Post #222548 by donhonyc on Wed, Mar 22, 2006 9:40 PM

Thanks for reminding me about the Flatiron Lounge. I've been there a few times and the cocktails are top notch. Expensive though. I've spoken to the owner once or twice and she told me that they try to follow the original Mai Tai recipe.

On the club closing note, yet another mainstay, albeit not as-well-known rock club in the East Village will be closing this summer. Or as I've heard by other accounts, it will be converted to a lounge only. The place I am talking about is The Continental on 3rd Ave near St. Mark's. This place deserves almost as much credit as CBGB in the New York City rock and roll history books. Although CB's started American punk, The Continental was instrumental in keeping it alive and giving it another home in the 80s and 90s. It wasn't uncommon for people like Debbie Harry, Joey Ramone, or Iggy Pop to show up there unannounced and do a gig. In fact around 1997 I was lucky enough to be at the Continental for a gig by The Remains, The Ramones spin-off band fronted by Dee Dee and Marky Ramone, along with Dee Dee's wife and another guy named Ben Trokan on guitar. Joey showed up by surprise and got up on stage and did a few numbers, as well as downtown legend Wayne..um, Jayne County who also got up and did a few Ramones songs. With Joey, Dee Dee, and Marky onstage together it was (almost) The Ramones. Now with the closing of The Continental there will be NO MORE rock clubs in New York City. It is definitely the end of an era. Rock and roll as we knew it for the last 30 years or so in this town is unfortunately coming to an end.

To everything..turn, turn, turn.