RIP: Francisco's Centro Vasco and French Roast (Downtown)

Everyone's buzzing about the end of French Roast on Sixth Avenue. But I've learned that Francisco's Centro Vasco, a Spanish staple on 23rd Street in Chelsea for 35 years, is also permanently closed. (The outgoing message on their machine is pretty heartbreaking.) I remember going there for a friend's work anniversary -- I think we got to go after 10 years (mine was at the Redeye Grill) -- and falling in love with the place, with its old-world charm and delicious lobster (that I didn't have to pay for). Although I know I'm part of the problem -- I'm constantly hungry so have a hard time spending much money on a meal when I know I'll need to eat again in an hour -- it's always sad to see a longtime neighbor leave.

UPDATE: As of Aug. 7, the place is open again. I think they were just looking for attention.

UPDATE 2: As of Oct. 20, the restaurant is "officially" closed for good ... AGAIN.

Meanwhile, it's true what they said about French Roast. Although it was not quite at the Florent levels, the clientele was truly eclectic (something about the all-night hours, perhaps). I remember going there with a bunch of strangers I met on the street during Pride in '98 or '99 -- and more recently with my beau. Yet another huge loss for the Village. No official cause of death listed for either establishments, but we can gue$$ why. Read HERE.

The Quad's Still Got Legs

Great story in The New York Post about the history and recent reopening of the Quad cinema in Greenwich Village, which surprisingly was the city's first multiplex when it opened back in 1972. (Four whole screens!) I've seen dozens and dozens of films in this sticky-floored gem of a theater -- I even met Mart Crowley at a screening of a documentary about the making of "Boys in the Band" there in 2011 -- but my most poignant memory is not being able to go home for Christmas in 2001 so ending up going to see "The Fluffer" at the Quad on Christmas Eve ... where what to my wondering eyes should appear in the line is that guy I'd been chasing all year, a la Patty Donahue in "Christmas Wrapping." (Christmas magic -- and a film about gay porn -- helped bring that tale to a very happy ending!)

I Like What I See's

There isn't a lot I miss about Arizona. But the opening of a See's Candies Shop in the West Village sure takes me back -- I have the dark molasses chips to thank for having a filling in every one of my back teeth!

Is the Quad Cinema Ready for Its Close-Up?

We'd been promised the Village movie house would be back -- and it seems it's TRUE.

Remembering the Universal Grill (1991-1998)

Any other fans of this gay hot spot of decades gone by? 

The New York Times wrote about the Universal Grill in 1994 noting that Homo Xtra, a New York listings calendar, called it "the gayest restaurant in the entire world." 

Opened in 1991 at 44 Bedford Street near Seventh Avenue South, this tiny, perpetually packed tribute to American comfort food aggressively embraces a gay identity -- although Jack Miller, a co-owner, said: "We didn't set out to do that. It just sort of evolved." Friday is high-heel night at Universal, and the waiters totter around on stilettoes. On Beatnik Night, the beret-topped waiters recite bad poetry along with the specials of the day. Regulars tend to celebrate their birthdays here, since the entire staff will obligingly serenade the birthday person by twirling around with tambourines and singing Abba's "Dancing Queen" or the theme song from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." But for all the joy, Universal Grill is probably the most politically charged of gay restaurants. It has become an informal gathering place for members of Act Up and other organizations. "We donate a tremendous amount of food to various organizations," Mr. Miller said. "The people who run these organizations are our regular customers, so it's our way of saying thank you." 

One of my first -- if not the first -- dates as a New York City resident was at Universal Grill. I forget where I met Jeff -- I still see him around at parties as he is a media big shot -- but it was an old-school kind of thing where he asked for my number and I was thrilled when he left a message on my answering machine. He asked me out to dinner and I was swept away by the big-city gay atmosphere of the joint, which was far livelier than Mary's next door that my date explained was owned by the same restauranteurs as Universal. Although the conversation didn't really go anywhere -- I tried, but I don't think he asked me a single question about myself -- we still wound up back at my place afterward. 

I'd been in a five-year relationship in D.C. that left me with a broken heart, so I was really out of touch with the dating scene, much less the dating scene in Chelsea (then epicenter of gay life). After a couple minutes looking around my apartment, with the conversation still greatly lacking, Jeff informed me that if we were going to "do this" we'd better do it now as he was allergic to cats and only had a few "good" minutes remaining. (Charmed.) Neither Troy nor I was impressed with this romantic notion -- despite years in West Hollywood and Dupont Circle, I was still an uptight boy from Michizona at heart -- so we sent him packing. (Apparently he's still not known for his tact!) Sadly, the Universal Grill would also get the boot not too long after (for committing "all kinds of violations) ... and today it's known as Daddy-O, which like nearly all of the Village is hopelessly straight. 

Three Lives Hasn't Used All Nine Yet

It seems the venerable Three Lives & Co. -- my favorite bookstore and yours -- has worked out a lease agreement with the building's new owners, fending off what promised to be the final straw in the slow death of mom-and-pop businesses in the West Village. So typical of 2016 -- like a waiter who ignored you the whole meal then starts being overly nice just as you're about to ask for the check. Read HERE.

Rebel Heartbreak

Rebel Rebel closed up shop Saturday after 28 years in the West Village, reportedly to make room for Scotch and Soda's retail expansion. This one feels like a double blow -- a continuation of the hijacking of NYC real estate along with a twisting of the knife about the death of book and record stores. Everything about 2016 has been awful so far -- I think Paul Bettany may be on to something here ...

Man Sentenced to 40 Years to Life for Hate Crime Murder

Mark Carson shows off his pumped-up kicks.

Michael and I had been at the IFC movie theater just moments before Elliot Morales started harassing two gay men and then gunned one of them, Mark Carson, down dead on 6th Avenue one May night in 2013. Happy to see that Morales was finally sentenced to 40 years to life for the hate crime, which he tried to mitigate by saying he'd slept with a transgender woman. I hope the Carsons can find a sliver of relief from this.

Village Gay Bar Uncle Charlie's Bombed in 1990 by Terrorists Behind 1993 WTC Bombing

While I remember the 1999 neo-Nazi bombing of the Admiral Duncan in London like it was yesterday, I had no idea that Uncle Charlie's -- the popular gay video bar on Greenwich Avenue that I used to frequent in the early and mid- '90s when visiting from D.C. -- was once the scene of a bombing as well. And what was the motivation? The bombers -- one of whom later infamously sketched pictures of Princess Diana(!) while on trial (and convicted) for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center attack -- were Muslims who "objected to homosexuality on religious grounds." (Sigh.) Read HERE. 

"Can I get your number?"

Read about the bar's demise -- all its customers started to party in Chelsea! -- HERE.

Order HERE.

The son of bomber El Sayyid Nosair later wrote a memoir about what his father's decision to choose terrorism over him did to his life. Read about it HERE.

A Toast to Julius'

Damian and I wound up at Julius' with our friends Chad and Tim yesterday afternoon, raising a glass to our favorite bar's recent designation as "historically significant"!

Julius', NYC's Oldest Gay Bar, Added to National Register of Historic Places

Thrilled to report that the National Park Service (NPS) has just added the West Village gay bar Julius’ to the National Register of Historic Places! This comes just weeks after NPS designated Bayard Rustin’s Manhattan residence to the Register -- and couldn't be bestowed on a more fitting destination, which happens to be my favorite watering hole in the world. 

The Washington Blade writes:

The National Park Service on Wednesday officially added the Greenwich Village gay bar Julius’ to the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of the bar’s “association with an important early event in the modern gay rights movement.” 

The action came one day before the 50th anniversary of a 1966 sip-in that gay activists staged at Julius’ to challenge the then-interpretation of a state liquor regulation used to prohibit bars from serving alcoholic beverages to homosexuals. 

“On April 21, 1966, three members of the Mattachine Society, an early and influential gay rights organization, organized what became known as a ‘sip-in,’” a statement released this week by the National Park Service says. “Their intent was to challenge New York State Liquor Authority regulations that were promulgated so that bars could not serve drinks to known or suspected gay men or lesbians, since their presence was considered de facto disorderly,” the statement says. 

The Mattachine Society members carried out the sip-in by sitting at the bar at Julius’ and ordering drinks. According to news reports of the action, the men declared they were homosexuals just as the bartender put one of their drinks on the bar, prompting the bartender to place his hand over the drink and telling the men he could not serve them.

The successful court challenge to this refusal of service helped establish the right of homosexuals to be served in licensed premises in New York and paved the way for the opening of many new gay premises with state liquor licenses. I'm truly thrilled!

Governor Cuomo Sets Up Julius' for National Historic Recognition

As the de facto deputy mayor of the city's best gay bar, this news certainly makes me smile. You've come a long way since campaigning for your daddy on the "Vote for Cuomo, Not the Homo" platform, Mr. Governor. Read HERE.

Read HERE.

(Not that Ed Koch wasn't a closeted prick who enabled the AIDS epidemic to spiral out of control.)

Gunman on Trial for Killing Gay Man Is No Homophobe, His Transgender Ex-Lover Testifies

I remember the murder like it was yesterday. Two gay friends were walking down a crowded Greenwich Village street in 2013 when some asshole started calling them homophobic slurs then shot one of them dead as bystanders looked on in horror. He was quickly arrested and charged with murder as a hate crime. Now acting as his own lawyer, the asshole (Elliot Morales) first blamed the victim. Then yesterday called a former lover -- who is transgender -- to the stand as proof he doesn't harbor any animosity toward gay people so therefore it couldn't have been a hate crime. I don't know about you, but to me, his having sex with transgenders, but never actual relationships, only bolsters the prosecution's case. Read HERE.

My City Was Gone

It's hard to even keep up with all of the closings of New York favorites. But the demise of La Luncheonette -- where I celebrated my birthday with my friend Larry months before his untimely death a decade ago -- is particularly sad. (That cassoulet!) Nearby Moran's -- where I celebrated my 40th with my entire family -- is gone now too, making the area almost hard to walk by.

To my east, the Garage restaurant on Seventh Avenue South is also calling it a day, after its rent was hiked to 50 grand a month. I'm almost afraid to see what's next ...

What's Happening to the Village?

As a corollary to my Death of Chelsea's 8th Avenue post, I point you to The Approximately 100 Ugliest Abandoned Buildings in Greenwich Village, which certainly haven't gone unnoticed by me, even if they are slightly out of my jurisdiction! Fantasy World had just appeared in an episode of "Broad City" and Michael and I used to be regulars at Corrado Bread & Pastry before the mini-chain Bien Cuit took over and ruined it. High rents are affecting all the neighborhoods of NYC, but strolls through the West Village have been particularly glum lately thanks to this mass exodus. 

Travelerette writes:

"I had gotten the general impression, while wandering around the Village, that there seemed to be an unseemly amount of hideous and depressing burned out storefronts where once there had been vintage clothing stores, Chinese restaurants that serve cold sesame noodles, and tea shops frequented by local drag queens. But was this just a vague impression, or could I back it up by careful research? I decided to spend today roaming around the Village from Broadway to the east, Hudson to the west, Houston to the south, and 14th Street to the north, photographing all of the pathetically empty ghost buildings I could find. I was going to stop at 100, but at last count I had 103."

Andy Cohen Purchases Fourth Pad in Same Building

Image from HERE.

The Bravo chief already had three apartments in the glorious West Village co-op building at 2 Horatio St., but his fourth is the first to share a wall with Sally Field! Variety has the full story HERE.

Stonewall Inn to Be Considered for Landmark Status

Following a year-and-a-half campaign, the New York City Landmarks Commission will be considering the Stonewall Inn -- birthplace of the gay-rights movement -- for designation. If approved, it would be the city's first-ever designated LGBT landmark. Read HERE.

Cockney Teas

Lovely to see Tea & Sympathy owners Sean Kavanagh-Dowsett and Nicky Perry got photographed for Vanity Fair's Cadbury wars piece. (Read HERE.) 

Although I love to visit the Greenwich Avenue cafe, finding out I can order the Cottage Pie via Seamless hijacked any plan I had to eat healthy this year! 

Garden Party

I get a lot of e-mails from out-of-towners looking for uniquely New York experiences to sample when visiting here, so I thought I would mention Rosemary's, a somewhat new restaurant in the West Village where Michael and I had the most charming early dinner the other weekend. (If you're a local and haven't heard about it, you're in for a treat, too.) The space -- which used to be my favorite paper/party/card store at the corner of 10th and Greenwich Avenue before it burned to the ground -- is roomy and inviting, like you would imagine Martha Stewart's summer home to be. But it's the state-of-the-art rooftop garden -- where much of the menu's produce is produced -- that will blow your mind. (Everyone's welcome to take the tour.) Something about seeing zucchini, dandelion greens and fresh tomatoes growing as a yellow cab whizzes by below just makes me smile, as did (most of) the food we ordered. My tuna appetizer didn't quite agree with my mouth -- perhaps it was the parsley or the cece fritti (whatever that is),  but Michael's heirloom tomato salad and the linguini with clams I had were as fresh and simple as they were utterly delicious. Rosemary's doesn't take reservations, and has become enormously popular (celebrity sightings are common), but I highly recommend it. Neither one of us was that hungry when we went, but saw an opening by slipping it right at 5 o'clock before the rush. Will definitely be going back to sample more. Visit HERE.