Beta experience that, fine, we’ll do a reluctant keg stand. But just one.


And!

It’s like a fictional frat house, with a lack of decor so striking — a couple of couches, a long ugly bar, a few tables hosting beer pong — it could’ve been achieved only by drunk dudes who slept through the campus-center poster sale. The crowd appears to have stumbled out of an Abercrombie catalog and on most nights packs the place full. In fact, on weekends you’ll want a reservation — an absurd requirement for a place that postures as the ultimate dive bar.


And!

Like it or not, Superdive’s management has achieved what they presumably set out to do: bring pledge week debauchery to a Manhattan bar. A bartender summed it up best: “If someone pukes, we probably won’t kick them out.” We’re intrigued and horrified at the same time.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

The Superdive Diaries, Part Two


Another EV Grieve reader bravely entered Superdive over the weekend and filed this rather random list of bulleted points via e-mail:

• First makout sessions by 8:30. A guy hard-core kissing a girl's neck like it was 1984 at 1:00 AM.

• Beer pong

• The manager(?) saying to me they were all reserved for the
next two weeks.

• You can get a Stella keg for $450.

• Seems to be a bar to relive college. Beer pong (except I never played this) and a lot of shots

• All drinks are in plastic cups

• Can i reserve a place for 10-15 people? with a keg?

• Hipster wannabee bartenders. friendly but there's arrogance like they're on the red carpet

Beer pong. Again, beer pong. Do I need to say more?

• I feared for my life when I walked out. I deserved to be beat up. I felt shame. Superdive has nothing to do with the east village.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Superdive Diaries

Monday, May 9, 2011

The Superdive space is now home to an art gallery


RyanAvenueA snapped this photo yesterday... some people were transforming the former Superdive space into a temporary art gallery... Per the Ad Projects website:

AD Projects is an independent, migratory curatorial organization. Founded in April 2009, AD Projects has staged three group exhibitions of emerging and mid-career artists in borrowed spaces.

This week, you can find the following:


AD Projects is setting up a temporary home at 200 Avenue A with the exhibition Reliquary/SUPERDARK. Reliquary will be an evolving display of artifacts and SUPERDARK is an evening performance series over the coming weeks. Every few days, objects by one artist will be displayed on a pedestal in the vacant storefront of 200 Avenue A, the former location of Superdive. The relics displayed allude to such varied topics as the personal history of the artist, the contemporary mania for collecting celebrity memorabilia, and utopian visions of the future.

The performance series SUPERDARK complements the transformation of Superdive into a reliquary for contemporary artifacts, giving artists the opportunity to step into the spotlight and position themselves as modern-day idols, dictating and commenting on contemporary culture.

Our inaugural exhibition at 200 Avenue A will feature the works of Wonderpuss Octopus. We will hold a soft opening on Sunday, May 8th, with the official event Wednesday, May 11th.

Our hours will be Saturday & Sunday, 12 – 6 pm, and weeknights 7:30 – 10 pm. Stay tuned for details about Friday night performances.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

[EVG Flashback] At Superdive

Originally posted on June 26, 2009...



Superdive opened last night at 200 Avenue A. (So it was Thursday the 25th after all!)

A reader sent me a fairly lengthy e-mail early this morning after a night out at Superdive. The reader started off by saying: "Maybe you can excerpt something useful from this, but I don't know. It just wasn't that interesting." We'll be the judge of that!

To the reader's e-mail:

Upon entering, confronted with a wall of noise. It's *incredibly* loud. You can't make anything out — total wall of noise.

Near the door are some mini kegs stuck in ice. By the window are guys filling mugs from a mini kegerator. Very fratty, all around. Fratty smell, especially.

We try to figure out the bar situation. Confusing. It looks like there is no bar and patrons are just doing whatever, but really there is a bar. It's just surrounded by patrons. We eventually get drinks. My mixed drink is quite strong. This is good, as it took an eternity to get it. It was served by a bartender wearing legwarmers on her arms. As we're trying to secure drinks, we're hit by a blast of flatulence. Did I mention this place is fratty? We get our drinks and head toward the front. The girls here are CUTE.

There is a live band in the back, playing under an enormous lit sign that reads APPLAUSE. The sign is always lit. I do not clap. There is a guy on piano, trying to sing over the noise, and he's accompanied by a drummer. They're playing "When a Man Loves a Woman."

There are plastic cups everywhere.

We go for another round of drinks. We ask how much, and the bartender says "Ummm.... 30?" as if we're bartering. We pay. It seems fair for the amount of drink we're walking away with.

A cringing girlfriend leading her man away from his friends.

A group of girls enter, high-fiving each other. They are cute.

A guy in a yellow shirt starts to lose composure, head in hands. He's had enough beer.

"Thriller" is played (the pianist/drummer are done now). There is cheering, dancing.

And that's about it. We get bored and go for pizza.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Superdive on the January CB3/SLA docket


The Lo-Down notes that the CB3/SLA agenda is out now... (Set your calendar: Jan. 10, 6:30 p.m.)

A few highlights ... including confirmation that Superdive is coming back from the dead...

Renewal with Complaint History
• La Vie (La Cave LLC), 64 East 1th St

Applications within Resolution Areas
• Coyi Cafe (Constance L Enterprise Inc), 42 Ave B (wb)

• Cien Fuegos (Cien Fuegos LLC), 95 Ave A

Alterations/Transfers/Upgrades
• Superdive (Rapture Cafe & Books LLC), 200 Ave A (alt/op/legalize work done, move bar)

New Liquor License Applications
• Ashton Thai Place Inc, 244 E 13th St (wb)

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Happy Birthday Superdive!

Oh lordy! A reader reminded me that I did absolutely nothing to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Superdive! Wow. Has it been a year already?

Yes! June 25, in fact.

Relive a reader's brave opening night here.

We try to figure out the bar situation. Confusing. It looks like there is no bar and patrons are just doing whatever, but really there is a bar. It's just surrounded by patrons. We eventually get drinks. My mixed drink is quite strong. This is good, as it took an eternity to get it. It was served by a bartender wearing legwarmers on her arms. As we're trying to secure drinks, we're hit by a blast of flatulence. Did I mention this place is fratty?


And, uh.... a lousy hidden-camera video from Superdive, apparently....



Feel free to sing along. It may be better if you played a few hours of beer pong first.

Talking away
I don't know what I'm to say
I'll say it anyway
today's another day to find you
Shying away
I'll be coming for you love O.K.

Take on me
Take me on
I'll be gone
in a day or two

So needless to say I'm odds and ends
But that's me, stumbling away
Slowly learning that life is O.K.
Say after me
It's no better to be safe than sorry.

Take on me
Take me on
I'll be gone
in a day or two.

The things that you say
Is it live or just to play
My worries away
You're all the things I've got to remember
You shying away
I'll be coming for you anyway

Take on me
Take me on
I'll be gone
in a day or two

Thanks for the 4,793 posts this last year guys!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Superdive's liquor license has expired

Actually, the license for Rapture Cafe & Books has expired... In any event, Shawn Chittle sent along this page from the State Liquor Authority, noting that the license for 200 Avenue A expired on Saturday....


Meanwhile, on this month's CB3/SLA docket:

Alterations/Transfers/Upgrades

• To be Determined (Not A Bookstore LLC), 200 Ave A (trans/op) (Superdive)

The art gallery with a full liquor license is back. Last month, the committee told them to do more (and better!) community outreach.

However, now that the license for the space has expired, this can no longer be considered a transfer... and "Not a Bookstore LLC" would have to apply for a new liquor license. And a new liquor license in these parts of Avenue A? Good luck.

Previously on EV Grieve:
CB3 didn't approve a liquor license for Superdive; "a nice neighborhood Internet café-bookstore" becomes a bar with keg service at tables

Thursday, July 16, 2009

The "lesbian princess of porn" holds court tonight at Superdive



As Grub Street posted a little bit ago... Fleshbot (NSFW) has the deal about tonight at Superdive:

Today, Thursday July 16th, just so happens to be Justine Joli's birthday. And how does a complex beauty like the Sapphic red lust bomb plan on celebrating?

Apparently the lesbian princess of porn has orchestrated an all out bash at NYC's infamous bar Superdive — a reputedly lawless environ where guests can mix their own cocktails behind the bar and the door policy is, well, for lack of a better term, nonexistent.

Amidst this lawless carousing Joli plans to pack in hordes of capital "L" lesbians, art performers, a surprise celebrity guest or two, and famed photographers Ellen Stagg and Siege, along with a host of exotic ingenues she has collected over the last few years living in the city [edit: and maybe even a Fleshbot editrix!]. Ever playing the part of the gracious and demure hostess, Justine invites all of her friends and fans to come join her for a drink amidst the raucous celebration, to order themselves a keg and cheer to her, or to sit down at the Steinway and bang out a song in honor of her special day.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The Superdive Diaries


Reader Paul W. sent along the following report from this past Saturday on Avenue A:

Just walked past superdive. there were these schmucky "dudes" screaming at the top of their lungs and chanting something at the girl across the street on a bench at OST. one "dude" was wearing a us marine corps shirt and i literally saw him rip off his dog tags and howl. his other "dude" friend was wearing a full on white 70's track suit with white terrycloth headband and aviators. the room was otherwise empty and there was a kegerator near them. i walked past and felt the need to walk past again. on the second go around tracksuit dude was humping the air with one leg up off the floor while simultaneously doing the motorboat sound with his lips. it was about 4:15 pm.

i live [nearby] and needless to say, I'm terrified.


Previously on EV Grieve:
At Superdive (with new comments)

Monday, December 14, 2009

"Partying Like You Never Graduated in New York, New York"

Superdive is decked out for the holidays...



... and there's a new review of the place on something called trazzler.com:



Partying Like You Never Graduated in New York, New York
There was this place in college. You remember it. A house devoted to the pursuits of alcohol-fueled debauchery, where the couch was always damp, where the basement-level parties were like classes in beer-bong technique. A shame the city condemned it. Your beer pong game never recovered. Enter Superdive, the next generation party house, where the kegs come tableside. That’s right: keg service—from a list of 750 beers (the Keg Master will need advance notice for more eclectic choices). The bar looks like the offspring of a ski lodge and a fraternity house. Claim a booth with your party people, order some suds, grab a plastic cup, and release your inner-undergrad. Once you’ve plugged your iPod into Superdive’s sound system, or jumped behind the bar to mix your own Mind Erasers, you’ll understand what could happen here: anything. Keg-stands are “not encouraged.” Which the same as saying they aren’t discouraged.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Epic CB3/SLA docket ready for April: Hello again Superdive (aka 'Not a Bookstore Inc.') and Caffe Buon Gusto!

Been some time since we've such seen an action-packed SLA & DCA Licensing Committee docket... 40 items!



Monday, April 11 at 6:30 pm — JASA/Green Residence, 200 E. Fifth Street at the Bowery

Here are a few items of interest! (The whole shooting match is here.)

Applications within Resolution Areas

• U-2 (Saint King J Corp), 6 St Marks Pl (3rd-4th Fl) (wb)

This is the karaoke portion of the former Cafe Hanover space (RIP, Mondo Kim's).

• Not a Bookstore LLC, 200 Ave A (op) (Superdive)

Ah! An inside joke from the Superdivers... a nod to Superdive's Rapture Cafe & Books past! Not funny!

• Casimir, 105 Ave B (op)

Changes in store for the French bistro?

• Ave B Caffe Buon Gusto Inc, 545 E 5th St (aka 76 Ave B) (wb)

Hello again, old friend! Been a long time since we've heard anything about this. Remember last time they were on the docket? To the recap!

Sidewalk Café Applications

• CafĂ© Cotto (Pasta Bar CafĂ© Corp), 127 Ave C

• Plump Dumpling (Big Dumpling Corp), 174 2nd Ave

• Percy's Tavern (Steelbar 180 Inc), 210 Ave A

Alterations/Transfers/Upgrades

• Radley Realty Corp, 325 Bowery (alt/ extend license to sidewalk)

Peels wants a sidewalk cafe. #ShitShow

• To Be Determined, 500 E 11th St (trans/op) (Angels & Kings)

Interesting...

• To Be Determined, 351 E 12th St (trans/op) (Resto Leon)

I actually have never been to Resto Leon.

• 4AB LLC, 235 E 4th St (trans/op) (Tonda)

The Tonda watch continues.

• To Be Determined, 700 E 9th St (trans/op) (Banjo Jim's)

Anyone know anything about this?

New Liquor License Applications

• Trim Castle Corp, 87 2nd Ave (op)

The former Kurve-Rhong Tiam space.

• South Brooklyn Pizza (122 First Pizza Inc), 122 1st Ave (wb)

• Agave Azul (228 Rest Corp), 228 1st Ave (op)

This is the Mexican cantina that I reported was coming to the former David's Bagels space.

• The Other WineBar, 412 E 9th St (wb)

• To Be Determined, 107 1st Ave (wb)

The former Bonjoo space..


You may find some additional comments about all this at The Low-Down, Eater and Grub Street.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Superdive officially moving from the East Village; warnings issued in Murray Hill, the LES



Eater has the news: It's official: Superdive is leaving 200 Avenue A... but not before they "have a month long blowout. " The owners told Eater that they are in" final negotiations on a space on Third Avenue in the 30's and another down on the LES that is 'bigger and more heavily trafficked.'"

Feel free to leave your warm remembrances in the comments. Here's part of one comment: "The Superdive concept is an utter East Village failure and laughingstock."

Friday, June 26, 2009

At Superdive



Superdive opened last night at 200 Avenue A. (So it was Thursday the 25th after all!)

A reader sent me a fairly lengthy e-mail early this morning after a night out at Superdive. The reader started off by saying: "Maybe you can excerpt something useful from this, but I don't know. It just wasn't that interesting." We'll be the judge of that!

To the reader's e-mail:

Upon entering, confronted with a wall of noise. It's *incredibly* loud. You can't make anything out — total wall of noise.

Near the door are some mini kegs stuck in ice. By the window are guys filling mugs from a mini kegerator. Very fratty, all around. Fratty smell, especially.

We try to figure out the bar situation. Confusing. It looks like there is no bar and patrons are just doing whatever, but really there is a bar. It's just surrounded by patrons. We eventually get drinks. My mixed drink is quite strong. This is good, as it took an eternity to get it. It was served by a bartender wearing legwarmers on her arms. As we're trying to secure drinks, we're hit by a blast of flatulence. Did I mention this place is fratty? We get our drinks and head toward the front. The girls here are CUTE.

There is a live band in the back, playing under an enormous lit sign that reads APPLAUSE. The sign is always lit. I do not clap. There is a guy on piano, trying to sing over the noise, and he's accompanied by a drummer. They're playing "When a Man Loves a Woman."

There are plastic cups everywhere.

We go for another round of drinks. We ask how much, and the bartender says "Ummm.... 30?" as if we're bartering. We pay. It seems fair for the amount of drink we're walking away with.

A cringing girlfriend leading her man away from his friends.

A group of girls enter, high-fiving each other. They are cute.

A guy in a yellow shirt starts to lose composure, head in hands. He's had enough beer.

"Thriller" is played (the pianist/drummer are done now). There is cheering, dancing.

And that's about it. We get bored and go for pizza.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Noted

I asked the Superdive owners what became of the Superdive sign that workers removed on Tuesday.

The response:

"It will be moved to a new location soon to be revealed...
long live SUPERDIVE."

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Aside from Superdive, at least four other bars are on the market in the East Village

Superdive's sale is listed on the Tower Brokerage site... where there are several other bars on the block...one on Avenue A, two on Avenue B and Plan B on 10th Street...

The listings provide a few clues....




I don't have much to compare this to... With Superdive, this makes five bars for sale in the same area of the East Village. Seems like a lot to me. Business as usual? Or is there something more happening here? People want to cash out while they can? I'm open to theories, if there are any....