Chumley's, Sushi Samba, and Monika Heidemann

Beer, Mojitos, and Local Music

Chumley's is a bit of an institution to Manhattanites. The first time I went was with a new local friend. That is the only way to find it as the two entrances are hidden. One entrance is a nondescript door off the street currently under scaffolding. Scaffolding is a constant architectural feature in New York City and it is impossibly to walk a one block radius without running into some. Weird thing is how long it stays up - sometimes more than a year. Once removed, it feels strange, as if someone daylighted your tunnel. Chumley's second entrance is through a courtyard pathway. I like this entrance to Chumley's better as it allows you to enter straight into the bar not not have to wobble through the dining area. Chumley's decor is pure library meets drunken bar. After going there several times, however, the smelly conditions, smelly old dog (black lab), and bar flies are too much to bear. But when friend from Brooklyn wanted to come hangout in Manhattan, I obliged - he's going through a bad separation but I think he'll find a way to return to her - he likes a project. The place was so packed we only had one beer.

Headed off to Sushi Samba. Talk about a complete contrast in atmosphere. This place oozed hipster vibes with a 1970's retro design. Avocado and Braniff orange glowed from modular walls and partitions. A sunken couchy area was for bar guests. It even had some shag! Sushi Samba 7 is in the West Village. There are several around the country. I've been to the one closer to my work on Park Ave. South when the place was truly hopping, more like bouncing, during the Brazil v. Japan World Cup soccer game. Strange crowd this night at 7 - a cougar and her young boy-toy (she paid), several young Asian girls, and various urbanites. Decided to move on after one drink.

I've always wanted to go to The Knitting Factory but hadn't had a reason yet. R had a friend singing with her band that night so we headed downtown a bit. Monika Heidemann and her band were playing in the lower regions of the place where the local folks or unknown bands tend to get placed. It took too long for them to set up. It was an eclectic fare that reminded me of electronic jazz meets later-day Björk. It was hard to relate to the composition particularly the songs played at the beginning of the set. R said this was new material. Her boys backed her with percussion, bass, and guitar. They were more interesting than her vocals. Her lyrics are rather poetic and non-traditional. Once she settled into her older material the flow and resonance worked better. It probably didn't help when she took some energy to reprimand the bar crowd to be a bit quieter at the beginning of her set. Seemed to take her awhile to regain her confidence after playing the school teacher. Still an interesting evening.