GET LIT
Need a brand new cutting edge space that is artistic as well as musical for your next record company party, and especially upcoming CMJ? The East Village has a new bar/DJ/performance art space, Lit, attached to a gallery, Fuse. Four artists who decided to become partners conceived this unique idea: Erik Foss, Michael McGrane, Rich Rethorn and David Schwartz. All four partners’ uncanny ability to attract all types of downtown hipsters from artists, designers, musicians and their entourages resulted in everyone hanging their coats at Odessa Diner’s adjoining bar, where Erik Foss originally bartended. As the patronage grew, the four partners got together and moved the party over to the just opened much larger and more versatile Lit, in the former home of Global 33 and Sugar Reef. Any likeness to the former life of the space ends there.
First there’s the Fuse gallery that showcases the latest emerging as well as established cutting edge art. Then there’s the attached two floor bar lounge, Lit. With the artist partners’ diverse following and Lit’s DIY artistic aesthetic, this could be the first bar lounge that can actually live up to Max’s Kansas City fame. Everything retro is new again in fashion as well as music. With the spotlight currently on 80’s post new wave music (with bands like the Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Electroclash movement leading the way) as well as 80’s fashion, Lit is right on target. This is the clientele who hang at Lit. NYC’s favorite host, Carlo McCormick, will be on hand on weekends to oversee and make the Lit reality a perfect mix.
The four artist partners enlisted friends and barflies alike to work on the space, using mostly salvaged materials and plain old sweat for their labor of love. "Lit grew out of the need for a place for me and my artist partners to work and my friends to hang. It is all about the art first, for all of us partners, and it’s great to relax in such a creative environment," says Schwartz. "Having a bar lounge like Lit housed with a gallery like Fuse is a natural combination for all of us artist partners to pool our resource. We used all our mutual friends as well as returned favors to build Lit," adds Foss.
The 4,500 square foot (capacity 250) very dark lounge has two floors with fully stocked bars and DJ stations on each floor. There are also some small areas for minimalist bands to perform or play "unplugged" sessions. Creative accents include an original peep show door found on the street, seating areas built around church pews, a curtained back VIP room with HR Giger coffee tables and a private back room office entered through a coffin door. Adding to the downstairs grotto-like feel is a fountain made out of more salvaged materials in the form of rusted tin cans and ventilation grates.
Lit is an installation in itself and remaining true to that vision, the four partners will have art openings on the Fuse schedule. First up were HR Giger’s Recent Sculptures and Prints, running March 16 through April 28. Next, Naoto Hattori’s Recent
Paintings and Prints were on view through June 15. Currently, Paul Booth’s Recent Digital Manipulations are available for viewing from June 22 through August 3.
Fuse is open Tuesday through Saturday 12-5 and by appointment.
Lit and Fuse is located at 93 Second Ave between 5th and 6th Streets on the west side of the street. The lounge’s two floors are available for private functions and record release parties as well as art openings and music and fashion events. All creative types feel comfortable in Lit’s intimate space, be it in the upstairs bar next to the Fuse gallery (2,000 sq. ft.), which casts a gorgeous surreal glow on the surroundings or in the downstairs "cave" (1,500 sq. ft.), which kept original architectural details like brick walls and arches. Intimate candle-lit booths are present on both floors.
Just look for the dark glass front. No name is listed outside and there is no velvet rope. Lit does no advertising and remains true to their clientele – it is truly a unique experience in a city whose clubs have been overcome with VIP attitude. Lit defines anti-chic and has a hassle-free hip vibe. Your bands will enjoy this space so much that if they don’t hang here already, they will come to call Lit home anytime they are back in NYC. The bar and gallery artist owners are so adamant about maintaining their current audience, that they will not let us mention who their regulars are, in and out of NYC. We can tell you that Resurrection vintage clothing, Diesel and Pat Field (costumer for Sex & the City) have done parties there. Lit has also been host to many private affairs.
Lit is truly a unique experience. It has the spirit of Max’s Kansas City, yet is completely the feel of where downtown creative energy in terms of music, art and fashion are at right now. Come see for yourself, join us for a drink and keep Lit in mind for your record company parties and especially for CMJ. At the same time, we hope that you’ll consider supporting the original reason that Lit was conceived and appreciate the art on view and for sale at Fuse.
Just remember to wear your Member’s Only jacket and get your shag haircut trimmed that day if you come to hang out, OK? And please, no Dockers!
