We got to Cake Shop right before 11 p.m. just in time to see my brother Brett take the stage as headliner with a solo singer/songwriter act.
The whole Benowitz family was there, along with my friend Rebekah and a bunch of Brett’s friends. Every time I see him perform, I’m reminded of just how talented he is. He played an hourlong set of all original music along with the occasional guest artist, which he calls “Friends with Benowitz.” It’s hard to describe his sound. It’s acoustic, melodic, indie, folksy, bluesy and his lyrics are thoughtful and weave fascinating tales of places near and far. He’s altogether unique, but to really get it, you just have to listen, which you can do by clicking here.
Brett performing “Thank You Sam” with his Friends With Benowitz guest artists.
Some of my favorites songs are “Thank You Sam,” “Long Ride Home,” and “Isabella.” He also performed a new song that evening called “Valerie,” in memoriam of my mother’s sister that left us all in tears. But we wiped them away, and when his set was over, we headed out on Ludlow to celebrate an awesome show.
Pianos-Â First stop was Pianos, a cool (and apparently classic) spot down the street with an upstairs and downstairs for different music acts. That night, there were DJs playing house music downstairs without a cover, so our group headed in to dance it up. We stayed until their set was over and it started to clear out and then checked upstairs, which was pretty dead too, so onto the next stop.
Nitecap-Â After a little trial and error, we made our way to Nitecap, apropos for a group of people trying to get a drink when many bars were closing for the night. It was pretty empty, but they welcomed us in where we proceeded to order shots. Then, the friendly bartender suggested we hit up their sister lounge across the street on Rivington at 151, promising it would be more lively.
One Fifty One-Â And it was. We joined forces with another group upon entering and had a blast, creating a mini dance party in this tiny, laid-back bar. My sister Kristy and I were rolling with a crew of 20-something-year-old dudes, so when they ordered a round of beers, I requested a vodka drink. That’s when the bartender got all mixologist on me, asking about the flavor profiles I liked, and he whipped up a tasty gingery concoction with muddled lime and soda, similar to a Moscow Mule (maybe it was a Moscow Mule?), with a candied ginger garnish. He wanted to know how the cocktail was, and I said: “Great!”
That’s when he explained, “We just opened. We’re by the same guys who made Death & Co. Have you heard of it?”
“Yes!” I said. “So cool!” I’ve heard of Death & Co, but admittedly I’ve never been there. They opened in 2006, the year I bounced from the city. I just know they’re on the vanguard of the modern mixology movement and everyone thinks they’re cool. “I think I just read about you guys in The New Yorker,” I told him. “Were you written up in there?”
“I don’t know,” he yelled over the music. “Probably.”
Okay, cool. I’ll drink to that!
Turns out they were, and you can read all about it here. I love the way the writer characterizes One Fifty One and Nitecap’s patrons as rowdy late 20-somethings who can’t appreciate the expertly mixed drinks whereas Death & Co is a more refined drinking establishment for dignified patrons in their mid-30s. Either way, I can hang. It was a super fun night with my bro and sis at these super fun cool new bars on the LES. Peace!
And look dude, sorry there’s not more photos in this post. Remember, I lost my iPhone.
