If you read our site often, you are already thoroughly annoyed by my love for a little party called Magic Monday. I believe I’ve covered it three times before, while it was running at my favorite Lower East Side bar, St Jerome’s, so you might know a bit about it already. What you might not know, though, is that Magic Monday has been reincarnated. New York City club owner, writer, and overall leather-jacket-wearing-beer-drinking-LES-roaming-guy Luc Carl, has helped rebirth this party at his new decadent club, The Casino. For those of you that are nervous to make the switch from the St. Jerome’s Magic Monday to the new space, let me give you a little push. Dip your toes, my friends, the water feels real nice (No, really, there’s an indoor fountain/waterfall in the new club…).
Now, here’s a little bit of Magic Monday history for those of you that are new here. Breedlove is a pretty swell guy, if your idea of swell is a lovable pop singer in a glittery suit (if you’re not into that, you shouldn’t be hanging out on the Lower East Side anyway). Every Monday for over a year, Breedlove sang on a small mirrored stage (and on top of the bar) at St. Jerome’s, everyone’s favorite L.E.S. dive bar. It started out small, with a few close friends and downtown stragglers occupying the booths and barstools, but within months grew to be the biggest thing that a space that size could ever see. Breedlove would sing his theatrical retro disco pop/rock tunes, and we would all drink $2 Bud Lights in his honor. We’d play with bejeweled mirrors and scream along to the songs, usually while simultaneously frightening tourists and trying to breathe amongst an over-capacity crowd. Magic Monday was the most happening spot on the L.E.S every Monday, thanks to Breedlove, St. Jerome’s staff, and the whole clubhouse family. But then, the last Magic Monday came and went in the first week of this November, as Breedlove and former St. Jerome’s manager Luc Carl announced that they would be moving the party and staff to a huge new venue down the street… The Casino floor at Ludlow Manor. It’s the kind of place that should only exist in a big trendy hotel the West Side, where it is isn’t worth the travel for us Lower East Siders, the sort of place that shouldn’t be able to offer you glamorous decor and killer rock n’ roll DJ’s at the same time. Yet, it does. And that brings us to the top five reasons…
Number 1 – Not One, But Two (Bigger) Sets By Breedlove.
Breedlove is everyone’s favorite weirdo, and if you loved his antics at St. Jerome’s, you’ll love them just as much or even more at The Casino. The larger space gives Breedlove more freedom to expand his show, instead of being stuck within a crowd of human quicksand. The crowd interaction at The Casino is much better than at St. Jerome’s, and it’s much more of a rock n’ roll disco dance party, which is what it most definitely should have been in the first place (love you, St. Jerome’s, but you’re just not big enough for Magic Monday anymore!). A more structured event at the new club now also gives Breedlove not one but two fantastic sets, at 12:00am and 1:15am. So no matter if you’re getting out of work later than usual, set back by the L train malfunctions, can’t catch a cab from the Upper West Side, or just living your excessive party lifestyle at too many clubs in one night, you can still catch the magic at a later hour. And don’t worry, Breedlove is still fabulous as ever, if you loved the rhinestone sweaters, you’ll live for the sequined suit with the most out of control 1970′s platforms.
Number 2 – Holy Fucking Shit, This Club.
Luc really outdid himself with this one, and I mean that in a good way. This place has three different themed floors, gorgeous decor, and an amazing roof smoking deck. And, um, can you say… waterbeds? Ludlow Manor is located at 93 Ludlow Street at Delancey (across from that den-of-sin Lower East Side McDonald’s), just a few blocks from the old Magic Monday. It’s off of the same subway stop (maybe even a hair shorter of a walk than from the Delancey-Essex station to St. Jerome’s), and there’s absolutely no reason to not make the same trip to the same exact intersection on the same night of the week for this place. For those of you who used to frequent my other favorite former party, Ladyland at The Hudson Hotel… as soon as I entered the top floor of Ludlow Manor, I instantly felt like I was reliving the amazing space that we used to hang out at every Thursday night. It’s glamorous, decked out with couches and waterbeds, an indoor fountain/waterfall/pool-thing, palm trees, beautiful bars, amazing lighting, and glass windows all around, showcasing a great view of the Lower East Side. Then, more glass window/doors, which lead you out to a roof-stop smoking deck lined with brick and sleek black seating. It’s a gorgeous view and incredibly convenient for those smokers (mostly all smokers) who hate exiting a bar to have a cigarette, and for those who just want to hang out and get some air between drinking and dancing. The floor below is The Casino, which feels like St. Jerome’s but cleaner, larger, and prettier. Fear not, there’s still a disco ball and red-spotlights! Breedlove’s light-up Spuds MacKenzie even made the switch from St. J’s to The Casino. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Number 3 – All of your favorite St. Jerome’s staff is there (and music)!
Think that Magic Monday would be the same if Breedlove didn’t drag everyone else over to The Casino with him? Exactly. You can still get your drinks from Dustan (in a suit) and hear the tunes from Marley, everyone’s favorite bartender/DJ couple. And let me tell you, she still spins the best retro rock n’ roll (How’s some Nancy Sinatra for you? Classic Magic Monday). Also, St J sweetie Niko is working the door, and he’s looking as fabulous as ever holding that rope.
Number 4 – All of your favorite friends and regulars are there!
Top Row: Breedlove, Brianna O’Hara Ores & Arden Leigh, Eddy Segal
Middle Row: Tyler Stone, Candice Benedetto, Joe Kane
Bottom Row: Marcelo Dutra, Niko Liakaris, Kiss
I’ll admit, I was holding off a bit at first because I wasn’t sure if I’d feel the same family vibe at The Casino that we’ve had with the Magic Monday regulars at St. Jerome’s, but I was pleasantly surprised to see all of my favorite people wandering the halls of Ludlow Manor. Friends on every floor, and they’re all pretty sexy too. It’s good to see familiar faces, so come out and add yours to the group. It’s not a cult, I swear (okay… maybe)
Number 5 – Special Guest Hosts!
Get your drink on and get your pre-show going with a new, very cool addition to Magic Monday, the introduction of guest hosts. This past week, Tyler Stone of the fantastic, sexy NYC electro-rock band, Liquid Blonde, hosted a table of whiskey as well as opened each of Breedlove’s sets with one of his own songs. Coming soon will be an acoustic set by The Dirty Pearls, and hosting by some of your favorite Lower East Side characters. What’s not to love?
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Get your ass to The Casino at Ludlow Manor every Monday. All of your dreams are coming true
The New Magic Monday
Starring: Breedlove
Every Monday @ Midnight
The Casino at Ludlow Manor
93 Ludlow Street
New York, NY
See you there!
Black and white photos, video, and article Ky DiGregorio
