20th Nov 2006
The Bulgarian Bar Is Back!
Mehanata, far better known as the Bulgarian Bar, is finally reopened. It’s been a long saga for NYC’s coolest night spot for carousing fans of Eastern European pop culture. Since closing in the spring and then its aborted summer opening in its new Lower East Side home, followed by appeals to the community board, the place opened again in its new digs (113 Ludlow, between Delancey and Rivington) two weeks ago. Adi and I made it for the first time Saturday.
To say it’s better than ever would be an over-statement. But it certainly has potential. The new place is actually pretty funky. It’s altogether larger than the old dive on Canal and Broadway, and the new location still possesses some of the divy charm. It’s now a two-floor operation, with the upstairs quiet enough for conversation, while downstairs the dance floor is throbbing to the beats of Joro-Boro, the same DJ from the old location (after Eugene Hutz was replaced on Saturdays for famously trashing the place one shitfaced 3am).
Still, something was lacking. Owner Sasha was there, of course, manning the door, and a few of the bar tenders looked familiar, and more than one former regular embraced the loyalist members of our posse. But the unhinged mayhem of the old scene is perhaps still nursing a hangover in Queens somewhere, not yet having receive the word that the party has resumed.
Now, if they’d only bring back Nick Zedd and his weirdo movie projections, the mood might actually gel into a reason to crawl out again on Saturday nights.
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Could you, please, “keep your mouth shut” sometimes? Already this summer, precisely your posting and comments contributed to Mehanata’s troubles. What a fool!
Thanks for editing the article.
I certainly don’t want to bring the beloved Bulgarian Bar any harm, nor be shunned or beaten up by its loyal fans, even if the stuff I edited out was what made it most fun on that recent visit.